Transplanting Autos?

I'm (still) new to autos, have a handful of seeds and I'll plant some outside this summer, but I'm still trying to gather info on them.

I've read that autos don't transplant well, that it's best to put the seed right into its "final pot" and never move them. Then I read threads, and it seems pretty common to up-pot them at least once.

I would rather not put seeds directly into the ground outside and have something eat them, or have the baby sprouts get eaten or pelted with a heavy rain. So I'd like to at least sprout them in Rapid Rooters inside before they go outside.

Are there specific tricks to starting and transplanting them? Certain things to be avoided?

Thanks in advance --

with autos and photos for that matter I germ them out on a dish and napkin

once 2-4 inches long transfer to a 4 inch pot(650ml)

with organic fined soil and 50% sand/perlite mix

once the plant is tall as a pen or on the second lateral

I potup to a 10 liter pot/2.5usg with photos to a 15liter/3usg pot

the real deal is tho the advice is correct plant your germer into the final pot

often the weather/ climate is against you....even indoors

often the final pot is to cold taking ages to get to heat

or often is too dry, the plant suffers too much or to little water

having it established and growing ...then moving to these arid or swampy pots

is a better option than suffering the cursed delay, that others get

good luck

Thanks @vostok -- I've never had an issue up-potting photos, I used to do it several times per grow (Rapid Rooter in tray, then into 4" then 1 gal. then 5-10 gal. final pot...). I try to minimize up-potting them now, but its on principal not because I've had issues with it.

Autos seem to be a different breed. From what I've read, since they run straight through anything that would cause them any shock can throw off their rhythm. Instead of shock recovery time extending their veg or flower time (like with photos), it just uses up some of their window of time and stunts their growth and/or productivity.

I guess I'll just try different things and see what works for me.

Couldn't you technically get a small fabric grow bag (1-2 gallon) and when you're ready just dig a hole and put it in the ground where you want it? The Roots would grow through the pot and continue on since they won't hit air.

FarmerHatBeard said:

Couldn't you technically get a small fabric grow bag (1-2 gallon) and when you're ready just dig a hole and put it in the ground where you want it? The Roots would grow through the pot and continue on since they won't hit air.

Click to expand...

That could work. My current plan is to start them in Rapid Rooters, and when they have popped, gently put the RR in the ground. I'll probably cut the bottoms off of clear 2 liter bottles, and put those over them until they are established. Hopefully that will be a minimum of shock and keep them protected during their most vulnerable days.

FarmerHatBeard said:

Couldn't you technically get a small fabric grow bag (1-2 gallon) and when you're ready just dig a hole and put it in the ground where you want it? The Roots would grow through the pot and continue on since they won't hit air.

Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure you can, I think you need to make sure to get it in the ground before the roots "air prune"