Starting autos in final pot

TreeFarmerCharlie

TreeFarmerCharlie

Well-Known Member
Please bear with me, because I have never grown an autoflower, but I'm genuinely curious about this recommendation I hear so often.

Is transplant shock so common with autoflowers that people really should refrain from starting them in small containers? I've been growing photos for over two years, and I've never noticed any signs of transplant shock, so I often wonder why people feel so strongly about this with autos. If this is a heavily debated topic then I apologize in advance. I'm not looking to start any arguments, this is honest to goodness curiosity on my part.
 
Bud Zilla

Bud Zilla

Member
TreeFarmerCharlie said:
I know they have a set flowering schedule. Did you read my question, or did you just see the title and go from there?
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Yeah I read your question. there is a transplant shock regardless if you notice it or not. Autos start in there finishing pots there not more prone to shock it's about maximizing yeilds. Kinda like why you start feeding them earlier as well !
 
Zogs

Zogs

Well-Known Member
It's all about the tap root. Auto's are unique with their fast seeking tap root. Once it hits bottom it will start to focus on lateral root grow and it's said to limit the over all plant size or stunt it's growth. "dudegrows" had a really good video on the subject with Jordan from AFN. So from my own personal grows and looking at a ton of other grow journals I would say transplanting wouldn't be an issue, especially in your case where you are experienced with it. Just make sure you get it in it's final pot early before that tap root bottoms out. I like to do mine at about day 7 and max out around day 10.
 
TreeFarmerCharlie

TreeFarmerCharlie

Well-Known Member
Zogs said:
It's all about the tap root. Auto's are unique with their fast seeking tap root. Once it hits bottom it will start to focus on lateral root grow and it's said to limit the over all plant size or stunt it's growth. "dudegrows" had a really good video on the subject with Jordan from AFN. So from my own personal grows and looking at a ton of other grow journals I would say transplanting wouldn't be an issue, especially in your case where you are experienced with it. Just make sure you get it in it's final pot early before that tap root bottoms out. I like to do mine at about day 7 and max out around day 10.
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Thanks for the explanation, that makes a lot of sense to me.
 
L

lilbeanmerchant

Member
It all depends on how long your plants will stay in veg. I have grown a few autoflowers over the years and some strains finished in 65 days some in 90+ days. A strain that will start to flower in week 3-4 should be started in the final pot if you ask me. Other strains that start to flower in week 5-6 take a transplant pretty well from my experience. Right now I am growing Northern Light Autos from Seedsman which showed sex in week 5 and start to flower in week 6-7. Starting those next run in smaller pots with just light mix and worm castings. Will re-pot in week 2-3 in 4 gallon pots with amendet soil.
 
wil2279

wil2279

Well-Known Member
Zogs said:
It's all about the tap root. Auto's are unique with their fast seeking tap root. Once it hits bottom it will start to focus on lateral root grow and it's said to limit the over all plant size or stunt it's growth. "dudegrows" had a really good video on the subject with Jordan from AFN. So from my own personal grows and looking at a ton of other grow journals I would say transplanting wouldn't be an issue, especially in your case where you are experienced with it. Just make sure you get it in it's final pot early before that tap root bottoms out. I like to do mine at about day 7 and max out around day 10.
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This is pretty much the answer. I have heard guys like Dr. MJ Coco from Coco for Cannabis say you should start autos in a smaller pot so you can maximize your root mass but I do personally feel a taller skinnier container would be best and you would still want to transplant before the end of week 2.

Keeping in mind Dr. Coco grows in coco using high frequency fertigation. He is not an organic grower. He grows autos huge using this method. If you are like me and growing organically, I'm not sure if this is a huge help.
 
TreeFarmerCharlie

TreeFarmerCharlie

Well-Known Member
Thanks for all the information. I’ve never grown an auto so i just had a hard time wrapping my head around the “no transplant” rule. I think I’m going to order some auto seeds to try outside this year. I like having control of the schedule of my plants, indoors, but I think I would prefer autos for outdoor due to how cool and wet it gets by me before photos are ready for harvest.
 
DarkWeb

DarkWeb

Well-Known Member
You can up pot...just do it before it needs it and you'll be fine. I just took one down a few weeks ago and finished putting it in jars yesterday.
 
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