Questioning the autoflower dogma for the hobbyist grower

billytimmy

Well-Known Member
First of all I am just a hobbyist and dont sell or anything so I am not talking about anything beyond growing for fun

However now that I have grown a few autoflower strains I am really questioning some of the tenants taken as law by a lot of growers on here, including
  • dont top
  • dont defoliate
  • possibly dont transplant, I currently am testing this out

I have found that as long as I have proper ph and environment I can do whatever to the plants and they seem to love it :weed:

I could be all wrong here too :bigjoint:

I wonder how many of the people who are so against these techniques and always chime in have actually tried these techniques?
 

Marijuana Mercenary

Well-Known Member
Cannabis cultivation has been underground for so long that most information is occult. A lot of my research has led me to to conclude that people will argue cultivation the same way they will politics or religion. Evidence and facts do little to sway their opinions and they seem to take them as disrespect to their skill or hard work. Threads turn from research and collaboration to childish "I' m right, your wrong" arguments.

Everyones grow space and conditions differ, to say that one way is the best is bad manners in my opinion. I like to research what works for others while mixing in my own trial and error experience.
 

tropicalcannabispatient

Well-Known Member
First of all I am just a hobbyist and dont sell or anything so I am not talking about anything beyond growing for fun

However now that I have grown a few autoflower strains I am really questioning some of the tenants taken as law by a lot of growers on here, including
  • dont top
  • dont defoliate
  • possibly dont transplant, I currently am testing this out

I have found that as long as I have proper ph and environment I can do whatever to the plants and they seem to love it :weed:

I could be all wrong here too :bigjoint:

I wonder how many of the people who are so against these techniques and always chime in have actually tried these techniques?
The only one i WON'T do is defoliate, i actually top, fim, lst, pinch and bend branches with no problems, some people talk from what they hear before actually try it, im getting good results
 

billytimmy

Well-Known Member
The only one i WON'T do is defoliate, i actually top, fim, lst, pinch and bend branches with no problems, some people talk from what they hear before actually try it, im getting good results
what is your aversion to defoliation?

I have been trimming fan leaves that block light to buds or get in the way of other plants. They seem to like to be pruned and dont show any stress signs from what I can tell.
 

tropicalcannabispatient

Well-Known Member
Thats d
what is your aversion to defoliation?

I have been trimming fan leaves that block light to buds or get in the way of other plants. They seem to like to be pruned and dont show any stress signs from what I can tell.
thats different remove one or two fan leaves that are shading bud sites its ok, but not defoliation of the plant the name say it all. Defoliation- remove all the foliage.. That doesn't benefits you in any way..
 

harris hawk

Well-Known Member
just re-move leaves that block buds site for big growth - simple auto's or not - treat auto's as " babie's" can use any nutrient but at reduced amounts -- 1/4 amount's of what is directed - if that
 

Tsizzle86

Active Member
I just posted a thread a while a go about transplanting autos. I made a mistake of started the popped seeds In small pots. I was worried after 1 week I had stunted them but after I transplanted they are responding well. I feel like maybe as long as you don't let them get root bound it might be ok. I don't know. I do know that the small plant will like more air in the smaller pot. I may have disturbed the roots when I transplanted also despite it not being root bound. I will just have to see how they turn out.
 

billytimmy

Well-Known Member
I just posted a thread a while a go about transplanting autos. I made a mistake of started the popped seeds In small pots. I was worried after 1 week I had stunted them but after I transplanted they are responding well. I feel like maybe as long as you don't let them get root bound it might be ok. I don't know. I do know that the small plant will like more air in the smaller pot. I may have disturbed the roots when I transplanted also despite it not being root bound. I will just have to see how they turn out.
I recently transplanted 8 auto's of all different strains aged from 3-6 weeks due to a problem with the pots and there was no problem whatsoever. I even had to cut off the old pots, a huge mess and for sure disturbed and cut roots, and there was not even any growth slowdown.
 

Cannacat

Well-Known Member
Sativa vs Indica
Soil vs Hydro
Seeds vs Clone
CFL vs HID
HPS vs MH
Defoliation vs Foliar Growth.

Let the games begin!
Haha I'm too new for the option of "liking" anything but I did like it and wanted to tell you so! Also, this perfectly sums up my one week of experience at RIU, so many people seem convinced that their way is the only way worth doing it, and most have totally reasonable arguments behind their opinion, which makes it really difficult as a total noob to decide which way of doing it I should be attempting!
 
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Tsizzle86

Active Member
I recently transplanted 8 auto's of all different strains aged from 3-6 weeks due to a problem with the pots and there was no problem whatsoever. I even had to cut off the old pots, a huge mess and for sure disturbed and cut roots, and there was not even any growth slowdown.
Sweet. I'll keep that in mind. The only thing I was thinking is I might have stunted them without knowing despite the fact that they look good now. I'm going to post a few pics tonight. I was thinking about doing a journal but was a little hesitant of uploading pics through my cell. I'll see what happens. I might throw them up tonight. Thanks for the input.
 

harris hawk

Well-Known Member
do what ever to keep it light on the bud site development - use common sense when it come to "auto's" if fan leaves blcok ligth to bud site remove it ! Simple--Keep It Simple" !!!!
 

yeatster

Well-Known Member
I prefer to tuck fan leaves, as apposed to defol. I gently rub the stem of it to make it pliable, then tuck.
I feel the fan leaves hold nutrients.(with the price of nutrients, I'm not throwing them away).
I do top, they love it!
My thoughts on transplanting autos. If there is a chance of slowing down for even 6 hrs. I try to avoid it, the whole life of an auto is "crunch time". If they are in too small a pot, I feel it's worth the risk.

That being said, I'm on my first grow. Hahahaha
 

jmcdaniel0

Well-Known Member
I have always been one of the set and forget type of growers. But that is because I was told that. I am a big fan of Scrog growing. I'm going to try that on my upcoming grow.
 

yeatster

Well-Known Member
I was just thinking I'm running 60w 5500 cfls now. I was thinking of buying a Mars hydro 300 watt or the 48 reflector series. Is this worth it. Also if not when do I switch to different color spectrum on the auto flower. I am like 11 days in now. My area is like 2x2 I just don't know if either of these two lights are going to give me better results I know it will be easier not having to change bulbs. Thanks for thehelp.
In my research experience only.

2/1 ratio of 6500k to 2700k is optimal for veg.
In flower it is the opposite, 2/1 of 2700k to 6500k.
I have read mixed reviews on the Mars lighting. I think they are the better, lower costing LEDs.
My opinion is Mars 300w will work great in a 2x2. Surely more effective than a couple cfls.

Maybe someone with, hands on, experience will have a better answer for you.
Peace
 

Jimdamick

Well-Known Member
Sativa vs Indica
Soil vs Hydro
Seeds vs Clone
CFL vs HID
HPS vs MH
Defoliation vs Foliar Growth.

Let the games begin!
Soil (indoors) sucks
Seed the best
CFL Sucks
MH/HPS the best
Defoliation sucks (move/trim leaves blocking bud sites, as EVERY leaf feeds your bud sites)
Pure Sativa rocks, but requires patience
Pure Indica is great, but definitely 2nd place to Sativa
50/50 the best for the average man, as far as time is concerned.
Anybody that disagrees with me is an idiot.
 
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