Question about Nutrients and Autoflowering in a Deep Water Culture system

[Pandaman]

I am going to raise a couple of auto flowering plants for my next grow. I am curious about the nutrient requirements for the plants though.

The plants claim that they only take 14 days before they go into flower mode. So normally they would have only recieved a small dose of nutrients by that point. Since they are auto flower plants do I need to add more veg nutrients before they get to the flower mode or should I just follow the normal procedure and give them barely any veg nutes? Also should I go to full strength flower nutes as soon as they start to bloom or should I gradually increase the strength? Also any other tips for auto flower plants in hydro would be very appreciated.

I am using a Deep Water Culture setup with Advanced Nutrients Sensi formula. I will be growing them under two dual bulb t5's and a 150 watt hps for a total of 36k lumens.

Thank you for your help,
Pandaman

 

[Wing King 903]

i believe my strands are the "autoflowering" and two weeks in veg wouldnt have done it for them

 

[Pandaman]

I am only going by the information that comes with the seeds. My real issue is how to deal with the nutrients. I am uncertain how to treat the plant. If I grow it like normal then I will only need to add a very small amount of nutrients during the veg state as the plant will rapidly switch to flower mode.

My last grow was bag seed and I followed roseman's tutorial. Now, that I have these new seeds though, I need more information on autoflowering and nutes. I have searched for info on this but there doesn't seem to be a good guide for this situation.

Thanks for your time,
Pandaman

 

[Wing King 903]

i see i see im new to growing myself so im unsure of what you should do with them.....im sure one of the real smart BHs will chime in soon

what strand you goin to grow?
from what company?

 

[Pandaman]

World of Seeds Afghan Kush Ryder Autoflowering Feminized. Says 14 day veg and 55 days of flowering before harvest.

 

[TheAnswer1776]

World of Seeds Afghan Kush Ryder Autoflowering Feminized. Says 14 day veg and 55 days of flowering before harvest.

I just did a regular schedule for my Autoflower Roadrunner and at about 18 days it started to flower. Then I switched to bloom nutes, just like you would normally. I didn't ever go over 800 PPM with it though, even toward the end of flower. It didn't seem to require alot of nutes, but it was a different strain.

Something like this:

Week 1: 250
Week 2: 450
Week 3: 500 Bloom
Week 4: 600
Week 5: 700
Week 6: 800

 

[Wing King 903]

World of Seeds Afghan Kush Ryder Autoflowering Feminized. Says 14 day veg and 55 days of flowering before harvest.

mmmmmmm afgan kush love that stuff

told you someone smart would chime in

good luck with the grow.....you started a journal on here yet?

 

[jwb87]

Something like this:

Week 1: 250
Week 2: 450
Week 3: 500 Bloom
Week 4: 600
Week 5: 700
Week 6: 800

subbed for this!!! this has been my main question, as I am an aspiring DWC autoflowering grower myself. So as a n00b may I ask what nutes you guys did happen to use specificly, tyvm!! much appreciated

 

[c10dores]

Can someone tell me how much CO2 is used if the tank only lets CO2 in for 15 min three times a day. How much CO2 do I use and how long will a 20lb tank last at this time frame. About 45 min per day. By the way, Auto Flowering is what I am growing.

 

[sabreman61]

This is the most accurate info I could find. I am growing auto's too

LIFECYCLE OF AN AUTO

A common question I see is when to switch autos from veg to bloom. Many people are under the impression that as soon as they see the first flowers it's time to switch. Perhaps a little explanation of the life cycle of autos will help to clarify this.

Weeks 1 - 3. Once you've started your seeds and they break the surface of the soil, they are in their seedling stage. The first set of leaves to appear will usually single fingered, followed by a second set that may still be single fingered or perhaps 3 fingered. Once that second set appears growth will start to accelerate as the new leaves provide more photosynthesis. This process will continue, more new leaves, faster growth. Depending on the type of soil in use, mild vegetative nutes can be introduced at week 2. By week 3 most plants will start to show their sex. Males will start to produce pollen sacks and females will display pistils.

Weeks 4 - 6. The plants are now entering a pre flowering stage. During this time the plants should exhibit explosive growth, often as much as a new set of nodes and 1" vertical growth a day. This is the time when they will gain most of their vertical height. Many people make the mistake of switching from vegetative to flowering nutrients at this point, assuming that since they see flowers it must be the proper time. This is incorrect. If the switch to flowering nutes is made at this time the vertical growth will stop and the plant will put it's energy into producing buds. If you need to keep your plants small, or want them to finish earlier, they by all means switch nutes at this point. But if you want to get the most out of your plants continue feeding vegetative nutes until you see the vertical growth slow and stop. Depending on the strain that will usually be sometime during week 5 or 6.

Weeks 7 - 9. By now vertical growth has stopped and the switch to flowering nutrients has been made. The buds will start to fill out and put on weight, becoming hard and tight. Pistols will start to change from white to brown, orange, red, etc. By now the plants will also have developed a strong smell. Toward the end of this phase the large primary and smaller secondary fan leaves will begin to turn yellow. This is an indication that the plant is moving toward the end of it's life.

Weeks 10 - 11. At this time flowering nutes should be discontinued and only plain pHed water fed to flush the remaining nutrients from the soil and improve the taste. Yellowing of the fan leaves will continue as the plant draws the stored energy from them. Eventually they will die and fall off. By the time that the smaller leaves that come from out of the buds will also start to turn yellow. Then it's time to harvest.

I know that many of you are thinking that the seed bank said the plants will finish in 8-9 weeks, so why are you saying they take 10-11? The claims made by the seed banks are somewhat deceptive. If you switch to flowering nutes at week 3 or 4 the plants can finish in the times the seed banks say but they will remain small and not reach their full potential yield. Years of growing by myself and others has shown that autos do best if you follow this time line.

Of course, there will always be variations depending on the strain, the environment, nutrients, etc. This information is meant to only serve as a general guideline.

This is taking from another post I found online

 

[solocup]

Can someone tell me how much CO2 is used if the tank only lets CO2 in for 15 min three times a day. How much CO2 do I use and how long will a 20lb tank last at this time frame. About 45 min per day. By the way, Auto Flowering is what I am growing.

You should probably start another thread with your question. I mean no disrespect but this thread is for nutrients . Plus you will probably get a better response if it is posted in the correct category. Just my opinion though