Personally I would not start laying them on there side for 3 - 4 weeks .the first 3-4 weeks are critical to root development on autos and make or break auto's future development
@Candog, Yeah I get that for sure. Autos are normally gonna produce a smaller yeild much faster. The thing about autos is they need a grower to be a bit more consistent than photos is all I'd say. There not worse than photos in anyway - it comes down to the grow. Personally I dont think i'll top any and if I do i'll still mostly be using LST to get the most out of them. But, if you recon topping can work, I might try topping them a couple at 8 when they get to 8 nodes like you've suggested and see what happens ;)
@wellhairy, the first weeks is root development time is the only point I was trying to make . not much happens above ground at this time .auto's are not weak baby ass plants everybody on here makes them out to be. I treat them the same as photos after they get going, i DO Not use less nutrients or light on auto's. But generally top them once after 8 node .topping plants is not as much stress as everybody makes it out to be on this site . I laugh and shake my head at some stupid shit poeple say on here
@Candog ,Ok fair enough. I have had better luck with photos to but that mainly because you can use much more high stress techniques. This means the grow time is generally longer but you do have more impressive looking plants at the in my oppinion.
As these are autos, In the past, I've had more success laying them out this way. This helps to promotes branching off the main stem so you dont have a single main cola. I've tried topping autos as I've read you can do it once early on but im my experiance its to much of a shock for the plant and styfuls growth. I'll probably go back to photos in the future to try out some high stress techniques
@alicemiracle11, thanks, yeah it looks like it's going that way for a lot of my plants. I recon their gonna be pretty squat but hopefully they'll get a bit taller in the next week.
Best Wishes all the way through this grow!
I’ve never seen a seedling “handled” so early…
And I like it lol.
The only negative thing I can see about training so early… is that the Seedlings main job at this First-Week stage, is throwing out some Roots.
There might be a little physical advantage to waiting another week to Bend… she’s responding though… cheers Bud
@1Right_Angle, thanks man. Im just having a bit of fun and hopefully I'll get some decent bud out at the other end.
I must admit that when I've done this in the past it's usually a little later but I don't usually plant seedlings out into larger pots so soon either.
I'm hoping this will work out but I guess if it doesn't the other half the crop will be fine 😅