The world of cannabis cultivation is ever-growing, and with it comes the introduction of new and innovative ways to cultivate plants. Autoflowering seeds are a relatively recent innovation that has revolutionized how growers produce quality marijuana in a shorter amount of time. If you’re considering growing your own autoflowering plants, you may be wondering what they are and why they might be right for you.
In this article, we explore the basics of autoflowering seeds: their characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages compared to traditional photoperiod strains. We also share tips on choosing the best autoflowering seed strain for your needs. Whether you’re an experienced grower or just starting out in the world of cannabis cultivation, there’s something here for everyone!
Autoflowering Seeds Vs. Traditional Seeds
Autoflowering seeds have become a popular choice among cannabis growers looking for something different. Whether you’re an experienced grower or just getting started, understanding the differences between autoflowering and traditional feminized seed varieties is important to make sure you get the best results.
To understand what makes autoflowering strains so special, it helps to know their origin. Autoflower plants are actually a subspecies of Cannabis known as Ruderalis. Traditional feminized seeds come from a cross-breeding process that combines two separate species of cannabis (Sativa and Indica), while autoflowering genetics originate solely from this unique Ruderalis strain. As such, they differ in more than just flowering time. Each type offers distinct characteristics when it comes to botanical composition and taste.
One major benefit of using autoflowers is shorter growing cycles compared with regular seeds or feminized varieties. This means less waiting around before reaching harvest time! Furthermore, due to their genetic makeup, they are smaller and easier to manage indoors or outdoors without needing additional space like other autoflowering varieties do. On top of that, many users find that the effects produced by these particular strains can be quite enjoyable too, making them ideal for both recreational and medicinal use.
Autoflowering Cannabis Strains
Advantages Of Autoflowering Seeds
Autoflowering seeds are revolutionizing the way novice and beginner growers cultivate their cannabis. These special types of seeds flower no matter what photoperiod they are exposed to, making them incredibly low-maintenance compared to traditional female plants. Autoflowers can be cultivated year-round in more temperate climates, giving experienced growers access to an abundance of autoflowering marijuana and cannabis crops!
Whether you’re a novice or an experienced grower looking for a robust harvest with minimal effort, autoflowering cannabis is well worth considering. Autoflower seeds require little attention once planted and take approximately eight weeks from germination to complete maturity when grown indoors. This makes it ideal for beginners who may not have much experience cultivating marijuana or those who want to maximize yield quickly.
Outdoor cultivation of autoflowers has become increasingly popular as well given its ease of planting and harvesting. There’s no need for long hours under artificial lights or complicated environmental control systems. Autoflowers are small plants that don’t require as many resources as regular ones, making them great options for urban gardens where space might be limited. Plus, because autoflowers produce multiple harvests per season (under optimal conditions), you’re sure to get plenty of high-quality buds that you can use for your own enjoyment or sale!
Types Of Autoflowering Seeds
Autoflowering seeds are a type of cannabis seed that can flower on their own. They’re often referred to as auto-cannabis or auto-seeds as they provide growers with an easy and convenient way to cultivate plants. Autoflowers have been gaining in popularity over the years due to their ease of cultivation and shorter lifecycles.
There are several types of autoflowering varieties available, so it’s important to understand how each one works before deciding which is right for you:
- Ruderalis plants: these are wilder strains that have adapted over time to be able to flower without light changes from summer/spring days. Ruderalis varieties tend to produce less potent buds than traditional photoperiodic marijuana strains, but some modern crosses offer good yields and effects.
- Haze Auto: this is a hybrid that was created by crossing classic haze genetics with low THC ruderalis varieties. This strain produces sweet fruity flavors with a satisfyingly pungent aroma. Other popular options include Haze Berry Auto and Royal Haze Auto, both offering strong yields and high levels of THC content.
- Cookies Auto: this is another option for those looking for something a bit special. This Indica-dominant variety has its origins in Girl Scout Cookies genetics crossed with an unknown ruderalis parent plant. It’s known for producing tight dense buds covered in frosty trichomes, making it ideal for connoisseur smokers or concentrate makers alike.
When choosing your autoflowering variety, consider the characteristics you want like taste, aroma, effect, etc. Then, look through our selection of auto cannabis seeds until you find exactly what you need!
Germination And Planting Tips
When it comes to planting autoflowering marijuana seeds, preparation is everything. It’s important to ensure that your soil has plenty of nutrients available as well as good drainage so that the roots can develop without being waterlogged. The pH level should also be checked before planting. An ideal range between 6–7 will help promote optimal growth. Once these basic requirements are met, you’re ready to begin planting your feminized cannabis seeds!
To start, create small holes about 1/4″ deep into the ground using either a finger or a pencil eraser. Place one feminized seed into each hole and cover lightly with soil while ensuring they remain visible on top. This allows the light source needed for germination. Keep the newly planted seeds moist but not soaked until sprouts appear above the surface which usually takes 5-10 days depending on temperature and humidity levels. With proper care during this period, your autoflowering cannabis plants will soon be producing buds within 8-10 weeks from when you initially planted them!
Challenges With Autoflowering Seeds
Autoflowers typically have Cannabis ruderalis genetics, which causes them to flower based on their age rather than changing light cycles like photoperiod cannabis. This means they are perfect for outdoor cultivation since they don’t need as much control over the growing conditions. The cycle of autoflowers is generally shorter too, with flowering periods of six weeks or less compared to traditional varieties that may take up to four months.
When it comes to cultivating autoflowering strains, there are some special considerations that beginners should keep in mind. For example, these automatic varieties require more attention when it comes to water management. Too little and plants will suffer from stunted growth but too much can lead to nutrient lockouts or root rot. Cookies genetics are common among autoflowers, so knowing how to manage nute burn due to excess nutrients and salts is important if you want your crop to reach its full potential.
Nutrient Requirements For Autoflowering Seeds
The nutrient requirements for autoflowering seeds differ slightly from traditional photoperiod strains as they require less nitrogen during the vegetative period while still providing enough phosphorus and potassium for optimal development. Autoflowers also need more calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, and other micronutrients throughout the life cycle to ensure healthy bud production. Experienced growers should pay close attention to pH levels when using fertilizer programs specifically designed for non-photoperiod strains like autoflowering varieties.
Lighting Requirements For Autoflowering Seeds
Lighting requirements for autoflowering seeds are very different to those of regular photoperiod strains. Autoflowering plants, typically originating from the ruderalis subspecies, flower based on their age rather than a light cycle like that of photoperiodic cannabis. This means that indoor growers can use continuous lighting if they wish and outdoor growers won’t have to worry about the amount of daylight hours in order to get successful flowering.
However, it’s still important to note that there needs to be some light manipulation when growing autoflowers indoors. While you could theoretically keep them under 24 hours of light per day without causing any issues with flowering, it’s advised not to do so since too many light hours can lead to stunted growth and reduced yields. Most experienced growers suggest keeping an autoflower between 18-20 hours of light per day during its vegetative stage, then lowering this down to 12-14 hours once flowers start forming.
For outdoor grows, no extra lighting manipulations need to be taken into account since the plant will automatically flower after a certain amount of time regardless of what kind of light cycle is used. However, it should be noted that although temperatures may not influence your harvest size directly (aside from extreme heat), low levels of sunlight could slow down photosynthesis which would mean less energy available for producing bigger buds!
Temperature Requirements For Autoflowering Seeds
Temperature requirements for these specially bred plants must be considered when growing them. Royal Cheese Auto, Blue Cheese Auto, Royal Jack Auto, Fat Banana from Royal Queen Seeds’, Solomatic CBD, Sweet Skunk Automatic… all these auto-flowering strains have different temperature requirements than their photoperiod counterparts. For example, some varieties like Royal Cheese Auto prefer cooler temperatures around 20°C (68°F) during both day and night, while others like Sweet Skunk Automatic need slightly warmer conditions at 22–25°C (72–77°F).
For optimal growth and maximum yields with autoflowers, growers should strive for an ideal daytime temperature range between 20–26°C (68–79°F), as well as an optimal nighttime temperature range between 18–22°C (65–71 °F). While fluctuations in temperature won’t always kill your auto-flowers outright, keeping things within this range will help ensure good health and heavy harvests.
Autoflowering Seeds And Pest Control
Pest control for autoflowering seed varieties requires extra attention as pests can significantly damage the flowers before they even have time to fully form. Varieties like Royal Cheese Auto, Blue Cheese Auto, Royal Jack Auto, Critical Auto, Fat Banana, Solomatic CBD, and Sweet Skunk Automatic all need additional assistance when it comes to keeping away unwanted guests in the garden.
It’s essential to ensure your environment remains clean and free from any potential hazards such as bugs or other critters that could destroy your crop altogether. The best way to prevent this kind of destruction is by using natural methods such as companion planting with herbs or vegetables that repel certain insects and animals. You should also make sure that you keep an eye out for signs of infestation on a regular basis so you can take action quickly if needed.
Additionally, check your soil regularly for signs of nutrient deficiency which could lead to weakened plant growth and increased vulnerability to parasites and diseases. By taking proactive steps now you will be able to protect your precious autoflowering seeds from any harm throughout their entire lifecycle!
Drying And Storing Autoflowering Seeds
Drying autoflowering cannabis seeds requires some attentiveness: too much heat or humidity can reduce their viability, so a low temperature and dry environment are key. This ensures that the moisture levels stay below 10%, which will keep them viable in storage for up to five years, depending on where you store them.
Storing your dried autoflowering seeds safely is also important. The best option for long-term seed keeping would be to find a reputable seed bank. Many seed banks offer vaults with climate control systems that regulate temperature and humidity specifically for seed storage, allowing them to last even longer than usual – up to twenty years! And don’t forget about proper packaging. Vacuum-sealed packets ensure that no oxygen enters the package and keeps out any pests as well.
No matter how careful you are when cultivating autoflowering plants, drying and storing your harvested seeds properly will help maximize their lifespan and ensure they remain viable until you’re ready to use them again down the line. Keeping track of your stored seeds by labeling each packet clearly with strain name, date of harvest, etc., will make it easier when starting another batch later on!
Tips For Buying Autoflowering Seeds
First things first, make sure you know how many weeks or days from seed your strain should take before reaching its vegetative stage and flowering period. Different strains vary in terms of their average periods. While some may take 8-10 weeks, others might only need 6-7 weeks. Knowing this information beforehand will help guide you in making the right purchase.
Secondly, look into what kind of climate works best with the strain you want to buy. Autoflowering seeds do well in harsher environments where regular photoperiods would not allow plants to grow as quickly or successfully due to lack of sunlight exposure. Consider if your environment is suitable for growing said plant before beginning the process.
Last but not least, be mindful about budgeting for autoflowering seeds. They generally cost more compared to regular photoperiodic cannabis since growers have spent time developing them over several generations. Luckily, there’s usually a wide variety available on the market at different price points that won’t break the bank. Outline what range works best for you before purchasing auto-flowering seeds!
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