When to switch autos from veg to flower conditions?

[Surfer Joe]

I have two autos growing in hydro buckets under a 400W MH using 20/4 light cycle. (1 auto Jack sativa and 1 Northern Lights indica plant)
I am using Canna aqua veg nutes at the moment.
The plants have started to show their pistils but there are no buds yet to see.
They were sprouted on Dec 1 and put into their bubble buckets on Dec 5.

When should I switch to the aqua flores nutes?
When should I switch to the 600W HPS light?
I understand that there is no change in the light period needed for autos, so I plan to keep them on a 20/4 light cycle.
Thanks for any advice.

[Colina]

for the nutrition use the shedule, they are mostly devided in weeks. f.e. this one form GHE http://generalhydroponics.com/site/inde ... _schedule/
the 20/4 is good, you need a short night, at night plants need O2 instead of CO2! But you do not have to add O2 the air is concentrated enough!

[Uncle Ron]

High Surfer Joe,
My practical experience with growing auto flowering strains is limited (to say the least), however... I'm always looking to learn more.
From the strains you mentioned, there are several breeders who provide these strains in various forms.
From the links below, are yours listed? If so, which ones? Goes towards length of overall growing period, ie... germination, seedling, vegetation, and flowering.

For the Auto Jack,
http://en.seedfinder.eu/database/strains/alphabetical/
http://en.seedfinder.eu/database/strain ... betical/j/

For the Northern Lights,
http://en.seedfinder.eu/database/strains/alphabetical/
http://en.seedfinder.eu/database/strain ... betical/n/

From my studies, Q&A's, and practical experience with strains other than ruderalis, here's what I think.........
Regardless of whether the seeds are regular or feminized, I would begin using HPS after the last plant began developing its sex.
If I had concerns with stretching, I would continue using the 400 (with HPS) until I observed the plants had moved past the stretching phase, then I would begin using the 600.
Read what the breeders have to say about what they did to maximize the strains potential. I would also search and if found, read grow reports from the field (from people like you and me, if I may be so bold... ).
From your description, they are female (pistils showing), so I would begin using nutrients intended for flowering, Canna Agua Flores A & B, if you have it. Doesn't matter as long as it's intended for flowering. I've used Canna Aqua in the past and have been very satisfied ( except the price ).
Lastly, I agree with Colina in regards to giving the plants a dark period. There are pros and cons to keeping the light cycle at 24/0, 20/4, 18/6, etc.., however I would consider 18/6 as meeting both requirements of sufficient light and rest periods.

Good luck with your grow..
Let us know how you get along..
Happy Autos...
...

[USbongLord]

22/2 under hps flowering spec the whole time and only grow nutes for the first 3 weeks,then flower away and exlposions of growth ...they do just great..just got done auto purple cheese and auto critical mass...over 3 oz on each,good luck

[Surfer Joe]

Thanks, everyone. I switched the light to a 400W hps bulb and the nutes to the flowering phase.
I kept the light cycle as it was at 20/4.
The plants have developed a very thick mass of foliage and the bud sites are struggling to get light.
Would trimming off some of the larger fan leaves help or would it harm the plant?

[USbongLord]

Fan leaves are the factories that make the buds,if you feel they are covering too much,side note,most autos stretch a lot,cut the leaf in half horizontally ,to let more light thru

[treetop]

another

[Surfer Joe]

Thanks. I don't think that I'm going to take off any fan leaves just yet. I will wait until the buds are developing well before doing anything that might hurt their potential.

[jimi62471]

anyone have any input on how 3rd generation Autos are doing for strength?

[jimi62471]

trust in the lord!

[Surfer Joe]

anyone have any input on how 3rd generation Autos are doing for strength?

I don't know if my experience is meaningful, but I don't think that the autos I grew are anywhere near as potent as the smoke I buy in Amsterdam.
My plants seemed to grow fine. The northern lights in a 20L bubble bucket grew a huge root ball and very lush leaf cover and was harvested after 10 weeks flowering and gave 225grams of dried bud and the soil white widow in a 6.5L pot gave a nice 35 grams of dried bud.
I dried them slowly and they have been curing for a bit over a week now, but the stone is mild and not very satisfying.

It may be due to mistakes in feeding or other growing conditions or harvesting techniques, but none of the autos that I have grown are even close to the stone I get from store bought pot.

I am going to try a photoperiod grow next to see if regular seeds are stronger or if I am just a crap gardener.
I was hoping to be able to grow my own and save a ton of cash, but if this is the best I can do, then it's not worth the effort.
I don't really look forward to smoking over 250 grams of mediocre pot.

[elasticband]

if growing in hydro i would only veg plants for a week or 2 max depending on size and then flip them over to 12.

For auto flowering strains it would depend on the strain and how long it takes from seed to crop.

In my experience from 2 hydro autoflowering grows, in which the plants grew tall, i would start with a light bloom around 21 days.

Auto's serve a purpose, but don't ever expect them to be as good as regular seeds, the potency has been dulled by the ruderalis genetics. switch to a nice photoperiod strain next grow and the skills you have won't disappoint you.

[USbongLord]

Try big Buddhas critical mass automatic....I think you will be happy and enjoy the strength of the high

[macky]

Hey guys hiding factory leaves ,cutting leaves to stop shading buds what are you talking about I,ve seen cutting leafs in vedo calafornia grows but had nothing to do with shading bud big leaf produce bigger buds.May be if problem with mold or lower branches that won't do anything any way. Here we hang 600hps between the rows with1000hps existed hoods lots of co2 fresh air flow I find most important.If you have articles on your tecnices I would like to see always trying new things.