How Tall Do Autoflowers Get?

Growing marijuana is truly one of the sweetest pleasures in life, but when you hit some bumps in the road, it can feel a little overwhelming. We receive many questions from beginner growers. Why isn’t my seed germinating? How long until I can harvest? Among many more. But one of the ones that keeps popping up is about auto-flowering marijuana seeds. In particular, how tall do autoflowers get?

We’ve found this is a particularly popular question for those growing weed indoors. They often want to know how small or large the plants will get, so that they can accommodate for the space. After all, you’re not going to have the same space allowances than if you were growing outdoors.

As a general guide, most autoflowers grow from 50cm to 70cm tall, but some can reach heights of 100cm. This is what makes them so ideal for indoor growing, as some other marijuana plants can grow as tall as 1.8m.

Whether you’re well into your growing process, or you’re just thinking about cultivating, then start yourself off on the right foot with the best in auto-flowering and feminized marijuana seed varieties. Once you’ve got your hands on those, keep reading for all the information you need on autos and their characteristics.

 

Auto-Flowering Marijuana Seeds Explained

Auto-flowering marijuana seeds (also referred to as Cannabis ruderalis) are a type of seed that doesn’t rely on light cycles to grow. This is different to regular marijuana seeds or feminized marijuana seeds which both will only start flowering depending on the amount of light they receive. This means they are “photoperiod” plants.

So, it’s pretty much all in the name – “auto” flowering means the seeds produce plants that automatically flower once the plant becomes a certain age. The light should still be used to help auto-flowering strains grow, but they are not as dependent on it.

Auto-flowering marijuana seeds are fast-growing and produce short plants with thick stems. This all makes sense when you consider their origins close to the North and South Pole. With such extreme, cold conditions, these plants have had to adapt to survive. They’re short to retain heat better, and buds grow quickly to reproduce before they get exposed to much to the cold and die out.

 

How Tall Do Autoflowers Get

If you haven’t done prior research, and you’re used to growing other types of seeds, then you’ll probably be surprised at how small some autoflowers turn out. With an average size ranging between 50cm and 100cm, these are perfect for indoor gardens. No nosy neighbours, and no need to build a massive tent for your growing ventures.

That being said, sativa-dominant autoflowers can stretch a little taller than others. Sativa plants are already taller than their counterpart Indica, so as an auto-flowering variety they can reach up to 1.80m in some cases. This will depend on many factors, including the levels of light, water, pH, humidity, nutrients, and so on.

Keep in mind that just because an autoflower turns out short, doesn’t mean it will produce bad buds. If you want to avoid a short plant, make sure its surrounding environmental conditions are properly maintained. The key, though, is to give it the best chance from the beginning with high-quality seeds. Some online seed banks supply low-quality seeds, which can lead to a stunted autoflower plant.

 

Growing Auto-Flowering Marijuana Seeds

Now you know the background on autos, why should you grow them? These aren’t for everyone, but they are extremely popular among beginner growers. This is because they require less maintenance than some other seeds, such as feminized, THC, indica, CBD, and so on. You don’t need to constantly adjust the light cycles, leaving a little breathing room when it comes to making mistakes during the growth process.

Here are the steps for growing auto-flowering seeds:

1. Germination

Germination is fast with these seeds, taking just one to five days rather than up to ten days like some varieties. One of the easiest ways is to drop the seeds gently into a glass of room-temperature water and keep it in a dark space at around 27°C. After 72 hours you can transfer it to a soaking wet paper towel – cover it with a more wet paper towel to keep it dark and warm. Once you see it sprout, transfer it to the soil.

2. Seedling

By now, a seedling should be visible. The leaves are very small at this stage. This is where you can provide some light, like a 250W LED, and you can also give some nutrients. Auto-flowering varieties need only a quarter to half the amount of nutrients that would be given to photoperiods.

3. Vegetation

For the best growing process, keep the environmental temperature no more or less than 20°C and humidity levels between 40% and 50%. Provide half a litre of water each day. You might even begin to see some flowering happening at the later vegetative stage!

4. Flowering

Now you’ll notice some sacs begin to peek out from the nodes. At their biggest, autoflowering marijuana plants can grow up to just 60cm. Increase the surrounding temperature by about 1° each week, reaching 25°C by the final week.

Where Can I Buy Auto-Flowering Marijuana Seeds?

You’ll find autos at the best online marijuana seed banks. Typically, they’ll be listed with the other types of seeds, so you can click through and find the best one to suit your needs. You’ll find different strains with various flavours and THC or CBD levels, so make sure to check before you buy. Our range provides the highest-quality types of seeds on the market, with countless options to suit exactly what you want and need.

 

Grow Your Own Auto-Flowering Seeds

As some of the easiest and fastest seeds to grow, autoflowers are an excellent, practical option for anyone starting out. Growing between 50cm and 100cm, with the slight chance of 1.8m for some sativa varieties, auto-flowering seeds are ideal for smaller indoor gardens. What’s more, you won’t ever have to worry about a nosy neighbour again – they won’t even know it’s there.