Unpopular opinion

[Olderfart]

Hey just curious...do you have a separate area to start your new add seedlings? I want to start staggering my grows to be continuous but worry about burning them to death...or cheating the others by lowering the light intensity to accommodate the news? Thanks

I do mine in a separate seedling container made out of styrofoam sheet insulation. Works a treat from seed soaking until the second or third node:

The tray the babes are sitting in is a standard germination tray with a seedling mat underneath it. The styrofoam containment allows the heat mat to keep the entire inside of the box nice and warm. The mat is controlled by an Inkbird, otherwise it would over heat the plants. For seed soaking and paper towel stages, I use a solid top without the clear window. To control RH inside the box, I adjust the position of the top (it just sits loose on the sides) to increase or lower the amount of ventilation. Bigger opening, lower RH. Of course, you need a thermo-hygrometer in there to know what is up.

This setup works very well for me.

Here are the same solo girls a few weeks later:

The box is glued together with some silcone caulking, noting fancier is needed. The seedlings have suffered a bit while I sorted the automatic irrigation for the first time, but they seem to be on track as of yesterday. Solos, I have learned, dry out quickly, and when they do, trouble is not far away.

Good luck with your grows, if you have any questions about my mischief, just ask away.

 

[Rasterman]

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.

I had a rocky start with autos. Some of them are sensitive to certain things that probably wouldn't matter as much with photos. Last summer we had some cold nights, which stunted my autos. Because they weren't photos I couldn't leave them on veg longer and got less than 1/4 Oz from 3 plants.

But you're right that they can handle a lot of abuse. My latest auto grow (Double Grape) I did a lot of hst on one auto but not the sister. Yield was about the same for both plants, but bag appeal was far, far better on the 'woman' I abused. You just have to always remember that you're on the clock and let that guide your efforts lol.

 

[CannabisMingus]

Autos have their quirks, but delicate? I don't think so, and I have tortured quite a few of them before coming to that outlook.

Word.

 

[mdabber]

The cold can definitely slow growth I can see what your saying with photos. Once an auto starts flowering thats it. But I don't think they are weak. They just are genetically designed to go to seed asap so they can grow where there not a good season. Same with why photos herm they are in a crazy stressful environment and are making a last ditch effort to reproduce.

I had a rocky start with autos. Some of them are sensitive to certain things that probably wouldn't matter as much with photos. Last summer we had some cold nights, which stunted my autos. Because they weren't photos I couldn't leave them on veg longer and got less than 1/4 Oz from 3 plants.

But you're right that they can handle a lot of abuse. My latest auto grow (Double Grape) I did a lot of hst on one auto but not the sister. Yield was about the same for both plants, but bag appeal was far, far better on the 'woman' I abused. You just have to always remember that you're on the clock and let that guide your efforts lol.

 

[Olderfart]

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

View attachment 1405330

That zapper will work better closer to the dirt. Fungus gnats stick pretty close to it most of the time. The little buggers seem to spend more time crawling than flying.

Shoot us a report if you find that the zapper works, it might be a cool addition to the gnat arsenal. If the little buggers are attracted to the blue light, it should work a treat, maybe better than stickies.

 

[Badfinger]

That zapper will work better closer to the dirt. Fungus gnats stick pretty close to it most of the time. The little buggers seem to spend more time crawling than flying.

Shoot us a report if you find that the zapper works, it might be a cool addition to the gnat arsenal. If the little buggers are attracted to the blue light, it should work a treat, maybe better than stickies.

They work, I vacuum every other week, bodies all over the floor under mine. Been using one about 2 months and have it on a dusk til dawn sensor.

 

[Olderfart]

They work, I vacuum every other week, bodies all over the floor under mine.

cool, I love it. That pretty much confirms that the little buggers go to the blue light. A zapper might be in my future.

 

[mdabber]

They work, I vacuum every other week, bodies all over the floor under mine. Been using one about 2 months and have it on a dusk til dawn sensor.

If your organic feed them to the soil they probably have chitin in them a growth hormone found in exoskeleton. Also found in mushrooms and crab/lobster why I use crab extract ferment from coast of Maine. They are tiny and will break down

 

[ExNavyInSTL]

OF:

I have been waiting on an extension cord. It arrived tonight from Amazon. The Trojan Horse is going low tonight. : )

Edited to add photo:

That zapper will work better closer to the dirt. Fungus gnats stick pretty close to it most of the time. The little buggers seem to spend more time crawling than flying.

Shoot us a report if you find that the zapper works, it might be a cool addition to the gnat arsenal. If the little buggers are attracted to the blue light, it should work a treat, maybe better than stickies.

 

[Rasterman]

The cold can definitely slow growth I can see what your saying with photos. Once an auto starts flowering thats it. But I don't think they are weak. They just are genetically designed to go to seed asap so they can grow where there not a good season. Same with why photos herm they are in a crazy stressful environment and are making a last ditch effort to reproduce.

Yeah most of the ones I've grown are just as tough as any other cannabis. There are exceptions but like I said they could have been my fault.

I heard that you NEVER apply HST to an auto - all you can do is fold it over. Someone on this site schooled me by letting me know that you CAN train autos (might have been you). So I was brutal in my attempt to prove or disprove that. In my limited experience (one grow, 2 plants), that adage looks wrong.

Now it seems like you can do just about anything you can do with photos. You just have to always remember the deadline is locked in and doesn't shift. You can't ask for more time.