In this grow report, we’ll lay out everything we learned about our time with Zkittlez Automatic. This hybrid strain was developed together with the breeders at Fat Beans, and is an ideal strain for novice growers. With a compact size and somewhat long flowering time, this strain was a real joy to grow, with a decent yield for such a compact automatic.
Flowering stage: 68 days
Total time, seed to harvest: 91 days
Final height: 82 cm
Final yield: 57 grams
THC content: 20.2%
To grow our Zkittlez Automatic seeds, we made use of BAC Lava Mix in an 8-litre plastic pot. This was placed under a 1000W Phillips Green Power HPS light hung three metres off the ground. Throughout the grow, we maintained an ambient temperature of 23°C during the day and 21°C at night with humidity stable at 65% during vegetation before lowering it to 50% during flowering.
Germination & seedling
To start our seeds off on their journey, we used the tried and true paper towel method. Simply place the seeds on a damp paper towel, cover them with another damp paper towel, put it all on a plate and loosely cover with a plastic bag. After about a day, the seed casing cracked open revealing the seed’s taproot.
Once cracked, we planted the seed—taproot down—into a Rockwool cube and placed that 80 cm under a Phillips 600W light. This gave the plant enough light to sprout without overloading it.
By the end of the first week, our seedling was 5 cm tall with healthy green cotyledons. Three days after sprouting, we watered it for the first time with 100 ml of pH-balanced water poured around the base of the stem. This first watering did not include any nutrients as the plant was not ready for them at this stage.
Vegetation
Over the course of week two, our Zkittlez Automatic seedling doubled in height to 10 cm tall and sprouted its first true leaves. At this point, we transplanted it into its permanent home—an 8-litre plastic pot—and placed it under the 1000W HPS light which ran for 18 hours a day. During this week, we began watering the plant with 500 ml of water at a time. This water was mixed with Bio Grow liquid nutrients and had a pH of 6.0 and an EC of 0.8.
In week three, our little lady grew to 16 cm and sprouted several new leaves and growth at the inner nodes. The five-pointed leaves were a healthy deep green on the outside, with a slightly lighter colour in the centre. This, combined with a few purple stems, could’ve been a sign of nitrogen deficiency and would need to be monitored. Overall, though, this was a happy and healthy plant. During this week, we increased the amount of water to 750 ml per feeding and raised the EC of the water to 1.4.
Flowering
As we entered week four, the colour had evened out on our fan leaves and everything was looking good as our plant grew to 22 cm. At this point, we switched the light to a 12/12 light cycle. While this isn’t necessary for autoflowering plants, we were growing photoperiod plants in the same space at the same time and these do require at least 12 hours of darkness to flower.
This same week we also hung satchels of Neoseiulus californicus and Amblyseius swirskii from the lower branches of our plant. These are predatory mites that live on cannabis plants without harming them. In fact, they are hugely beneficial as they eat pests like thrips and spider mites that can destroy an entire harvest.
Lastly, we switched to Bio Flower liquid fertiliser, increased the volume of water to 1000 ml per day, and raised the EC of the water to 1.7.
In week five, our Zkittlez Automatic plant began to show the first signs of flowering as small white hairs began to appear at the inner nodes. This is always a welcome sight and showed that our plant was well on its way to a healthy harvest. By now, she was standing at 26 cm tall and vertical growth was slow but steady. With robust growth all along the plant, we again upped the volume of water to 1200 ml per day.
Week six saw our plant enter full bloom as flowers began to sprout at the inner nodes and tops of branches. As she grew to 33 cm tall, she was beginning to take on a distinct Christmas tree shape and the vegetation in the lower half was incredibly dense. The new leaves growing near the top were more slander than the older ones. Lastly, we increased the amount of water to 1500 ml per day and raised the EC to 1.8.
The seventh week saw more vertical growth with our Zkittlez Automatic plant now 41 cm tall and the lateral branches growing further outwards. The main stalk was growing more flowers which were joining together to form the main cola and the lateral branches were also becoming increasingly populated with buds. At this point, there was little more to do but wait.
In week eight our plant had grown to 49 cm and the flowers were growing noticeably larger with each passing day. At this point, we placed the satchels of Neoseiulus californicus and Amblyseius swirskii to ensure a healthy population.
As week nine came to a close, the Zkittlez Automatic plant was 56 cm tall and was slowly beginning to ripen. The main cola was fully formed and the buds at the tops of the lateral branches were dense and weighty. By now, the plant was nearly as wide as it was tall with no real sign of slowing down.
Week ten saw slightly less rapid growth with the plant only growing 5 cm to a new height of 61 cm. By now, the first pistils were beginning to turn orange and harvest was rapidly approaching. By now, the smell was quite powerful with a sharp, pungent, and overall pleasant aroma.
In week eleven, our girly was almost ready to harvest. The main cola now occupied the entire top half of the plant and the lateral beaches were weighed down by buds. Most of the pistils had turned a deep orange.
As week twelve came to a close, our plant continued to grow reaching a new height of 75 cm. This was quite a growth spurt in the final week, but the flowers grew equally larger. By now, all that was left was to leech the soil for a week to remove any excess nutrients.
Finally, in week thirteen, we were ready to harvest our Zkittlez Automatic. The plant was standing 82 cm tall and was covered from head to toe in ripe flowers.
Harvest
After cutting the plant at the base of the stem, it was hung upside-down in a climate-controlled environment for several weeks. We maintained a steady temperature of 15.5°C and a relative humidity level of 60% to minimise the risk of mould or disease.
Once the smaller branches became brittle enough to snap, we trimmed the buds and transferred them into glass jars for curing. Initially, these jars remained unsealed for 24 hours to allow most of the remaining moisture to evaporate. Afterwards, the jars were sealed and regularly “burped” multiple times daily for the first two weeks, each session lasting about an hour. In the final four weeks, burping occurred once daily until the desired consistency was achieved.
We were pretty pleased with our total harvest of 57 grams of dry flowers that had a THC content of 20.2%.
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Terpene profile
The first thing we noticed after trying our Zkittlez Automatic was its smell; tropical and invigorating, it reminded us of a beachside vacation. Even before we actually tasted it, the flowers’ scent took us on a trip to warm sandy beaches and palm trees. The powerful grapefruit aroma was front and centre, with subtle hints of tropical fruits and exotic dark mahogany wood adding depth.
After trying it, the effects were immediate but gentle with a mild sense of euphoria. However, after a few minutes, that swiftly swelled from a little smile to a full-face grin. This was combined with a wave of cerebral euphoria, leading to a peaceful and contemplative mindset. As we felt our minds begin to drift off, the body high kicked in and we started to feel the long-lasting and relaxing high.
Zkittlez Automatic’s flavour profile is just as distinct and impactful as its aroma. Each puff delivered zesty citrus flavours, dominated by freshly picked mandarins, with an overwhelming tropical fruitiness that left us craving just one more taste.
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The outcome
Zkittlez Automatic was one of the easiest strains we’ve grown and is an amazing choice for newbie growers. While more experienced growers (or those growing on a larger scale) might find the yield to be on the lower side, the final product was delicious, potent, and overall enjoyable. If you’re looking for a no-nonsense no-hassle strain, this just might be for you!
- Disclaimer:Laws and regulations regarding cannabis cultivation differ from country to country. Sensi Seeds therefore strongly advises you to check your local laws and regulations. Do not act in conflict with the law.
