Pineapple Express Auto Cannabis Strain Week-by-Week Guide
- 1. Grow specification
- 2. Grow set up
- 3. Germination and seedling stage | week 1
- 4. Early veg | week 2
- 5. Mid veg | weeks 3-4
- 6. Transition (pre-flower) | week 5
- 7. Early flower | weeks 6-7
- 8. Mid flower (bulk phase) | weeks 8-9
- 9. Ripening and harvest | week 10 (and beyond)
- 10. The outcome
- 10. a. Pineapple express auto yield
- 10. b. Pineapple express auto smoke report
- 11. In conclusion
Pineapple Express Auto is a highly sought-after strain that boasts numerous benefits for both growers and smokers alike. For growers, this autoflower strain is a relatively easy-to-cultivate Sativa that has a short flowering time, making it an ideal choice for those looking to produce high-quality yields quickly. The plant's fruity aroma and flavor profile are also highly appealing to cannabis consumers, and its potent effects are known to provide a euphoric and energizing high that can be enjoyed throughout the day. Whether you're an experienced grower or a casual smoker, Pineapple Express is definitely worth trying for its flavorful buds, ease of cultivation, and enjoyable effects.
Pineapple Express Auto is also a highly rewarding strain to cultivate. In this post, we'll showcase the strain's week-by-week development, from germinated seed to a mature plant with branches that can barely support its bountiful buds. Hopefully, this will motivate you to achieve equally impressive results and enjoy the sweet, tropical flavor and energizing effects of Pineapple Express Auto.
1. Grow Specification
Pineapple Express is an exceptional strain that delivers on every front. With its 40% Sativa / 60% Indica genetic makeup, it provides a balanced and enjoyable high that can be felt throughout the body and mind. Its XL size and height of 60–110 cm (24–43 inches) make it an ideal choice for indoor growers with limited space, while its 10-week flowering time and high yields of up to 400-550 gr/m2 (1.3-1.8 oz/ft2) indoors and 50-200 gr/plant (2-7 oz/plant) outdoors make it a popular choice among outdoor growers as well.
Pineapple Express boasts a THC percentage of up to 20% and low CBD content of less than 1%. Its tropical, sweet, fruity, and sour pineapple taste will leave you wanting more.
2. Grow Set Up
In this wek-by-week guide, we want to introduce you to Pineapple Express Auto and share its progress through various growth stages. To do so, we have looked through many reviews and chose four diaries from four different growers who all use different growing methods such as hydroponics, soil, and coco. By comparing these setups, you can see how this strain performs under different conditions. Spoiler alert: hydroponics seems to be the best method for achieving rapid vegetative growth and building huge flower mass.
| Grow Space | Light | Medium | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 0.74 m2 | 120W LED | Enriched Soil |
| B | 0.7 m2 | 150W LED | DWC |
| C | 1 m2 | 240W LED | DWC |
| D | 1.22 m2 | 250W LED | Coco/Perlite |
Although the yield figures in the table above clearly show the benefits of hydroponic cultivation, Pineapple Express Auto is a versatile strain that performs well in soil and coco coir setups as well. The impressive results of each of the four growers demonstrate this versatility.
3. Germination And Seedling Stage | Week 1
Germinating cannabis seeds is a simple and straightforward process that even the most inexperienced growers shouldn't have trouble with. Beginners are often afraid of making mistakes and ruining their precious seeds, but there's no need to be nervous. To successfully germinate your cannabis seeds, simply create warm and humid conditions and place your seeds in a dark place. This should be enough for viable and fresh seeds to sprout.
There are various methods for germinating cannabis, but we highly recommend using a technique that lets you check on the seeds periodically to ensure they are progressing properly. The paper-towel method is a great option for this, as it provides high germination rates and allows you to monitor progress. Once the taproot has emerged and is about half an inch long, you can transfer the seed to your preferred growing medium. While direct-to-soil is also a viable option, it doesn't allow for the same level of visibility and control during the germination process.
While many autoflower growers prefer to plant seeds directly into the final container filled with soil or coco, some use jiffy plugs for germination. Jiffy plugs are especially useful for hydroponic growers. As soon as your seedling has emerged and you see its taproot coming out at the bottom of the plug, you can place the whole thing into a net pot and insert it into your DWC system.
When it comes to hydroponics, Hydroton, or expanded clay pebbles, are a commonly used growing medium. This medium doesn't provide any nutrients, its only function is to hold the plants' roots in place. In hydroponic systems, the real medium is the water that carries nutrients to the plants' roots.
Although hydroponics is very efficient, it requires a bit of a learning curve as it's the grower's responsibility to provide the plants with all the necessary nutrients. For beginners, we suggest starting with soil, particularly organic soil.
Soil is a great option for beginners because of its buffering function. It comes preloaded with nutrients, and when you give the plants more nutrients through water, the roots absorb some of them but the remaining nutrients stay in the soil until the plants need them. This is called buffering.
When you choose soil as your medium, it usually comes preloaded with enough nutrients to last your little plant for at least a week or two, sometimes more. So, the only thing your seedling needs right now from you is water. Make sure you don't overwater your small plant, as cannabis hates to be constantly in soggy soil. However, you'll still need to give it the proper amount of moisture regularly. For the first week or two, just water a little around the base of the plant.
4. Early Veg | Week 2
During the second week after sprouting, your plants will start to grow faster and develop new leaves more quickly. However, even with this progress, it may still seem slow to you. This is because the main growth processes are happening underground, in the roots. So, don't worry about the slow progress and focus on providing your plant with the right conditions, including temperature and humidity.
As you can see in the photograph below, Pineapple Express Auto is a highly vigorous auto-flowering strain that can grow at a rapid pace even in soilless mixes. The progress displayed in the picture is quite impressive for just two weeks from sprouting.
We recommend planting your Pineapple Express Auto directly into the final container to avoid transplant shock or stress. However, some experienced growers may choose to start in smaller containers like solo cups. If you do choose to start in smaller containers, make sure to transplant gently and carefully to avoid stressing the plant. Delaying the transplanting procedure for too long can also cause problems, especially if using very small solo cups.
As we have mentioned earlier, hydroponic cultivation can achieve very fast growth rates compared to soil. However, it can be challenging to achieve outstanding results on the first attempt. Even in hydroponics, you may face slower than usual growth if you don't adjust all the environmental variables and nutrient requirements correctly.
However, if you know what you're doing, hydroponics cultivation, such as deepwater culture, or DWC, will let you enjoy very rapid and vigorous vegetative growth.
In the picture above, you can see that one of the Pineapple Express Auto plants is growing impressively fast, while the progress of the other is simply outstanding.
5. Mid Veg | Weeks 3-4
If you're looking for fast growth, weeks 3 and 4 are when you can expect it to happen. During this stage in the autoflower's life cycle, the fan leaves start growing rapidly and the side branches begin to form and elongate quickly. You don't need to maintain the same mild conditions as before, so you can lower the day temperature by a couple of degrees and lower the relative humidity to around 50 or 55%.
Once indoor marijuana plants start showing daily changes, many growers like to begin training them. This can be as simple as bending and tying down the main stalk or the fastest growing side branches.
It's important to understand that training is not a one-time procedure. To shape your canopy the way you want it, you'll need to train your plants daily for several weeks. This can involve bending and tying down any branch that grows more rapidly than the rest, ensuring that it stays at the same height as the others.
The purpose of training is to utilize the light in your grow room as efficiently as possible. While modern grow lights are quite powerful, they have a limited effective range. To ensure that every part of your plant is within this range, you need to keep your plant canopy flat. Training helps achieve this by bending and positioning branches in a way that maximizes light exposure for all parts of the plant.
Of course, if your grow room permits, you can allow your marijuana plants to grow naturally without training. This approach is especially recommended for autoflowers because this type of cannabis has a very short vegetative phase, and stressing the plants can lead to stunted growth and a mediocre harvest. It's best to avoid unnecessary stress so the plants can focus on healthy growth and development.
Sea of Green (SOG) is a popular technique used by many indoor growers to achieve high yields in a shorter amount of time. In this method, several small plants are placed in small containers close to each other, allowing for a sea of greenery to form. While the yields from each plant may be smaller, the total yield from the garden can be impressive due to the number of plants grown.
Once your plants enter the rapid vegetative stage, they will likely have depleted all the nutrients that were initially stored in the root zone. Therefore, whether you are growing in soil or not, you will need to start giving your plants nutrients with water. However, in hydroponics or coco coir, you will be giving your plants fertilizers from day one.
Providing nutrients to cannabis plants is a relatively simple process. During the vegetative stage, plants require a lot of nitrogen, and during the flowering stage, they need more phosphorus and potassium. Other nutrients like magnesium, calcium, and micronutrients are also necessary, but many commercial product lines include them. Below is an example feeding schedule used by a grower for the entire lifecycle of their Pineapple Express Auto plant.
While providing your garden with plant food, don't forget about pH. It's crucial to keep the pH level in check during the entire growth cycle of your plants. The optimal pH levels for soil grows range between 6.0 and 6.5, while in hydroponics and Coco coir, they should be between 5.5 and 6.0. Maintaining the correct pH level ensures that the roots can absorb the nutrients effectively, and any deviation from the optimal range can result in nutrient deficiencies or toxicities, leading to stunted growth or even death of your plants. It's recommended to use a pH meter or pH strips to monitor and adjust the pH levels of your nutrient solution or soil.
{captionThis is how a well-fed, happy plant should look like. ©GEEnRHI}
6. Transition (Pre-Flower) | Week 5
When it comes to cannabis plants, the pre-flower stage is a critical time for growers as it allows them to identify the gender of their plants. Autoflowering varieties of cannabis, unlike other types, do not rely on changes in light cycles to initiate flowering. Instead, they begin the flowering process automatically based on their genetics and age, usually between 3-5 weeks after germination. Although it's not necessary to alter the growing conditions during the flowering stage, some growers choose to adjust the temperature, humidity, and light intensity to optimize their yields and overall plant growth. Therefore, understanding the flowering process and the changing needs of the plant is essential for successful cultivation.
As you observe your autoflower, you'll notice distinct changes indicating the onset of its flowering stage. The green tops, previously indistinguishable from the rest of the plant, now take on a yellowish tint. Meanwhile, newly grown leaves become thin and delicate. As these leaves take shape, small white hairs sprout among them. Soon, the tops transform into a fluffy, bud-like appearance.
At this point, your plant is not quite ready to blossom, so it doesn't need high levels of phosphorus and potassium just yet. Some growers might choose to hold off on introducing bloom nutrients for another week. But honestly, most folks prefer to keep things simple and adjust their nutrient schedule as soon as the plant enters the flowering stage.
During this stage, the emergence of flowers is certainly exciting, but the most noticeable change is the ongoing growth of side branches. While the number of branches may stop increasing around this time, they will continue to elongate, which is known as the "flowering stretch". Certain strains, like Pineapple Express Auto, can become quite tall and wide during this stretch and grow into impressive giants.
There are two ways to control the size of a plant: training and defoliation. Defoliation involves removing some of the fan leaves, which improves airflow and light penetration. This also mildly stresses the plant, preventing it from growing too big and overgrowing the available space.
If your grow tent has enough vertical space and your grow light is powerful enough to penetrate through the canopy, then it's better to leave your plants to grow naturally without any training. This will help maintain their perfect health and active growth, without any stress. However, if you're using the Sea-of-Green method with many small plants, you can still achieve impressive results even without training them.
7. Early Flower | Weeks 6-7
The stretch that has began with the emergence of the first flowers will continue all through the beginning of flowering. During this time, the plants get much taller but also make flower clusters. It's important to keep the light at the right distance from the top of the plants so they don't get burned, but still get enough light to make good flowers. The plants need more water and food during this stage, but too much food can hurt them. It's a good idea to watch the plants closely to make sure they're healthy and growing well.
For first-time growers who have only seen buds bought from street dealers, the early flowers on their plants may be a surprise. They are small, insubstantial, and spaced far apart on the branch, making it difficult to imagine how they will eventually resemble real marijuana buds. However, rest assured that within a few weeks, the flowers will grow bigger and denser, covering the entire length of the branches. Currently, they only have white pistils, indicating that they are still very far from maturity.
When the branches start to stretch and the flowers start forming along them, most growers stop their training efforts completely. At this point, they focus on providing enough nutrients and water to satisfy their plants' thirst and hunger while allowing the marijuana to grow into the light.
Don't forget though, that depending on the genetics, marijuana plants, including autoflowers, may grow quite tall and cause concern if there isn't enough vertical space. Sativas, like Pineapple Express Auto, are particularly prone to growing too tall. As mentioned earlier, hydroponics is a method that promotes rapid growth, which can exacerbate the stretching issue, as shown in the photo below.
It's crucial to consider important factors such as plant height and canopy shape, but it's also essential to pay attention to the nutritional needs of your garden. As your cannabis enters the flowering phase, its requirements for plant food will change dramatically. While nitrogen was necessary during vegetative growth, phosphorus and potassium are now needed for optimal flower development. Therefore, it's important to adjust your fertilizers accordingly to ensure your plants receive the nutrients they need.
If you allow your Pineapple Express Auto to get tall, think about how much light the lower buds get. If they are too far from the light, or shaded by the upper growth, maybe it's worth lollipopping the lower bud sites, meaning removing them. The idea is that they won't amount to anything in any case, so why not channel extra energy to the top ones which are much more promising?
8. Mid Flower (Bulk Phase) | Weeks 8-9
When cannabis plants start to grow buds, they stop getting taller, so you don't have to worry anymore about them taking up too much room. Instead, you can concentrate on giving them the right amount of food. Good air flow is also important to avoid mold and rot inside the big and thick buds. To do this, lower the humidity and increase ventilation. You can also lower the temperature slightly to help the buds keep their smell and strength.
Even if you have heavily trained them before, your plants may double or triple in size during flowering, and the buds themselves that may have looked small at first will become more numerous and dense. They will start to stack up along the branches, forming long, continuous "colas".
When cannabis flowers start getting bigger, the plants need a lot of nutrients, especially phosphorus and potassium. You can give them more food than before, but don't give them too much, or the tips of their leaves may start turning brown. At this point, most of the little hairs on the flowers will still be white, but some will start to turn brown and dry out. This means the time to harvest the buds is coming soon.
Looking at the photograph below, you'll understand that there is one more thing worth considering, namely the ventilation and airflow in your grow room. As the buds form into a dense flower mass, the canopy can become very dense and hinder air circulation. You can address this by either pruning away excessive branches or defoliating, which will also improve light penetration, or by installing powerful fans, including an oscillating one. Additionally, be sure to use carbon filters to control the strong odor that can be produced by the plants during flowering.
Pineapple Express Auto is one of those strains that may keep growing in size for quite some time into the flowering period, but you may expect that even this tall Sativa-like autoflower may stop stretching around week 8 or so. Below is the height chart for the whole Pineapple Express Auto life cycle.
As the buds continue to grow in size, they also begin to visibly mature. It's important to note that even in stabilized strains such as Pineapple Express Auto, there may be different phenotypes that have varying flower times. Some may take longer to mature while others may mature much faster. As you watch your colas fill out, keep an eye out for signs that indicate the harvest is approaching. You may be surprised to find that it's much closer than you originally thought.
9. Ripening And Harvest | Week 10 (And Beyond)
In the last week or two of an autoflower's life cycle, it's important to keep the humidity low and the temperatures cool. High humidity is a major threat to mature buds, so keeping it low is crucial. Lower temperatures can also help to preserve the terpenes and THC in the buds.
In the last few weeks before harvest, your buds may not grow much in size, which might make you think they're fully matured and ready to be harvested. However, this isn't always the case. Even though they're not increasing in size, the buds are still changing in important ways. They become denser and heavier, and the levels of THC and other cannabinoids in the trichomes keep increasing. So, you need to use other indicators to know when it's time to harvest, rather than relying solely on their size.
While breeders' specifications can be helpful in estimating a plant's maturity timeline, it's not always the most accurate method due to variations in phenotype and growing conditions.
A more reliable approach (though also not perfect), which many amateur growers use, is observing the color of the pistils on the buds. When the pistils are white, the buds are still immature, but as they turn brown or orange, it's a sign that the harvest window is approaching. Additionally, you can also look for signs of the plant entering its final life cycle phase, such as leaves fading and taking on an autumnal appearance.
The best way to know if your marijuana plant is ready for harvest is to use a hand microscope to inspect the trichomes. You can see their color and know the exact time when the THC level is highest. If the trichomes are clear, the THC is still low. If they're cloudy, that means the THC content is the highest. When they turn amber, it means the THC is starting to break down.
Remember to stop giving your autoflower nutrients and switch to giving them only water before harvest. This process, called flushing, can take up to two weeks in soil and less time in hydroponic and coco grows. The goal of flushing is to remove built-up salts, which can affect the flavor and harshness of the smoke. During flushing, the plant's leaves will fade and degrade as the plant uses up its stored resources.
After harvesting your autoflower, it's important to continue with good practices during the drying and curing process. Take your time and don't rush these steps. Drying should occur in a cool and well-ventilated area for around 7-10 days until the buds have lost most of their moisture. Then, you can trim them from the branches and store them in glass jars to cure for up to 3 weeks. During this time, open the jars once or twice a day to release excess humidity.
10. The Outcome
While the Pineapple Express Auto is a classic strain, its yield can be nothing short of miraculous and often surpasses the productivity of many next-generation genetics. We've seen numerous grow diaries that attest to this fact. With proper care and attention, growers can expect a bountiful harvest from this strain.
Pineapple Express Auto Yield
The first grower in our review got a generous harvest from his one Pineapple express Auto plant. Once the grower stopped heavily training his autoflower, the plant began to develop tall spear-shaped colas that eventually became chunky and heavy. As a result, the yield exceeded expectations and totaled 174 g (6.14 oz) of dry bud.
Moving on to the second gardener in our review, who was able to harvest even more with 241 g (8.51 oz) of dried and cured Sativa-like flowers. His success can be attributed to the mastery of hydroponics, which allowed for optimal nutrient delivery and plant growth.
The third participant in our comparative review achieved an outstanding harvest of 390 g (13.76 oz) from two Pineapple Express Auto plants grown in a DWC hydroponic system. The result was truly inspiring, demonstrating the incredible potential of hydroponics for maximizing yields.
Finally, another two Pineapple Express plants were grown as a small part of a big SOG grow (along other strains) and produced 167 g (5.89 oz) of amazingly compact and dense nuggets!
Pineapple Express Auto Smoke Report
We've looked through dozens of smoke reports, and they all say more or less the same: Fast Buds’ Pineapple Express Auto is a potent hybrid that provides a balanced effect. It is ideal for use during the late afternoon or early evening as it provides a relaxing body and head buzz, making it a great way to unwind after a long day. Some users also reported an energetic trip after smoking, making it a great daytime smoke in small doses. The aroma and taste of the strain are sweet and tropical with main notes of pineapple. Users reported a smooth and flavorful smoke that coats the mouth, with some describing it as a top-notch stuff.
10. In Conclusion
In the four grow reports we have reviewed, the Pineapple Express Auto strain was cultivated in soil, coco coir, and deep-water culture (DWC). Interestingly, the final results were comparable, with DWC only having a slight edge over the other two. So, we can safely say that this autoflower is amazingly high-yielding in any setup and medium.
By all means, use training and perform it rather aggressively because this weed shows strong Sativa dominance and so will stretch for quite a few weeks after the start of flowering. Eventually, the plants will reach considerable height and form long and fat colas along the whole length of branches.
It’s probably best to grow Pineapple Express as a wide multi-branch bush, although cultivating several small plants in smaller pots SOG-style seems to be quite rewarding as well.
The flowering takes long enough as the buds swell more and more and build new flowers on top of the old ones. So, prepare for a slightly longer than usual life cycle, but you’ll be rewarded for your patience by the yields that are proportional to the time it took those oversized flowers to mature. Happy growing!
