Should I Use Autoflowering Seeds?

By Cameron Glen, Director of Cultivation

I am constantly being asked what the best strains to grow are. One of the most common questions I am asked is whether or not autoflowering strains are the best option. The truth is that there is no one correct answer to this. Every grower has unique requirements when it comes to what type of plants will suit them best. Below I will explain what autoflowers are and who they are best suited for.

Autoflower vs Photoperiod / “Regular” Seeds. What’s the difference?

A regular plant is in light for 18 hours when it is vegetating and it is not until the light cycle is switched to 12 hours that they begin to flower. Autoflowering strains, or “autoflowers”, are plants that will start to flower without any manipulation of the light cycle. They typically will have the lights left on for 24 hours continuously and will usually begin to flower once their taproot hits the bottom of the pot they are in. 

While you may know about Sativa and Indica, there is a third type of cannabis plant, the Ruderalis. Cannabis ruderalis grows wild in the cold, harsh conditions of Russia and Central Asia where there is a much shorter growing season. So the plant evolved a shorter grow cycle and an autoflowering gene to make sure that it would be able to reproduce before the temperatures got too cold. Then seed breeders took the autoflower genes from the ruderalis and introduced it into other cannabis plants, making seeds that still had that genetic trait.

What are the benefits of autoflowers?

Autoflowers do have a few benefits. One of the biggest benefits is they take little time to go from seed to a fully matured plant. All told, they take about 70 days once germinated to get to harvest. They also don’t require knowledge of light cycles whatsoever and will flower no matter what. Most autoflower growers put their plants under constant light in order to give the plant the most energy. The last big reason the people will grow autoflowers is because they are more resistant to pests and mold. This makes autoflowering plants ideal for new or inexperienced growers with little guidance. No matter what you do within reason, it will flower eventually. 

What are the disadvantages of autoflowers?

Commercial growers, however, should be very hesitant before investing in autoflowering strains as they do come with some major disadvantages. The biggest disadvantage is the added electricity costs. Over time, the costs associated with an autoflower grow are greater than a traditional photoperiod. While autoflowers use a little less nutrients, this benefit is negated because of the extra electricity. Another common complaint is potency. On average, an autoflower will not be as potent as a regular seed. Autoflowers also tend to have lower yields because they are smaller and produce poor quality clones. If you are growing autoflowers commercially, you have to be extra careful and accurate when you train and manage your plants. With a photoperiod plant, trimming, training, skirting, defoliating are all fine because if you make a mistake you can just wait for the plant to grow back. Since autoflowers will start flowering once the taproot hits the bottom of the pot, if you damage a major branch or a bud site they may not be able to recover in time.

If you are a commercial grower, I only recommend that you use regular seeds and practice pheno-hunting in order to attain the absolute best strains. We do this in order to develop THC potency, yield, time to harvest, and pest resistance. It is a slow process but extremely rewarding.