Myth: Transplanting autoflowers stunts their growth.

When it comes to autoflowers, transplanting has been a long time no-no. The reasoning behind this is solid. Autoflowers only get a short window to vegetate before they automatically switch to flower. (Obviously the name was very creative.) If you cause shock that slows even days of growth it can have a substantial effect on your final yield. What’s a cultivator to do?

Fact: Damaging autoflower roots stunts their growth.

See what we did there? When you look at the “root” of the problem, its easy to find a path to a solution. The act of transplanting autoflowers is a neutral act. You simply move a plant into a larger container with more space for roots. So why does it cause stress to the plants? Because large roots are damaged in the process, slowing growth as the damage is repaired. Often this damage is done during the removal of the plant from its old container. Roots that had grown through drain holes or attached to the container are often broke off and disregarded. However small these roots, their damage must be quickly repaired by the plant, or it risks pathogens entering the root system. See how quickly we went from neutral act to a full-blown invasion?

Start in the final pot: A good solution for small scale.

If you ask any autoflower grower they will tell you to start your seed in its final pot. This is fantastic advice for beginners! You are able to 100% avoid transplant shock by never transplanting autoflowers. This method does however have its own downsides. Soil holds a lot of water, but you don’t want water just sitting around in the soil. At the same time, your plant won’t grow well if at all if the soil is too damp or too dry. An easy method to watering autoflowers germinated in this method is to water around the leaf edges. This gives water just at the root tips promoting growth both below and above the soil. The seedlings don’t need much water right now, so there is no need to fully saturate the pot. A water bottle is an easy measurement for now.

Cup in a Cup: The Perfect Solution?

Perhaps the simplest way of transplanting autoflowers is the cup in a cup method. By using two cups, with the inside one fully split, you are able to remove the plant from the container with minimal trauma to the roots. This allows the grower to have the advantage of much more moisture control during the first two weeks of life, without the risk of damaging the roots normally associated with traditional seedling containers. Pinholes in the bottom of the outer cup allow excess water to seep out while any emerging root mass grows in the area between the cups. Care must still be taken by the grower not to damage the roots during planting.

Conclusion:

Successfully transplanting autoflowers is an easy skill to learn, and a crucial one if space is an important concern. It affords the grower much more flexibility and is a necessity for small scale perpetual cultivation. It has just gotten a bad rep because of the fragile nature of roots and already short lifecycle of autoflowers.

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