If you’re an avid gardener or cannabis enthusiast, the term “autoflowering” may sound familiar. But what exactly does it mean when a seed is autoflowering? In this blog post, we’ll demystify this unique concept and explore the benefits of using autoflowering seeds in your garden!
Why are they so popular?
Autoflowering seeds are a popular choice among cannabis growers for a variety of reasons and are easily available for purchase online as weed seeds for sale. These seeds are specifically bred to flower automatically, without the need for a change in the light cycle. This means that growers can expect a faster and more convenient growing process, with a shorter overall time from seed to harvest.
One of the main advantages of these seeds is the speed at which they grow. They typically have a shorter vegetative stage than traditional cannabis strains, which means that they can go from seedling to mature plant in as little as 8-10 weeks. This is ideal for growers who want to maximize their yield in a short amount of time.
Another benefit is that they are ideal for growing in small spaces. Because of their compact size, these seeds can be grown in small tents, closets, or other confined spaces. This makes them perfect for indoor growers with limited space, as well as outdoor growers who want to grow in a discreet location.
They are known for their resilience and hardiness. They are able to withstand varying environmental conditions, such as temperature fluctuations and drought, which makes them a great choice for novice growers who may not have a lot of experience with cannabis cultivation.
One more benefit is their high yield. These seeds are specially bred to produce a high amount of buds in a shorter period of time, which can result in a higher yield per plant.
In addition, Autoflowering seeds are also a great option for cannabis enthusiasts who want to try different strains. Autoflowering seeds come in a wide variety of strains, from sativa to indica, and from high-THC to high-CBD. This allows growers to experiment with different strains and find the one that works best for them.
Growing Autoflowering Seeds
When growing autoflowering plants, it is important to create the right environment for them to thrive. The key points when it comes to growing these types of plants are getting enough sunlight, providing adequate nutrients, and controlling water uptake. If any one of these elements is not balanced correctly or is lacking altogether it will cause the plants not to be healthy and can even prevent them from flowering altogether.
It is best practice when planting autoflowering seed varieties that you do so around nighttime temperatures of 60 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, preferably during the summer months in order for them to get enough sunlight and heat for optimal growth. Depending on what variety you choose you may need up to 18 hours of light per day so taking this into consideration when choosing where your plants will grow is essential in order for them to reach their full potential. Additionally, giving your auto flowers access to at least two weeks of cold temperatures at 25-30 degrees Fahrenheit can help induce their bloom phase earlier which lends itself well to more northern climates where summers can be shorter but colder temperatures linger longer into autumn as compared with say California or Florida which tend have milder winters year round but shorter summers due to cooler evening temperatures.
Lastly, be mindful that regardless of how much sunlight and heat your crops receive they may need additional nutrition such as liquid fertilizers designed specifically for cannabis crops especially if your soil has not been prepped properly beforehand and/or the relative humidity in the area dips below 40%.
Harvesting
Harvesting autoflowering seeds involves different steps than harvesting regular cannabis seeds. Once plants reach maturity, they should be harvested as soon as possible, otherwise, they will start to lose potency and quality. When harvesting autoflowering plants, gardeners must take care not to damage buds since they are smaller and more fragile than regular cannabis buds. To ensure a successful harvest and high-quality buds, growers should carefully inspect plants before harvest and remove any brown or drooping leaves or flowers that may indicate pest damage or stress.
It is also important to check for plant health by looking at overall appearance, smell, and dryness levels (for indoor growing), and touch-test bud structure for consistency prior to harvesting autoflowering seeds. After harvesting, curing is recommended for best results due to the delicate nature of THC in auto flowers’ honeydew buds. Additionally, storing newly dried buds in sealed airtight containers away from light sources will help preserve potency and aroma over time.
Common Varieties
Autoflowering cannabis varieties are strains that flower according to their age rather than the light cycle. Autoflowering varieties were initially derived from the wild plants of cannabis ruderalis and were bred with sativa and indica varieties to generate plants with shorter flowering times, easier cultivation, and higher yields. They are becoming increasingly popular among growers due to their unique characteristics, ranging from convenience in cultivating, ability to produce a crop in a short period of time, resistance to cold climates, and ease in concealment.
Common autoflowering varieties include:
- Lowryder #2 (Ruderalis/Indica/Sativa)
- AutoMazar (Indica/Sativa)
- Big Bud Auto (Afghani/Skunk)
Lowryder #2 is well-known for its versatility allowing it to be grown indoors or outdoors while AutoMazar is an extremely strong strain with high yields. Big Bud Auto is an Afghan Skunk variety that produces huge buds good for indoor growing.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while autoflowering varieties may not be the best choice for every situation and all growers, they do offer considerable benefits over traditional varieties thanks to their short life cycles. These varieties can be successfully used with or without supplemental light or fertilizers. They also offer high yields in an efficient amount of time compared to regular cannabis plants. Therefore, for those looking for increased speed and high yields, autoflowering seeds could be a great choice.
