How to Grow Gelato OG Autoflower

Quick overview: Gelato OG autoflower is an autoflowering take on the popular Gelato lineage crossed with OG genetics and Ruderalis to give a fast, compact, easy-to-manage plant. It’s prized for its dessert-forward terpene profile, manageable size, and quick turnaround—perfect for growers who want premium genetics without long photoperiod cycles. Many commercial seed listings describe Gelato OG Auto as Gelato × OG × Ruderalis and recommend it for indoor and outdoor growers who value speed and flavor. gelatoseeds.com+1

Table of contents

1. Origins & genetics (what Gelato OG Auto is)
2. What to expect (size, flowering time, yield)
3. Environment: light, temperature, humidity
4. Mediums, pots, and nutrients
5. Week-by-week growing timeline (seed → harvest)
6. Training & pruning for autos
7. Common problems and troubleshooting
8. Harvest, dry, and cure
9. Quick reference tables & simple charts
10. Featured image concept for your blog

1 — Origins & genetics (short)

Gelato itself is a dessert-forward hybrid that traces back to Sunset Sherbet × Thin Mint GSC (Girl Scout Cookies). Different breeders selected phenos and crossed in OG Kush cuts to create Gelato OG or Gelato Kush variants — essentially marrying Gelato’s sweet/tropical profile with OG’s classic fuel and pine. The autoflower versions add Ruderalis genetics so the plant flowers by age rather than light schedule. Sources that detail Gelato’s parentage and common Gelato×OG crosses are useful for reference. smokenpromises.com+1

2 — What to expect: size, time, and yield

• Lifecycle (seed → harvest): Most Gelato OG autoflower phenotypes finish in roughly 9–12 weeks from seed. Seed vendors and grow logs commonly report totals around 70 days for some auto Gelato lines; expect some variance by phenotype and environment. northatlanticseed.com+1
• Plant size: Medium; often 0.6–1.2 m (2–4 ft) outdoors in good conditions; indoor plants tend to be compact and bushy—great for SCROG or small tents. Grow Diaries
• Yield: Medium per plant for autos — roughly 30–150 g/plant depending on pot size, feeding, training, and light. Commercial seed pages give “medium yield” estimates; autos are optimized for convenience and speed more than maximum per-plant output. northatlanticseed.com

3 — Environment: light, temperature, humidity

• Light schedule: Most growers keep autoflowers on 18/6 (18 hours on / 6 off) all cycle; some run 20/4 or even 24/0. 18/6 gives a good balance of growth and electricity costs. Royal Queen Seeds and other autoflower guides recommend 18/6 as a safe default. Royal Queen Seeds
• Temperature: Optimal 20–25°C (68–77°F) during lights-on; slightly cooler at lights-off. Keep temps stable—autoflowers tolerate less stress than photosensitive plants when stressed early. Fast Buds
• Humidity: Seedling: 65–70% RH; Veg: 50–60%; Flower: 40–50% (lower in late flower to avoid mold). Autos can be sensitive to humidity swings—slow changes are best. Fast Buds

4 — Mediums, pots, and nutrients

• Medium: Quality potting soil or a lightly amended soil mix is ideal for a beginner. Many autoflower growers prefer light, airy soil with perlite for root oxygen and buffer against overwatering. Coco coir is also popular but requires more nutrient management. Reddit
• Pots: For autos, 7–20 L (2–5 gal) pots are commonly used. Smaller pots can restrict root growth and reduce yield; large pots can increase risk of overwatering when plants are small—7–11 L is a commonly recommended indoor sweet spot.
• Nutrients: Autoflowers generally need lighter feeding than photoperiod plants. Start with a half-strength veg formula once true leaves appear; taper into a bloom formula mid-flower. Avoid heavy N late in flower. Use manufacturers’ food charts as a baseline and watch runoff EC/ppm.

5 — Week-by-week grow timeline (seed → harvest)

Below is a practical, compact week-by-week plan. Adjust as phenos and environment dictate.

Week-by-week (typical 10-week finish)

• Week 0 (germination): Paper towel, glass of water, or direct sow. Keep warm (21–24°C) and humid.
• Week 1 (seedling): 18/6, low-intensity light 24–36″ from CFL/LED. Keep soil moist, not soggy.
• Weeks 2–3 (early veg): Increase light intensity. Begin light feeding (¼–½ strength). Consider topping only if strain shows vigor—many autos respond poorly to aggressive topping early.
• Weeks 4–5 (veg → preflower): Plant begins to show sex and early bud sites. Begin bloom nutrients toward week 4 if using a 2-part feed schedule.
• Weeks 6–9 (flower): Bud swell stage; reduce humidity to 40–50%, switch to bloom feed if not already. Watch for nutrient burn; autos can be sensitive to late heavy N.
• Week 9–12 (late flower & harvest): Flush if desired, monitor trichomes for desired maturity. Dry and cure.

(Adjust weeks depending on seedbank’s stated flowering days; some Gelato OG autos run a little faster or slower.) northatlanticseed.com+1

6 — Training & pruning: what works for autos

• Low-stress training (LST): The top recommendation for autos. Gentle bending and tying to create an even canopy increases light to lower bud sites without stressing the plant. Best started in week 2–3.
• Topping/fimming: Use sparingly. Topping delays growth while the plant recovers; most auto growers avoid topping or only top robust strains early.
• Defoliation: Minor, strategic defoliation (removing large fan leaves that block light from bud sites) can help during early flower, but avoid heavy leaf removal—autos have limited recovery time.
• SCROG: Very small nets and early LST can work; avoid aggressive tying that causes breaks.

7 — Common problems & troubleshooting

• Overwatering: Most autos suffer from overwatering more than underwatering. Use the finger test and lift small pots to learn water weight.
• Nutrient burn: Yellowing leaf tips and brown edges often indicate overfeeding. Scale back to half-strength and check runoff PPM.
• Stretching: If plants stretch excessively in early flower, increase light intensity or slightly lower the light distance (but avoid light burn).
• Mold/bud rot: Keep RH low and ensure good airflow. Late heavy humidity spikes are the most dangerous time.
• Pests: Spider mites and fungus gnats are common. Prevent with cleanliness, sticky traps, and, if needed, neem/biological controls compatible with late flower.

8 — Harvest, drying & curing

• When to harvest: Monitor trichomes under a loupe—cloudy to amber depending on desired effect. Many Gelato lines are best harvested around mostly cloudy with some amber for balanced maturity.
• Drying: Hang trimmed branches in a dark room at 18–20°C and 40–55% RH for ~7–10 days until stems snap rather than bend.
• Curing: Jar buds when dry; burp daily for the first 1–2 weeks, then less frequently. Proper cure for 2–8+ weeks improves flavor and smoothness.

9 — Quick reference tables & chart

Growth stage environmental quick table

(Compiled from common autoflower growing guides and vendor recommendations.) Royal Queen Seeds+1

Sample nutrient schedule (general example)

• Seed–Week 2: No nutrients or micro-doses
• Week 2–4 (early veg): ¼ recommended veg formula
• Week 4–6: ½–¾ veg → transition to bloom nutrients
• Week 6–end: Bloom nutrients per manufacturer; drop N late
• Last 7–14 days: Flush (optional)

Note: Always adapt to plant response and manufacturer ppm/EC charts.

Wk 0: Germinate
Wk 1: Seedling (slow growth)
Wk 2-3: Veg (LST ok)
Wk 4: Preflower
Wk 5-8: Flower (bud swell)
Wk 9-10+: Ripen & harvest

10 — Outbound references (handy reading & citation)

• Gelato OG Auto product info and specifics (seed description & flowering times). gelatoseeds.com
• Gelato lineage and genetics notes (Gelato parentage & history). smokenpromises.com
• Autoflower growing best practices (light schedules, environment). Royal Queen Seeds+1
• Grow logs and strain pages for phenos and real-world timelines. Grow Diaries+1

Final notes & grower tips

1. Start simple. For your first Gelato OG auto, aim for good light, stable temps, and a conservative feed schedule. Autos reward consistency. Royal Queen Seeds
2. LST over topping. Low-stress training is the highest ROI for autos. Stretch the canopy horizontally and let multiple bud sites get direct light.
3. Watch humidity in late flower. Dense Gelato-ish buds can trap moisture—keep RH down and airflow strong. Fast Buds
4. Keep records. Small changes in pot size, light distance, or feed can alter finish date and yield; track what works and reproduce it.