You would like to grow easy and time-saving? Then autoflowering plants are just the thing for you! In our autoflowering guide we explain step by step how to grow your autoflower in the mini grow box and when it's time to harvest. With the help of our autoflowering guide, nothing should stand in the way of your grow!
Nevertheless, we would like to point out that we generally recommend feminized seeds for growing in a Bonsanto Mini Growbox. There is a simple reason for this: you can get better results with feminized seeds than with autoflowers.
In our autoflowering instructions you will learn everything you need to know about autoflowering. If you use one of our Bonsanto Mini Grow Boxes for your grow, please also refer to our general growing instructions. The advantage of using our grow box and Bonsanto components is that you do not need a PH meter, EC meter, temperature or humidity meter. This allows you to grow with ease.
Table of contents
But what is autoflowering anyway?
Unlike other plants, autoflowering strains start flowering automatically, as the flowering phase does not depend on a specific light cycle. In most cases, the autoflowering plant starts flowering after two to four weeks. Therefore, it is especially popular among grow beginners, but also advanced growers like to use autoflowering seeds because of the uncomplicated cultivation. Want to learn the best way to grow autoflowering plants? Then stay tuned and feel free to read our autoflowering guide!
Light plan when growing in the Mini Grow Box
Even though autoflowering strains have the advantage that their flowering phase does not depend on a light cycle, there are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a grow light and exposure time. In our autoflowering guide we recommend to use a full-spectrum LED plant lamp, , because it not only saves electricity costs, but is suitable for both the flowering phase and the growth phase of a plant. This way you don't have to change lamps! For autoflowering plants, an exposure time of 18 - 24 hours is recommended. For energy saving reasons, many growers opt for an 18 hour exposure phase.
The right soil for your grow
For autoflowering cultivation, a soil should be used that is food safe and pre-fertilized. A suitable soil can be found in numerous grow stores. Our Bonsanto Premium Soil is 100% natural and is not only pre-fertilized, but also contains perlite, which ensures rapid drying of the soil and thus promotes the oxygen supply of your plant. The PH value of the soil is also regulated so that the soil is optimally suited for growing your autoflower. The soil should ideally have a PH value of 6.0 - 6.5 when growing autoflowering, which means that the soil is slightly acidic. Since the soil is already pre-fertilized and autoflowering strains have lower nutrient requirements than other types of plants, you do not need to provide the plant with an additional fertilizer during the first weeks of growth, which are listed in our autoflowering instructions. You can read more about choosing the right soil for your autoflower in our blog article "Soil for Autoflower" .
Step by step: Autoflowering cultivation
Of course, for every single week that applies in our autoflowering guide check the leaves of the plant for pest and mold infestation to ensure the health of your plant. As mentioned at the beginning of the autoflowering guide, you don't have to worry about changing lamps because the Bonsanto Mini Grow Box contains a full-spectrum LED plant lamp. Also, the air supply needed for autoflowering is provided in the Mini Grow Box by a USB fan.
Learn everything you need to know about fertilizing and adding CO2 bags in our Bonsanto guide..
Week 1 - Germination and seedling stage
Fill the pot of the Mini Grow Box with the Bonsanto Premium soil and water the soil with about 800-900 ml of water. The seeds should be placed in the soil to a maximum depth of 5 mm. The Autoflower should remain in this pot until harvest. We do not recommend repotting Autoflowering plants, so as not to damage the root of the plant. The planted seeds will start to germinate after 1 to 3 days. Your autoflower will develop roots and the first cotyledons will be visible. Be careful not to over- or under-water your seedlings, especially at this stage. Overwatering can lead to rotting roots and can hinder the nutrient uptake of your plant. Unless you are using pre-fertilized soil, you should not add any additional fertilizer during the germination phase, as autoflowers have low nutrient requirements. How to germinate seeds, we explain to you here more in detail in our blog.
Week 2 - the end of the seedling stage
You can tell that your autoflower is in the vegetative growth phase because your plant has already developed its first leaves. In this phase you can support the vegetative growth of your autoflower with additional fertilizers, such as Organic Boost fertilizer . But again, only use about half of the normal fertilizer guideline. Water your plant only when the soil is nearly dry to prevent overwatering. We also recommend watering slowly to prevent salt buildup in the soil. You can read more about proper watering here .
Week 3 - Growth phase
In this phase, your autoflower grows rapidly and new leaves are formed. Once your plant has more than three accounts, you can start to train the autoflower through a low-stress technique . This is a method that promotes lateral plant growth and is very suitable for autoflower cultivation. The main stem and the branches of the plant are tied downwards. You can use the cable ties included with the Mini Grow Box for this. The training will result in more flowers and a higher yielding harvest will follow. Do not use topping or fimming techniques , as these training methods are not suitable for autoflowering plants.
Week 4 & 5 - Flowering phase
If you follow our autoflowering instructions, your plant will normally be close to flowering in week 4 . If you can already see pre-blooms, stop the low-stress training to avoid exposing your autoflower to stress.
If you like to use the ScrOG method for your grows, you can of course do the same for autoflowering cultivation. What exactly the ScrOG method is, you can read here in our blog article. When growing autoflowers, the application of scrogging is a bit more complicated than with other types of plants, as there is no separate vegetation and flowering phase. We recommend you the appropriate Srog grid for the Mini Grow Box and attach it as soon as the first flowers or buds of your autoflower are visible. Place the ScrOG grid about 7-15 cm above your autoflower. As soon as your plant reaches the grid, you can start weaving the individual branches through the fields of the ScrOG grid so that your plant can grow in width.
You can recognize the flowering phase of autoflowering by the appearance of white hairs on your plant that turn into sticky flowers. Now your plant needs more nutrients and has a higher water requirement.
Week 6 - 8 Wide growth & resinous flowers
If you have any questions regarding the correct fermentation of your crop, please feel free to contact us. All information about growing in the Bonsanto Growbox can be found in our Instructions.
In week 6 of autoflowering, your plant will start to expand in width and an even canopy of leaves will appear. Now you can watch the buds of your plant grow bigger. For optimal autoflowering growing conditions, the temperature in your grow box should be between 18 and 24 degrees Celsius in week 7.
In the 8th week you are slowly approaching the time of harvest. Now your flowers should look fuller and more resinous. If this is not yet the case, don't stress! Just treat your autoflower as you did in week seven. If the smell of your plant is very strong by now, use an activated carbon filter to neutralize the smell.
Week 9 - Just before harvest
The time has come when the leaves of your Autoflower turn yellowish. This means that harvest is imminent. With a magnifying glass, you can already start observing the flowers of your autoflower to see when the plant is ready for harvest.
Week 10 - Time to rinse
To eliminate salt deposits in the soil and improve the taste of your buds, start giving your autoflowering plant lots of water in week 10. This is called "flushing". We recommend flushing the plant for about two to three days before starting to harvest.
Autoflowering when to harvest?
We come to the end of the autoflowering tutorial and now answer one of the most exciting questions: When is your plant ready for harvest? As mentioned at the beginning of the autoflowering guide, a big advantage of autoflowering is a quick harvest. Already 8 to 12 weeks after cultivation, the plants are ready for harvest. When exactly the plant can be harvested depends on your autoflowering strain. In our autoflowering guide we assume an average of ten weeks. When you should start harvesting, you can tell from the flowers of your plant. On the flowers there are so-called trichomes. It is best to examine them with a magnifying glass. If some of these trichomes are white and the others amber, your autoflower is ready for harvest. The more trichomes that are amber, the more sedating your buds will be. Most people start harvesting when about 60-70% of the trichomes are amber. If you prefer a psychoactive effect, you can of course start harvesting earlier! If the buds below are not yet ready and need a little more time, Autoflower can be harvested one after the other. For harvesting, we recommend you to use clean and sterile scissors.
Still questions about the autoflowering instructions?
Do you have any other questions about autoflowering that we couldn't answer in our autoflowering guide? Then feel free to contact us! If you are using a Bonsanto growbox, please also read our Bonsanto growing guide for more information.
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