When it comes to cannabis cultivation, the odds are that you’ve heard of autoflowering strains. It’s possible that you’re feeling a little overwhelmed because autoflowers surely bring up a lot of questions! What is the best method for growing autoflowering seeds? What is their origin, and where do they come from? Did you know that the first autoflowering cannabis strain, Cannabis Ruderalis, was identified by Russian scientist Janischewski in the 1920s? Over the years, this has developed into a thriving industry for edible, quickly-growing marijuana that provides a high. The following guide on cultivating autoflowering cannabis will address your questions about this exciting new trend.
What Is Autoflowering Cannabis?
Modern autoflowering cannabis results from a hybrid between the cannabis Ruderalis and the cannabis Indica or Sativa varieties of the plant. Cannabis Ruderalis is a low-THC cannabis strain that grows in the wild and exhibits weed-like characteristics, such as reaching maturity and entering the flowering stage regardless of the amount of light received.
Cannabis Ruderalis is a low-THC cannabis strain that grows in the wild and exhibits weed-like characteristics, such as reaching maturity and entering the flowering stage regardless of the amount of light received. When grown in the vegetative stage, autoflowers begin to flower within 2-4 weeks, making them desirable to gardeners who want a quick turnaround on a harvest. If you’re interested in learning more about cannabis Ruderalis, Herbies has a comprehensive guide. Check out our Autoflowering vs Photoperiod vs Feminized vs Regular page if you’re interested in learning more about the distinctions between autoflowering and other types of cannabis.
Pros And Cons Of Autoflowering Seeds
Autoflowering cannabis strains sound like a dream – “I don’t have to worry about the light schedule?” says the grower. – However, like with many good things, Autoflowering has its own set of drawbacks.
Pros
Using autoflowering feminized seeds has many advantages over traditional varieties. Their compact, stealthy shape and their ability to produce results quickly make them a popular choice among cannabis cultivators at every level. Because these strains begin to flower on their own, growers are relieved of the responsibility of determining when to shift from the vegetative stage to flowering. These days, the most recent generation of autoflowers produces larger harvests and has a higher THC concentration than even some of its photoperiod counterparts.
Cons
The fact that autos are minor and do not produce a great harvest is entirely a matter of personal preference, but some may perceive this to be a drawback. It is possible that despite their size, they will still require a significant amount of light; if you want to maximize your harvest, a 20/4 light schedule is a wise choice, but it comes at the cost of a higher electricity bill. Additionally, the brief vegetative period can make training your plants challenging due to the little time available.
Autoflowers Can Be Grown Indoors Or Outdoors.
According to Homegrown Cannabis Co., autoflowers are ideal for indoor and outdoor growing situations. You can choose which option best meets your needs based on your setup and your financial resources.
Growing Indoors: You Decide How Much Light!
Because they may be harvested multiple times throughout the year, autoflowers are excellent indoor plants. With an average of 8-12 weeks between seeding and harvesting, you may quickly see 4-6 harvests in a calendar year. That’s a lot of marijuana! Furthermore, autoflowering strains can tolerate far more light during flowering than photoperiod strains, which can only withstand 12 hours of light or fewer. As a result, autoflowering strains produce larger buds in a shorter time. Keep track of how much electricity you’re consuming on your plants – receiving an unexpectedly large bill in the mail is not a pleasant experience!
Easy Outdoor Growing
Outdoor gardeners should expect excellent results from autoflowering strains because the vegetative stage is genetically defined, and farmers won’t have to wait for days to get shorter before seeing flowering. With loads of free light and CO2 outside, your plants will be pretty happy, but they will also be more vulnerable to mould, insects, and animals. At the very least, you won’t have to worry about humans because automobiles are far less conspicuous due to their diminutive size.
Down to Business: Growing Autoflowering Cannabis
So you’ve assessed the benefits and drawbacks of autoflowering strains and are eager to get started. Allow us to walk you through the further steps.
Choosing the Right Auto Seeds for You
In this new generation of autoflowers, there are plenty of fantastic strains to pick from reputable seed banks! We’ve chosen three of our top autoflowering strains for our readers: great Sativa-dominant hybrids with excellent flavours, effects, and growth potential.
- Haze Autoflower Cannabis Seeds
- Big Devil Autoflower Cannabis Seeds
- Lemon Autoflower Cannabis Seeds
Choosing The Right Soil Mix
After you’ve decided on the strains you want to grow, consider the materials you’ll need to get started. The first element is dirt. Autoflowering strains demand light, airy soil with fewer nutrients than photoperiod strains. To avoid nitrogen overloading your plants, choose a lightly enriched soil like earth mix or coconut coir that you can manually enrich with nutrients. You probably won’t need to provide much more nourishment to your autoflowering plant! If the leaves begin to yellow, you can easily add more nutrients later.
Avoid Overfeeding
Overfeeding autoflowering strains is a serious risk because they don’t require as much nourishment. You may not realise the extent of the damage until it is too late and your plants begin to show brown leaves or blotches. Autoflowers require fewer nutrients than photoperiod plants because they spend so little time in the vegetative stage and should be fed sparingly. You should begin softly fertilising your Autoflowers 2 weeks after germination and increase the amount of fertiliser only if plants exhibit signs of nutritional insufficiency. Overwatering should also be avoided; autoflowering strains should be watered only when the soil dries out, rather than on a set timetable.
Start With A Big Pot
Make sure you don’t start your seedlings in a too-small pot! Because autoflowers dislike being relocated, we recommend previous the effort of repotting (and the risk of transplant shock) and simply transferring the germinated seeds into the final pot. You don’t want the roots to run out of room! Air pots, which are plastic containers with holes on the edges, are an excellent alternative for SOG training because they are taller and thinner than standard pots.
Harvest Gradually for Maximum Yield
It makes sense to harvest your bud gradually with autoflowering strains. Because autos proliferate and stay so tiny, it’s tough to undertake a lot of training during the short vegetative stage. Autoflowering plants don’t have time to grow a canopy due to their autoflowering lifecycle. Hence it makes sense not to prune the lowest branches. You should first harvest the primary colas when harvesting time comes, giving the buds lower on the plant time to become denser.
The Promises of Autoflowers
Autoflowering strains are becoming increasingly complex. Auto plants are growing larger, stronger, and faster than ever before to compete with their photoperiod counterparts, containing higher THC levels and generating larger yields. Growers can still get a crop equal to classic cannabis strains without the time commitment. Congratulations on your growth!
Thomas Jackson is a dynamic and talented content writer at WonderWorldSpace.com, renowned for his engaging and informative articles. Beyond his professional pursuits in writing, Jack is also known for his deep passion for fitness, which not only shapes his lifestyle but also influences his work.