Finding autoflower seeds in your favorite strain can feel like winning the lottery. If you’re new to cannabis growing indoors, you might not know why high-quality seeds are so important. While you need seeds that sprout quickly to begin the journey of cannabis cultivation, you’ll also need a reliable transition from the primary growth stage to the start of flowering. That’s where autoflower cannabis seeds come in.
What Are Autoflowering Seeds?
Simply put, plants that grow from autoflowering seeds begin to flower no matter what after a specific number of weeks of growth. For other varieties, strict light cycles are needed for good growth. A big change in the length of light exposure per day will trigger the beginning of flowering. For quick flowering without the need to pay close attention to day length, you’ll want autoflower seeds. They’re the low-maintenance choice for home growers of all skill levels, but especially beginners.
Types of Autoflower Seeds
Thanks to the fixed time period it takes to start flowering, most autoflower marijuana seeds are considered fast-growing. You get to enjoy a rapid harvest without a long wait for growth or flowering. Aside from rapid-growing types, you’ll also see plenty of feminized seeds that offer both advantages. Some autoflower seeds include popular hybrid crosses to bring you the best of two or more strains.
Advantаges of Growing Autoflower Seeds
Most autoflower weed seeds are just as potent as any other variety of the same strain. If you’re trying to grow a high THC content strain with an average content of around 25%, even autoflowering seeds will meet that goal. What makes them so beginner-friendly is a shorter, neater seed-to-harvest process. It can take over 20 weeks for some regular seeds to complete the flowering process, especially if they’re grown outdoors and influenced by total day length. Autoflower weed seeds will wrap up within 7 to 10 weeks in most cases. Autoflowering cannabis eliminates the need for timers, light controls, and concerns about sunlight reaching your grow area.
Disadvantages of Growing Autoflower Seeds
While autoflower weed seeds are often quite helpful to the homeowner, there are a few downsides to using them. First, some autoflower weed seeds aren’t feminized, so you may end up with a lot of male plants that you can’t use for much. Second, it’s not as useful to choose these seeds when your cannabis is grown outdoors. The autoflowering reaction tends to happen more reliably indoors. Finally, autoflowering seeds tend to provide a lower total volume of harvest per plant. Yet for most beginners, all of these disadvantages are easily outweighed by the advantages.
Top Autoflower Seed Strains to Try
Shopping at an autoflower seed bank may result in feeling overwhelmed. If you can only grow a few cannabis plants at a time, try these popular autoflowering strains first.
1. Amnesia Haze
While you might think of a sleepy strain when you hear the name, Amnesia Haze is actually a sativa that provides plenty of energy. It’s easier to grow than most sativa dominant strains, producing up to 11 ounces per plant.
2. Blue Cheese
If you can handle the pungent cheesy flavor, this pain-relieving strain is a great choice for medical marijuana patients interested in home growing. Blue Cheese autoflowering seeds take the hard work out of triggering flowering in this hybrid.
3. Black Jack
For a calming indica experience, choose Black Jack seeds. This strain has a flavor that combines spicy pepper and rich tobacco notes for a break from the sweet taste of dessert varieties.
10 FAQs on Autoflowering Seeds
1. How much does one autoflower plant yield?
Beginner growers generally see around 6 to 8 ounces per plant with autoflowering seeds, while experienced growers can get 10 to 14 ounces instead.
2. What is the downside to autoflower seeds?
It’s just as easy to germinate autoflower seeds as any other, but the difference is noticeable at harvest time. These plants tend to generate a smaller amount of bud with the same high potency as light-triggered seeds.
3. Are autoflower seeds good for beginners?
Marijuana seeds designed to flower based on time rather than light cycles are recommended for beginners so they can gain skills at growing.
4. Can you just plant autoflower seeds?
The best autoflowering seeds need little more than a warm environment, loose soil, and some water to sprout.
5. How many weeks does it take an autoflower to bud?
Autoflowering cannabis seeds typically begin budding 6 to 10 weeks after germination, depending on the strain.
6. What is the lifespan of an autoflower seed?
Autoflower seeds last just as long with proper storage and grow for the same amount of time as any other cannabis seed.
7. Is 20 hours of light too much for an autoflower plant?
Most growers recommend 20 hours of light and 4 hours of darkness to maximize growth in autoflowering plants.
8. Do autoflower plants get big?
Growing autoflower seeds can make the most of your limited indoor space because the individual plants tend to stay smaller.
9. Which is easier: feminized or autoflower?
Seed bank products may offer both feminized and autoflowering features. If you must choose, consider whether you’d rather avoid discarding males or adjusting light cycles to trigger flowering.
10. What are autoflowering seeds?
Weed plants that flower after a specific amount of time, regardless of the length of daily light exposure, are known as autoflowering.