The Pros and Cons of Autoflowering Cannabis
Modern cannabis growers are spoiled for choice. There are more strains on the market than ever before, and many growers have taken a liking to the new and improved selection of autoflowers.
Autoflowering genetics have a lot to offer. There are varieties high in CBD, high in THC, and those with a nice balance of both. That’s not to mention the incredible diversity in terpene profiles.
But it’s not all sunshine and roses. Autoflowering strains have a host of advantages, but they also carry disadvantages that turn some growers off.
What Does “Autoflowering” Mean?
Autoflowering seeds are typically a mixture of cannabis sativa or indica with cannabis ruderalis, a species native to Russia. People don’t grow cannabis ruderalis on its own because it typically lacks a high degree of THC content. But because this species grows automatically after seven weeks and fares well in cold weather, these traits have made them desirable to use for interbreeding.
An autoflowering cannabis strain switches from the vegetative stage to the flowering stage automatically instead of requiring closely timed hours of light and dark. Photoperiod flowering seeds start to bloom after the summer solstice, while autoflowering seeds flower after a specific phase of the development period. In other words, they grow automatically (hence their name, “autoflowering”) when they reach the right size.
Autoflowering cannabis plants spark interest in most growers because they start to bloom quickly, making for a rapid harvest. Photoperiod plants can finish almost as fast if you grow them under a 12/12 lighting schedule starting at or soon after germination. This results in very small plants. Instead, most growers veg their photoperiod strains for four to six weeks. Then, they start the flowering stage when the plants reach a size they're comfortable with or they show signs of sexual maturity.
If you want to grow cannabis outdoors in a cold, northern climate with a short, wet summer, autoflowering plants may be your only viable option. Photoperiod strains won't start to bloom until late summer, so they have a high risk of rotting or freezing before the buds are completely ripe. Even a long rainy period during the autumn could spoil your entire crop. Autoflowering plants can minimise this risk, but you should still look for strains that are mould-resistant if the weather is damp year-round. Tight, dense buds that restrict airflow through the calyxes are subject to rot, no matter how fast they finish.
PROS OF GROWING AUTOFLOWERING CANNABIS STRAINS
Autoflowering strains typically grow a lot faster than indica and sativa strains. some auto-flowering strains can go from seed to harvest in as fast as two months.
Pure ruderalis plants really do appear like a weed. They are small and thin yet hardy and adaptive. This trait makes auto-flowering strains quite small and compact. This fact is a massive advantage to some growers who are either looking to make the absolute best out of their growing space. Or those who live in areas that frown upon the growing of cannabis plants.
One of the main advantages of auto-flowering strains is that they do not require a change in the light cycle in order to flower. Instead, they flower with age.
Strong Resistance Power
Because of the influence of marijuana ruderalis, a majority of the autoflowering seeds are quite well resistant to several moulds and diseases. They are normally pretty resistant to cold.
Small Size
The autoflowering seeds’ genetics will usually keep these marijuana plants on the smaller side. They are also called dwarf plants sometimes. The best part of such seeds is that they are highly appropriate for cultivation on small balconies and gardens. Results are good when they are grown on window sills as well. On the whole, they are ideal for discreet guerilla cultivators.
Cons of Growing Autoflowering Marijuana Plants
As with anything, there are also a few disadvantages that you need to be aware of when it comes to autoflowering cannabis plants:
Their Size May Be Underwhelming
While their size is an advantage when it comes to your privacy, growing autoflowering plants means you should never expect a massive yield. It's for this reason that growers looking to collect a higher yield settle instead for other types of cannabis plants, such as pure sativa.
Less Control
Regular and feminized seed allow the cultivator to choose not only the height of the resulting plants, but when they will eventually mature. Autoflowering seeds result in plants that follow their own schedule, regardless of manipulation to the indoor environment in which they grow.
Cloning Is Impossible
Since autoflowering strains flower regardless of photoperiod, maintaining mother plants for these strains is not possible. Each autoflowering plant was grown from seed, and there is no way to preserve the genetics of a particularly nice phenotype from cuttings, which is a widespread practice with regular seed.
Lower THC%
Due to the influence of the Cannabis ruderalis the THC% of autoflowering cannabis seeds is a little lower than that of most strong sativa’s and indica’s.
Autoflowering cannabis plants spark interest in most growers because they start to bloom quickly, making for a rapid harvest. Photoperiod plants can finish almost as fast if you grow them in marijuana grow tent and under a 12/12 lighting schedule cannabis grow light starting at or soon after germination. This results in very small plants. Instead, most growers veg their photoperiod strains for four to six weeks. Then, they start the flowering stage when the plants reach a size they're comfortable with or they show signs of sexual maturity.
If you want to grow cannabis outdoors in a cold, northern climate with a short, wet summer, autoflowering plants may be your only viable option. Photoperiod strains won't start to bloom until late summer, so they have a high risk of rotting or freezing before the buds are completely ripe. Grow them indoor by using marijuana grow kit is also a good choice.
Autoflowering genetics have a lot to offer. There are varieties high in CBD, high in THC, and those with a nice balance of both. That’s not to mention the incredible diversity in terpene profiles.
But it’s not all sunshine and roses. Autoflowering strains have a host of advantages, but they also carry disadvantages that turn some growers off.
What Does “Autoflowering” Mean?
Autoflowering seeds are typically a mixture of cannabis sativa or indica with cannabis ruderalis, a species native to Russia. People don’t grow cannabis ruderalis on its own because it typically lacks a high degree of THC content. But because this species grows automatically after seven weeks and fares well in cold weather, these traits have made them desirable to use for interbreeding.
An autoflowering cannabis strain switches from the vegetative stage to the flowering stage automatically instead of requiring closely timed hours of light and dark. Photoperiod flowering seeds start to bloom after the summer solstice, while autoflowering seeds flower after a specific phase of the development period. In other words, they grow automatically (hence their name, “autoflowering”) when they reach the right size.
Autoflowering cannabis plants spark interest in most growers because they start to bloom quickly, making for a rapid harvest. Photoperiod plants can finish almost as fast if you grow them under a 12/12 lighting schedule starting at or soon after germination. This results in very small plants. Instead, most growers veg their photoperiod strains for four to six weeks. Then, they start the flowering stage when the plants reach a size they're comfortable with or they show signs of sexual maturity.
If you want to grow cannabis outdoors in a cold, northern climate with a short, wet summer, autoflowering plants may be your only viable option. Photoperiod strains won't start to bloom until late summer, so they have a high risk of rotting or freezing before the buds are completely ripe. Even a long rainy period during the autumn could spoil your entire crop. Autoflowering plants can minimise this risk, but you should still look for strains that are mould-resistant if the weather is damp year-round. Tight, dense buds that restrict airflow through the calyxes are subject to rot, no matter how fast they finish.
PROS OF GROWING AUTOFLOWERING CANNABIS STRAINS
Autoflowering strains typically grow a lot faster than indica and sativa strains. some auto-flowering strains can go from seed to harvest in as fast as two months.
Pure ruderalis plants really do appear like a weed. They are small and thin yet hardy and adaptive. This trait makes auto-flowering strains quite small and compact. This fact is a massive advantage to some growers who are either looking to make the absolute best out of their growing space. Or those who live in areas that frown upon the growing of cannabis plants.
One of the main advantages of auto-flowering strains is that they do not require a change in the light cycle in order to flower. Instead, they flower with age.
Strong Resistance Power
Because of the influence of marijuana ruderalis, a majority of the autoflowering seeds are quite well resistant to several moulds and diseases. They are normally pretty resistant to cold.
Small Size
The autoflowering seeds’ genetics will usually keep these marijuana plants on the smaller side. They are also called dwarf plants sometimes. The best part of such seeds is that they are highly appropriate for cultivation on small balconies and gardens. Results are good when they are grown on window sills as well. On the whole, they are ideal for discreet guerilla cultivators.
Cons of Growing Autoflowering Marijuana Plants
As with anything, there are also a few disadvantages that you need to be aware of when it comes to autoflowering cannabis plants:
Their Size May Be Underwhelming
While their size is an advantage when it comes to your privacy, growing autoflowering plants means you should never expect a massive yield. It's for this reason that growers looking to collect a higher yield settle instead for other types of cannabis plants, such as pure sativa.
Less Control
Regular and feminized seed allow the cultivator to choose not only the height of the resulting plants, but when they will eventually mature. Autoflowering seeds result in plants that follow their own schedule, regardless of manipulation to the indoor environment in which they grow.
Cloning Is Impossible
Since autoflowering strains flower regardless of photoperiod, maintaining mother plants for these strains is not possible. Each autoflowering plant was grown from seed, and there is no way to preserve the genetics of a particularly nice phenotype from cuttings, which is a widespread practice with regular seed.
Lower THC%
Due to the influence of the Cannabis ruderalis the THC% of autoflowering cannabis seeds is a little lower than that of most strong sativa’s and indica’s.
Autoflowering cannabis plants spark interest in most growers because they start to bloom quickly, making for a rapid harvest. Photoperiod plants can finish almost as fast if you grow them in marijuana grow tent and under a 12/12 lighting schedule cannabis grow light starting at or soon after germination. This results in very small plants. Instead, most growers veg their photoperiod strains for four to six weeks. Then, they start the flowering stage when the plants reach a size they're comfortable with or they show signs of sexual maturity.
If you want to grow cannabis outdoors in a cold, northern climate with a short, wet summer, autoflowering plants may be your only viable option. Photoperiod strains won't start to bloom until late summer, so they have a high risk of rotting or freezing before the buds are completely ripe. Grow them indoor by using marijuana grow kit is also a good choice.
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