Unpopular opinion

[ExNavyInSTL]

Listen to this man's take on autoflowers:

Jeff Lowenfels talks about auto-flowering cannabis.

Link: The AutoFlowering Revolution (12:31)

About the speaker (from his website): Author of the Award-winning author of the following:
(1) "Teaming With Microbes: The Organic Gardener’Guide To The Soil Food Web,"
(2) "Teaming With Nutrients: The Organic Gardener’s Guide to Optimizing Plant Nutrition"
(3) "Teaming With Fungi: The Organic Grower’s Guide to Mycorrhizae,"

He is also a lawyer who writes the longest-running garden column in North America, having never missed a week in 41 years. The combination of garden writing and law earned him the moniker of “America’s Dirtiest Lawyer,” though with the publication of his third book, a trilogy, he will morph into “Lord of The Roots.”

Jeff is a highly respected and popular garden writer. He is the former President of the Garden Writers of America, a GWA Fellow and in 2005 was inducted into the GWA Hall of Fame, the highest honor a garden writer can achieve.

 

[Bob's Auto's]

I went to autoflowers because I started out in a greenhouse, but couldn't get my photo's to flower because of light pollution from a nearby factory. It was so bad that for two months or so I needed to close all windows so no one could see inside (the greenhouse was painted with white wash), then wrap panda foil two or three times around my plant before I could get it to flower. That was just to much work, in my search I found this forum and never grown anything else then auto's.

Also, you can have multiple plants at different stages in the same tent.

Since a couple of months now I also grow inside because of this. That way I can be self-sufficient and don't have to rely on some dodgy person for my medication.

 

[automan2]

Autos have had a place in my perpetual grows since I bought my first in '06. They've come a long way since joint doctor...

 

[Frank the Dank]

I went to autoflowers because I started out in a greenhouse, but couldn't get my photo's to flower because of light pollution from a nearby factory. It was so bad that for two months or so I needed to close all windows so no one could see inside (the greenhouse was painted with white wash), then wrap panda foil two or three times around my plant before I could get it to flower. That was just to much work, in my search I found this forum and never grown anything else then auto's.


Since a couple of months now I also grow inside because of this. That way I can be self-sufficient and don't have to rely on some dodgy person for my medication.

Haha that’ll do it….along with porch lights, street lights, or just lights from your house windows. Autos for the win

 

[McDee]

Why are autos marketed so heavily to new growers?

I've never grown a thing, and autos seem really delicate and finicky with their hand grenade style flowering. Make a simple noob mistake on your auto, and there goes your harvest.

Seems photos are a lot more forgiving, since they can be maintained in veg indefinitely. Over watering your photo in the beginning and possibly stunting it seems like it would be a lot more treatable than with an auto, along with the myriad of other mistakes that new growers make, since veg can be controlled to the point where the plant recovers.

I just want to know if my thinking is right on this? Like, "why auto?" is kinda where I'm at with it.

I have done both autos and photos, and disagree with "autos are really delicate and finicky." Autos are tanks bud, and will push through a lot mismanagement. The photos have been more sensitive than my autos. You dont have to worry about a light schedule change as well. Length of grow is a plus for a lot of growers too. I beat the hell out of my plants and they love it. Grow a few of each, and your unpopular opinion may change... stay lifted.

 

[ExNavyInSTL]

As if we needed another reason for autoflowers, allow me to introduce to you my Trojan Horse for Fungus Gnats ... the bug zapper.

 

[CannabisMingus]

the bug zapper.

Fry those f-ers I say. Fry 'em to hell.

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

all of the previous reasons plus. The autoflowers are my hobby. I like the endless variety and the beautiful flowers and aromas. I have grown many Photos also but I have grown impatient waiting for the photo's flowers to ripen and just love the speed of the Autos. Vrooooommmmm.

 

[fauxnacho]

Yeah repeat sales I'd say, I think breeders are happiest selling autos, one seed one plant. Good point that new growers are more likely to make a small mistake (overwater, overfeed) that slows down a plant, which can be basically fatal for an auto but just a delay for a photo..... but yeah, autos just have some 'cool' factor I guess
I prefer photos for the control, had some bad luck with flip times on autos cheers

 

[automan2]

The auto world kinda exploded back a coupla decades ago and when they caught on, many breeders and pollen chunkers wanted their share of the pie so 'true autos' and 'semi-autos' began their hybrid journeys.
I remember the years when autos were as advertised...quick and able to hide among low foliage. Personally I liked the timing and lack of light schedule requirements...realizing long ago that autos 'can handle' 24/0 but don't require it. Heck, my first were on 12/12 and did quite well.
Being a numbers guy, I had to know my percentage increase of costs of care & energies vrs percent increase in yeild. I found 'diminishing returns' applies as overall cost and hassle far outpaces the increase in yeild. Soooo..I make sure the 12/12 they get is my best. Makes healthy plants easier which in turn means quality bud.
Runnin autos on 12/12, lets me run photos alongside! Keeps each one honest.
IMO...a well grown auto is as good as a well grow photo. Of course, most photos out yeild autos but yeild doesn't mean more potency.