ArtfulCodger
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Not that anyone asked, but here's why I don't usually recommend autoflowers to new indoor growers. Before I begin, I want to say that I'm not trying to start an argument. I'm not saying autoflowers are bad. I've grown them outdoors when I've gotten a late start in our short New England summers. Lots of growers enjoy autos, and that's great. To each their own. Expert growers like Autopotamus and Bill Ward grow magnificent plants from autoflowering seeds. With that out of the way, here are three challenges that come with autos that I think are worth considering for new growers when choosing genetics.
#1: Veg heals all wounds.
One of the great things about the veg phase for photoperiod plants is that there's no rush. If we screw up watering, feeding, or lighting, accidentally snap them, get bugs, or any of the other interesting mistakes we all make/made when we start/ed out...it's no big deal. We make adjustments and veg longer until they're the size we want and they're healthy. If we lose a plant, we can veg the remaining plants longer. Then, we flip to flower and fill our space with buds. Not only does this let us go into flower healthy, but it also gives us time to learn how to correct whatever we did wrong. Winner, winner, chicken dinner.
Autos don't work that way. When an auto seed gets wet, the fuse is lit. It will start flowering when it wants to, not when you want it to. If you do everything right, that's great. But how many of us did everything right on our first run?
#2: Size matters.
This one might be a little more controversial, but it's based on an idea that I suspect is appealing to most of us: More bud is better than less bud. Yield is driven by light. After the first three weeks of flower, every photon that hits the floor without being blocked by a leaf or bud site is wasted. We pay for lights, we pay for space, we pay for electricity. By the time the stretch is over, I don't want to be able to see the floor from above. I want a carpet of bud sites, soaking up all that expensive light.
It's easy to make a carpet of bud sites with photoperiod plants. Veg until the flowering footprint is half full of healthy plants. Then flip to flower and the stretch will fill the space. Again, autos don't work that way. When an auto seed gets wet, the fuse is lit. It will start flowering when it wants to, not when you want it to. Maybe that will fill the space. Maybe it won't. I like to know for sure.
#3: They're tough to clone.
Another great feature of photoperiod cannabis is that you can clone it. When you find something in a photoperiod variety that you love, you can theoretically run it forever without buying more genetics. It's technically possible to clone autos, but it's not easy, and the results are variable at best. Taking cuttings from an auto doesn't reset the flower clock. If the mother plant was close to flowering, the clones are close to flowering, which might not afford enough time to establish good roots. That impacts yield and quality. Cloning probably isn't a major consideration for new growers, but I think it's worth including, simply because it's a relatively easy way to keep stuff we like and save money on genetics.
This is not an exhaustive list. It's just three things worth considering if you're picking genetics for your first run. Just my $0.02, of course. There are lots of ways to grow.
#1: Veg heals all wounds.
One of the great things about the veg phase for photoperiod plants is that there's no rush. If we screw up watering, feeding, or lighting, accidentally snap them, get bugs, or any of the other interesting mistakes we all make/made when we start/ed out...it's no big deal. We make adjustments and veg longer until they're the size we want and they're healthy. If we lose a plant, we can veg the remaining plants longer. Then, we flip to flower and fill our space with buds. Not only does this let us go into flower healthy, but it also gives us time to learn how to correct whatever we did wrong. Winner, winner, chicken dinner.
Autos don't work that way. When an auto seed gets wet, the fuse is lit. It will start flowering when it wants to, not when you want it to. If you do everything right, that's great. But how many of us did everything right on our first run?
#2: Size matters.
This one might be a little more controversial, but it's based on an idea that I suspect is appealing to most of us: More bud is better than less bud. Yield is driven by light. After the first three weeks of flower, every photon that hits the floor without being blocked by a leaf or bud site is wasted. We pay for lights, we pay for space, we pay for electricity. By the time the stretch is over, I don't want to be able to see the floor from above. I want a carpet of bud sites, soaking up all that expensive light.
It's easy to make a carpet of bud sites with photoperiod plants. Veg until the flowering footprint is half full of healthy plants. Then flip to flower and the stretch will fill the space. Again, autos don't work that way. When an auto seed gets wet, the fuse is lit. It will start flowering when it wants to, not when you want it to. Maybe that will fill the space. Maybe it won't. I like to know for sure.
#3: They're tough to clone.
Another great feature of photoperiod cannabis is that you can clone it. When you find something in a photoperiod variety that you love, you can theoretically run it forever without buying more genetics. It's technically possible to clone autos, but it's not easy, and the results are variable at best. Taking cuttings from an auto doesn't reset the flower clock. If the mother plant was close to flowering, the clones are close to flowering, which might not afford enough time to establish good roots. That impacts yield and quality. Cloning probably isn't a major consideration for new growers, but I think it's worth including, simply because it's a relatively easy way to keep stuff we like and save money on genetics.
This is not an exhaustive list. It's just three things worth considering if you're picking genetics for your first run. Just my $0.02, of course. There are lots of ways to grow.
