Stunted auto or lacking ruderalis?

Trying2Grow · May 21, 2025

Hey, so this was my first ever attempt at growing... And I naively chose autos thinking that would be easier.

I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way.. PLENTY. Feel free to ask for the list of mess-ups if you’d like to Sherlock the grow and have a laugh at my expense, but I won’t bore readers with it here.

Anyway, here she is at 7-8 weeks.

Still growing, but excruciatingly slow. Not even really any need to defoliate, let alone any sign of buds

Looks healthy. But, stagnant.

Just looking for opinions.

Phyto · May 21, 2025

If that plant is 7-8 weeks old and not in flower, it's not an auto. Which in your case is good, since it's very small for 8 weeks. I'd top that plant and see if that doesn't force those side shoots to grow out. Overall, the plant looks healthy. A little info would help:

What are you growing in?
What's your lighting, brand/type/hours per day?
Are you feeding, if so with what/how often? Synthetic or organic?
How often are you watering?

RoadKillSkunkHunt · May 21, 2025

Phyto said:
If that plant is 7-8 weeks old and not in flower, it's not an auto. Which in your case is good, since it's very small for 8 weeks. I'd top that plant and see if that doesn't force those side shoots to grow out. Overall, the plant looks healthy. A little info would help:

What are you growing in?
What's your lighting, brand/type/hours per day?
Are you feeding, if so with what/how often? Synthetic or organic?
How often are you watering?

You don't need to top a plant to get it those side shoots to grow out. Simply bend the plant over and tie it so the tip of the main stem is lower than some of those lateral branches. She'll bush just fine without cutting the mainstem.

I don't mean topping it is wrong. If the OP wants to top the plant, that's fine. Let's explain the whole process and how to actually use it to increase your yield. So here it goes ... If it truly is an autoflower (not likely if its 8 weeks old) don't top it. It's on an internal timer and in almost all cases, topping an auto will decrease yield.

If it is a photoperiod plant (far more likely at that age), then yes, topping it is one method to get it to bush out. However, if you want to increase yield simply veg the plant another couple of weeks prior to changing the light cycle to 12/12 to induce flowering. Too many people will top the plant and immediately flip to flower and then wonder why their colas are only 6" long. If allowed the extra veg time, the 2 new shoots that replace the main stem will grow in size so that when the light cycle is changed, your 6" colas can now be 12-18 inches or longer in size.

Trying2Grow · May 21, 2025

Phyto said:
If that plant is 7-8 weeks old and not in flower, it's not an auto. Which in your case is good, since it's very small for 8 weeks. I'd top that plant and see if that doesn't force those side shoots to grow out. Overall, the plant looks healthy. A little info would help:

What are you growing in?
What's your lighting, brand/type/hours per day?
Are you feeding, if so with what/how often? Synthetic or organic?
How often are you watering?

Yeah, I was thinking those ruderalis genes must be missing.

I was thinking about topping it, between 4-5 seems like the time to do it but everyone seems to disagree on where you start counting nodes. Some people start at the cotyledons and others not until the leaves hit 7 points. So I might have missed my window?

The first and 2nd set of true leaves were cut off, so it’s buried up to the cotyledons and missing the 3 pointers… might look a little bigger otherwise.

Grew in a 7 gallon fabric pot with promix bx and using Gaia green 444 and acti-sol 5-1-3, give it 18 hours of light a day but it’s just under a couple Sunstream CFLs, as I took it out of my tent when I was worried that it was damping off (it wasn’t lol…)

RoadKillSkunkHunt · May 21, 2025

Trying2Grow said:
Yeah, I was thinking those ruderalis genes must be missing.

I was thinking about topping it, between 4-5 seems like the time to do it but everyone seems to disagree on where you start counting nodes. Some people start at the cotyledons and others not until the leaves hit 7 points. So I might have missed my window?

The first and 2nd set of true leaves were cut off, so it’s buried up to the cotyledons and missing the 3 pointers… might look a little bigger otherwise.

Grew in a 7 gallon fabric pot with promix bx and using Gaia green 444 and acti-sol 5-1-3, give it 18 hours of light a day but it’s just under a couple Sunstream CFLs, as I took it out of my tent when I was worried that it was damping off (it wasn’t lol…)

You can still top if you prefer, however as small as it is, veg it longer ... another few weeks under your brighter light after you top it. It looks healthy. I think the slow growth is due to the cfl's.

Trying2Grow · May 21, 2025

RoadKillSkunkHunt said:
You don't need to top a plant to get it those side shoots to grow out. Simply bend the plant over and tie it so the tip of the main stem is lower than some of those lateral branches. She'll bush just fine without cutting the mainstem.

I don't mean topping it is wrong. If the OP wants to top the plant, that's fine. Let's explain the whole process and how to actually use it to increase your yield. So here it goes ... If it truly is an autoflower (not likely if its 8 weeks old) don't top it. It's on an internal timer and in almost all cases, topping an auto will decrease yield.

If it is a photoperiod plant (far more likely at that age), then yes, topping it is one method to get it to bush out. However, if you want to increase yield simply veg the plant another couple of weeks prior to changing the light cycle to 12/12 to induce flowering. Too many people will top the plant and immediately flip to flower and then wonder why their colas are only 6" long. If allowed the extra veg time, the 2 new shoots that replace the main stem will grow in size so that when the light cycle is changed, your 6" colas can now be 12-18 inches or longer in size.

I’m a little afraid of topping so I’ll try tying it down. Was hoping to move this thing outside soon, but I’m guessing that won’t be much better than the cfls?

JIMKSI64 · May 21, 2025

Going to need some lights for flower. Even a 100 watt panel will finish a small plant.
If you feel you have fixed your missteps get a panel light and flip it to flower.
If you think it is a photo get a light and keep at 18-6 and see how it goes.

RoadKillSkunkHunt · May 21, 2025

Trying2Grow said:
I’m a little afraid of topping so I’ll try tying it down. Was hoping to move this thing outside soon, but I’m guessing that won’t be much better than the cfls?

Outside is fine if you have dryer weather in the fall. Most strains finish during the month of October and damp/wet cool falls can cause issues.

JIMKSI64 · May 21, 2025

Trying2Grow said:
I’m a little afraid of topping so I’ll try tying it down. Was hoping to move this thing outside soon, but I’m guessing that won’t be much better than the cfls?

This is a good idea as long as where you are is at least 14 hours sunlight. Harden off the plant so the transition does not hurt it. Noon ppfd of 1200 of natural sunlight will turn that baby on if handled properly.

RoadKillSkunkHunt · May 21, 2025

JIMKSI64 said:
This is a good idea as long as where you are is at least 14 hours sunlight. Harden off the plant so the transition does not hurt it. Noon ppfd of 1200 of natural sunlight will turn that baby on if handled properly.

Outside natural sunlight would be much better than any artificial light for sure.

As for grow lights, I'd personally purchase the highest watt light that would fit the space (that was in my budget) and then use the dimmer to adjust to acceptable levels.

Trying2Grow · May 21, 2025

RoadKillSkunkHunt said:
Outside is fine if you have dryer weather in the fall. Most strains finish during the month of October and damp/wet cool falls can cause issues.

It’s hit or miss but I think I’ll take the gamble. Maybe my tent will be empty again by then if it gets real rainy.

My last concern is, assuming this is a photo, how does that affect my pheno… in the sense that, this was a CBD heavy strain, less than 1% thc… I was hoping I could smoke without getting baked now I feel like it’s a mystery plant.

RoadKillSkunkHunt · May 21, 2025

Trying2Grow said:
It’s hit or miss but I think I’ll take the gamble. Maybe my tent will be empty again by then if it gets real rainy.

My last concern is, assuming this is a photo, how does that affect my pheno… in the sense that, this was a CBD heavy strain, less than 1% thc… I was hoping I could smoke without getting baked now I feel like it’s a mystery plant.

I don't know if we have enough information to really answer that. I wouldn't think a strain bred to be less than 1% THC would produce extreme levels of THC even under the strangest of conditions .. but that's just my guess. I don't know for sure.

Trying2Grow · May 21, 2025

RoadKillSkunkHunt said:
I don't know if we have enough information to really answer that. I wouldn't think a strain bred to be less than 1% THC would produce extreme levels of THC even under the strangest of conditions .. but that's just my guess. I don't know for sure.

Hope so. Just assumed the low thc was in large part from being ruderalis. Oh well.. if in 3 months or so I find myself higher than giraffe pussy, I’ll let you know

RoadKillSkunkHunt · May 21, 2025

Trying2Grow said:
Hope so. Just assumed the low thc was in large part from being ruderalis. Oh well.. if in 3 months or so I find myself higher than giraffe pussy, I’ll let you know

Just go slow until you know if you don't want to be toast. However, in my eyes, the higher you are, the better the smoke is. To all their own tastes and preferences....

Trying2Grow · May 21, 2025

JIMKSI64 said:
Going to need some lights for flower. Even a 100 watt panel will finish a small plant.
If you feel you have fixed your missteps get a panel light and flip it to flower.
If you think it is a photo get a light and keep at 18-6 and see how it goes.

I have an ionboard s22, but it’s currently lighting up a Super Lemon Haze and Gelato I need a bigger tent and a 2nd light I think.

This hobby is addictive lol

RoadKillSkunkHunt · May 21, 2025

Trying2Grow said:
This hobby is addictive lol

Yes it is ...

Phyto · May 21, 2025

Trying2Grow said:
I’m a little afraid of topping so I’ll try tying it down. Was hoping to move this thing outside soon, but I’m guessing that won’t be much better than the cfls?

Outside is the best light you can get! Nothing beats the sun. In most cases

Trying2Grow said:
It’s hit or miss but I think I’ll take the gamble. Maybe my tent will be empty again by then if it gets real rainy.

My last concern is, assuming this is a photo, how does that affect my pheno… in the sense that, this was a CBD heavy strain, less than 1% thc… I was hoping I could smoke without getting baked now I feel like it’s a mystery plant.

in a sense it is a mystery plant, because it’s definitely not an auto, it could still be CBD heavy, just not an auto. For lighting nothing is better than the sun! CFL’s, for the most part, are not great lights for growing cannabis, old technology.

Trying2Grow · May 21, 2025

Phyto said:
Outside is the best light you can get! Nothing beats the sun. In most cases

in a sense it is a mystery plant, because it’s definitely not an auto, it could still be CBD heavy, just not an auto. For lighting nothing is better than the sun! CFL’s, for the most part, are not great lights for growing cannabis, old technology.

True. Guess it’s just the variables that make a grow light superior… no clouds/more hours.

Yeah, the cfls were cheap and I thought the plant was going to die so I didn’t want to invest much into keeping it alive. But it just kept livin’ no matter what.

Maybe depending on the yield I’ll find somewhere to test the plant for levels. I can’t really gift anyone THC-free weed, but I haven’t smoked in a long time, and wanted to build my tolerance back up real slow. Jumping to 20+% thc might put me in a coma lol.

JIMKSI64 · May 21, 2025

If you were expecting an auto and it is not an auto I would suggest this is a random bag seed situation. I would not even count on it being feminized at this point.
This is not a bad thing. Nice looking plants at the moment. Get some growth and see what happens. Keep us posted.

Trying2Grow · May 21, 2025

JIMKSI64 said:
If you were expecting an auto and it is not an auto I would suggest this is a random bag seed situation. I would not even count on it being feminized at this point.
This is not a bad thing. Nice looking plants at the moment. Get some growth and see what happens. Keep us posted.

It was actually from Canuk Seeds, and cost $16 cad

Stunted auto or lacking ruderalis?

Stunted auto or lacking ruderalis?

Trying2Grow

Attachments

Phyto

RoadKillSkunkHunt

Trying2Grow

RoadKillSkunkHunt

Trying2Grow

JIMKSI64

RoadKillSkunkHunt

JIMKSI64

RoadKillSkunkHunt

Trying2Grow

RoadKillSkunkHunt

Trying2Grow

RoadKillSkunkHunt

Trying2Grow

RoadKillSkunkHunt

Phyto

Trying2Grow

JIMKSI64

Trying2Grow

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency