Critical Jack Vs. Critical+ (Dinafem)
- Thread starter MysticMorris
- Start date
sixteenounces
Well-Known Member
Training an auto is no good. The only training my autos get, are a tied UP and the bottom growth under the 2nd node is removed early flower.
And when i say tied up, i mean "lollipoped" or "Tomatoe caged with string". DO NOT FORCE EXTRA VEGETATIVE GROWTH.
mike91sr
Well-Known Member
Looks good MM! I got a 3pack of CJ autos that I'm itching to crack. Looking forward to your results.
Why not? I understand the timeframe doesn't usually allow for much recovery, but I'm in the middle of LSTing my 3week old PE auto. She was already 12" tall with NO side branching last weekend. I'm just keeping the main top down until at least 4 of the 8 nodes below it start to develop into equal shoots. I figure another week at most, probably right when she'll start to flower anyway. I'll listen for any reason I should change my methods though.
Why not? I understand the timeframe doesn't usually allow for much recovery, but I'm in the middle of LSTing my 3week old PE auto. She was already 12" tall with NO side branching last weekend. I'm just keeping the main top down until at least 4 of the 8 nodes below it start to develop into equal shoots. I figure another week at most, probably right when she'll start to flower anyway. I'll listen for any reason I should change my methods though.
sixteenounces
Well-Known Member
You basically said it. There is no time to recover/reposition. Well there is time, but the energy used, in the short life span of the auto, will negatively effect the end result. I can only encourage you to test for yourself.
mike91sr
Well-Known Member
May have to give that a shot with my CJs. I really just want to make sure that whatever auto I'm growing in my veg tent doesn't overshadow the vegging plants. And I've seen PE autos reach almost 4' high, so I figured this would be the strain to do it with. Thanks for the heads up!
MysticMorris
Active Member
The sativa type Critical jack that I grew tasted really nice. I have a report on it somewhere on RIU. I have the report saved on my comp so I'll post the end bit for you 
(exert from full report)
smoke report (after 2 weeks curing)
The bud is sticky as hell and sticks to your fingers like glue, perhaps it needs more curing. It smells of lemon mainly and perhaps other fruits. nice dark orange hairs all over and a sparkly finnish to every inch of the bud. It tastes like it smells, not overpowering, but still a strong citrus flavour. The high is a builder, leaving me very high after say 2-3 joints. As I harvested early it lacks the body stoned punch I think. Yet this is still an enjoyable smoke that is stronger than the so called 'stinky' £20 per 1.3gr sold around here. The high lasts a decent time and rarely resultes in pink eye. Moderate muchies. Only downside iv noticed is that i feel travel sick quite easily while smoking Critical Jack.
after 3weeks cure
The stuff just smells fantastic, a sweet lemoney wood smell. When smoked there is also a skunky taste that lasts. I really enjoyed this weed and considered it to in the top tier for tastyness. The strength was acceptable but not impressive. Was definatley a 'high' smoke.
Having long since run out of it I miss it and am considering trying the critical auto soon.
(exert from full report)
smoke report (after 2 weeks curing)
The bud is sticky as hell and sticks to your fingers like glue, perhaps it needs more curing. It smells of lemon mainly and perhaps other fruits. nice dark orange hairs all over and a sparkly finnish to every inch of the bud. It tastes like it smells, not overpowering, but still a strong citrus flavour. The high is a builder, leaving me very high after say 2-3 joints. As I harvested early it lacks the body stoned punch I think. Yet this is still an enjoyable smoke that is stronger than the so called 'stinky' £20 per 1.3gr sold around here. The high lasts a decent time and rarely resultes in pink eye. Moderate muchies. Only downside iv noticed is that i feel travel sick quite easily while smoking Critical Jack.
after 3weeks cure
The stuff just smells fantastic, a sweet lemoney wood smell. When smoked there is also a skunky taste that lasts. I really enjoyed this weed and considered it to in the top tier for tastyness. The strength was acceptable but not impressive. Was definatley a 'high' smoke.
Having long since run out of it I miss it and am considering trying the critical auto soon.
MysticMorris
Active Member
Appreciate it amigo, hope you get to pop the CJs soon. Once you grow them you will think your photperiods are slow as hell, the CJs really make use of the 20 hours of light a day.
MysticMorris
Active Member
LST is generally not a good idea with autos, or so I'm led to believe and understand. That said its not a rule or anything so it can be done. I think with CJ you could hold back the main cola for maybe 2-3days at a very specific point ( for example in this grow I would consider doing it around day 20-23 as the sidebranches make the huge stretch).
All i know is that less stalling=more growth and therfore a better yeild. Height isnt an issue for my setup, and my 400w hps penetrates far enough down.
MysticMorris
Active Member
I would imagine you will get a very simillar yeild in the end if you LST, so long as the plant keeps growing smoothly. Its just I would ask if its really worth all the effort if its not going to get you a better yeild. LST can do wonders for photoperiods but you can let it get to a better size before flowering kicks in. If its a stealth or height issue then sure why not, otherwise I would want to at least do a side by side comparison grow of the strain before commiting to using it as a full time technique.
mike91sr
Well-Known Member
Agreed, and thanks. Stealth is no concern, but like I mentioned I'd just like to keep the height reasonable because its in a 4x4 tent that has to fit vegging plants, clones, and mothers for 2 separate flower rooms. The autos are kind of just a kicker to fill space when I have it and try something new, plus I get more variety to smoke
If/when I have room to run more than 1 auto at a time, Ill definitely do a comparison of mild training vs none. Till then, I'll see how it does with the PE with no control and make a decision I guess. I'll probably do it at least for some of the more sativa strains I plan on running.
I only give them 18 hours a day(and MH at that). My electricity rate more than doubles for peak hours(10am-6pm) so I really try to stay out of that time as much as possible. 2 extra hours of 600w and a 1200w a/c timed 50% on/off just isn't worth it I dont think. At least definitely not for my vegging photos. Another comparison I'd like to do but definitely not possible with the setup I have now. Have you seen a noticeable difference if youve done both 18 and 20? Most times the topic is brought up the consensus is pretty divided.
By the way, nice report on G13 BBG, just realized that thread was yours. Helped me pull the trigger ordering one, shes about 3 weeks into flower now. Hope you dont mind
If/when I have room to run more than 1 auto at a time, Ill definitely do a comparison of mild training vs none. Till then, I'll see how it does with the PE with no control and make a decision I guess. I'll probably do it at least for some of the more sativa strains I plan on running. I only give them 18 hours a day(and MH at that). My electricity rate more than doubles for peak hours(10am-6pm) so I really try to stay out of that time as much as possible. 2 extra hours of 600w and a 1200w a/c timed 50% on/off just isn't worth it I dont think. At least definitely not for my vegging photos. Another comparison I'd like to do but definitely not possible with the setup I have now. Have you seen a noticeable difference if youve done both 18 and 20? Most times the topic is brought up the consensus is pretty divided.
By the way, nice report on G13 BBG, just realized that thread was yours. Helped me pull the trigger ordering one, shes about 3 weeks into flower now. Hope you dont mind
MysticMorris
Active Member
Im with u, I use autos for the same purpose. Not sure which strain to try next time....hmmm have to have a long think about it. Nice BBG you have there, looks like a serious scrog, n thanks for reading the report. Hope you enjoy the strain as much as I did. I have a friend who has kept a BBG mother for a while now, and cos it was grown from my seeds they are going to provide me with a few clones in a couple of weeks. Happy days. I'm more than happy for you to post pics here btw, its all good.
As for the 18 hours vs 20, I actually dont have that much of an opinion on it yet. I started using 20/4 and the autos seem to like it. Towards the last few weeks I drop it down to 16 gradually. Does it make any difference? Im not sure I just do it in hopes it does. I pay a flat rate for elec so I reckon that has a bearing on it. I also have a smaller setup so costs are lower. If I were in your shoes I would defo keep it at 18 hours light.
As for the 18 hours vs 20, I actually dont have that much of an opinion on it yet. I started using 20/4 and the autos seem to like it. Towards the last few weeks I drop it down to 16 gradually. Does it make any difference? Im not sure
I just do it in hopes it does. I pay a flat rate for elec so I reckon that has a bearing on it. I also have a smaller setup so costs are lower. If I were in your shoes I would defo keep it at 18 hours light.
MysticMorris
Active Member
<Day 25>
Starting to work in more nutes now, I think flowering is about to really kick in.
Starting to work in more nutes now, I think flowering is about to really kick in.
|B3RNY|
Well-Known Member
Awesome, I'm subbed. I've grown Critical + several times, I really enjoy it as an all-round favorite to grow and pretty decent smoke as well. I'm not saying it's the best in the world but I was very happy with every seed I popped. I was really interested in the Critical crosses since I like the C+ so much, I'm glad to have found your thread. Have you seen the Cloud 9 or the other crosses Dinafem made? I really like them as breeders, they're very polite too and will answer any questions you have (they speak limited English though, I'm pretty sure they're Spanish.)
MysticMorris
Active Member
Thanks for subbin, good to have you on board. I'm lookin forward to smoking the Critical+, I know not to expect the best weed, but it encouraging to hear from another Dinafem fan.
Cloud9 is on my wish-list for sure, I might have even tried it by now but it was sold out last time I bought seeds (back in stock now). It was recommended to me quite a few times as one of Dinafem's best strains.
Yeah they are a Spannish breeder, its easy to imagine any of these strains performing very well on a sun-soaked Spannish roof-terrace. Some of their autos must get huge outdoors.
Cloud9 is on my wish-list for sure, I might have even tried it by now but it was sold out last time I bought seeds (back in stock now). It was recommended to me quite a few times as one of Dinafem's best strains.
Yeah they are a Spannish breeder, its easy to imagine any of these strains performing very well on a sun-soaked Spannish roof-terrace. Some of their autos must get huge outdoors.
MysticMorris
Active Member
thanks amigo, wait till you see the bud explosion on the CJs, I hope the Critical+ can keep up
|B3RNY|
Well-Known Member
Damn, does it really yield more than C+?thanks amigo, wait till you see the bud explosion on the CJs, I hope the Critical+ can keep up
That's a top from a C+ I harvested outside, it was less than 3 ft tall. I was amazed with the production, it wasn't as potent as usual though, it was an early flowering pheno (finished late July.) I was happy to have some early smoke though. Sorry to keep posting in your thread here but you've got me excited as hell about the CJ!!
MysticMorris
Active Member
Honestly man Im happy to chat with folk on my thread, post away.
Thats a really decent main cola you have there, so I could be wrong about the Critical+ not being as productive as CJ. Iv posted a pic of the first CJ I grew about halfway down the thread - it was about 3ft and yeilded about an ounce and a half.
MysticMorris
Active Member
<Day 26>
Overdone the nutes slightly, a few burnt tips on two of my girls. Should be fine though. They are reaching the 20" mark now and growth is slowing a bit so I'm expecting heavy bud production to begin by the end of the week.
Hot and humid weather is giving me grief, I'v had temps up in the mid-high 80s. Hoping for thunderstorms soon and a cooling of the climate. My setup runs for the most part in cold climate so heat is never really an issue and I dont have any a/c. Infact a more common problem for me is keeping temps up.
Thinking of repotting to bigger pots next week - getting soil is my only logistical problem as my nearest hydro store is pretty far away and I dont have a car (or tell many about my grow, so cant ask for lifts). I have to buy one 50litre bag of it at a time and carry it home. It knackers the hell out of me lol. I know the plants would take advantage of the extra medium so I'll try to make that happen soon.
CJ1, CJ2, CJ3, Critical+
Growing tips starting bud production
Smell was becoming an issue, fitted the carbon scrubber today.
Overdone the nutes slightly, a few burnt tips on two of my girls. Should be fine though. They are reaching the 20" mark now and growth is slowing a bit so I'm expecting heavy bud production to begin by the end of the week.
Hot and humid weather is giving me grief, I'v had temps up in the mid-high 80s. Hoping for thunderstorms soon and a cooling of the climate. My setup runs for the most part in cold climate so heat is never really an issue and I dont have any a/c. Infact a more common problem for me is keeping temps up.
Thinking of repotting to bigger pots next week - getting soil is my only logistical problem as my nearest hydro store is pretty far away and I dont have a car (or tell many about my grow, so cant ask for lifts). I have to buy one 50litre bag of it at a time and carry it home. It knackers the hell out of me lol. I know the plants would take advantage of the extra medium so I'll try to make that happen soon.
CJ1, CJ2, CJ3, Critical+
Growing tips starting bud production
Smell was becoming an issue, fitted the carbon scrubber today.