Idk if it applies to you but I have a 2×1 veg tent, 3×3 veg tent and 4×2 flower tent. After my photos go from the 3×3 veg tent to the 2×4 flower tent I run autos in my 3×3 veg tent. Then start new batch of photos in my smallest tent about 3 weeks before my autos finish. This way it’s not perpetual grow but ever 2-3 months I get great harvests.

18/6 is perfectly fine for an auto.

autos are on a time clock, they will flower regardless of light cycle.

photos need a 12/12 light cycle to trigger flower.

i say you have options;

Start with 18/6 wait til auto flowers and then trigger your Photo by switching 12/12 because the auto wont be affected. Your yield might be.

You may have to top or veg out the photo a bit depending on how long the auto takes to trigger. But once the flower begins the auto won’t be harmed by changing its light cycle. Just don’t flip flop.

So I use my veg tent pop 3 photos and one auto leave the auto in the veg and don’t change anything real easy works out auto is done curing around the time I chop the photos

The Autos will grow regardless of your light schedule. For example, I run my autos for 21 hours to avoid ludicrous kw/hr charges in ”prime time” hours. The only thing the DLI will effect is your yield as long as the genetics are good. I always recommend Speed Run Seeds for autos.

Thanks all for chipping in. I suppose the point is, if an auto get 24h, theoretically you will get the top production. So I get that I could sacrifice yield for ease of schedule, BUT if my point was to yield as much as possible, especially since my auto seed is limited and I can’t clone them, then ideally I simply must have a 24h setup dedicated to the grow, otherwise I might as well just have a production loop of photos, with ensured yields. So to me since real-estate is at a premium, I would be better to go with a dedicated tent.

In my situation, I have a 2×4 area for veg, and a 4×4 tent for flower. However if I replace my 2×4 area with a closed tent to handle a full run, I will lose my vegetable garden of radish, lettuce, kale, and tomato… I’m torn on how I want to proceed.

I run both auto and photo. I’ll usually run autos in my veg tent under 18/6, but I’ve run them from seed under 12/12. The biggest thing I’ve noticed is that I’ll get better yields under my flower light (12/12) regardless of the light cycle. I’m sure it has to do with ppfd, light penetration and dli.

In short, I fit them in where I can and enjoy the extra bud I get from them.