There are three different types of seeds—regular, feminized, and autoflower seeds. They all serve a different purpose, and all have pros and cons.
Autoflower seeds are unique and provide many benefits for growers. We’ll take a closer look at these advantages now in our autoflower seeds review.
You’ll learn how they’re made, how to germinate them, find out the best seeds to cultivate, and where to get them.
What are autoflower seeds?
What are autoflower seeds? The clue is in its name; the term refers to their behavior during the growth process. They’re cannabis seeds that grow into plants that start to blossom when they mature.
Unlike photoperiod strains, these crops don’t depend on light cycle changes to trigger their transition from the vegetative stage into bud-production mode.
Plants from autoflower seeds also undergo a shorter growth period, some being ready for harvest between 7–10 weeks after germination. This benefit allows breeders to cross photoperiod cultivars with ruderalis to achieve faster yields.
The height of autoflower crops typically ranges from 24–39 inches, making them perfect for discreet cultivation. They’re ideal for indoor growing as they don’t take up much vertical space.
Autoflower seeds also produce plants that are resistant to pests and diseases. Solving this problem helps beginners cultivate these seeds.
Autoflower seeds come in regular and feminized forms. Let’s compare the two other variants now:
Regular seeds vs. autoflower
Regular seeds are those you get from nature without human manipulation. There are male and female chromosomes within every pod, meaning you have an almost equal chance of getting plants of each gender.
When you cultivate regular autoflower cannabis seeds, the female crops begin flowering when they reach maturity. The males produce pollen sacs that fertilize the female bud and form seeds. This pollination process is why breeders prefer regular seeds.
Cultivators who only want delicious smokeable nugs have to identify and remove the male plants. The hassle of this segregation practice spurred breeders to introduce feminized seeds. Combining these seeds with autoflower seeds made it ideal for those wanting multiple harvests per year.
Feminized seeds vs. autoflowering
With feminized cannabis seeds, you don’t have the hassle of removing the male plants from the rest of the crop. You get all-females, which produce buds. No pesky pollinators take up growing space, so you maximize the yield from your efforts.
When using feminized autoflower seeds, you don’t have to change the light schedule to induce your plants to flower. It’s a natural growth process that doesn’t need human participation until harvest time.
How are autoflower seeds made?
To learn how to make autoflower seeds, you need to know about a third cannabis subspecies besides the two main ones—indica and sativa. It’s called ruderalis, which many believe is from Siberia, and now parts of Central/Eastern Europe and Asia.
To adapt to the harsh environment and survive, the ruderalis blooms and reproduces without adhering to any light cycle.
Breeders create autoflower marijuana seeds by crossing the ruderalis with indica and sativa cultivars. The resulting hybrids possess autoflowering ability but with bigger yields of quality buds than from growing ruderalis on its own.
How to germinate autoflower cannabis seeds
Growing marijuana successfully requires doing more than sticking seeds into the soil.
Learning how to germinate autoflower seeds is vital to increase your odds of getting healthy plants and bountiful yields.
Germination is the initial growth stage when seeds sprout roots. It’s a simple process that requires the following elements:
- Minimal handling – reduces the risk of damaging the delicate roots
- Adequate moisture – seeds need water to germinate
- Warm temperatures (70–77°F)
What’s the best way to germinate autoflower seeds? There are several methods. All of them have their merits, so it’s a matter of preference.
Some seed banks offer seed replacement guarantees, but you have to follow their germination protocol to qualify.
Here are ways growers germinate autoflower cannabis seeds. Try them out and see which one works best for you.
Planting in the soil
Cultivators favor planting autoflower seeds directly in soil for two reasons:
- It’s how cannabis plants grow in nature
- There’s no need to handle the seeds after you plant them
When germinating autoflower seeds in the soil, use a seed starter or potting soil as they have nutrients and beneficial microbes suitable for marijuana seedlings. Ensure that its pH is about 6.
As the grow medium already has what your seedlings need, don’t add fertilizer for at least two weeks. Excess nutrients can cause “nute burn,” which can damage your seedlings.
Autoflower seeds will develop stems within 4–7 days. During this time, keep your soil moist. When your plants are about four inches tall, transplant them into bigger pots.
Germinating in water
Growers can use this sprouting seed method at home with no equipment. You need a glass of plain water and your autoflower cannabis seeds.
Before adding the seeds, let the water rest until it reaches room temperature, about 65°F. Put in 2–3 seeds. It can take between 24–48 hours before the roots sprout. Keep the glass filled and maintain the temperature the whole time.
When your autoflower marijuana seeds have popped, transfer them to the soil. Exercise extreme care when handling the new roots because they’re very fragile.
Paper towel method
Here’s another method that only requires common household items, such as paper towels, a clean plate, bottled water, tweezers, and your autoflower seeds. As hygiene is important, be sure to prepare a sterilized workspace for the purpose.
The steps are straightforward. Start by dampening two paper towels. Use a spray bottle, so you don’t soak them. Your seeds need moisture, not excessive water.
Lay one paper towel on your plate. Gently place your autoflower cannabis seeds on it using the tweezers. A general rule of thumb is to spread them about an inch apart. When you finish, cover the seeds with the other towel.
Set your plate somewhere warm and dark, like in a drawer or cupboard. It takes about 1–5 days before the roots start to sprout, so be sure to check on your autoflower marijuana seeds every 24 hours.
Use tweezers to remove popped seeds and plant them in the soil. Ensure that the paper towels remain moist. Wet them regularly, so they don’t dry out. Repeat the process every day until all your autoflower seeds have taproots.
Germinating in peat pellets
Another way of germinating autoflower seeds to avoid damaging young roots is to plant the seeds in peat pellets. Soak the pellets in warm water until they expand before using them.
Peat is ideal for marijuana germination as it has a 5.5 pH level and all the nutrients your autoflower marijuana seeds need. These are partly decayed organic matter in compressed form, which provides nutrition for seedlings.
When the seeds pop, the roots will appear out of the peat. Transplant the entire pellet into the soil, where it’ll continue to grow.
How to grow autoflower seeds
After germinating the autoflower cannabis seeds and they sprout roots, place them into the soil. Handle them very carefully as they’re fragile at this stage. Many growers prefer to germinate in the soil to avoid moving the seedlings and damaging them.
While the Lowryder strain, which many cultivators consider the first autoflowering cultivar, was challenging to grow, autoflower seeds today are ideal for multiple harvests because:
- These cannabis plants begin to flower upon maturity, so there’s no need to monitor and adjust the light cycle
- Crops are resistant to mold and pests
Most marijuana plants require lots of nutrients during the seedling and vegetative, but those grown from autoflower seeds don’t need as much. You only need to give them 50–75% of the recommended dose. It’s essential not to overuse fertilizer as it can harm your plants.
Crops from autoflower seeds flourish in a warm climate with temperatures of 75 to 86°F. Their ruderalis traits allow them to adapt to hotter and colder weather, but the conditions may affect their yield.
While you can’t control the weather when growing outdoors, you can give your indoor plants the optimum environment they need to thrive. This is a key reason most growers prefer the latter method to cultivate autoflower seeds.
Another upside of indoor cultivation is the short stature of the plants keeps your growing activity discreet.
7 best autoflower seeds
Selecting the right seeds can be tricky as there are hundreds of choices on the market. Here are seven of the best autoflower seeds in terms of CBD and THC content and yield to help you get started.
High yield autoflower seeds in the USA
If you’re looking for a bountiful harvest, these three autoflower cannabis seeds have a reputation for producing huge yields.
Diesel Autoflower cannabis seeds
Diesel autoflower seeds, with Afghani indica and Mexican sativa genetics, produce robust sativa-dominant plants. Cultivators favor the cultivar because it offers a huge harvest.
Indoor marijuana crops produce 17 oz./m2 of flavorful buds. If you grow outdoors, you get up to 34 oz. per plant.
Grapefruit Autoflower cannabis seeds
Autoflower seeds from the Grapefruit strain are excellent for home cultivators. The plants you get are sturdy and can thrive in any environment. If you grow indoors using the Sea of Green (SOG) setup, you can expect yields of about 18 oz./m2. Outdoor crops give you 11 oz. per plant.
Girl Scout Cookies Autoflower cannabis seeds
Girl Scout Cookies is one of the many high-yield autoflower seeds in the USA. It’s also one of the fastest-growing marijuana cultivars on the market. The robust plants are easy to grow because they’re pest resistant.
Many growers favor indoor cultivation because they can apply the SOG method. When harvest time comes around, expect to collect between 18–21 18 oz./m2 of nugs. Outdoor plants produce 5 oz. of buds each.
High THC autoflower seeds
THC content is what users look for in cannabis. These autoflower seeds give you potent THC-filled buds that’ll deliver amazing effects.
Blueberry Gusto Auto cannabis seeds
Blueberry Gusto is the result of crossing two high-THC cultivars. It gets its genetics from Blueberry, an award-winning indica, and Lemon Haze, a sativa. With up to 20% THC, it offers tokers a very pleasurable experience.
Cultivators will find it easy to grow this strain from autoflower marijuana seeds as it’s resistant to molds, pests, and diseases.
OG Kush Autoflower cannabis seeds
This renowned marijuana strain is every grower’s favorite. Its 17–21% THC content gives OG Kush tokers a long-lasting kick that begins with euphoria.
The autoflower cannabis seeds are grower-friendly because you don’t need a lot of experience to cultivate them. You don’t have to deal with light cycle changes if you grow indoors. Year-long outdoor cultivation is possible in suitable environments.
High CBD autoflower seeds
High CBD autoflower seeds are getting more popular as users turn to strains that offer therapeutic benefits without the psychoactive effects. Here are two excellent choices:
CBD Cheese Autoflower cannabis seeds
If you’re looking for a cultivar with potent medicinal properties, CBD Cheese autoflower marijuana seeds should be top of your list. Its high cannabidiol content offers users a calming experience. There are also many anecdotal claims of relief from several medical conditions.
CBD Kush Autoflower cannabis seeds
Among cultivars with a low THC to CBD ratio is the CBD Kush. The autoflower seeds aren’t ideal for beginners, but growers with experience can expect an abundant reward for their efforts. Users claim relief from pain and anxiety without the typical THC effects.
Where to buy autoflower seeds
Nowadays, it’s easy to buy autoflower seeds in the USA. You can get them from dispensaries if cannabis is legal in your state or online seed banks.
We recommend you select only reputable vendors. It may be tempting to buy cheap autoflower seeds, but you risk getting duds. The disappointment is not worth the small savings as seed prices are very competitive.
You can get high-quality marijuana seeds if you buy them from trusted sellers. For instance, cultivators claim that Homegrown Cannabis Co’s seeds are hand-picked.
If you check seed bank websites regularly, you can find autoflower seeds for sale. Some businesses have BOGO (buy-one-get-one) promos, which help you get premium seeds at a large discount.
Choosing to buy autoflower seeds from established companies like Homegrown Cannabis Co ensures your personal and financial details are safe. These vendors have secure systems to safeguard your information.
Why choose autoflower seeds?
If you’re a first-time cannabis cultivator, growing autoflower seeds requires basic knowledge. They’re low-maintenance because most are resistant to pests and diseases, and you don’t need to worry about light cycles.
As ruderalis plants adapt to harsh conditions, you can grow them in any climate. Indoor cultivation is ideal as you can control the environment for optimal results.
The shorter crops mean they require less pruning and trimming. Growing autoflower seeds is a matter of germinating, sowing, and watching your plants develop.
Choose feminized autos, and you have a winning combination that assures you a bountiful stash of smokable buds.
