Since the beginning of time, humanity has used cannabis for both recreational and medicinal purposes. The earliest records of people using marijuana have been found in ancient cities of China, Egypt, and Rome.
But the use of autoflower seeds has brought about some serious discussions and debates among the cannabis community. Though experienced and professional growers have always come in support of the autoflower seeds.
They have repeatedly proven that autoflower seeds are the same as regular or feminized, and their short duration of flowering makes them the ideal choice.
Keeping in mind this argument, many people have started growing autoflower seeds. Some growers do adequate research before farming the seeds, while some growers blindly start growing the seeds.
Gowers who has blindly started farming autoflower seeds have made some mistakes that drastically reduce the grower’s excitement before trying a new plant.
You should know some basic conditions and keep in mind some points to help you grow any plants. If those conditions aren’t met, then there is no way you could ever get the desired results.
It is also why we have jotted down this article. To help you avoid making some common mistakes when growing autoflowering seeds.
1- Not knowing the basics of autoflower seeds
The only thing most people know about autoflower seeds is that they are easy to grow. A person with minimum to zero experience can grow them, but you should know the basics of the plant before that.
You cannot grow a plant without knowing the main nutrients needed by the plants or how you can protect them from any harmful insect or pest attacks. Do some research about what the plant needs, and once you have all the items at your disposal, start growing.
2- Not timing the growth properly
Since the autoflower plants do not require extensive lights, you must time planting the seeds. If you plant the seeds early or late, you will get fewer yields.
The seeds require an ideal temperature between 71 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Most people generally plant the seeds with the spring around the corner.
But if you live in a place where there is no snowfall, then you can plant it as soon as the frost clears out. The seeds are very delicate; hence they must be planted before harsh weather.
3- Germinate the seeds properly
Germination is an important process, and if the germination does not prosper, then there are very few chances you might get good results. To ensure germination was done properly, you need to do a couple of things.
First, soak the autoflower seeds in water for at least 24 hours. Then wrap them in moist paper and leave it in them for at least a day or two in a strong air-tight container. Remember to keep the towel moist. If it has too much water, the seed will rot.
Once the seed shows any roots or sprout, immediately place in the medium. If this is your first time, be very careful while placing them in the medium.
4- Not selecting the correct medium
If you’re planning to grow the seeds using a hydroponics method, then it is a good idea as you’ll be able to control the medium. But if you’re using soil, then depending on the soil, you can get different results.
You can buy organic soil from your nearby garden shops for people who do not know much about nutrients and the ideal soil for growth.
But if you’re planning to give proper nutrients to the soil, then add some organic nutrients to your place, and you’ll be good to go. Inspect the water level in the soil and add the necessary water.
5- Not getting proper containers
Stuffing the seeds in a plastic container will restrict the growth of the roots. The plants may be small, but their roots are bigger; hence, they need a large container to fit around 8 to 12 liters.
Since different strains reach different heights, check the requirements of the seed before buying the containers. You must avoid stuffing them in containers because then the roots do not have enough air supply, affecting the plant’s overall yield.
6- Moving the plants from place to place
Once you’ve placed the seeds in a container, grow them till the end in the same container. Avoid planting the seeds in small containers and then moving them to large containers.
If you plan to move the plant from a smaller container to a larger container, ensure that the soil is moist and not too wet when moving. If the soil is too wet, then the roots will break easily.
If the soil is too dry, then moving the plants becomes a hectic task.
7- Avoid underwatering and overwatering
The frequent mistake made by every grower, be it cannabis or other plants. If your soil is underwater, the plant will not get enough nutrients from the soil and dry out.
If your soil is over water, then the excess water will cause the roots to rot. But then, how do you check if the soil has enough water?
Stick your finger inside, deep up to an inch, and if your finger is moist, then it has enough water. This is a rough idea, and then accordingly, you should add water.
8- Overfeeding and underfeeding the nutrients
Nutrients are like food for the plants, and if they do not get the nutrients in the right amounts, there are fewer chances your plant may not survive.
If you do not give the required nutrients, the buds won’t get the nutrients, and you will not enjoy the quality of the buds. But if you give excess nutrients, then the plant won’t handle the number of nutrients, and it will be seen in the leaves.
When the user uses buds with high nutrients, it will only harm the user’s health. So do a favor on yourself, your business venture, and your end users, and maintain a balance in providing nutrients to these little babies.
9- Not harvesting at the right time
If you’ve managed to avoid making these mistakes, do not come until the end and screw this simple step. After all, you have put so much sweat and blood into getting all stages right up until now. So why harm your prospects if you can counter it with basic knowledge of the right time to harvest
But how do you know when the plants are ready for harvesting? You can use trichome scopes and look at the trichomes. When around 50% to 70% of trichomes pistils become amber in color, you know that it is time to harvest.
Final thoughts
These are some of the mistakes that you should avoid when you’re growing autoflower plants. Stay tuned as we bring more information on how to best grow the seeds bought from Homegrown Cannabis Co.
