Autoflowering Seeds

Much like feminized and regular seeds, autoflowering cannabis seeds are a hugely popular type you’ll often see when looking for seeds for your next home grow project. But what's the difference between autoflowering seeds and the other types available, and why should they be of interest to you? We've put together an overview of autoflowering cannabis and why you'll want to check it out.

What Are Autoflowering Seeds?

Autoflowering cannabis seeds are a specially bred type of cannabis seed created to flower automatically, as the name suggests. While regular, feminized, and auto plants all have a vegetative phase, the former two require a change in the light cycle to flower. Autoflowering plants forgo this, and will move automatically from their vegetative stage into the flowering phase after a period of time.

Available in a vast amount of different varieties, you're bound to find an autoflowering version of your favourite strain. Or, you can experiment and discover many new autos to try!

Because of their growing traits, there's little wonder that autoflowering marijuana seeds are a common choice not just for novice home growers, but the more experienced too.

Why choose autoflowering seeds?

The task of growing cannabis can, at first, seem like a daunting and tricky one, especially for the beginner. Autoflowers more or less eliminate a lot of the most intimidating factors. While they still need a level of care and maintenance, it is not as full-on as with other plants.

Able to be grown at any time of the year, autoflowers are designed with a hassle-free and user-friendly growing experience in mind. Auto cannabis seeds are also often favoured by seasoned growers as well, largely due to their due to their fast-growing capabilities.

Easy to cultivate, robust, and resilient, autoflowering cannabis seeds are suitable to be grown indoors or outdoors. Autoflowering plants can flourish in almost any climate or environment. While they are smaller in stature and tend to provide a smaller yield, many favour autos as they are discreet to grow.

How Are Autoflowering Seeds Created?

Autoflowering seeds are created by combining a sativa or indica strain with ruderalis genetics. Ruderalis is a subspecies of cannabis with origins in Russia and surrounding areas. Because of the lack of sunlight and short growing seasons of these places, ruderalis naturally adapted to feature a shorter growing cycle.

While ruderalis alone doesn't have much of a psychoactive effect when compared to other types of cannabis, it is these genetics that are key to the story of creating autoflowering seeds.

The discovery of the robust ruderalis paved the way for experimentation. While crossbreeding cannabis genetics has long been a tried and true process of creating new strains, the introduction of ruderalis allowed for the addition of ultra-fast-growing genetics. By taking these robust features and combining them with sativa or indica, breeders were able to create the autoflowering cannabis seeds we know today.

This process is usually achieved by allowing a male ruderalis plant to develop pollen sacs. The plant is then kept separate from the females. Once the pollen sacs have opened, the pollen is collected. By adding the pollen from the male plant to the females, this will allow them to produce autoflowering seeds from the genetics of the male ruderalis.

It is as simple as that. While other types of cannabis seeds, such as feminized seeds, require stressing the plant or spraying a concoction of colloidal silver, creating auto seeds is really down to good timing and combining the right strains.

Do Autoflowering Plants Produce Autoflowering Seeds?

Yes and no. The autoflowering genetics borrowed from Ruderalis strains of cannabis are recessive. This means that if they are crossed with photoperiod genetics, then this will become dominant, and all the cannabis seeds will once again be fully photoperiod.

In order to have autoflowering seeds, the plant must be bred with another stable autoflowering plant, allowing the recessive genes to dominate. Think of it in terms of a Punnett square. To display a recessive genotype, two of those genes must be present. Whereas to express a dominant genotype, only one must be. So if you cross an autoflowering strain with a photoperiod strain, the photoperiod genetics will win out. If you look at the diagram, you’ll see that only those recessive plants which are bred with recessive plants are free from being overshadowed by the dominant gene.

Are All Autoflowering Seeds Feminized?

While there is the option to create feminized autoflowering cannabis seeds, they are not feminized by default. By using the Rodelization or colloidal silver methods, one can produce feminized autoflowering seeds. However, you can always look to buy dedicated feminized seeds guaranteed to produce buds. They will not have autoflowering genetics, making them a much bigger investment in terms of how they're grown.

How Potent Are Autoflowering Seeds?

This is a common question among those looking to make their first venture into growing autoflowering seeds. Because of their speedy growth and low-maintenance nature, the quality and potency of autos have got to suffer, right? Wrong! With fine-tuned genetics and years of innovation in the breeding world, the autoflowering seeds of today contain the same, or nearly the same, levels of THC and CBD as their “normal” feminized counterparts. So you won't miss out on that great high if you grow cannabis with autoflowering genetics.

How to Grow Autoflowering Seeds

The biggest selling point of autoflowering seeds is their speed! Rarely taking longer than three months to move from seed to harvest, they are suitable to be grown in almost any environment and guaranteed to flower at any time of year, regardless of when you plant them.

While the plants are shorter in stature and produce a smaller yield, the once-humble autoflower has only grown in popularity and quality. As they cannot be kept in veg indefinitely, autoflowering strains cannot be cloned, whereas feminized strains can.

So, how do you grow autoflower seeds? We've put together an in-depth guide that will give you all information you need; so as soon as you receive that delivery of seeds, you'll be ready to cultivate. You'll be surprised by just how simple the process of growing auto seeds is!

C. Indoors

As autoflowering seeds will move from the vegetative stage to flowering without any significant changes in their environment, cultivating them inside is often the best option for many growers. Easy to grow and maintain, the plants do not grow very tall, usually only reaching heights between 60–100cm.

This makes them an attractive option for those with limited space looking for a discreet home grow project. You certainly do not need a grow tent with an expensive setup for auto seeds. Some pots and simple LED lighting will almost certainly do the trick.

• Strain selection

The most important part of the process is picking your chosen strain. This is purely down to your tastes and preferences. There are many auto strains available on the market. Some are easier to maintain, some will have a higher yield and grow faster than others. But take your time and find one that you'll enjoy and is going to suit your needs.

• Containers, soil, water

Now that you have your seeds, it's time to get growing! Because the life cycle of the autoflower is short, find her a suitable pot that will be her home for the duration of the grow. You won't need anything large as the plant will not grow tall. So just some small/medium-sized sturdy pots will provide her with all the space she needs.

With regular seeds or feminized seeds, you would be looking at replanting during the growing cycle. With autoflowering seeds, this is not necessary as she can grow from start to finish in one place.

Using a light soil will allow the plant to flourish. Using a soil that is too dense and compact will restrict the amount of air the roots have access to. This could spell disaster for your plant before she has even begun to grow! You can help her out by using a root stimulant; this will kick-start the growth of your plant.

At the beginning of her growing cycle, the seeds are delicate and overfeeding/overwatering can cause issues. Play it safe by using a small amount, and your plant will surely thank you.

• Light

By now, your seeds should be safely nestled in your chosen pot. The next part is arguably the most critical aspect of growing your autoflowering plant: light. You can potentially look to grow your plant in a room that is well lit and warmed by natural sunlight. However, it's more than likely that your plant will need a bit more of a helping hand.

By setting your plant under an LED/UV light for the duration of its growing cycle, it will certainly do you a favour in the long-run. Some growers will opt for a complete 24 hours of light each day for the plant. This is purely down to preference, and budget. Many tend to go for a split of 18 hours of light and 6 of darkness. This will save you some money on your electricity bills!

With that, you're basically ready to go. Keep an eye on your plant while she is growing and only water when absolutely necessary. As a rule of thumb, routinely check the surrounding soil and feel if it's dried out. If dry, water. It's as easy as that. While autoflowering plants have a shorter flowering period than other types, remain patient throughout, enjoy the experience of cultivating her, and you'll be enjoying those buds in no time at all.

B. Outdoors

Although growing indoors is often seen as the more popular choice amongst auto growers, this doesn't mean that these plants can't be raised outside if you prefer. In many cases, plants grown outside have the potential to provide a tastier and better yield of plump and tight buds. Because of the plant's small size, she'll easily fit on a balcony if you live in an apartment, or be right at home in your garden without much space needed at all.

Because of the easygoing and fast-growing nature of autoflowering plants, there are many similarities between growing outdoors and indoors. By all means, though, this isn't a “one size fits all” task, and there are some differences to note for a successful grow.

• Choosing a strain and location

Like growing inside, you'll need to consider your available space, how many plants you'd like to grow, and which containers are best suited for the job. You can also look to plant your seeds directly into a garden bed if you'd prefer.

As these plants are being grown outside, there's no need for additional lighting or anything extravagant. Just a great location where your plant will receive the most light and warmth, but will also be protected should the weather take a turn.

• Planning an outdoor grow

Now that you've picked your chosen strain, and you've got all of your kit ready, it's time to grow your autoflower. Fortunately, even if you do not live in the warm climates of the Mediterranean, auto seeds can still perform well. It's just a case of planning out your grow.

Growing in the summer months will provide your plants with a little more light and heat than they would receive in winter. Getting your timing right is half the battle with autoflowering home grows. However, you can still look to flower in the colder times of the year—just ensure there is no frost and temperatures don’t hit freezing. The resilient ruderalis will put up with some cooler temperatures with no fuss.

• Other considerations

Much like the indoor plants, some simple nutrients and being cautious with overwatering/overfeeding will help your plant perform better in its early stages. Unfortunately, as is the case with all plants grown outside, you may find yours has some unwelcome guests in the form of pests and insects.

Autoflowering strains usually have a high tolerance against any pests. This is due in part to a shorter growing cycle that doesn't give those pesky insects a chance to really get stuck into your plant and cause damage. If you do notice some pests on your plant, a simple insecticidal soap will soon see the problem solved.

It's worth noting that autoflowers tend not to respond well to high-stress training methods. These methods are usually more suited to regular and feminized types. As always, remain vigilant with your outdoor plants. Be patient, water when appropriate, and a little maintenance now and again will go very far.

What Kind Of Nutrients Do Autoflowers Need?

Autoflowering strains tend to need significantly fewer nutrients compared with photoperiod cannabis. There are a few reasons for this. Firstly, they are bred from Ruderalis genetics. Ruderalis cannabis comes from the harsh lands of Russia, where it has to grow under extreme conditions and with limited light and resources. This means that it is capable of doing a lot with a little. Secondly, as they tend to have much shorter life spans compared to photoperiod strains, they can often make do with the nutrients present in the soil – assuming you have bought pre-fertilized soil. Autoflowering strains may well only need to be fed once or twice during the flowering stage.

How Do You Maximize Autoflower Yield?

Autoflowering strains need to be treated a little differently to photoperiod strains. On the whole, they’re more robust. However, due to the speed at which they grow, you have less time to tinker with things. If something goes wrong, it’s more likely to stick. Here are our top tips for getting maximum yields.

1. Prepare ahead – make sure you’re one step ahead of your plant as they grow fast!

2. Don’t transplant – roots are fragile and won't have as much time to recover as with photoperiod plants. Take extra care, or consider germinating them in their final container

3. Pick a breathable container – they love aeration and good drainage. Fabric pots work very well

4. Reduce nutrient strength – they need a lot less, and overfeeding will damage or kill them

5. Watch the pH – somewhere between 6.0 and 7.0 is optimum. Either side of this and they will struggle to absorb essential nutrients

6. Light cycle – though they can grow with anything, a cycle of 16/8 yields optimal results

7. Go steady with training – if in doubt, don’t do it, they can take care of themselves. If you do want to train them, ensure you do it early, and only use low-stress techniques

How Long Do Autoflowers Take From Seed to Harvest?

This is a loaded question: how long your plant takes is down to a few factors. Each autoflowering strain has its own optimal flowering time. These can be found on the product information pages before you purchase, and will give you a clear indication of how long you can expect to wait for those tasty buds. So it's essential to pick an auto strain that suits your needs.

Second, while autoflower seeds are aimed at beginners, some care is required throughout the growing process. It's never a case of planting them and then leaving them to grow alone. A little TLC will help your plant immeasurably.

Where to Buy Autoflower Seeds?

Autoflower seeds have seen a massive surge in popularity over recent years, making them readily available in many an online seed bank. However, those looking for the most extensive selection of the highest-quality strains should head straight to the Zamnesia Seedshop. There you can search and compare cannabis seeds, as well as read first-hand reviews from those that have cultivated them. 

Autoflowering Cannabis Seeds: Questions & Answers

🌱 What are autoflowering cannabis seeds?

Autoflowering cannabis seeds produce female plants which flower automatically after a certain amount of days. Generally those seeds are the easiest to grow.

🕘 How long does it take to grow autoflowering plants?

The average growing period of autoflowering plants is somewhere between 8-10 weeks. The end product fully depends on the strain and the growing circumstances.

✔️ What are the benefits of autoflowering cannabis seeds?

Autoflowering seeds flower after a certain amount of days and are not dependent on light cycles. This is a huge advantage and outdoors it can lead to multiple harvests in a season. In addition autoflower genetics are very sturdy and can handle harsher conditions in general.

💪 Is autoflowering cannabis less potent?

This is probably the most heard rumor about autoflowering cannabis. In the early days of autoflowering cannabis the potency was less than that of feminized cannabis though. After a lot of crossbreeding this is not the case anymore and autoflowering cannabis can reach high THC and CBD percentages.

💡 Can you grow autoflowering cannabis seeds indoors?

It's perfectly possible to grow autoflowering cannabis seeds indoors. 20 hours of lighting and 4 hours of darkness is considered to be the optimal light cycle for autoflowering cannabis. This light schedule is also referred to as 20/4.