black gold auto first grow

THE FIRST FEW FLOWERING WEEKS (WEEKS 1, 2 AND 3)
When the flowering period starts, it isn't an abrupt change in your plants’ growth. Cannabis won’t just stop growing and then go into flowering right away. In these first weeks of flowering, many cannabis strains may indeed undergo a considerable growth stretch. This is important to know when it comes to feeding your plants properly, but also if you want to give them sufficient space to grow.
WEEK 1 (TRANSITION STAGE AND STRETCH)
In the very first weeks of flowering, your cannabis plants will be in the transition stage. Thinking that winter is not far away and that she will soon have to carry a big load of bud, your plant will likely grow rapidly. Some strains can almost double in height during this time. Because of the fast growth that your plant is undergoing now, this early flowering phase is also known as the stretch phase.
WEEK 2
In week 2 of flowering, you may spot the first white pistils growing on your female cannabis plants. These fine and wispy white hairs will develop at those locations where the big fan leaves meet the main stem. It is these fine hairs that will later become buds.
WEEK 3
Your cannabis plants have still not entirely stopped growing and will now be about 50% bigger than what they were just three weeks earlier. Although still stretching a bit, the stretch will now gradually slow down and soon come to a complete halt.
WEEK 4
At week 4 of the flowering stage, your cannabis plants will likely have stopped growing altogether and are now spending all their energy on growing buds. There will still be white hairs sticking out from the buds, but the buds themselves will become bigger and fatter with each day. With more and larger buds growing, your plants will now produce more trichomes, making the odour a lot more noticeable at this stage.
WEEK 5
In week 5 of flowering, you can observe the buds all over your plant becoming thicker. You may also spot new buds growing in new places such as along the main cola. With buds abounding, your cannabis plants will get fatter every day. This is a surefire sign you are in full flowering mode. At this point, your plant will have a very intensive odour. Ensure that you have a good ventilation system in place.
WEEKS 6, 7 AND 8 (LATE FLOWERING STAGE, RIGHT BEFORE HARVEST)
Not all cannabis strains require the same amount of time for their flowering, but many varieties will be ready to harvest in these last three weeks. There are, however, not too many strains that will be ready before week 8.

Hello!

I have done SEVERAL autoflowers over the past year and just finished a crop.

Here are some things to keep in mind, again these results from from my grows, what I seen first hand not what was read on the internet!

Autoflowers don't need a specific light cycle to start flowering. When they are ready to start they will start. Usually this happens between 3-5 weeks from seed or when the roots hit bottom.

Now as for light, it dont need 12/12 to trigger any growth or trigger flowering, but like all things living, everything deserves a rest! Autoflowers are best grown with 20 hours of light and 4 hours of rest.

You can dial back and go 18/6 to allow a couple more hours rest before she starts on her journey a full days work.

Personally I use 20/4 up until the stretch of flowering is over, then I dial back to 18/6 to give more rest during the busy times where bud is being developed. My plants really seem to like it, and the results are just fantastic with lots of trichome development.

Don't bother using 12/12 unless you have photoperiod plants in the room that are flowering, otherwise, take advantage of the extra light for a longer period while she flowers. It will only help you out in the end!

Grow is looking great! Keep it going, soon you will have some monsters on your hands :)

Sure you can. There's no problem changing from one nutrient line to another.