Auto Flowering time

First time grower of Autos, I realize it depends on strain of Autos that you grow, but from the first signs of flowering how many weeks do autos usually flower for before harvest?
 

Oldreefer

Well-Known Member
Growing autos for over 15 yrs, it's no way I can put an accurate number on flower times as we once could. When the early autos became commercially popular and a cash cow for breeders, genetics were changed for more yeild and growth so now it's just a crap shoot if you don't stay with known auto breeders....and even then, well some of us know how little conformity exists in 'typical flower times'.
That being said, I run every plant, autos and photos, on 12/12 under bout 600w led with ppfd 700-1000, dli at 40-60...temps/hum in spec ....I start watching maturity factors around 65-70 days from seed, harvesting selected plants early for a 'wake up' jar...but let others continue to achieve various levels of knock out....most I grow finish around 80 days total from germ.
Dunno if 12/12 speeds up any factors for autos but I've done it this way for a couple of decades with trustworthy results.
 

Fatleg77

Well-Known Member
Growing autos for over 15 yrs, it's no way I can put an accurate number on flower times as we once could. When the early autos became commercially popular and a cash cow for breeders, genetics were changed for more yeild and growth so now it's just a crap shoot if you don't stay with known auto breeders....and even then, well some of us know how little conformity exists in 'typical flower times'.
That being said, I run every plant, autos and photos, on 12/12 under bout 600w led with ppfd 700-1000, dli at 40-60...temps/hum in spec ....I start watching maturity factors around 65-70 days from seed, harvesting selected plants early for a 'wake up' jar...but let others continue to achieve various levels of knock out....most I grow finish around 80 days total from germ.
Dunno if 12/12 speeds up any factors for autos but I've done it this way for a couple of decades with trustworthy results.
I like the idea of running autos on 12/12. Why do you think most people continue to run them on 18:6 if 12/12 will get the job done as well. Also it seems to me that putting them on 12/12 would probably finish them a little quicker as well what are your thoughts on that
 

Oldreefer

Well-Known Member
I like the idea of running autos on 12/12. Why do you think most people continue to run them on 18:6 if 12/12 will get the job done as well. Also it seems to me that putting them on 12/12 would probably finish them a little quicker as well what are your thoughts on that
I can say, with no scientific reasoning, and only from doing it so long, 12/12 does seem to speed up finishing at times and it also seems it's according to the light. I started growing in someone's winter flower room where 12/12 was it...I only grew autos and they did fine...No where does it say autos 'require' more light, only that they can handle it. More light may increase yeild but also your costs per gram.....
I use several different lights...cobs, qb, blurples, hps that I change out according to season and I have noticed some variances in finishing.
With several plants at different stages at any given time, perpetually, and under changing lighting....it's interesting to see differences.
I use a cheap lux/dli/ppfd meter to set lights...may not be accurate but ya have to use some kind of baseline for a quide. Keep parameters in check and then burn all evidence.
 

Fatleg77

Well-Known Member
I can say, with no scientific reasoning, and only from doing it so long, 12/12 does seem to speed up finishing at times and it also seems it's according to the light.
I use several different lights...cobs, qb, blurples, hps that I change out according to season and I have noticed some variances in finishing.
With several plants at different stages at any given time, perpetually, and under changing lighting....it's interesting to see differences.
I use a cheap lux/dli/ppfd meter to set lights...may not be accurate but ya have to use some kind of baseline for a quide. Keep parameters in check and then burn all evidence.
I have a purple punch auto in week 4 flower now. I'm gonna give her 12/12 for the rest of flower just to see how it goes. I vegged her for 24 then went to 18 /6 and now will finish at 12/12 just for shits and giggles. If all goes well I'll stick with this for good
 

Oldreefer

Well-Known Member
You'll like the reduced energy costs and easier parameter control!
I actually veg everything for 3 weeks 24/0 T5HO and move to a 12/12 area. After that, aside from feeding, I pay little attention til close to harvest, which comes around often in perpetual grows. Shits and giggles has provided me a lot of weed for a long time...:joint:
 

twentyeight.threefive

Well-Known Member
First time grower of Autos, I realize it depends on strain of Autos that you grow, but from the first signs of flowering how many weeks do autos usually flower for before harvest?
The quickest auto I've had finish took 8 weeks of flower. The rest all took longer. It's going to vary depending on multiple factors but the average of all my auto runs is 115 days seed to harvest. GL.
 

DaHeap

Member
Growing autos for over 15 yrs, it's no way I can put an accurate number on flower times as we once could. When the early autos became commercially popular and a cash cow for breeders, genetics were changed for more yeild and growth so now it's just a crap shoot if you don't stay with known auto breeders....and even then, well some of us know how little conformity exists in 'typical flower times'.
That being said, I run every plant, autos and photos, on 12/12 under bout 600w led with ppfd 700-1000, dli at 40-60...temps/hum in spec ....I start watching maturity factors around 65-70 days from seed, harvesting selected plants early for a 'wake up' jar...but let others continue to achieve various levels of knock out....most I grow finish around 80 days total from germ.
Dunno if 12/12 speeds up any factors for autos but I've done it this way for a couple of decades with trustworthy results.
12-12 with autos? Do you do this because they are sharing a space with photos?
 

Oldreefer

Well-Known Member
Yes...12/12 with autos.
Let me further explain.
When I started growing, it was in a friends 'wintering' room...I planted a few seeds among the flowers and they got what the flowers got...12/12.
And....weed grew.....a lot of it. That was 20 years ago. Running 12/12, might as well throw a photo in just for shits and grins and to compared potencies.

Oh yes, I've fiddled around with schedules but always return to 12/12 because I found no advantage ...gotta weigh the total cost of more than 12/12 vrs the yeild increase. Being retired, comparing things help fill the hours....

The last heat spell, I even cut to 8-9 hrs lights on and everything did fine. Heat will ruin a crop way before less light.

Lastly, no where does it state that autos 'require' more...only that they 'can handle'. They do well regardless.
 

Nutty sKunK

Well-Known Member
This is 30 days between photos. But to be said this is on the faster side of things. Watermelon Zkittlez by barneys farm. Lost 3 main tops and a couple buds due to rot :( All sorted now tho. Plant is 61 days old

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Dorian2

Well-Known Member
Here are my results with 4 Auto's over the last 2 years so far. Kept notes in the grow journals.

2 Sativa (Jack Herer and Lambs Breath). 132 and 112 days

2 Indica (Blue Mystic: 60/40) dominant. 113 and 123 days

All of them say 7 - 9 weeks flower time so add 4-6 weeks on top from seed for seedling/veg stage. Strain, medium, lighting, Nutrients, PH, and other growing conditions will also effect the grow time. At least with my limited experience with Autoflower growing. For perspective, outdoors I grew a couple of Habanero plants this summer that stated 75-90 days till fruit. We had a long hot summer and they still took 120 days. Easily could've went 150 days for proper harvest. They're plants. Nothing is set in stone.
 

GoatSoup

Well-Known Member
Question, I've got a Durban Poison Auto that was struggling at first, transplanted to soil and she is starting to take off now. Looks like she putting out her fifth node and she's just finished her fifth week from Germination.

From what I've read Autos will start to flower at five-six weeks form germ. Is that right or "variable?" I have 2 White Widow Autos that are two weeks behind the Durban and really kicking it in my NFT setup. Should I expect that they will flower soon?
 

Failmore

Well-Known Member
Question, I've got a Durban Poison Auto that was struggling at first, transplanted to soil and she is starting to take off now. Looks like she putting out her fifth node and she's just finished her fifth week from Germination.

From what I've read Autos will start to flower at five-six weeks form germ. Is that right or "variable?" I have 2 White Widow Autos that are two weeks behind the Durban and really kicking it in my NFT setup. Should I expect that they will flower soon?
They flower when they are mature enough to flower. So it is hard to say when.
 
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