Auto Flower or Photoperiod?

Is the only advantage of auto flowering plants the fact that they don’t have to have exact/precise amount of lighting? If lighting isn’t an issue (I have a light and timer) couldn’t I just grow the plant to the height I want and then switch it to flowering? (12/12).

I don’t want to sacrifice THC content and size of buds if I don’t have to...

Thanks in advance!

Hybrids are best for new growers for many reasons and you dont have to worry about flipping them. Have just as much thc and are as good as photoperiods or they wouldn't have lasted thru the years.Work awesome in sea of green also due to many smaller plants. You can also flower and veg in the same tent if you have limited space for a veg room. They have many advantages but they dont work good for screen of greens. They also develop faster and are bred to be more mold and mildew and pest resistant. That said you wont be growing any 4ft tall plants, I vegged these for 2 months and they took up the whole grow tent (2×4). Second pic shows they stretched 4 inches in 36 hours of darkness. If ya wanna veg forever fill a tent with photoperiods, if ya want the fastest crop ya can get go auto. All depends on your preferences and situation. Goodluck

Tannerwilliams919 said:

Is the only advantage of auto flowering plants the fact that they don’t have to have exact/precise amount of lighting? If lighting isn’t an issue (I have a light and timer) couldn’t I just grow the plant to the height I want and then switch it to flowering? (12/12).

I don’t want to sacrifice THC content and size of buds if I don’t have to...

Thanks in advance!

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Grow photos. Im switching to photos. Autos take almost as long to finish. Autos are not as potent. Autos are more picky. Phenos have way more variation with autos from seed to seed. Autos have a place for many people but they arent ideal.

Tannerwilliams919 said:

Is the only advantage of auto flowering plants the fact that they don’t have to have exact/precise amount of lighting? If lighting isn’t an issue (I have a light and timer) couldn’t I just grow the plant to the height I want and then switch it to flowering? (12/12).

I don’t want to sacrifice THC content and size of buds if I don’t have to...

Thanks in advance!

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One advantage for new growers is you go through each stage of the plant faster. It’s easier to let the plant do it’s thing and you worry about not over watering etc.

then once you get that stuff down you can worry about when to flip it and how to defol etc.

Wattzzup said:

One advantage for new growers is you go through each stage of the plant faster. It’s easier to let the plant do it’s thing and you worry about not over watering etc.

then once you get that stuff done you can worry about when to flip it and how to defol etc.

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Yeah I fully regret ever growing autos though.

JoeBlow5823 said:

Yeah I fully regret ever growing autos though.

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You cant just say that and not explain

Wattzzup said:

You cant just say that and not explain

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Just look at the two pineapple express in the back. They came from the same pack!

Ya, I agree with @JoeBlow5823. I've been messing with some autos this year and I feel like they have their time and place but photos are easier for a variety of reasons. Easier to control the size of the plant as you point out, often more potent, and they are less finicky. And as I'm learning with my NL Auto they definitely don't necessarily finish quicker then photos.

Autos main advantages are growing outdoors in areas with short growing seasons (because they won't wait for shorter days to start flowering) and being able to set up something resembling a perpetual grow with just one tent since vegging and flowering plants can share space.

JoeBlow5823 said:

Just look at the two pineapple express in the back. They came from the same pack!
View attachment 4551093

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I assume they were on the same feeding schedule? I know one getting more nitrogen can cause that. I’d smoke either just saying

Wattzzup said:

I assume they were on the same feeding schedule? I know one getting more nitrogen can cause that. I’d smoke either just saying

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They were both good quality wise. Not amazing though. Yes same dirt same water same everything.

Gentlemencorpse said:

Ya, I agree with @JoeBlow5823. I've been messing with some autos this year and I feel like they have their time and place but photos are easier for a variety of reasons. Easier to control the size of the plant as you point out, often more potent, and they are less finicky. And as I'm learning with my NL Auto they definitely don't necessarily finish quicker then photos.

Autos main advantages are growing outdoors in areas with short growing seasons (because they won't wait for shorter days to start flowering) and being able to set up something resembling a perpetual grow with just one tent since vegging and flowering plants can share space.

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Yup. Where im at plants need to be done by mid to late september. Also if you have a veg tent running all the time, you might find yourself having room for an auto or two a lot of the time.

I guess an advantage to growing autos would be that, all you really need to do is keep the plant healthy and you can watch each phase as Wattzzup said. More of a watering/feeding lesson. Autos are also good for getting an early harvest outdoors; no jackers in August.

I also vote photos. You can do all the above, and have control over growth. Plus there's way more strains to be found in photo periods than autos. Regulars and fems, but I haven't shopped for autos in years now.

Yes I’m switching after this grow to photos. But it’s been so much easier just leaving my first few plants alone. It wasn’t until my 5th grow that I started taking leaves and branches off my autos.

I wanted to make sure I could get the basics down and then move on from there.

Thanks everyone! Really appreciate the input from everyone... I've done this once before, about 10 years ago with a normal, feminized, photo seed and had a good result. So I'm not worried as far as being a "beginner", I have everything I need: 5 gallon bucket, net pot, nutrients, hydroton, pH meter, etc.

Just didn't know if I could just grow the photo seed to an autoflower type height (short) and then make it flower when I'm ready and not have to lose out on thc and good, dense buds. Only doing 1 plant by the way lol. I feel like the DWC 5 gallon bucket method is about as "set it and forget it" as you can get (other than kratky).

Tannerwilliams919 said:

Thanks everyone! Really appreciate the input from everyone... I've done this once before, about 10 years ago with a normal, feminized, photo seed and had a good result. So I'm not worried as far as being a "beginner", I have everything I need: 5 gallon bucket, net pot, nutrients, hydroton, pH meter, etc.

Just didn't know if I could just grow the photo seed to an autoflower type height (short) and then make it flower when I'm ready and not have to lose out on thc and good, dense buds. Only doing 1 plant by the way lol. I feel like the DWC 5 gallon bucket method is about as "set it and forget it" as you can get (other than kratky).

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I think everyone says they double or triple in size when your flip them. Keep that in mind.

Wattzzup said:

I think everyone says they double or triple in size when your flip them. Keep that in mind.

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Yeah, if your goal is to keep them short I recommend researching your strain really well. A pure Indica or hybrid that leans towards that end of the spectrum usually won't stretch as much. Most I've grown seem to increase from 50%-100% I have had sativas nearly quadruple in size!

PP for the win