Outdoor Autos, Problems and Solutions

[PioneerValleyOG]

Starting this thread as I planted some autos, Creme de la Chem, Jack Herer, and Double Grape Stomper.
Started in April 15th. The Creme is in full flower, although hasn't even reached 4 ft. Is a frost covered, dark green beauty, but it's so damn small.
Jack H, same issue, just not flowering as heavily, but in flower week 3ish? Same issue, small, a little bushier. Grape about same as Creme.
My question is, it says 65 days, I'm past that, do I count 65 days past start of flower? Or just let them go til they're done? There's no reason for these plants to have stunted, it's only the autos, other plants are doing awesome.

 

[Mechman60]

Starting this thread as I planted some autos, Creme de la Chem, Jack Herer, and Double Grape Stomper.
Started in April 15th. The Creme is in full flower, although hasn't even reached 4 ft. Is a frost covered, dark green beauty, but it's so damn small.
Jack H, same issue, just not flowering as heavily, but in flower week 3ish? Same issue, small, a little bushier. Grape about same as Creme.
My question is, it says 65 days, I'm past that, do I count 65 days past start of flower? Or just let them go til they're done? There's no reason for these plants to have stunted, it's only the autos, other plants are doing awesome.

I have one midget myself. Watching your thread, thanks

 

[GTG]

I have 2 autos that stunted for no real reason. The other autos and photos are doing well. This is my first time growing autos. So far I'm not very impressed. I'm not expecting much at all off of them.

 

[Humanrob]

Starting this thread as I planted some autos, Creme de la Chem, Jack Herer, and Double Grape Stomper.
Started in April 15th. The Creme is in full flower, although hasn't even reached 4 ft. Is a frost covered, dark green beauty, but it's so damn small.
Jack H, same issue, just not flowering as heavily, but in flower week 3ish? Same issue, small, a little bushier. Grape about same as Creme.
My question is, it says 65 days, I'm past that, do I count 65 days past start of flower? Or just let them go til they're done? There's no reason for these plants to have stunted, it's only the autos, other plants are doing awesome.

Have you grown autos before? Have you grown them outdoors before? Just wondering what your size expectations are based on, like if last year you grew them the same way and they were significantly taller?

Are you growing in the ground or in pots -- and if pots, what size?

As far as "65 days" goes, ignore that, breeder estimations are useless. You'll need the individual plants to tell you when they're ready.

I'm growing in 5 gallon pots this year (soil mix), most are between 2 and 3 feet tall, a couple are just a few inches over 3'. They all look about as I'd expect them to given my climate and the size of the pot I'm growing them in.

 

[Humanrob]

Starting this thread as I planted some autos, Creme de la Chem, Jack Herer, and Double Grape Stomper.
Started in April 15th. The Creme is in full flower, although hasn't even reached 4 ft. Is a frost covered, dark green beauty, but it's so damn small.
Jack H, same issue, just not flowering as heavily, but in flower week 3ish? Same issue, small, a little bushier. Grape about same as Creme.
My question is, it says 65 days, I'm past that, do I count 65 days past start of flower? Or just let them go til they're done? There's no reason for these plants to have stunted, it's only the autos, other plants are doing awesome.

More questions... I've lived in the Pioneer Valley, did you put them outside on 4/15? When you say the "other plants are doing awesome" are you saying you put photos out at the same time?

Autos and photos can both have their growth slowed by cool weather, that includes cool nights. The difference is that photos will just keep vegging for weeks after it warms up, and they will continue to grow and fill out. Autos have no space to make up for the lost time, if their growth was stunted in their first weeks, they will just end out as smaller plants. I start mine indoors around 5/15 and usually put them outside around 6/1, but this year we had a long cool spring and I kept some inside until 6/15 to avoid stunting them.

 

[twentyeight.threefive]

Starting this thread as I planted some autos, Creme de la Chem, Jack Herer, and Double Grape Stomper.
Started in April 15th. The Creme is in full flower, although hasn't even reached 4 ft. Is a frost covered, dark green beauty, but it's so damn small.
Jack H, same issue, just not flowering as heavily, but in flower week 3ish? Same issue, small, a little bushier. Grape about same as Creme.
My question is, it says 65 days, I'm past that, do I count 65 days past start of flower? Or just let them go til they're done? There's no reason for these plants to have stunted, it's only the autos, other plants are doing awesome.

You don’t count days at all. They finish when they finish.

 

[twentyeight.threefive]

More questions... I've lived in the Pioneer Valley, did you put them outside on 4/15? When you say the "other plants are doing awesome" are you saying you put photos out at the same time?

Autos and photos can both have their growth slowed by cool weather, that includes cool nights. The difference is that photos will just keep vegging for weeks after it warms up, and they will continue to grow and fill out. Autos have no space to make up for the lost time, if their growth was stunted in their first weeks, they will just end out as smaller plants. I start mine indoors around 5/15 and usually put them outside around 6/1, but this year we had a long cool spring and I kept some inside until 6/15 to avoid stunting them.

I put some clones outdoors at the end of April, brrrrrr. They had a stretch of low 30s night time temperatures.

 

[FirstCavApache64]

Starting this thread as I planted some autos, Creme de la Chem, Jack Herer, and Double Grape Stomper.
Started in April 15th. The Creme is in full flower, although hasn't even reached 4 ft. Is a frost covered, dark green beauty, but it's so damn small.
Jack H, same issue, just not flowering as heavily, but in flower week 3ish? Same issue, small, a little bushier. Grape about same as Creme.
My question is, it says 65 days, I'm past that, do I count 65 days past start of flower? Or just let them go til they're done? There's no reason for these plants to have stunted, it's only the autos, other plants are doing awesome.

As far as the 65 days, just look at that as a really optimistic guideline set by the breeder to sell seeds. You're going to just have to watch them and treat them like a normal plant as far as when they are done. Looking for brown pistils, swell, trichomes and ripe finished look. The autos most breeders sell won't get huge outdoors, they just don't have the time to get that big. There are exceptions like the super auto strains that can get up there, but most will be in the 4 foot range with some getting up to 5' or more if conditions are great. Pot size or planting in the ground will make a difference as well as the temps as mentioned above. Obviously strain genetics play a huge role in final size and it can vary depending on indica or sativa.

 

[PioneerValleyOG]

As far as the 65 days, just look at that as a really optimistic guideline set by the breeder to sell seeds. You're going to just have to watch them and treat them like a normal plant as far as when they are done. Looking for brown pistils, swell, trichomes and ripe finished look. The autos most breeders sell won't get huge outdoors, they just don't have the time to get that big. There are exceptions like the super auto strains that can get up there, but most will be in the 4 foot range with some getting up to 5' or more if conditions are great. Pot size or planting in the ground will make a difference as well as the temps as mentioned above. Obviously strain genetics play a huge role in final size and it can vary depending on indica or sativa.

That's such bs though. I started these in mid april

I have 2 autos that stunted for no real reason. The other autos and photos are doing well. This is my first time growing autos. So far I'm not very impressed. I'm not expecting much at all off of them.

Ditto.

 

[PioneerValleyOG]

More questions... I've lived in the Pioneer Valley, did you put them outside on 4/15? When you say the "other plants are doing awesome" are you saying you put photos out at the same time?

Autos and photos can both have their growth slowed by cool weather, that includes cool nights. The difference is that photos will just keep vegging for weeks after it warms up, and they will continue to grow and fill out. Autos have no space to make up for the lost time, if their growth was stunted in their first weeks, they will just end out as smaller plants. I start mine indoors around 5/15 and usually put them outside around 6/1, but this year we had a long cool spring and I kept some inside until 6/15 to avoid stunting them.

No, no, was too cold in April. I started the soaking on the 15th, then put them in solos and the window sill. Took them out to the screened in porch a couple warm days, then out in the sun a bit to harden them up, got warm enough around may 1st, when I transplanted them into bigger containers. Note: did this with mosr this year's seeds. The autos kicked into flower by mid June, just never got more than a few feet tall. Junk. I might get an Oz if I'm lucky, Per Plant. Waste of money.
Don't understand it.
Every time I step outside my box, I'm disappointed.
How does one get outdoor autos to grow 6 ft? Or is that pie in the sky?

 

[PioneerValleyOG]

More questions... I've lived in the Pioneer Valley, did you put them outside on 4/15? When you say the "other plants are doing awesome" are you saying you put photos out at the same time?

Autos and photos can both have their growth slowed by cool weather, that includes cool nights. The difference is that photos will just keep vegging for weeks after it warms up, and they will continue to grow and fill out. Autos have no space to make up for the lost time, if their growth was stunted in their first weeks, they will just end out as smaller plants. I start mine indoors around 5/15 and usually put them outside around 6/1, but this year we had a long cool spring and I kept some inside until 6/15 to avoid stunting them.

And yea, I put out feminized photo regs they're all doing awesome.

PVOG Does 2022

Starting my grow journal. Started brand April 16th. Had a cold stunt, but things worked out. Will be doing a photo dump and database soon, just wanted to start this off... Few pics from this year and last.

www.rollitup.org

And I put a lot of pics up on 2022 Massachusetts Outdoors...

 

[PioneerValleyOG]

Have you grown autos before? Have you grown them outdoors before? Just wondering what your size expectations are based on, like if last year you grew them the same way and they were significantly taller?

Are you growing in the ground or in pots -- and if pots, what size?

As far as "65 days" goes, ignore that, breeder estimations are useless. You'll need the individual plants to tell you when they're ready.

I'm growing in 5 gallon pots this year (soil mix), most are between 2 and 3 feet tall, a couple are just a few inches over 3'. They all look about as I'd expect them to given my climate and the size of the pot I'm growing them in.

See, this I exactly the intel I was looking for. Nope, never grown autos. And had no idea they were mostly dwarves. Designed for tents I guess? I've grown outdoors for decades, and am used to 6' and up, and up. I mean, it's cool, for a head stash jar or two, but when you have legal plots like my home Alpha plot, it's a waste of space, for me.
This is more what I'm used to for 12 plants

 

[twentyeight.threefive]

See, this I exactly the intel I was looking for. Nope, never grown autos. And had no idea they were mostly dwarves. Designed for tents I guess? I've grown outdoors for decades, and am used to 6' and up, and up. I mean, it's cool, for a head stash jar or two, but when you have legal plots like my home Alpha plot, it's a waste of space, for me.
This is more what I'm used to for 12 plantsView attachment 5159631View attachment 5159632View attachment 5159633

Still wasn’t warm enough May 1st for the most vigorous growth for autos. Their optimal size won’t be reached unless you supply optimal grow conditions and health during their short vegetation period. I guess most autos could be classified as dwarves but that’s either due to their short veg period or improper care, or both.

I’d be interested in trying a coco/salt based auto outdoor grow to see how they turn out. I have had indoor coco/salt based to compare them to. Maybe next year.

 

[Humanrob]

No, no, was too cold in April. I started the soaking on the 15th, then put them in solos and the window sill. Took them out to the screened in porch a couple warm days, then out in the sun a bit to harden them up, got warm enough around may 1st, when I transplanted them into bigger containers. Note: did this with mosr this year's seeds. The autos kicked into flower by mid June, just never got more than a few feet tall. Junk. I might get an Oz if I'm lucky, Per Plant. Waste of money.
Don't understand it.
Every time I step outside my box, I'm disappointed.
How does one get outdoor autos to grow 6 ft? Or is that pie in the sky?

Sounds like your priority is volume, so yeah, autos are wasted space in your plant count. I started with photos, but now all I grow are autos. Where I live we (usually) have very dry sunny summers, and very wet cool falls. It makes it tough to finish without mold/bud rot, so I switched to autos so that I finish in August. I don't need as much harvest as you do, with a half dozen autos I can get 'about a pound', so if I repeat that with one indoor/winter grow, and that's more than enough for us. I can get by with 10-12oz's from each grow, actually, if I hit a pound on either one it's a bonus.

 

[Humanrob]

Still wasn’t warm enough May 1st for the most vigorous growth for autos. Their optimal size won’t be reached unless you supply optimal grow conditions and health during their short vegetation period. I guess most autos could be classified as dwarves but that’s either due to their short veg period or improper care, or both.

I’d be interested in trying a coco/salt based auto outdoor grow to see how they turn out. I have had indoor coco/salt based to compare them to. Maybe next year.

Having grown both photos and autos outdoors, in terms of size there just is no comparison. If you're going to say that an auto grown in perfect conditions can grow pretty big, then you have to compare it to a photo grown in perfect conditions... and now we're talking maybe 6' tall vs, what, 12' tall? And since plants usually grow proportionally in height and width, the photo will have many times the harvest volume of an auto.

And that's OK. Autos can produce well, and they can produce enough for many growers needs, but if we're talking pure volume per plant -- especially if they are outdoors and in the ground -- it's no contest. If you want to compare growing indoors in say 3 gallon pots, photos 12/12 from seed vs. autos, then you might have leveled the playing field a bit...

I love autos, it's all I grow indoors and out, I am not knocking them. I'm just saying that it's kind of futile to compare outdoor potential with photos, and I'm a big believer in realistic expectations.

 

[twentyeight.threefive]

Having grown both photos and autos outdoors, in terms of size there just is no comparison. If you're going to say that an auto grown in perfect conditions can grow pretty big, then you have to compare it to a photo grown in perfect conditions... and now we're talking maybe 6' tall vs, what, 12' tall? And since plants usually grow proportionally in height and width, the photo will have many times the harvest volume of an auto.

And that's OK. Autos can produce well, and they can produce enough for many growers needs, but if we're talking pure volume per plant -- especially if they are outdoors and in the ground -- it's no contest. If you want to compare growing indoors in say 3 gallon pots, photos 12/12 from seed vs. autos, then you might have leveled the playing field a bit...

I love autos, it's all I grow indoors and out, I am not knocking them. I'm just saying that it's kind of futile to compare outdoor potential with photos, and I'm a big believer in realistic expectations.

No I wanted to compare indoor autos vs outdoor autos, I was just curious how they would compare. Finishing a photoperiod in New England is quite the task.

 

[Humanrob]

No I wanted to compare indoor autos vs outdoor autos, I was just curious how they would compare. Finishing a photoperiod in New England is quite the task.

Gotcha. Yeah, I've had enough challenges finishing plants in Oregon which is known as a pot growing state, so I can't even imagine growing in the NE.

My experience with indoor vs outdoor has been that in pots, outdoor tend to get about 25-50% bigger, depending on the weather. The real difference is if you have the right climate to grow in the ground. It's true with both photos and autos, I've found, that putting them in the ground (in a large bed of well tended soil) allows them to hit potentials they would not otherwise come close to.

Everything has to do with your climate though. If you're in a cold area that's going to stunt them, or on a property that gets limited sunlight, then you'll probably do better indoors. My good years outdoors have blown away my indoor grows, but the years the weather did not cooperate (which to some degree is most of them), the outdoor grows have had their share of disappointment.

 

[PioneerValleyOG]

As far as the 65 days, just look at that as a really optimistic guideline set by the breeder to sell seeds. You're going to just have to watch them and treat them like a normal plant as far as when they are done. Looking for brown pistils, swell, trichomes and ripe finished look. The autos most breeders sell won't get huge outdoors, they just don't have the time to get that big. There are exceptions like the super auto strains that can get up there, but most will be in the 4 foot range with some getting up to 5' or more if conditions are great. Pot size or planting in the ground will make a difference as well as the temps as mentioned above. Obviously strain genetics play a huge role in final size and it can vary depending on indica or sativa.

Apache, I wasn't trying to say your response was bs, conversely, just the info I was seeking. Was more of a 'truth hurts' kinda thing.

As far as the 65 days, just look at that as a really optimistic guideline set by the breeder to sell seeds. You're going to just have to watch them and treat them like a normal plant as far as when they are done. Looking for brown pistils, swell, trichomes and ripe finished look. The autos most breeders sell won't get huge outdoors, they just don't have the time to get that big. There are exceptions like the super auto strains that can get up there, but most will be in the 4 foot range with some getting up to 5' or more if conditions are great. Pot size or planting in the ground will make a difference as well as the temps as mentioned above. Obviously strain genetics play a huge role in final size and it can vary depending on indica or sativa.

Wasn't trying to say your response was bs. Was the info I sought, just kind of q 'truth hurts' kinda thing. While I didn't expect the same as a photo, I did expect something more like the pictures they show. Not a bonsai tree. Expectations, sigh. I thought I had gotten over them.
Thank you for your continued and valued advice.

 

[BigMP]

Starting this thread as I planted some autos, Creme de la Chem, Jack Herer, and Double Grape Stomper.
Started in April 15th. The Creme is in full flower, although hasn't even reached 4 ft. Is a frost covered, dark green beauty, but it's so damn small.
Jack H, same issue, just not flowering as heavily, but in flower week 3ish? Same issue, small, a little bushier. Grape about same as Creme.
My question is, it says 65 days, I'm past that, do I count 65 days past start of flower? Or just let them go til they're done? There's no reason for these plants to have stunted, it's only the autos, other plants are doing awesome.

Let them go if you have the patience, I cut down three that I could’ve waited but all in they are fine. The calendar is just an idea, look at the trichomes then you can be certain You’re harvesting when You want.

 

[PioneerValleyOG]

Let them go if you have the patience, I cut down three that I could’ve waited but all in they are fine. The calendar is just an idea, look at the trichomes then you can be certain You’re harvesting when You want.

Thank you.