Autoflowering 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 can you grow autoflowering cannabis seeds? The process isn’t much different from growing other seeds, but it is a lot faster – they’ll be ready to harvest anywhere from 8 to 12 weeks. Keep reading for a more in-depth look at autoflowering marijuana seeds to find out whether they’re right for your garden.
How to Grow Autoflowering Marijuana Seeds
When growing autoflowering strains, it’s important to remember that these will grow much quicker than what you might be used to if you’ve grown other seed varieties before. You can definitely try growing these if you’re a beginner, and they are pretty appealing to more experienced growers since they can take advantage of faster, more frequent harvests.
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.
And there you have it – your hard work has paid off! You’ll know it’s time to harvest when the trichomes get a little cloudy in colour and the pistils have a brown shade with some red tones. Remember that some autos take a little longer to grow, while others are very fast, so just be patient and take your time.
Where Can I Buy Autoflowering Marijuana Seeds?
With over 35 strains of marijuana seeds to choose from, we have everything you need when it comes to growing your favourite strains. As well as feminized cannabis seeds, hybrid marijuana seeds, and more, you’ll find a wide range of autoflowering seeds. Before exploring our full range for yourself, check out our best-sellers.
Is it Best to Grow Marijuana From Autoflowering Seeds?
Choosing autos to grow in your garden is one of the best options, as they are low-maintenance, fast-yielding, and strong against exterior factors. Since they grow quicker, you can even get multiple harvests into the span of one regular harvest. Here are some other advantages of growing using autos:
- The plants they produce are short, which means they are easier to keep private from prying neighbours. This also prevents the need for constant trellising, so they are quite low maintenance.
- You can harvest larger amounts more often due to the fast flowering process.
- These plants are resistant to unstable temperatures, so you could even grow all year round. You should still keep them warm, but if a little cold gets in, they won’t be as affected as other types of seeds.
- They are resistant to mould and pests.
- A high CBD content within auto seeds makes them perfect for making products for medicinal users.
Final Thoughts
What Are Autoflowering Marijuana Seeds? They are a fast-yielding, strong and low-maintenance variety that is fast becoming the preferred seeds for many experienced growers. But that doesn’t mean beginners should count them out – since they are so much easier to grow and maintain, there is a little more room for error. While feminized marijuana seeds are maybe a little more efficient, they are nowhere near as fast or resistant as the auto-flowering variety.
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