Autoflowering Cannabis 101 – How to Grow Autoflowers (Complete Guide)
Because of the unique genetics of autoflowering cannabis strains, there are a few strategies you may do to increase your production and ensure a successful harvest. These plants have been pre-programmed to grow buds regardless of the light cycle they are subjected to. As a result, they are ideal for first-time cannabis gardeners who want to experiment with the plant for the very first time. There are several advantages to using these plants, as well as some disadvantages. All of the information on autoflowering cannabis strains will be covered in this post, so read on!
There is a certain form of cannabis that has its own set of characteristics.
Equipment and Materials Used
- A grow tent, an LED grow light, an inline fan with a carbon filter, a digital hygrometer, a pH tester, an inline duct fan, extra ducting, a grow tent trellis, a clip-on fan, aeration fabric pots, Ph Perfect fertilizer, non-stick trimming scissors, a digital program timer outlet, Jiffy pellets, and an extension cord
Two Green Wild Sharks and two Blackberry Autoflowering Plants were grown in the Canna Schools Autoflowering Grow Tent.
What is Autoflowering Cannabis?
Autoflowering is a term used to describe the life cycle of specific cannabis genotypes or strains. If the seed is an auto-flowering seed, the plant will blossom on its own without the need to go through a certain scheduled light cycle as with other seeds. More importantly, once they have completed their extremely brief vegetative development cycle (which is generally around 2 – 4 weeks), the buds begin to form. This unique property is especially beneficial to outdoor producers since it eliminates the need to worry about the number of hours of sunshine available each day.
Because of the distinctiveness of the plant, they also have a distinct appearance from ordinary genetics.
All of these unique qualities together result in a plant that is both intriguing and enjoyable to nurture!
How to Grow Autoflowering Cannabis
- Take, for example, the following location: Do you want to cultivate the plants indoors or out in the open? This will be the most important consideration when deciding the ideal harvest timings and grow configuration to employ. For more information on indoor grow setups, please see our in-depth post on the subject here. For those that grow in the open air, check out our entire post here. Plant your seeds and watch them grow: Getting your auto-flowering cannabis plants started is the first step in the process of cultivating them. First and foremost, you must get the seeds to sprout! Check out our detailed guide on how to germinate effectively for more information. Take, for example, the weather: Autoflowers require the same climatic and weather conditions that the conventional cannabis species do, as well! When growing in the fall or early spring, be sure your plants are getting adequate heat and aren’t getting too much rain if they’re in a greenhouse. Feed them nutrients that are considered “light”: Because of the short growth cycle, along with the tiny and compact size of autoflowering species, they require far fewer nutrients than conventional plants. This means that you should go “light” on the nutrients and just feed them when they are hungry. Harvest Sequentially: The major colas will be ready for harvesting before the bottom blooms bloom in the spring. The reason for this is because they mature the quickest since they are constantly closest to the light throughout the growth cycle. Harvest the upper blooms first, allowing the lower blossoms to grow and thicken up as you harvest the lower flowers. This will help you to optimize your production and get the most out of your plants by following these guidelines. Efficiency: As this harvest comes to a close, start germination on your next set of autoflowering seeds to maintain a consistent growth cycle. In particular, this works well if you are growing indoors and do not have to worry about external weather elements such as temperature or rain. Because of the short harvest seasons, it is possible to grow numerous times throughout the year, resulting in a continual supply of buds every couple of months.
The image above is a close-up of one of the autoflowering plants.
How to Grow Autoflowering Full Video Guide:
Autoflowering plants develop in a distinctive manner that necessitates the use of a specialized harvesting technique. This strategy will ensure that all of your buds reach their maximum potential and that your yield is maximized. The size of autoflowering plants is smaller and more compact when compared to the size of any other variety of cannabis. They only grow to be 1 – 4 feet in height and have a growth cycle that lasts 60 – 90 days on average.
Harvest Autoflowers Sequentially:
Because of the tiny size of the plants and the rapidity with which they grow, there is not enough time for the plant to develop a uniform canopy. This implies that the buds at the bottom of the plant will receive less sunlight than the buds at the top of the plant. The large colas are usually the first to be picked, while the tiny buds at the bottom of each plant are still growing and require further time. Many auto-flowering cannabis producers choose to harvest their plants in stages rather than all at once, and this is a common practice.
While giving the tiny buds under the surface of the plant time to bulk up and provide you with the most out of your plant.
Lower your LED light to its lowest setting if at all feasible so that light and heat can reach the tiny buds. Typically, these lower nugs may require anywhere from 1 – 3 additional weeks to reach complete maturity.
How to Tell When Autoflowers are Ready to Harvest
When it comes to determining when auto-flowers are ready to be harvested, there are a few tips to know. The most important rule is that practice makes perfect. The more times you have the opportunity to see a growth, the more knowledgeable you will be in the following. However, for those who are just getting started, there are several simple strategies to use to determine when your auto-flowering cannabis plant is ready to harvest.
Look at the Pistils:
- These are the white hairs that appear first around the area where your bud is forming. As they age and change color from a white to a brownish-amber hue during the course of their life cycle, they become more difficult to distinguish. According to popular belief, when 50 – 70% of the pistils are a brown/amber color, your plant is ready to harvest.
- It is also determined by the color of these buds what characteristics your bud will have once you have smoked it. The psychedelic effects of white pistils are significantly greater than those of red pistils. The brown pistils will have more of a “couchlock” effect on the wearer. This variant enables producers to experiment with harvest periods until they discover one that they prefer! Typically, producers prefer a 50:50 ratio of white to brown or a 30:70 ratio of white to brown! It’s all about your choice, so experiment and discover what you enjoy
When your plant is ready to be harvested, you can tell by its color.
Look at the Trichomes:
- The trichomes on your plant are the most reliable indicator of when your plant is ready to be harvested. It is likely that your trichomes will go through many phases of development in the last weeks, which will result in a variety of highs for you to experience. You must be there inside a specific time range in order for your buds to create the appropriate results that you wish from them. In order to view the heads of the trichomes in sufficient detail to discern the difference, you will need a magnifying glass or a jewellers’ loupe. They are too tiny to be seen by the naked eye.
- If you harvest your plant too soon, the trichomes will be devoid of THC and will have no euphoric effects on the user. Typically, they will be clear trichomes. If you harvest late, the THC will have mild effects, causing you to feel drowsy or couchlocked. Harvesting should be done directly in the midst of the trichome heads while they are filled with a white/cloudy color
- Otherwise, you will have an amber/brown color to them.
Look at the fan leaves:
- These are the leaves that the plant draws energy from in order to survive. When they begin to fade and turn yellow/curl up, you can be sure that your plant is no longer putting any more energy into them and is instead concentrating on the buds. This will signify that harvesting is about to begin.
The presence of dead fan leaves indicates that the plant is ready to be harvested.
Pros And Cons of Autoflowering Cannabis
There are several advantages to using cannabis auto-flowering strains, but there are also some disadvantages to using them as well as some advantages. These plants are one-of-a-kind and have distinct traits that distinguish them from the regular feminized cannabis strains. As a result, the species develops a variety of characteristics that people either admire or despise.
Pros of autoflowering cannabis:
You don’t have to be concerned about the light cycle while cultivating autoflowering plants in direct sunlight. No of how many hours of sunlight they receive each day, these plants generate buds on their stems. This is fantastic for novices who are just beginning to learn how to develop! Keep in mind that they still require sunshine in order to develop! They simply do not require it for the purpose of producing buds. Early harvest: These plants are noted for having exceptionally fast life cycles, with some plants going from germination to harvest in as little as 2 months!
- This is ideal for producers who want to view their precious output in as little time as possible after harvesting their crop.
- Nutrients: Compared to ordinary seeds, these little plants need far fewer nutrients.
- Concealed: Because these plants are short and bushy, they are ideal for stealthy growth and keeping them hidden from prying eyes and unwelcome attention.
- Compact Size: Compared to their sister species, these plants are significantly smaller and more compact.
- This is what makes them particularly well suited for use in compact spaces such as bedrooms or closets.
Cons of autoflowering cannabis:
Autoflowers provide a relatively little yield when compared to the regular feminized strains of marijuana. The yields are lowered, and you will never be able to produce as much as you would if you were cultivating a conventional size plant. The amount of electricity used by autoflowers is minimal since they can maintain a consistent light cycle throughout their growth.
It is possible that this will result in increased power use. When cultivating auto-flowering plants, it is possible that leaving the light on for a longer light cycle would be deemed a negative.
Conclusion:
To summarize, there are unquestionably more advantages to autoflowering cannabis than disadvantages. These are the ideal seeds for anyone who is new to gardening or who wants to try something new in their garden. Because these plants produce buds under any conditions, you can fully remove the light-cycle concerns that are connected with cannabis cultivation. They are tiny and compact, which makes them simple to keep up with and clean. They also require quite little amounts of nutrients, allowing you to feed them extremely cautiously, resulting in significant savings in terms of time and money.
Someone looking for a rapid turnaround time will find the extremely fast development cycle to be highly appealing.
We’re looking forward to seeing where this species will go in the future!
The Cannabis School has hired Jake, who is originally from Canada, to serve as a senior cannabis reporter for the organization.
Your First Grow Setup – How to Get Started Growing Autoflowering Cannabis
Marijuana cultivation does not have to be difficult or time-consuming. Get the information you need to get started farming fast, effortlessly, and affordably. 17th of August, 20184 minutes readContents:
- The following are the requirements for growing outdoors: 1.a. Sun
- 1.b. Water. The following are the requirements for growing indoors: 2.a. Space
- 2.b. Light
- 2.c.Water, 2.d. Timer, 2 e Carbon filter, 2 f Growing medium, 2 g. Nutes.
And now, despite the fact that you’re ready to begin cultivating your own supply, you’re unsure of where to begin. Trying to find information on how, when, and where to cultivate cannabis on the internet appears to yield a limitless number of options for you to consider. Growing marijuana does not have to be tough or sophisticated, and you may find yourself more perplexed after your investigation than when you began. Keep things simple, don’t overthink it, and you’ll be able to produce gigantic autoflowering beasts in a short amount of time and with a minimal expenditure of both time and money.
Outdoor
An indoor cannabis plant is a machine that converts sunshine, dirt, and water into marijuana, and all three of these elements are either free or inexpensive if you intend on producing your plant inside.
Sun
Although your plants should receive at least two or three hours of direct sunshine before 4 PM, any additional time will not be detrimental to their health. When it comes to growing outside, there is no such thing as too much light. Plant them at a location where the sun will shine directly on them in the morning and lunchtime. Of course, depending on your geographic region, you may need to strike a balance between direct sunshine and subtlety in your attire. The seeds of Fast Buds grow nicely on apartment balconies and terraces, but not everyone lives in an area where they can proudly exhibit their hard work.
Please keep yourself safe and observe all applicable laws and conventions. Don’t be afraid to forgo an hour or two of sunshine in order to safeguard your plant or your own health. Take a look at the Top 5 Best Outdoor Autoflower Strains for more information.
Water
The amount of water your cannabis plants require may vary depending on where you live. The growth season may be as brief as three months if you live in a tropical location, and you may have difficulties with excess water if your home is in such an environment. Because of the longer growth season in a drier region, you’ll have to water your plants more frequently if you reside in a hotter climate.
Indoor
It requires more planning and work to grow plants indoors because you must offer everything they need instead of relying on mother nature to provide them with what they need. Consequently, a designated area in your home, as well as a light source, running water and electrical timers, a carbon filter and a fan, will be required. Don’t forget to check out our list of the Top 5 Best Indoor Autoflower Strains.
Space
The majority of indoor gardeners use light-proof tents to house their plants while they are growing them. Lighting, humidity, temperature, and other variables may be controlled without affecting the rest of the house. Small grow tents, suitable for one or two autoflower plants, may be purchased for less than 60 Euros on the internet. For those who feel that a tent in their house is too noticeable, they might always follow the famous American college dorm room tradition and grow their plants in a discrete closet.
Is your house already crammed full of computer components?
Audiophile?
Do you work in a kitchen or do you know someone who does?
Light
If you’re growing your plants outside, you’ll need to provide your own source of sunlight replacement. There are only a few basic alternatives from which to pick. Here’s a quick overview, but don’t forget to read our whole post on cannabis lighting choices for more information.
Fluorescent
Fluorescent lights are available in a range of shapes and sizes, but they all consume only a little amount of power, are readily available at any hardware shop, and are also quite unobtrusive.
HID
HID Bulbs consume a substantial amount of power, generate a significant amount of heat, and will considerably enhance your yields. They do, however, take up a lot of room and are difficult to incorporate into stealth grow places.
LEDs
LEDs have gone a long way since their inception. A single 100-watt cobb LED light can power a one- or two-plant tent, making it the most cost-effective and stealthiest alternative for private growers looking for a low-profile solution.
Water
It will be necessary for you to water your plants. How much depends on the media in which you are growing. Please see the section below.
Timer
Autoflowering cannabis seeds will grow and blossom regardless of the time of day they are planted. However, 18/6 and 24/0 programs are also popular among expert growers, who propose 20 hours of light followed by four hours of darkness. If your lights is not on 24 hours a day, you’ll need an electrical timer to keep your schedule on track and constant.
While the plants will withstand whatever you put them through, you’ll want to maintain a consistent routine for them. Inconsistent light timing might cause stress to your plant, resulting in decreased yields or, even worse, hermaphroditic characteristics in your crop.
Carbon Filter
Good cannabis has a distinct odor. While its powerful, pungent, and lasting odor may be beloved by growers, it is not so beloved by neighbors. Take care of your neighbors while also protecting yourself from curious passers-by with a carbon filter and ceiling fan. You will be able to develop with complete peace of mind because the stench will be almost eliminated outside the tent.
Growing Medium
Marijuana that is of high quality smells. Farmers may like its powerful, pungent, and persistent odor; however, neighbors are unlikely to share this enthusiasm. Utilize a charcoal filter and a fan to be a nice neighbor and shield yourself from prying eyes. You will be able to develop with complete peace of mind because this almost removes all odor outside the tent.
Nutes
Instead of focusing on the nutes for your initial grow, use your attention to selecting the greatest soil available. Concentrate on learning about the cannabis plant’s lifecycle during your first grow and keep things basic. As long as you’ve picked the proper growth medium, your plants should be able to produce a fair output without requiring any more nutrients. Given the fact that every setup provides a unique collection of basic nutrients, it is hard for us to give fertilizer recommendations that would be applicable to every one of our clients.
To get started, all you need is a few basic tools.
Ryan Commentary on the 17th of August, 2018
Learn How To Grow Autoflowers: Week-By-Week Guide – RQS Blog
Find out how to create autoflowering cannabis plants. Contents: Automatic cannabis plants are robust, fast-flowering, and simple to grow in small places due to their rapid flowering. What’s not to like about this? Learn how to cultivate them week by week in the next section.
HOW LONG DO AUTOFLOWERS TAKE FROM SEED TO HARVEST?
Autoflowering strains are often ready for harvest in 8–10 weeks from seedling to harvest. Some kinds, on the other hand, might take up to 12 weeks to reach full maturity. Plants like Bubble Kush Automatic and Quick One are considered to be on the quicker end of the range, whilst types like Royal Cream Automatic and Quick One are considered to be on the slower end of the spectrum. Royal Haze Automatic will need a few more weeks to get their buds ready for harvest before they can be harvested. Because of the rapid growth rate of autoflowers, many gardeners choose to employ them in their cultivation.
It is because of their remarkable resilience to viruses and pests that they are able to tolerate the difficulties of outdoor cultivation.
However, while their yields aren’t as impressive as those achieved from photoperiod giants, the trade-off for shortness makes the selection worthwhile for the majority of farmers in most cases.
LIGHT SCHEDULE FOR AUTOFLOWERING STRAINS
Autoflowering strains, as the name implies, do not require a shift in the light cycle in order to go to the flowering stage. The majority of gardeners like to maintain their autoflowers on a mild schedule of 18 hours on and 6 hours off for the duration of the whole growth season. Another option is for growers to keep their lights on 24 hours a day in order to maximize photosynthesis and growth rate; however, this may be rather expensive. Outdoor farmers can produce many harvests within a single growing season as a result of this one-of-a-kind characteristic.
A NOTE ON PH
This figure will affect how successfully your plants are able to acquire the nutrients contained within your soil. It is possible for nutrient lockout to occur if the pH gets too high (alkaline) or too low (acidic), resulting in nutritional deficits. Cannabis plants grow on soils with pH values ranging from 6.0 to 6.5. Use a pH tester to keep track of the pH levels during your cultivation.
AUTOFLOWERING GROW GUIDE: HOW TO GROW AUTOFLOWERS WEEK BY WEEK
Then, for a quick and easy road to harvest time, simply follow the fail-safe week-by-week grow method below. Throughout this book, we discuss all of the characteristics and variables that must be considered—and at what times—in order to guarantee that your plants remain healthy, strong, and prolific.
WEEK 1: GERMINATION AND EARLY SEEDLING STAGE
It normally takes 1–3 days for seeds to germinate. During this period, your seeds will become active and will send a root deep into the earth as well as a shoot above the surface of the soil. It is necessary to establish an appropriate soil mix in order to begin the germination process. Autoflowers require less resources than photoperiod types and want a light, airy environment in which to grow. It is possible to build your own potting mix using the following equation:
- There are three parts peat moss, three parts compost, two parts perlite watered, and one part vermiculite moistened.
After you’ve prepared the mixture, stir in some Easy Boost Organic Nutrition to give it a little boost. They will gradually release enough quantities of nutrition into the soil, supplying the soil with the basic components and minerals it requires during the whole growth cycle. If you want your plants to thrive later on, you need include somemycorrhizato the soil. These symbiotic fungus will attach themselves to the root system of your plants, allowing them to absorb nutrients more efficiently.
To save the stress of repotting later on, sow your seed straight into its finalpot as soon as possible.
Place a seed in the hole and softly cover with earth to create a seedling.
In the following several days, you’ll be able to watch the growth of your seedling. The environment has a significant impact on the success of seed germination. To increase your chances of success, strive towards the following:
- Relative humidity (RH) of 70–90 percent
- Atmospheric temperature of 22–25 degrees Celsius
WEEK 2: LATE SEEDLING STAGE
After a few days, your seedling has sprouted and the process of photosynthesis has begun. A 250W LED bulb will supply enough electricity to run an indoor grow room for a few hours. You will be able to grow one huge plant per square metre of space if you use this configuration. However, if you employ low-stress training techniques, you will be able to produce four plants under the influence of this amount of light. LEDs are energy-efficient, emit less heat, and allow users to choose between different light spectrums.
During the vegetative phase, turn your light on to the blue setting and configure your timer to coincide with your desired light schedule, if applicable.
Easy Grow Booster Tablets give everything plants require to achieve optimal vegetative development, and they work in perfect harmony with Easy Boost Organic Nutrition.
Simply dissolve half of a tablet in 3–5 litres of water and administer the solution twice a week to get the desired results.
WEEK 3: VEGETATION WELL UNDERWAY
In week three, we will focus on low-stress exercise and keeping our bodies in peak shape. At this stage, your autoflower will be well into the vegetative part of its life cycle. You’ll see the formation of new fan leaves, which will help to increase photosynthesis. During week 3, make an effort to improve the following environmental factors:
- 50 percent relative humidity
- 20 degrees Celsius air temperature
- Easy Grow (half a tablet per 3–5 litres of water) should be fed twice a day.
At this time, the height of your plant will be around 15cm. Adjust the location of your light so that it hangs approximately 1 meter from the tip of the canopy. This will allow for optimal photosynthesis without putting the environment at danger of light stress. Your plant will be thirsty enough to use around 0.5 liters of water every day. Water, on the other hand, should only be applied once the top layer of soil has dried. When growing indoors, conduct low-stress training throughout the third week of the growth cycle to increase productivity during the flowering period.
This will flatten the canopy and allow more bud sites to be exposed to the source of light.
WEEK 4: LATE VEGETATIVE PHASE
The commencement of the flowering stage will be approaching for your plant throughout the fourth growing week. This week’s activities will include making a few small tweaks to the training program and preparing for flowering. In order to achieve optimal development, you should strive for the following environmental conditions:
- 45 percent relative humidity
- 20 degrees Celsius air temperature
- Light 70 centimeters from the canopy
- 0.5 liters of water per 24 hours
- Easy Grow (half a tablet per 3–5 litres of water) should be fed twice a day.
You may begin to observe some pre-flowers emerging at the nodes of your plant as the season progresses.
With the flowering season just around the corner, you’ll want to finish off any training you’ve started to avoid straining your plant during the blooming period. Using garden ties, pin down any further growth to smooth down the canopy and maintain the same level of all future bud sites.
WEEK 5: FLOWERING BEGINS
The first flowers have begun to bloom! The nodes will begin to sprout little sacs capped with hairs around the fifth week of your pregnancy. Over time, they will transform into sticky, resinous buds. Continue to fine-tune the ambient conditions and change the lighting this week to provide a comfortable environment. At this stage, your plant should grow around 30cm tall. If you’re growing inside, you should aim for the following parameters:
- 45 percent relative humidity
- 23 degrees Celsius air temperature
- The light is 65cm away from the canopy. every 24 hours, 1 liter of water
- Easy Bloom (half a tablet per 3–5 litres of water) should be applied twice a week.
Change the color of your LED light from blue to red by changing the settings on your LED light. During the early flowering stage, this spectrum of light promotes the budding process and aids the plants in their efforts to extend and spread. During the flowering phase, your plants’ nutrition will need to be supplemented with additional nutrients. Easy Bloom Booster Tablets are required because of the increased need for phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, as well as the decreased requirement for nitrogen.
WEEK 6: THINGS START TO SMELL
Flowers will begin to bloom at each bud location as soon as the buds open. As the uniform canopy produces a continuous spread of evenly sized buds, you’ll notice that your hard work is beginning to provide fruit for you. During week 6, the humidity should be reduced slightly to reduce the danger of mould. Aim for the following parameters:
- 40 percent relative humidity
- 24 degrees Celsius air temperature
- Light 45 centimeters away from the canopy
- Water consumption is 1.5 liters per 24 hours. Feed three times with Easy Bloom (half a tablet per three to five litres of water)
Always keep an eye out for any strange banana-like things that may protrude from the buds. As a result, your plant is attempting to pollinate itself, which indicates that it is hermaphroditic. Remove them from the grow space to prevent them from pollinating the plants in the vicinity. Fortunately, hermaphrodites are quite rare, but they are still worth keeping an eye out for.
WEEK 7: ROUTINE CHECKS ARE KEY
The aim for week seven is to keep everything running smoothly. Concentrate your time and efforts on maintaining the equilibrium of the grow chamber. Extreme caution should be exercised when the humidity level rises beyond 50%, since this might lead to mold growth. Routine inspections with a magnifying lens should be carried out to look for pests such as thrips and spider mites. Continue to look for symptoms of nutrient insufficiency in the leaves of your plants (which would likely be due to pH issues).
- 40 percent relative humidity
- 24 degrees Celsius air temperature
- Light 45 centimeters away from the canopy
- Water consumption is 1.5 liters per 24 hours. Feed three times with Easy Bloom (half a tablet per three to five litres of water)
WEEK 8: FLUSH AND DEFOLIATE
At this time, your buds should be dense and resinous in appearance. The majority of autoflowers will be ready to harvest within a few weeks. Don’t be concerned if your plant looks to be trailing behind. Maintain the status quo and continue when the buds have grown in size. Week 8’s environmental conditions are as follows:
- 40 percent relative humidity
- 25 degrees Celsius air temperature
- Light 45 centimeters from the canopy
- 1.5 liters of water per 24 hours
At the beginning of week 8, you’ll want to begin flushing your plant with water. First and foremost, you should cease feeding your plants Easy Bloom at this point. Afterwards, just flood the soil with as much water as it is capable of holding and wait for it to drain itself. Over the next two weeks, repeat this procedure as many times as necessary. Flushing eliminates extra nutrients and provides a pleasant flavor to your taste buds. Now is the time to get your trimmers out and start defoliating.
Remove the little fan leaves from the lower nodes, as well as the shabbier fan leaves at the top of the canopy, by cutting them off with a knife. This will assist in increasing light exposure while also decreasing the likelihood of mold growth.
WEEK 9: THE FINISH LINE APPROACHES
You’re on the home stretch! Your hard work and commitment will soon bear fruit in the shape of luscious, pungent buds, which will make your day. However, there are a handful of tasks that need to be completed before this historic occasion. You must make every effort to maintain the balance of the following environmental elements in order to avoid any final infestations or other issues:
- 40 percent relative humidity
- 25 degrees Celsius air temperature
- Light 45 centimeters from the canopy
- 1.5 liters of water per 24 hours
You’ll also note that the fan leaves begin to discolor and eventually fall off. Don’t be scared if you see this! This indicates that you have successfully cleansed your plants and that you are one step away from harvesting your produce.
WEEK 10: HARVEST!
Are you ready to reap the rewards of your efforts? During week 10, a large number of autoflowers will be ready for harvest! When the bulk of the trichomes are milky in color and the pistils have taken on a reddish/brown tint, you will know your buds are ready to be cut. Consider using a progressive harvest method if you observe that some of your buds are ripe but others aren’t. The buds nearest to the top of the canopy will most likely be the first to complete, so pay attention to them. It doesn’t matter how well you teach your plant; some buds will naturally prefer to be closer to the light than others.
Some automobiles develop at a quicker rate than others.
Starting as soon as your buds are harvested, begin the drying and curing process to guarantee that you have a delectable, top-shelf stash.
WHICH AUTOFLOWER TO CHOOSE?
Things might seem overwhelming when there are so many options available. Make your selection much easier by reviewing our list of the top ten autoflowers in each strain category listed below.
TOP AUTO STRAINS FOR DIFFERENT SCENARIOS
Growing 4 autoflowering Cannabis plants from seed to harvest using a 2.5′ x 2.5′ Complete Grow Kit and a PhytoMAX-2 200 LED GrowLight is demonstrated in this video. The plants are named “Girl Scout Cookies” and “LSD 25.” This 7-week video series provides a summary of the week’s activities for this grow. It is divided into three parts: This grow-along also covers the distinctions between autoflowering plants and “conventional” daylength-sensitive Cannabis plants, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each type of cannabis plant.
- A comparison of autoflowering vs “conventional” daylength-sensitive Cannabis cultivars is also included.
- Covers the process of re-potting autoflower seedlings into their final fabric pot once they have begun to bloom!
- In addition, we trim and tidy up the bottoms, and we convert from vegetative to blooming fertilizer.
- As the plants continue to expand, we perform some modest leaf clipping to assist the flower buds in their development.
- During the last week of growth, we flush the plants to get rid of any surplus fertilizer that has accumulated.
This grow demonstrates how to sow Cannabis seeds and watch them develop, how to water and care for your plants, pruning, training, harvesting, drying, and curing the flowers, and how to harvest the flowers from your plants.
Best setup for Autos in 4×4 tent
Greetings, fellas. I hope everyone is doing well and that they are experiencing some fantastic growth. I placed an order for a 44 vivosun grow tent, which should arrive on Monday morning. However, I’m facing a conundrum right now. I’ve recently finished a couple of harvests, both of which were in radish bags. I had excellent results (up to 100+g per plant) in both a 3 gallon and a 2 gallon container. I’ve placed four 5 gallon radicle bags into the system, and I’m wondering if it’s even worth it to put an autoflower in a 5 gallon radicle bag.
- I usually place her straight in the container with the coco/perlite mix and keep her in the final pot for no more than 80-110 days.
- I’m wondering if anyone has experience growing in 5 gal (autoflowers) verses 3 gal.
- Is there a significant variation in yield if the same growing conditions are used?
- Consequently, I have five months to grow enough food to sustain me until September 1st, when school resumes.
- What method or set-up would you propose for an autoflower grow, if any of you have experience with it?
- I have a total of five of each.
- Friends, please continue to be Irie.
How Many Autoflowers Fit in a 3×3 (90×90 cm) Grow Tent?
Autoflowers are a simple and cost-effective method to get started cultivating cannabis indoors. They grow rather quickly, need little upkeep, and transition seamlessly from vegetative to blooming stages. The disadvantage of autoflowering plants is that they are more susceptible to topping, pruning, and defoliating than other types of plants. As a result, plants require less upkeep, but they are also less well-trained. Because we, as gardeners, are unable to prune them as much as we do picture plants, autos tend to grow taller and slankier than photo plants.
Choosing the most appropriate quantum board LED grow light for a 3′ by 3′ tent
The size of plants is determined by the strain, the size of the pot they grow in, and how well the grower takes care of the plants.
This means that the number of plants in a particular space will vary slightly based on the growth circumstances that are available. The following assumptions are made: autoflower weed plants are grown in large containers (4+ gallon, 15+ liters), are well-fed with nutrients, are exposed to plenty of light, and the strain naturally grows wide and busy, four mature plants (two rows with two plants per row) will fit in a three-foot by three-foot (90-centimeter) tent When autoflower plants are grown in small pots (3 gallon, 10 liter), are given restricted nutrients and light, and are otherwise neglected, they will be reduced in size and may be crammed into a 3’3′ tent with nine plants (three rows with three plants per row) as a result.
Presented here is a 2.52.5′ (8080 centimeter) tent that has two mature autoflower (Auto AK-47) plants: There’s lots of space surrounding the plants, and two more plants might have easily been accommodated in this 6.25 sq foot space.
To sum it all up: A 3 by 3 ft.
The amount of plants produced is determined by the size of the pots used and how well they are cared after.
Plants covering a smaller area are more likely to be found in beginner growers who aren’t as familiar with plant care. This implies that more plants (9) may be squeezed into the 3 3′ space. For a 3′ by 3′ tent, get the most effective QB LED grow light.
Auto Ultimate customer grow review
This week’s Auto Ultimate customer grow review comes from ‘Lucky P,’ who grew her Auto Ultimateautoflower seed in a small 80cm x 80cm x 140cm tent, but still managed to develop a heavy producing plant with several flowers that filled the whole tent space. Auto Ultimate is one of Dutch Passion’s highest producing autoflowers, and she is also one of the easiest to cultivate for first-time growers. She also produces a tremendous feel-good stone.
Under LED grow light in Plagron Light soil
Having an 80x80cm grow tent is not difficult to fit into even the smallest flat. The fact that LED grow lights are small, dependable, and produce less heat than high-pressure sodium grow lights makes them particularly popular among marijuana home producers. It was decided to employ a 300W LED grow lamp for this particular grow.
Auto Ultimate customer grow review
The paper towel technique was used to germinate the Auto Ultimate seedlings. Simply moisten a paper towel and place the cannabis seed inside; a day or two later, you will notice the tap root beginning to emerge. To learn more about some of our suggested cannabis seed germination procedures, please visit our website. Later, the germinated cannabis seed was transferred to a felt container with Plagron Light soil in a 20-litre capacity. Air pots and felt containers, like air pots, provide for a highly oxygenated root mass and foster rapid root development.
Plagron Light soil is a light soil blend with minimal nutrient levels.
Super cropping autoflowering cannabis plants
The Auto Ultimate grew well throughout the season, and she was highly cropped in early bloom. When the growing tip is removed, the lower branches are forced to develop at a faster rate than the upper branches. Autos that are shorter and bushier as a consequence of this procedure are common. When we looked at this week’s grow evaluation, the extremely cut Auto Ultimate had grown into a bowl shape with a large number of flowers. The open, level canopy allows the grower to place all of the blooms at the optimal distance from the LED light source, resulting in increased yield.
However, many gardeners frequently supergroup autoflowering cannabis types and achieve consistently good yields as a consequence of this practice.
Autoflowering cannabis seeds with LED
After being hyper cropped, Auto Ultimate grew nicely, and the LED light that was able to reach the interior sections of the plant enabled for a large number of flowers to emerge. Auto Ultimate is a high-THC autoflower with white blossoms that seem white in the correct light due of the sticky resin coating on the leaves. Growing conditions for the Auto Ultimate included 19 hours of daylight per day and 5 hours of night. Some farmers choose to cultivate autoflowers under 24 hours of daily light from seed to harvest, which allows them to harvest earlier.
Because the growlight helps to keep the grow room warm throughout the winter, it is one of the reasons why many believe autoflowering cannabis to be a good choice for growing during the winter months.
Auto Ultimate, easy to grow, heavy harvests of high THC weed
The Auto Ultimate was supplied nutrients from a company called ‘Advanced Nutrients.’ Sensi Grow/Bloom A B, Rhinoskin (silica), Sensi Cal-Mag Xtra, and Molasses were some of the items utilized in this project. It was a highly fruitful home grow, demonstrating how simple it is to cultivate your own cannabis, even in a tiny space, with no equipment. If you are seeking for a cannabis seed type that is simple to grow, choose Auto Ultimate, which produces large, potent harvests.
Detailed Guide To Choosing The Right Size Grow Tent For Your Plants
Are you unsure of the size of grow tent you’ll want based on the quantity of cannabis plants you intend to cultivate? I’ve broken down all of the criteria that need to be examined so that the decision-making process will take no more than a few minutes to complete. In general, you should have 22 feet of grow area per mature cannabis plant in your grow tent, according to the American Cannabis Association. You’ll also need to make room for other products such as a humidifier. These estimations are based on the assumption that you will not train your plants.
Depending on the training technique you choose, this might result in an increase in the amount of area required per plant.
By following the steps in this guide, you will have answers to the following questions:
- What is the appropriate size grow tent for four plants? What size grow tent do you recommend for 8 plants? What size grow tent do you recommend for 12 plants? And so on.
- What size grow tent should I use for autoflowers
- What size should the grow tent be
- How tall should it be
- How to manage the height of your plant while it is growing in a grow tent
- When looking for grow tents, there are a few more things to consider.
Finally, it boils down to how effectively you can utilize a particular area and whether or not you are taking efforts to guarantee that you are making the most of your space.
How many cannabis plants per grow tent?
All of these suggestions are based on the assumption that you will be planting in 3 or 5 gallon grow bags or buckets.
What size grow tent for 1 cannabis plant:
When growing one cannabis plant, I recommend a grow tent that is 24 inches by 24 inches by 48 inches.
What size grow tent for 2 cannabis plants:
In order to produce two cannabis plants, I propose a grow tent that is 24′′ x 48′′.
What size grow tent for 4 cannabis plants:
I propose a grow tent that is 48 inches by 48 inches by 80 inches in size for four plants.
What size grow tent for 6 to 8 cannabis plants:
I propose a grow tent that is 96′′x 48′′x 80′′ in size.
What size grow tent for 10 cannabis plants:
I propose one that is 96′′x 48′′x 80′′ in size. One 24′′x48′′ in. grow tent with one 24′′x48′′ in. Ten plants may be grown in a grow tent.
What size grow tent for 12 to 16 cannabis plants:
I propose using *two* 48′′x96′′x80 in. grow tents for a total of 12 to 16 marijuana plants.
What size grow tent for autoflowers:
Autoflowers typically reach a height of 3 feet. If you’re thinking of growing autoflowers in a grow tent, I’d recommend following the same requirements as those listed above. Here’s why: Even these autoflowers are smaller in stature, their branches may still span a significant amount of space when completely developed, despite the fact that their height is reduced. As a result, cultivating autoflowers in a grow tent will not result in significant space savings when compared to growing ordinary cannabis plants in the same space.
However, there isn’t a significant change in the quantity of room you’ll have.
Remember: These are general estimations based on the fact that a 3 or 5 gallon grow bag requires around 24 square inches of area per plant. I’ll outline strategies for managing the height and growth of your plants so that you can really fit this many plants into your grow tent in the sections below.
Determine the space needed per plant:
Cannabis plants may grow to a variety of sizes, many of which are within the control of the grower. Identifying how much room you’ll require for each plant is an excellent starting point for figuring how much overall area you’ll want in a grow tent or greenhouse. The three and five gallon grow bags are the most often used grow bags for cannabis cultivation at home, respectively. It is recommended to allow 2 gallons of soil for every foot of anticipated plant height as a general rule of thumb.
| Grow Bag Size (Gal.) | Height(cm) | Diameter(cm) |
| 1 gal. | 16cm | 18cm |
| 2 gal. | 20cm | 22.5cm |
| 3 gal. | 23cm | 27cm |
| 5 gal. | 27.5cm | 31.5cm |
| 7 gal. | 29cm | 36.5cm |
| 10 gal. | 31cm | 40.5cm |
| 15 gal. | 33cm | 46cm |
| 20 gal. | 40cm | 51cm |
Take a look at the diameters shown above for each of the grow bag sizes available. But you can’t stop there since the plant’s branches will eventually extend over the edge of the grow bag, requiring you to cut them back. When using 3 and 5 gallon grow bags, keep in mind that the cannabis plants can grow up to 13-15cm over the edge of the grow bag on any one side of the bag. In a 5 gallon grow bag, a mature plant is growing. Taking this into consideration, if you want to cultivate four plants in three-gallon grow bags, you need provide 44-49cm (16-17.5in) of room per plant in total.
If you want to grow in larger bags or buckets, you should anticipate that the branches may likely develop longer than the 13-15cm indicated for 3 or 5 gallon grow bags, so give your cannabis plants even more breathing room.
It is theoretically possible to cram them all into a 3x3ft grow tent, but there would be no room for a standing fan or a humidifier in such situation.
If you want a comfortable fit for four cannabis plants in 3-5 gallon grow bags (as well as a humidifier), a 44 grow tent (48′′x48′′x60′′ in.) is the best option.
How tall should my grow tent be?
You should absolutely stay with the usual 80-inch height on the 4×4 grow tents whether you’re growing cannabis or a tall vegetable plant like tomatoes. This is the reason why: Your grow light will dangle around one foot from the ceiling of the grow tent, and depending on the power of your grow light, you’ll need between 18 and 24 inches between the grow light and the plant surface of the growing environment. As a result, you’ve already utilized up 2.5-3ft of your available height. That leaves you with 3.5ft of space for your cannabis plants, maybe a bit more if you’re able to hang your grow light a little higher in the ceiling.
Of course, you can always put a dimmer on your grow lamp, but the light will not reach the plant’s lower branches if you do so. Using a little grow tent with a shorter height may be sufficient if you’re growing smaller plants such as succulents or house flowers in your garden.
Leave space for a humidifier in your grow tent:
Growing plants inside has several advantages, one of which is the ability to regulate the atmosphere in order to produce the finest harvest possible. It’s important to remember that while deciding on the size of your grow tent, you should choose one that has adequate space for your plants and also has a humidifier. This 6 liter humidifier is one of my favorites. The digital display that allows you to select the correct humidity level on your own so that humidity levels don’t become a guessing game is a great feature.
It will occupy an area of around 11 inches by 7 inches in your grow tent.
Side note on grow tent humidity:
When it comes to cultivating cannabis, humidity is really important. Air that is too dry can inhibit development, whereas air that is too humid will promote mold or decay. Cannabis clones require 70 percent humidity since they absorb the majority of their water through their leaves while their roots are establishing. The remaining vegetative and blooming growth cycles can be completed at humidity levels of 50 percent or higher. Because tomatoes are primarily water, if you’re cultivating tomato plants, you’ll need 70-80 percent humidity to keep them healthy.
Controlling Plant Height In Your Grow Tent:
The ability to adjust the height of your cannabis plants will be critical if you want to successfully fit four plants into a 44 grow tent. Fortunately, there are a few strategies you may use to keep the height of your cannabis plant under control.
Switch plants to flowering phase at the right time:
When your cannabis plant has grown to half the height you want it to achieve at the end of the vegetative development period, reduce the length of the lighting cycle from 18 hours to 12 hours. The idea for this is that your plant will continue to grow the remaining 50% during the flowering cycle. This has shown to be a reliable rule of thumb, and it will assist you in growing plants that are the appropriate size for your grow tent.
Top Your Cannabis Plant:
Remove the top node of the main stem of your plant and discard it. Not only will this limit the height of the plant, but it will also allow hormones to seep downward to the bigger branches, assisting them in producing additional buds.
Low Stress Train Your Cannabis Plant (LST):
Your biggest branches should be bent over to the edge of the grow bucket and tied down in some way early on in their vegetative development. The branches will naturally bend upwards toward the light as a result of this strategy, but the eventual height of your plants will be reduced as a result. More information about LST may be found in my piece about increasing cannabis yields.
Use a smaller grow bag to grow smaller plants
In the event that you’re concerned about your cannabis plants taking up too much space within your grow tent, providing the roots a limited place to grow in might assist you limit their final growth.
Instead of a 5 gallon grow bag, a 3 gallon grow bag will suffice. A 7 or 10 gallon grow bag, on the other hand, may accommodate a larger-sized plant that will take up the whole grow tent, allowing for more root development.
Do More Cannabis Plants In One Grow Tent Equal More Yields?
Trying to cram as many plants as possible into a small space will not necessarily result in higher yields. As a result of overcrowding your tent, your plants will metaphorically be fighting each other for light and CO2. In a research conducted by McGill University on cannabis yields, one of the factors cited was proper plant spacing. Without a doubt, four plants in a 4×4 foot grow tent will produce more than two or three plants in the same size grow tent. I’m referring about the attempt to overcrowd 5 or 6 adult-sized plants into a grow tent with a diameter of 4 4 feet.
The same amount of harvest from 1 to 2 plants as you would from 3 or 4 plants might result if your lighting isn’t powerful enough, so make sure your illumination is enough.
Please see my guide on optimizing yields for more information.
That’s it!
You are now completely prepared to go out and get the appropriate size grow tent to accommodate whatever number of plants that you desire. These are broad suggestions that should be sufficient for most situations. When it comes to plant space, remember that more space is always preferable if you have the financial flexibility to go one size up and give your plants a bit more breathing room. However, the final decision is entirely up to you. If you’re planning on purchasing a grow tent in the near future, be sure to read my guide on selecting the correct sized grow tent fan, as well as my guide to the best grow tents on the market!
FAQ:
You have complete control over the amount of space each plant takes up in your grow tent. I estimate that you’ll need 44-49cm per cannabis plant if you’re using 3 or 5 gallon grow bags.
How many cannabis plants fit in a 4×4 grow tent?
You should be able to cultivate four cannabis plants in three or five gallon grow bags, and you should have enough space to accommodate a humidifier.
How do I control cannabis plant height?
By reducing light exposure from 18 to 12 hours each day after the cannabis plant has grown to half of its target height, you may begin blooming your plant.
Do I need a humidifier for my grow tent?
Humidity is essential for producing cannabis and preventing powdery mildew, which can kill your plants if not maintained properly. Allow for additional room (about 126 inches) for a humidifier.
