What is the Most That an Autoflower Can Yield?
Autoflowers, known for their quick short growth cycles and ability to flower without the need to change light cycles. They are normally known as the smaller sibling of the photoperiod, however, grow them right and you can produce yields of up to 200g per plant! Let’s take a look at what you can do to really get the most out of your autoflowers.
What Can You Do to Increase Autoflower Yield?
Lighting: Autoflowers do not need a change of light cycle to flower, so one of the main advantages of growing them over photoperiods is that you can keep them on as much as 24 hours of light throughout the grow. Like all plants they do need some rest so it’s best to grow them on a cycle of either 18/6 or 20/4 so as not to cause any stress. Use good quality full spectrum LED or HID lights.
Low-Stress Training (LST): By gently bending and tying the branches down using LST techniques as your autoflower grows you can manipulate the structure of the plant. Think of a flat canopy bonsai tree, if you can get your autoflower to take this kind of shape, it exposes more leaves to direct light allowing the plant to take in more energy resulting in a bigger plant with bigger buds.
Nutrients: Autoflowers require less nutrients than photoperiods, as a rule of thumb they generally need only half to one third the nutrients so its important to plan your nutrient schedule. Make sure you give your autos the right nutes but be sure not to overdo it. During the vegetative stage, focus on nitrogen-rich fertilizers. As flowering begins, switch to phosphorus and potassium-rich nutrients.
Soil: A well-draining, airy soil mix is ideal. Autoflowers prefer a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Avoid over-compacting the soil to ensure your roots can grow out freely and stay nice and healthy.
Pot Size: A larger pot allows for more root space, encouraging growth. Typically, a 5-gallon pot is sufficient for a medium sized auto but if you intend to really grow a big plant choose a 10–15-liter pot to give the plant plenty of room to expand.
What are the Advantages of Growing High Yielding Autoflowers?
Growing high-yielding autoflowers presents several advantages:
- Efficiency: Autoflowers have shorter life cycles and so if you live in a region with shorter summers, they are perfect. The short growing times (ave 3 months) also allow you to achieve multiple harvests in a single season, making them time efficient.
- Space-Saving: Autoflowers are generally smaller plants, making them ideal for growers with limited space. They are perfect for indoor grows, balcony grows and closet grows.
- Resilience: Autoflowering plants all contain the ruderalis genetics that originate in the harsh climates of Siberia. So, they are much more resilient to cold weather than your average cannabis plant.