New Grower 1st Autoflower Grow - Critique

[Muddy]

You're heading into full flower now, so I'd suggest cutting back on the Grow Big and upping the Tiger Bloom. Growth is going to shift from the vertical vegetative growth to fattening up the buds. A little Grow Big is okay during flowering, but now it's time for the TB and BB.

It's very likely that the burned tip is the results of over feeding slightly. Nothing to really worry about unless you see other symptoms that WR outlined.

Hi all,

Thanks for the confidence booster it was really helpful. :dance:


Staying the course for week 7 using Fox Farms nutes from their printed schedule for soil @1/2 strength ...

• Grow Big 2-Tsp/Gal
• Big Bloom 1-Tbl/Gal
• Tiger Bloom 1-Tsp/Gal
• 1-Tsp/Gal Molasses

My tingling rabbit senses tell me this is a juncture in the growing process where mistakes are dificult to recover from, just wanted to make sure that I was still coloring inside the lines.

Regards - RF

 

[Muddy]

You're welcome. I've just seen too many people switch to flowering nutes too soon and end up losing out on final yield. With their short vegetative growth period it's beneficial to get them as big as possible before switching.

Thanks for continuing to repeat this observation in the grower's forum. It is well truly stickied in my mind now, the timing of the switch is crucial to them reaching their full potential. I will not fall into the non-complacency trap next time round..

 

[astronomy420a]

hey rf, just found this thread, sorry i am late! she is a steller girl! btw you name the zappa tune i can sing the lyrics.....lol

 

[RabbitFighter]

Don't panic Rabbit we can narrow this one down easily. Do you have anthrocyanin (red/purple pigments) present in the leaf stems? If so, then is this in the older leaves or the new ones?

Hi Trifid,

No red/purple pigments in the leaf stem. It appears to be all leaf tipss both old & new.

yeah, don't get too crazy about it just yet. in the stages of flowering, the plant will use up energy in its leaves as it packs on the bud weight. so some discoloration, and brown tips are normal. i would be alarmed if you notice a different shape in your leaves such as clawing of the tips, or drooping. look for happy angled up, out, and nice straight leaves. they look decent in that pic from what i can see. try adding some wider plant shots and more leaf pics too. like trifid says...don't panic. happy harvesting rabbit!

Hi Wildrunner,

Apart from the tip 1/16" the leaves look great, tips angled up nice & straight.

You're heading into full flower now, so I'd suggest cutting back on the Grow Big and upping the Tiger Bloom.

Will do Muddy, thanks.

You're welcome. I've just seen too many people switch to flowering nutes too soon and end up losing out on final yield. With their short vegetative growth period it's beneficial to get them as big as possible before switching.

Hi Muddy,

Probably need a nute schedule more in line with autoflowers most likely the Fox Farms soil schedule was created for photo-period strains. How much more compressed is the autoflower schedule?

hey rf, just found this thread, sorry i am late! she is a steller girl! btw you name the zappa tune i can sing the lyrics.....lol

Yeah Astro420, I would have expected nothing less.

Thanks - RF

 

[glaucoma]

Really nice set up and grow matey. Its obvious youve done your research and are taking care - hope you enjoy the next phase of growth and of course the harvest!:thumbs:

 

[Muddy]

Of course, it varies based on the strain and grow media, but basically start feeding 1/4 strength veg nutes at week 2 or 3, working up to 1/2 strength or higher through week 5 or 6 or until vertical growth slows and stops. Then switch to flowering nutes, again starting low and building up, and continue till it's time to flush. Then only plain pHed water the last two weeks. If the soil has been amended with manure, worm castings, guano, etc., then the feed rates will probably be lower. nutes are pretty mild and most strains can usually take them at 1/2 strength or a little higher.

 

[RabbitFighter]

Of course, it varies based on the strain and grow media, but basically start feeding 1/4 strength veg nutes at week 2 or 3, working up to 1/2 strength or higher through week 5 or 6 or until vertical growth slows and stops. Then switch to flowering nutes, again starting low and building up, and continue till it's time to flush. Then only plain pHed water the last two weeks. If the soil has been amended with manure, worm castings, guano, etc., then the feed rates will probably be lower. nutes are pretty mild and most strains can usually take them at 1/2 strength or a little higher.

Hi Muddy,

Thanks for the advice, is this a fairly safe nute schedule for most autoflowers?

Maybe you can answer another question. All things being equal... What kind of yield (grams/watts) would be considered reasonable when flowering under 220w of CFL lighting?

All the best - RF

 

[Muddy]

Yes, that's a good basic guideline. Of course, every strain is going to be different, sometimes even different phenos within a given strain may have different requirements. As you become more familiar you'll learn to recognize how the plants respond and can adjust from there.

I use some CFLs in combo with a MH light for vegging but I've never done a grow exclusively with CFLs. Before I used HPS, now everything is LED. I'm sure someone with CFL experience can give you more accurate information but I would expect an AK should yield around 35 - 40 grams per plant.

Hi Muddy,

Thanks for the advice, is this a fairly safe nute schedule for most autoflowers?

Maybe you can answer another question. All things being equal... What kind of yield (grams/watts) would be considered reasonable when flowering under 220w of CFL lighting?

All the best - RF

 

[RabbitFighter]

Day 45

Nothing much has changed since last week except I have improved my ventilation once again. At first I was using one 4" in-line fan... then I added another so I had one pulling out on through a carbon scrubber another one blowing into my attic. Two 4" in-line fans in tandem were still too weak to build up enough static pressure to effectively ventilate my tent. I mention this to assist others... Don't skimp on ventilation. Upgraded to a 4" Centrifugal fan rated at 185 CFM with a speed controller, now the tent stays about 6 degrees above ambient and I was able to add a side light with no change in noise level.

Flowering is well on its way, buds grow fatter daily.


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[astronomy420a]

looking good! rf, the girls areat the point when they make your mouth water!