Fast Buds - AK Auto & Sour Diesel Auto

Horst Week 2 – First Big Steps General Impression The plants have developed very well so far. The root growth was strong, making them quickly ready for the move to the final pots. After transplanting, there were no signs of stress – important since autos don't have time for longer recovery phases. Actions / Measures Transplanting into the final pots Substrate composition: top third BioBizz Light Mix, bottom two thirds Plagron Grow Mix Addition of diatomaceous earth (silica source, pest prevention) Dynomyco Mycorrhizae for root support Environment & Technique Watering with osmosis water, about 15 ppm after filtration, pH-regulated Lighting with TSW2000 (40 cm, 30%) Comments The plants have adapted to the new substrate without any issues. With the combination of Light Mix and Grow Mix, the seedlings can initially grow gently before they move into the nutrient-rich soil. Everything is running stable and without any abnormalities. Photos Shots are from day 14, the end of the second week since placing the seeds in water. Additional Info Since the room also serves as a storage space, Jimmy shows up here... totally without style intention. But I thought, since he's chilling here anyway, he might as well be in the picture. :D

Horst 📓 Week 3 General Impression: The plants continue to develop very well. Growth and vitality are on point. Actions / Measures: In addition to diatomaceous earth, Silic Rock from Plagron is now being added, as diatomaceous earth can apparently only be absorbed by the plants to a limited extent. Diatomaceous earth will still be part of the setup, especially as a preventive measure against pests. Environment & Technique: Soil as before: BioBizz Light Mix on top, Plagron Grow Mix underneath. Diatomaceous earth remains in use. Background Thought: Especially with autos, which I plant directly into final pots from the start, there is a risk of overwatering. This can create conditions that are favorable for pests – diatomaceous earth helps as a safeguard here. Comments: The combination of systemic silicon (Silic Rock) and the mechanical protective effect of diatomaceous earth should create a good foundation: robust growth while also providing a barrier against potential pest problems.

Horst Week 4 – First Nutrients & Stronger Light General Impression: The plants continue to grow vigorously and look healthy. An AK Auto (back left) is lagging a bit. It probably experienced some stress during repotting, but it has caught up again in the last few days. Actions / Measures: - Starting from the end of week 3, began with Canna CalMag Agent at the lowest dosage - This week, the last application of Bcuzz Root Stimulator - Considering Low Stress Training (bending down the main stem), but not implemented – the grow continues without LST Environment & Technique: - Gradually increased TSW2000 power: from 25% at germination to currently 60% - Location and substrate unchanged - Watering with osmosis water + pH regulation, continuing with silicon application (Silic Rock) and diatomaceous earth on the soil Remarks: The decision to skip LST was made for practical reasons (no time to buy the necessary items). Especially with autos, it would have only made sense if done timely and carefully. Without LST, the focus is now on a natural growth pattern.

Horst Week 5 – Pre-flowering/Flowering General Impression One of the AK Autos has already entered the pre-flowering stage almost a week earlier and then transitioned into the flowering phase. By now, the other plants have also caught up. From this week on, I will count the first week of flowering. Overall, all the plants are doing well. Work / Measures Observation of the different development speeds between the strains No training methods (no LST/HST) applied First very light fertilization: even though there are still sufficient nutrients in the substrate, I have given a weak pre-flower mix. The goal is to optimally supply the plants during the stretch phase, as they continue to grow while already forming flowers. Environment & Technique TSW2000 currently at 65% power It seems that the light intensity was initially increased a bit too slowly, or the plants experienced slight stress from other factors. One Sour Diesel shot up significantly, with longer internodes than desired. Remarks The stretching behavior confirms the assessment: without training, it was clear that the internodes would be a bit longer. Still, it is more pronounced than expected. So far, the Sour Diesel overall makes the best impression – not surprisingly, as the genetics are known to be strong, even though I hadn't encountered them from Fast Buds before.

Horst General Impression Everything is running normally, the plants look healthy and strong. There are currently no abnormalities. Actions / Measures: - Last application of CalMag, switching to a magnesium-sulfur preparation from now on - Last use of Silic Rock - No LST performed – intentionally skipped it to observe the natural growth of the autos once more Environment & Technique: - TSW2000 adjusted to 70% over the course of the week - Substrate and watering regime maintained as before Comments: In hindsight, some form of Low Stress Training would certainly have been better to control vertical growth and keep the internodes tighter. This time, however, the focus was on observing the strains unchanged. Especially with fast autoflowers, it's interesting to see how they develop without interventions.

Horst Week 7 – Even Progress General Impression: The plants continue to develop normally. One of the AKs is significantly ahead of her sisters – she started flowering early and will be ready for harvest soon, while the others will take a bit longer. Actions / Measures: Switched from CalMag to a Mag-Sulfur product (Bud Candy for this run) Fertilization during the transition phase was borderline, but it went well – no further fertilization since then No additional nutrient supply planned, as the plants are supposed to be finished within the next two weeks Environment & Technique: TSW2000 at 85% power; further adjustments will be made based on the plants' behavior (e.g., leaf movements) from day to day New dehumidifier is doing an excellent job: despite frequent rain, the humidity remains stable below 50%

Horst General Impression: The buds are still visibly swelling. One of the AKs confirms the impression from the previous weeks: it seems to be ready for harvest. Work / Measures: A decision on a final fertilization for the still unfinished plants will be made spontaneously in the coming week. TSW2000 reduced again to about 80% power, distance 40 cm, as the plants did not respond positively to more intensity. Environment & Technology: Ongoing rain makes the dehumidifier indispensable – humidity remains stable in the safe range. The new purchase has paid off by now. Comments: Autumn is already visibly setting in the plants. Some specimens will probably need two or more weeks, while the first AK can be harvested soon. All five are now exuding an intense, very pleasant aroma.

Horst Week 9 General Impression: The plants look vital. One of the AKs appears to be ready for harvest visually, but it is still processing water. Since drying is also taking place in the same tent, it makes sense to harvest together with the others. Particularly one of the Sour Diesels stands out: it clearly presents itself as the strongest plant of the run. I'm curious about the taste – I know the classic strains like AK and Sour Diesel as photoperiod varieties from other breeders. As autoflowers from Fast Buds, they are new territory for me, and especially because I'm still skeptical about autos, I'm looking forward to the direct comparison. Actions / Measures: In the meantime, increased TSW2000 to 90% → not well tolerated by the plants → back to 80% One last fertilization carried out Half of the plants fertilized with Terra Aquatica according to the schedule → slight to stronger signs of over-fertilization visible (especially in two AKs) Rest watered with 50% solution → better tolerated The decision for a joint harvest still stands, even if some plants are already a bit further along. Environment & Technology: Tent climate remains stable Adjustment of light intensity has visibly benefited the plants again Remarks: The AK that is the furthest along could be harvested now, but it will be harvested together with its sisters. The Sour Diesels are developing overall more harmoniously and robustly. It is becoming clear that they will leave the strongest impression.

Horst Week 10 General Impression: Autumn is clearly setting in now. The AKs look ready for harvest, while one of the Sour Diesels continues to grow strong. Actions / Measures: - No fertilization continues – the focus is now on the natural ripening process - Harvest is planned for the end of next week, hoping that the last, particularly vigorous Sour Diesel will be ripe by then - Since drying is happening in the same tent, the harvest must be done in one go Environment & Technique: - Continuous rain persists → Dehumidifier runs almost constantly to keep the humidity stable - Especially on watering days, monitoring is important to avoid mold risks - Tent climate remains stable thanks to the dehumidifier despite difficult conditions

Horst Week 11 – Harvest of the AK Auto General Impression: By the end of week 11, it was time: The AK Autos were harvested – funny enough, almost exactly eleven weeks after sowing. One of the three AKs could probably have gone another week longer, but since another one was already finished about a week earlier than all the other plants in the tent, I decided to harvest them all at once. (Since I dry in the same tent, it was necessary anyway.) Growing Impression: Overall, the AKs were pleasant to cultivate, uncomplicated in growth, and without any major issues. In direct comparison, however, the Sour Diesel ladies look significantly more attractive – more structured, more homogeneous, and just overall "rounder." I'm very curious to see if this will also show in terms of taste later on. In this run, I consciously completely avoided any training methods to see how the plants develop in their natural form. After this round, I can definitely say: There will be no more grows without at least Low Stress Training (LST) – not even with autoflowering varieties. The structure and light utilization simply benefit too much from it to skip it. Harvest Method: I used to always harvest wet, but now I prefer dry harvesting. This means: I cut the plants down and hang them to dry in the tent. Depending on space, humidity, density, and structure of the plants, I decide whether to hang them whole or in pieces. This time, I chose to divide them into several pieces per plant – this way, they dry more evenly. Drying Conditions Temperature: approx. 20 °C Humidity: 55 – 60 % Air circulation: an oscillating fan that does not blow directly on the buds Exhaust: level 2 out of 10, so very gentle Dehumidifier: is in the tent but also does not blow directly on the plants (currently indispensable due to frequent rain) Goal: 10 – 14 days of gentle, slow drying After drying, the trimming follows, and then the buds go into jars for about four weeks to ferment.

Horst Harvest of the Sour Diesel Auto General Impression: By the end of week 11, it was time for the Sour Diesel ladies as well. They took their time, but the extra ripening period was visibly worth it. Especially the one plant that stood out during the flowering phase has gained significantly until the end and presents itself with dense, resinous buds and a pronounced aroma. Compared to the AK Auto, the Sour Diesel appears much more homogeneous and overall more vigorous. Growing Impression: The Sour Diesel was the strain with the best overall performance throughout the entire run. Stable growth, good ratio between height and structure, and it always responded predictably to changes in light intensity or fertilization. Even in phases of high humidity, it showed no susceptibility to mold or rot. In this run, I consciously completely refrained from any training methods to see how the plants develop in their natural form. After this run, I can definitely say: There will be no more grows without at least Low Stress Training (LST) – not even with autoflowering strains. The structure and light utilization simply benefit too much from it to forgo it. Harvest Method: As with the AK Auto, the harvest was done dry here as well. The plants were broken down into parts and hung in the tent to ensure even drying. The conditions remained almost identical to the AK run, as the harvest seamlessly followed. Drying Conditions: Temperature: approx. 20 °C Humidity: 55–60 % Air circulation: oscillating fan (not directly on the buds) Exhaust: level 2 out of 10 Dehumidifier: continues to run steadily, without direct airflow on the plants Goal: 10–14 days of gentle drying before trimming After drying, the buds are fermented in jars for about four weeks as usual.