Why grow autos?

Capt. Trips

Well-Known Member
Like the title says, I'm curious why people choose to grow autos. I know a lot of people like them, and I'm not trying to be a dick, but I'm very new to growing and I genuinely want to know why people would choose to grow an autoflowering strain rather than a regular strain. From what I've read, autos yield a lot less, so I just can't wrap my head around why someone would want to grow one. Surely they must have their advantages, but I just can't come up with any, at all.

Again, I'm not trying to insult anyone who grows autos. Just trying to understand.
 

waterdawg

Well-Known Member
Growing some auto's now and trying to figure that one out as well lol. I think yes they have a place in the garden outdoors if they finish fast! Mine seem to be taking their sweet ass time lol. I was hoping for 10 weeks and I dont think so now! Their 8 weeks in and just starting to bud. Even if their done in 4 weeks. I could have had regs done by sept 20 so only a couple of weeks. As for indoors with regs I can be done in 85 days so dont see the benefit of Auto's for my setup.
 

cc2012

Well-Known Member
Why Not?.?. I think the possible yield from Autos has improved massively since they hit the scene and a lot of Folk's started Growing them...To Baked to look for em, but from some of the Threads I've read, I'm pretty sure some peeps have had very GOOD yields from Autos

atb

subbed
 

weedenhanced

Well-Known Member
Like the title says, I'm curious why people choose to grow autos. I know a lot of people like them, and I'm not trying to be a dick, but I'm very new to growing and I genuinely want to know why people would choose to grow an autoflowering strain rather than a regular strain. From what I've read, autos yield a lot less, so I just can't wrap my head around why someone would want to grow one. Surely they must have their advantages, but I just can't come up with any, at all.

Again, I'm not trying to insult anyone who grows autos. Just trying to understand.
I just grew 4 nl autos I yielded the same as my last photo grow 13 oz dry so yield is not affected saying this tho u can make no mistakes with autos otherwise yield will be decresed massivly there is zero room for error why I grew them was the time of grow I was able to finish it all within 3 months from seed yes u can do that with photo but the yield would not be the same I reakon my photo grows take me about 4 months caus3 I like to train and play with em more lol and i grew autos to see what the rage was all about ...
Another reason ppl grow autos is for a constant cycle of bud u can have 10 plants under the same light conditions all at different ages so u could under 1 light have 1 2 week old all the way to a near finished plant effectively being able to harvest 5 to 6 oz every week if u started the plants at different times so no need for veg room and flower room u can donit all in 1 tent or room 20140626_082418.jpg
There about 6 weeks old in this picCameraZOOM-20140713115321701.jpg
 

grorite

Well-Known Member
Why Not?.?. I think the possible yield from Autos has improved massively since they hit the scene and a lot of Folk's started Growing them...To Baked to look for em, but from some of the Threads I've read, I'm pretty sure some peeps have had very GOOD yields from Autos

atb

subbed
may be good but not as good as they could be with photos guaranteed I can get a better yield from a sog than people can get with an auto
 

grorite

Well-Known Member
I just grew 4 nl autos I yielded the same as my last photo grow 13 oz dry so yield is not affected saying this tho u can make no mistakes with autos otherwise yield will be decresed massivly there is zero room for error why I grew them was the time of grow I was able to finish it all within 3 months from seed yes u can do that with photo but the yield would not be the same I reakon my photo grows take me about 4 months caus3 I like to train and play with em more lol and i grew autos to see what the rage was all about ...
Another reason ppl grow autos is for a constant cycle of bud u can have 10 plants under the same light conditions all at different ages so u could under 1 light have 1 2 week old all the way to a near finished plant effectively being able to harvest 5 to 6 oz every week if u started the plants at different times so no need for veg room and flower room u can donit all in 1 tent or room View attachment 3214025
There about 6 weeks old in this picView attachment 3214028
pics may be shit but I liked your post lol
 
I started 1 auto crit mass on 4/20 growing it outside. I cloned the top of it when I topped it. Right now they are about 4 ft tall and starting to flower in the middle of the summer. You can't get flowers in the middle of summer outside any other way. My other plants are all non auto, but its nice to throw in 1 or 2 for some mid summer buds.
 

trutattoo13

Active Member
Some ppl grow autos because of limited grow space as well as the different high but if u have a small stealth grow it can be a good yeild with 4-5 auto plants rather then 1 indica taking the same room also takes a Lil bit less maintenance on the lighting side
 

weedenhanced

Well-Known Member
may be good but not as good as they could be with photos guaranteed I can get a better yield from a sog than people can get with an auto
It equaled my last scrog grow is what normaly do
And yeah my pics suck lol20140710_174423.jpg image.jpg image.jpg
Auto vs scrog same area same light same amount of plants scrog 12 oz auto 13 oz
Scrog was bagseed auto was froma seed shop
 
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weedenhanced

Well-Known Member
Some ppl grow autos because of limited grow space as well as the different high but if u have a small stealth grow it can be a good yeild with 4-5 auto plants rather then 1 indica taking the same room also takes a Lil bit less maintenance on the lighting side
True in a sence u would need be very selective what auto strain u grew some auto r massive like this nl20140625_141714.jpg
 

weedenhanced

Well-Known Member
I started 1 auto crit mass on 4/20 growing it outside. I cloned the top of it when I topped it. Right now they are about 4 ft tall and starting to flower in the middle of the summer. You can't get flowers in the middle of summer outside any other way. My other plants are all non auto, but its nice to throw in 1 or 2 for some mid summer buds.
U cant clone a auto lol it will bud the same time as the mother lol
 

az2000

Well-Known Member
From what I've read, autos yield a lot less
My first auto yielded 6.5 oz. The last one I harvested suffered some challenges due to acidic soil. I struggled to keep her going with foliar feeding as I raised the ph of the soil. It did 4 oz.

I like autos for 2 reasons:

1. They move at a faster pace, which keeps things interesting. I get a little bored with photosensitives, waiting, waiting. Autos provide more immediate feedback. Enough so that I don't find myself tapping my foot, getting anxious for things to move on.

2. No "dark" requirement. In other words, I can leave the tent open. I can work on them whenever. I can have a perpetual grow with veg and flower plants side by side (which is what I do in a 2x4 tent, harvesting a plant every 7 weeks.).

I'm seriously considering growing 6 autos in my 4x4 tent after I finish my remaining photosensitive seeds. Harvest a plant every 18 days, add a new seedling.

Downside to autos:

1. Ruderalis must bring some non-high traits to the plant. But, the results of mine have been plenty strong for me and my friends.

2. Lights run 18 hours all the time. Uses more electricity and reduces light lifespan because there's no reduction to 12 hours.

3. Seed bank estimations of time are consistently too short, setting false expectations and perhaps contributing to the perception that autos don't produce much, or aren't potent.

For example, my Northern Storm strain is said to be 65-80 days (9.2-11.4 weeks). I'm havesting at 101-105 days (14.4-15 weeks). I could have switched to pure-water "cleanse" 4-5 weeks earlier, but the buds would have been small and not too sparkly. It's those last 2-3 weeks when the buds get fat and nasty.

There's a lot of good info about autos on autoflower.net.
 

az2000

Well-Known Member
Some ppl grow autos because of limited grow space ...
I've been thinking that as recreational use is legalized, we'll see autos sold like "Chia Pets." An easy-to-grow, prepared package. Just water and "cha, cha, cha, chia!" :)

Seriously. It's extremely plausible for the average person working 10 hours a day to have a plant growing on the kitchen countertop. A 2' x 4 tube T5HO. A setup like that could produce a minimum of 2 oz every 3 months. No "dark period" requirements. No remembering to cut the lights to 12/12. Just "set it... and forget it!" (I watch too much late-night tv.).
 

Indoor Sun King

Well-Known Member
my first attempt at auto's resulted in some decent yield but the quality was below average.

I'm currently growing auto's for my indoor/sunshine grow because we have a short summer growing season
 

Capt. Trips

Well-Known Member
Thanks to everyone for the info. There are definitely some good points brought up that I never considered, especially having a perpetual grow with no need for separate rooms. I guess that would simplify things quite a bit.
 

PurpleBuz

Well-Known Member
Like the title says, I'm curious why people choose to grow autos. I know a lot of people like them, and I'm not trying to be a dick, but I'm very new to growing and I genuinely want to know why people would choose to grow an autoflowering strain rather than a regular strain. From what I've read, autos yield a lot less, so I just can't wrap my head around why someone would want to grow one. Surely they must have their advantages, but I just can't come up with any, at all.

Again, I'm not trying to insult anyone who grows autos. Just trying to understand.

In my opinion, the only reason to grow autos is for early season outdoor in northern climates, so you can harvest when its still hot and dry.
 

scarecrow77

Well-Known Member
The pros autos imo are....you can leave them in veg room with your photo plants and they.ll flower away for you..they don't get light stressed..they need little nutrients ...i found 2 gallon pots to be best for them...theres a lot of pros..but also alot of cones aswell.....growing from seed every time is a put off on its own...just my thought
 
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