Autoflowering cannabis seeds are perhaps the easiest cannabis seeds to grow. Although smaller than traditional cannabis plants, autoflowering cannabis plants require minimal care and absolutely no adjustment of the light cycle. Check out the autoflowering cannabis lineup from your favorite Colorado seed bank today.
What is autoflowering cannabis?
In most cases, the cannabis growth cycle depends on its photoperiod. In other words, the growth stage of a cannabis plant generally depends on the amount of light (or rather darkness) it receives in a day. Long days signal to the plant that it is spring and that it is therefore time to stretch and grow. Short days (those with 12 hours of light and 12 hours of total darkness) signal an approaching winter, prompting the plant to produce flowers/pollen and, in some cases, seeds.
Autoflowering cannabis seeds, as the name suggests (or autoflowering seeds), refer to cannabis seeds that produce flowers regardless of the light cycle and duration. Autoflowering strains grow fairly quickly and reach maturity around 10 to 11 weeks. Although smaller than the average cannabis plant, they make up for this by allowing growers to harvest multiple times in a single season.
Note that autoflowering cannabis plants do not clone well. Once growth begins, the plant will flower regardless of whether it is attached to its mother plant. To harvest multiple crops of cannabis in a single season, it is essential to purchase plenty of autoflowering cannabis seeds.
The growing cycle of autoflowering cannabis
Autoflowering cannabis seeds – Silent Seeds
Weeks 1–3
The growth cycle of autoflowering cannabis begins as soon as the seeds emerge from the soil. They will remain in this initial seedling stage for the first three weeks, during which time they will develop their first set of leaves. Leaf development progresses rapidly at this stage; a mild nutrient mix can promote growth during this period.
By the end of the third week, most autoflowering plants will show signs of their sex. Males should be removed immediately at this point to prevent them from pollinating the females and causing them to produce seeds.
Weeks 4–6
Autoflowering strains generally begin to flower around the fourth week. Commonly referred to as the pre-flowering stage, this is the period during which the plants experience their most rapid growth—often up to an inch per day! Although many growers mistakenly switch to flowering nutrients at the first sign of flower development, we do not recommend this. Flowering nutrients contain much less nitrogen; using them too early can slow vertical growth and reduce final yield. The best time to switch autoflowering cannabis plants to flowering nutrients is actually in week five or six.
Weeks 7–9
By the start of the seventh week, most of the vertical growth will have stopped. The buds begin to thicken and become denser, and the pistils start to develop unique shades of brown, red, and orange. Trichome heads are well developed at this stage and often emit a powerful scent that may require air filters to contain it. Larger fan leaves may also turn yellow and drop off at this time.
Weeks 10–11
Those who waited until weeks five and six to add flowering nutrients may continue to see flower development in weeks 10 and 11. These final weeks of growth are the ideal time to remove nutrients from the plant. To do this, simply switch from nutrient-rich water to pure distilled water. Skipping this step can result in harsh smoke. It is important to allow enough time to flush the cannabis plants before harvest.
Thoughts on Autoflowering Cannabis Seeds
Autoflowering cannabis seeds have a bad reputation for producing small buds. But autoflowering cannabis actually offers many advantages, especially for those with limited space or those looking for consistent yields.
Are you ready to grow? Buy feminized seeds from the Silent Seeds seed bank today!
Have you ever grown autoflowering cannabis seeds? How was your experience?
