need clarification on timeframes that are listed on this sites strain charts…for example, the auto charts will say flower time “8 weeks”. My question: does that mean 8 weeks, seed to harvest?
It refers to the period from the time the plant begins to flower.
You should not expect yours to be done that fast. Its just an estimate based on perfect conditions.
They will take as long as they need. I have had seeds from the same batch take 9 weeks of flower and another take 16 weeks.
At least eight weeks once it begins flowering. Seems like healthy growing autoflowers begin flowering 3-4 weeks after germinating, less healthy plants longer. Recommended amount of time to flower is highly variable as well. A recommended 8 weeks doesn’t take into account genetic differences between plants and personal preferences for type of buzz you want. 8 weeks of flower should be considered a minimum length of time, realistically it may take 2-4 weeks more to achieve the effect you want.
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The amount of time it spends in vegetative state has more do with genetics than anything else. Under adverse conditions, sometimes a plant can sometimes be forced into early flowering. Most of the ILGM strains tend to start flowering around 6 weeks.
The amount of flowering time stated by breeders and seed banks is always under the most ideal conditions. As a beginner(unless you get lucky) you can expect your harvest time to be around two weeks longer than predicted.
16 weeks for auto???
thank you!
Hey @dividedwook-
My blueberry auto from ILGM flowered pretty early, and it has taken awhile for the pistils and tricomes to get good color. I will begin harvesting around the 12 week mark. It might have been a few days earlier had I not had a light issue. There are a couple of buds that are not quite ready, so i may not cut them until week 13 or 14. The seasoned growers have told me that autos have a mind of their own, and I believe it. Since March I have seen a lot of questions regarding auto harvest time. More so than any other topic on the auto forum section. The bottom line will always be your plant showing you when its ready. Good luck!
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For autos, it’s typically counted from germ til harvest. To be safe, I usually add 2 weeks or so to the breeders’ time when planning grows. Though, with autos, those times can have a crazy range.
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My current auto is on like day 85 of its 10 week grow cycle. Looks like its going to be around 100 to 105 days. From seed to harvest. Much more than the 70 days said by the breeder.
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That particular plant, a Northern Lights Auto, just would not stop growing. I kept pulling the branches down and it just kept going.
It took forever to finish. We jarred over 9 ounces dry once it was done. We called her Ginormica.
My point was sometimes things happen that throw the timing off. You can not expect each plant to do exactly what might be expected. The two smaller autos up front are dwarfed by the NL in back and they were done at just about 9 weeks of flower.
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thank you, patchman! Good luck with the blueberry
so from seed to harvest, 12 weeks or more is typical?
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Yes it is
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It can also be much longer not too long ago I saw a plant not begin flowering until week 7 or 8 so then you add the 8 weeks of flower that’s about 16 weeks.
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My first one went 12 total.
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I finished my first autoflower mix grow, from soaking seed to amber trichomes, in 10 1/2 weeks on 4 of 5 autoflowers, three different strains. The fifth one took an additional three weeks but it was worth it. Got an average of 2 1/2 oz from the first four that finished, the one that hung on longer gave me better than five ounces. Started indoors and finished off outdoors after started flowering.
Started second autoflower mix on May 22nd, one each amnesia haze, blueberry and northern light. They started flowering 3 1/2 weeks in and as of today, are nine weeks in from starting seed soak. There are still white pistils in places so I expect another 3-4 weeks. This second autoflower grow will take about 12-13 weeks.
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CM, do you transplant and what size pots do you use? My autos are short and still in solo cups after 5 weeks, when I transplant (since I have to), I was thinking of using 3 gal cloth pots because they may not have time to fill a 5 gal. Next time I might go straight from germinated seed to 3 or 5 gal.
I run every auto as a 12 week plant. Wish I could find some that veg longer but 3 weeks is about all I got out of the veg with my autos. The breeder stays true, 3 different strains, grown at different times. 30 days above ground and she sprouting white hairs going into flower. Believe it is happening with my gelato auto (same breeder as mentioned above) and she is at 24 days above ground. Like someone mentioned before, with a majority of autos (not all), you can yell boo at them and they will flip to flower
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thanks for responding!
I start my autoflowers in one gallon plastic pots, then transport at three-four weeks into 5-7 gallon pots when I see first signs of flowering. I think autoflowers have really vigorous root growth in the first three weeks and it’s silly starting them in a Dixie cup and inhibiting the growth. Maybe that’s why mine start flowering in the 3-4 week time frame instead of the six weeks or so most people experience.