Correct Timing for LST (Autos)

Prior post: https://www.rollitup.org/t/sharing-first-time-grow.885061/
-I raised lights and fixed some direct fan blowing... extreme curling was fixed.

I watered yesterday, straight water with fasilitor: Sub-300 ppm around pH 6.5. I have been watering 1/2 gallon each every 3-4 days... any more and it begins to leak (I can't handle excessive leaking with my setup).

1. Should I start LST? My plants are 4-5" tall with 3-5 nodes each. I am going to give it a shot of FF Grow Big this weekend so it might coincide well with that. Currently day 14-16 (left one 14, right one 16) from sprout.
2. Is the plant on the right overwatered? I'm starting to think that this plant just droops a bit more, genetically. It's getting obvious they aren't the same species (note previous post, I know that each plant is one of three).



Anything else you guys see, please point it out. Thanks for reading.

Your watering schedule sounds fine, but I couldn't be sure since I grow hydro. I would say you definitely want to veg them for another week before LSTing. What kind of light do you have? They look very small and underdeveloped for 16 days old. Also get some real pots, those mesh things are terrible, my local hydro provider despises them. Since you have a small tent I would have them on 13/11 light cycle with an HPS 400w or higher.

A half gallon should last 2 days in smart pots longer in buckets.Auto's usually grow well with less water.at that size I water daily about a cup at most.

ODBUD said:

Your watering schedule sounds fine, but I couldn't be sure since I grow hydro. I would say you definitely want to veg them for another week before LSTing. What kind of light do you have? They look very small and underdeveloped for 16 days old. Also get some real pots, those mesh things are terrible, my local hydro provider despises them. Since you have a small tent I would have them on 13/11 light cycle with an HPS 400w or higher.

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Specifics of my setup are in the previous post, linked at the top. It's an LED, http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Platinum-P150-12-band-Grow/dp/B00NTBVEGQ

Are they really that stunted? I do some random searching and it doesn't look too bad, they might be short, but I've got some nice, compact growth. I guess I could blame my problems on the LED, but I'm dead set on making it work for stealth reasons. I'll have to consider adding some smaller HPS. I lowered my light (I really think my previous curling problem was from direct fan blowing) so we'll see how they react. First grow, as long as it works.

I've been running it 19 on and 5 off, the majority of what I read stated 18 or 20, so I just split the difference. Have you had success doing 13/11 with autos?

70sdiver said:

A half gallon should last 2 days in smart pots longer in buckets.Auto's usually grow well with less water.at that size I water daily about a cup at most.

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Regarding the half gallon every two days, I'll keep that in mind. My place is currently super humid (70F, 65-70% humidity) and I did notice that four days between is too long. I'll keep putting off buying a dehumidifier because I don't trust my place's security for packages and it's too heavy for an Amazon locker. I'll figure it out before flowering.

You water daily? I was under the impression that watering a small amount daily wasn't as beneficial as giving it all in one go... something about root penetration?

I don't think they look stunted. I ALWAYS think that my autos are stunted then at the end of week 4 they really take off. They're fine.
20 hours light is my suggestion. 100 watts per plant or more.

You can start to train the top lower, but 1 more week might be better. You want to have a few lower nodes before starting LST so that there are branches available to rise up.

Water when pot feels very light. You might want to flush at some point if you are not allowing for runoff during regular waterings. The runoff clears the roots of salts (From water and fertilizer)

Thank you very much for your input sunny (as well as 70s and OD, forgot to say that before).

I'll wait to LST this weekend and flush for my next watering, your comment about runoff and salts makes sense. I should be flushing more than is average considering I don't allow for significant runoff.

Theyre definitely not stunted or even behind schedule. They actually look great. Understand that Odbud says he grows hydro. Hydro has a much faster growth rate. Maybe this is his reason for the comment. But even when i grew dwc my ladies were about that size after two weeks.

Thanks hotshot, this is all a new process for me so as long as it looks like I'll have some kind of a final product I'm happy.

staygreener said:

Thank you very much for your input sunny (as well as 70s and OD, forgot to say that before).

I'll wait to LST this weekend and flush for my next watering, your comment about runoff and salts makes sense. I should be flushing more than is average considering I don't allow for significant runoff.

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Yea, no need to overdo it, just one good flush between veg and flush with bottled or RO water between veg and flower would be fine.

Remember that autos have their own unique time table as compared to photos. They'll continue to stretch and veg well into weeks 4,5,6. best to keep the veg nutes going in at least weeks 4 and 5.. Once they stop growing taller then switch to flower nutes.

You're going to do fine and as long as you have enough light and temps are under control you'll have a nice fat sack of buds to share with your friends.

I started LST training ak48 auto at day 7 from sprout , 2 nodes , Mine are 26" tall and 17" wide at 29 days.

Fox Farm ocean forest soil , Fox farm trio , 400w hps , 200w cfl , ph 6.2 , happy frog fruit and flower , 24hr light thru 4week veg and now all are on 12/12... AK48 autos , Northerns lights and some awesome bag seed finds