Reverse Osmosis. RO and distilled as lostgirl said are void of ppms so when you feed, it is all food. I buy RO at $1.50 for 5 gallons. pH pen - You really need it in order to know what is going…you should get a pH pen and PPM/TDS meter. Without these 2 tools it is a crapshoot unless you are experienced and can determine what is going on visually.
That’s a No-No. You should have bought a pH PPM meter before you even bought seeds. This is very inexpensive and incredibly reliable and accurate I use them all the time. Get one as soon as you can
I would also make the recommendation that you increase light hours. Autos don’t care about the schedule. The more hours you run the higher your DLI is which will help you push to the finish line with weaker lights.
@Bigcbud it doesn’t matter if it’s photo or auto once it starts to flower, that’s the hour glass flip. The only difference is messing with autos at the wrong time during veg since that can stunt a plants growth and it may flip itself to flower way smaller. 
I was told only to remove before week 4 is this what you concluded as well?
There is no way to determine that definitively. We’ve seen autos flower anywhere from 3 to 9 weeks. So you never really can know. They’re finicky and even under great conditions can someone do unexpected things.
I would be getting gun shy topping after that 4 week mark. But after flower is already in play it doesn’t change between photo and auto
Thanks growmie I appreciate it
Sorry to let you down.
If it is any consolation, my next grow will be with ILGM AUTOs.
I will do as I have recommended, for learning (and sharing).
Not all my ideas are brilliant or appreciated, but I try.
@Bigcbud
Much better advice (from better advisor).
Don’t know why I didn’t think about bending the long stalk.
All of your info that I have read has been very helpful and I hope I didn’t come off any other way then inquisitive. Ogincognito showed me his success with topping and removing nodes with autos but most places say to not even attempt.
Look forward to seeing how everything goes
Sorry I just returned from work and I’m a little late responding. However these guys are some of the best growers from all over the world and they have you covered. Soil is good soil some mix OF with happy frog at 50/50. Fox farm also has a trio pack of nutrients that pretty much covers everything except maybe some cal mag. I grow autos but have not done much topping but have started low stress training where you tie down the branches to make a level canopy that @Lostgirl is talking about. Some top and complete defoliation of bottom 1/3 of plant. These things will work when completed at the proper times. I haven’t attempted due to being concerned with negativity of things I’ve read but want to because of things I’ve read that were positive. So it’s a debated topic. I’m going to find out first hand what works for me next grow. You learn as you go and with the help you get here you will be successful.
I am a forum fan and i hope friend of @OGIncognito.
I would suspect he is correct, even if it differs from “bro-science”.
Believer, I am, and still trying to walk on water, I do, hence the DDD handle…
Being lucky can always help the talented.
@Lostgirl has a better answer, for bending and tying.
It will require stages of bend degrees, as to not over-bend at the main stalk.
Base of stalk (whole plant stalk) may require counter balance tie-down.
@CoyoteCody on eBay sells “plant benders” (for branch bending).
I found 50 were not enough, once i started training ladies.
They even have holes that make tie positions easier to accomplish.
Not a paid advertisement and thrilled to be his customer.
Video on YT, Bill Ward (marijuana) multiple videos, and some on training.
And Man-kind learned the world was not flat, because somebody got lost or lucky?
Yes, learning is important, i believe.
Not popular, sometimes.
I’ve wondered about using HST for an auto. I’m in the same situation with an auto that is taller than wide. I’m new as well but I’m contemplating all read and witness. Is it beneficial to HST an auto. Also, is there any benefit to set light to 12/12 for an auto?
Only when tent is shared with Photos or avoiding temps.
I hope to run lights 18-6 this Nov-May.
Off to the races, I hope.
Appreciate the response. To be clear, you use HST with success on your autos?
I am an equal opportunity grower.
I cant remember most plants, beyond a week or year.
Mental deficiency with names and brilliant with numbers (like my ex’s phone number from 1971).
Lost my 2022 White widows in May 2023 and their seeds, are
now called Bag Seeds. My 11/2023 MW are Photos and
Reveging (currently outdoors), and now in flower.
My 11/2024 are to be ILGM Autos.
My deepest desire is to clone and find a winner.
Then to grow her a year or two, like in the old days (many clones).
Names are just names for me to forget. Failed tree names (Latin), sadly, but still got the congratulations sheepskin.
The only way I would know an auto, is for her to flower in 18/6 conditions, while still being young (short). Only the strong survive, my madness.
Thank you will get PH Pen Lowes has them also
Getting PH pen Lowes has them
Zero benefit to 12/12 with an auto. They’ll flower no matter what. Some run them without ever turning the lights off through their entire grow cycle.
That wouldn’t be my go to, but it’s possible. I think the largest benefit to autos (other than keeping me on track with flipping photos) is that you can keep the lights on longer giving more total daily photon hours to a plant with insufficient lighting.
Yea, tap water is around 7.0 so even a couple drops of vinegar wont hurt.