Strategies for delaying flowering in auto

windycheese

Active Member
Just wondering if any of you guys know of ways to delay modern autos from beginning to flower for at least an extra week or two? I've read some people think topping or supercropping can delay it. I've also read that auxins also delay flowering. Anything you guys know from personal experience?
 

Porky1982

Well-Known Member
Why would you grow a little plant if it was as slow as a photo plant.
That's why I grew autos because its quick not because of light cycles.
 

PadawanWarrior

Well-Known Member
Just wondering if any of you guys know of ways to delay modern autos from beginning to flower for at least an extra week or two? I've read some people think topping or supercropping can delay it. I've also read that auxins also delay flowering. Anything you guys know from personal experience?
I think stress can slow them down. But I don't grow those abominations. Hey @HydroKid239, lol.
 

MATTYMATT726

Well-Known Member
Probably because if it's from seed photo plants turn out fairly shit on 12/12.
I only grew autos outside because I could get 2 harvests over summer for some variety. Hence the fast flowing.
I would waste time with autos inside.
Most autos take the same 80 to 90 days as a 3 week veg and 8 week flowering photo, so you really aren't getting it any faster unless you harvest early. There are not that many 70 day autos like advertised. You can spin it how you want, but autos are not that much in time savings compared to photos.
 

windycheese

Active Member
Some of you are missing the other logistical advantages of growing autos that go beyond each individual plant just being faster finishing:

1) Outside growers can grow multiple auto crops per season, where as with photos they will all flower at the same time so that's only one crop.
2) You don't need multiple tents for perpetual growing, you can have flowering and vegging plants in the same one and growing under the same light. You can stagger grows however you want.
3) You don't have to worry about lighting issues in the flower phase, like light leaks or only opening the tent only when the lights are on so no worries about light related hermying, and an auto in flower can use twice the light in the same day (not twice the intensity but twice the light hours)

I predict one of the next big things in cannabis genetics is gonna be creating non-photoperiod plants that remain perpetually in veg until the grower applies a chemical switch that triggers flowering (much like STS applied even once on a branch can trigger the flip to growing male flower while in bloom).
 

windycheese

Active Member
Why would you grow a little plant if it was as slow as a photo plant.
That's why I grew autos because its quick not because of light cycles.
I'd like the option to give my autos a little more time in veg if they're not as developed or as recovered from issues as I want them to be. But I still want them to flower regardless of light cycle.
 

Porky1982

Well-Known Member
Most autos take the same 80 to 90 days as a 3 week veg and 8 week flowering photo, so you really aren't getting it any faster unless you harvest early. There are not that many 70 day autos like advertised. You can spin it how you want, but autos are not that much in time savings compared to photos.
They are outside like I said. Inside your probably right but like I said I wouldn't bother with them inside.
 
Last edited:

Nutty sKunK

Well-Known Member
I'd like the option to give my autos a little more time in veg if they're not as developed or as recovered from issues as I want them to be. But I still want them to flower regardless of light cycle.
The only two factors I’ve come across are cold temps and topping/LST to manipulate auxin levels.

Cold temps are counterproductive as the plant won’t grow as fast and most likely won’t get bigger just for the sake of having more time
 

windycheese

Active Member
The only two factors I’ve come across are cold temps and topping/LST to manipulate auxin levels.

Cold temps are counterproductive as the plant won’t grow as fast and most likely won’t get bigger just for the sake of having more time
Spraying or watering with auxins: would that do the trick? And has anyone tried?
I've read that lentil SST is rich in auxins.
 

WintersBones

Well-Known Member
Interesting idea but I've not seen any one purposefully do this before. Pretty sure the genetics will determine above all and it'll finish when it wants to finish. If anything I would think stressing it will cause it to flower earlier? Not that topping and such is very stressful on the plant if done right, but I don't think it'll extend veg time. Better to focus on good strong growth, maximize light and VPD and perfect grow conditions I think.

I won't weigh into the pros or cons of autos lol, good genetics is good genetics, bad is bad, doesn't matter if it's auto or photo as far as I care. Ive grown good autos and bad, good photos and bad. The finished product is all that matters.
 
Top