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¿Cuáles son los efectos de la marihuana?
31 May, 2021
Cuatro razones para cultivar autoflorecientes
1 June, 2021Autoflowering genetics were a revolution within the cannabis industry due to their multiple advantages. They are fast, resistant strains, easy to grow and produce quality crops. Here we explain everything you need to know about auto varieties.
What is Autoflowering cannabis?
Autoflowering marijuana varieties (also called auto, or automatic), come from a genetics called Ruderalis.
This variety grew wild in the region of Siberia where summers are short and cold and it adapted to the environment to survive. For this reason, Ruderalis developed a wonderful feature: automatic flowering regardless of the photoperiod, that is, the number of hours of light received.
The autoflowering varieties that you will find on the market today come from Ruderalis, and for that reason they maintain this trait which is what makes them so special. They enter into bloom automatically!
To create the autoflowering genetics that we know today, some breeders did a great job of breeding and selection for years. Although at the beginning the qualities of the automatic strains could not be compared to those that are photodepent, today they have reached such high levels of quality that their harvests surprise even the most purists.
Autoflowering vs Feminized
To distinguish the automatic varieties from the varieties that do depend on the light cycle to initiate flowering, we commonly refer to them as feminized or autoflowering.
However, do not be fooled by this terminology, the autoflower seeds available on the market are mostly feminized, which means that the auto seeds that you plant will always develop female plants.
There are very few seed banks today that market regular autoflowering seeds, although they do exist.
The main difference between Autos and feminized (or photodependent genetics), is that the former enter flowering regardless of the hours of light received, between 3 and 4 weeks after germination.
The feminized ones need to change the light cycle to 12/12 (hours of light and darkness), in order to start developing the buds.
Blackberry Gum Autoflower.
Many ask the question “Why is autoflowering cannabis better?” In reality, the answer is very relative, since these types of seeds will be better for certain growers who have specific needs.
As always, the best cannabis genetics for you will be the one that best suits your needs.
For this reason, let’s see what advantages each type has:
When is it best to grow Autoflowering strains?
Auto strains are for you if …
• You live in a region with a cold climate and your summers are short.
• You seek discretion.
• You are taking your first steps and you prefer a fast genetics that does not give you many problems.
• You are an urban grower with little space.
• You want to fill your pantry with delicious buds in the shortest possible time.
The feminized ones will be your best asset if …
• You grow outdoors and you want to grow very large plants that will offer large harvests at the end of the season.
• You want to have a margin of error and be able to lengthen the vegetative period as much as necessary.
• You grow indoors and you want to have absolute control over your plants to make them come into bloom when they are at the ideal time (pruning, training, etc.)
AK420 Autoflower.
If you are thinking of growing autoflowering seeds, here are 4 good reasons to do so:
1. It doesn’t depend on the time of year or sun cycle
If you want to grow your cannabis outdoors, autoflowering seeds have a great advantage, since they are capable of flowering regardless of the hours of light they receive. Therefore, you won’t need to wait until August (when the days get shorter in the Northern Hemisphere), for your plants to come into bloom.
If the climate in your area is warm, you can germinate your automatic seeds in April, and your plants will be ready to harvest about 70 to 90 days later (depending on the variety you choose). This will give you scope to grow up to three crops in the same season and fill your pantry with rich buds faster than with normal feminized ones.
2. Faster blooming
If something characterizes autoflowering varieties, it is that they are fast, have a growth period of about 3 or 4 weeks, depending on genetics and, after that time they begin to flower. Its flowering period is fast too, so about 5 or 7 weeks later, your plants will be ready to harvest.
3. Smaller plants, Discrete
If you have snooping neighbours or just don’t like to attract attention, autoflowers will be your best allies. Since their growth period is short, these types of seeds do not develop large plants, which is why they are perfect for those crops in which discretion prevails, or for growers who do not have much space.
However, do not be fooled by the size, because autoflowers develop large colas and side branches full of buds that ensure a good harvest in a small space.
4. More resistant than other varieties of cannabis
Growing autos is very gratifying especially for growers who are taking their first steps since with little care, high quality results are obtained. Due to their short life cycle, these genetics are less vulnerable to pests, fungi or diseases, so those who choose these genetics have less risk of having their crops ruined by spider mites, triplets, powdery mildew, etc.
The best Autoflowering strains from Seedstockers
Our team of breeders has put a special emphasis on creating high quality autoflowering genetics with really special traits. That is why we are very satisfied with our catalog of autoflowering seeds, which has authentic gems such as the award-winning Blackberry Gum Auto, perfect for extractions and with THC levels of 22%; or Gelato 41 Autoflower, which has a creamy taste that has surprised the most gourmet palates.
Blackberry Gum Autoflower from Seedstockers.
Click here to purchase Blackberry Gum Auto
Finally, we leave you with some cultivation tips so that you can obtain the best results from our autoflowering varieties:
• Do not transplant them, after germination, place the plant in its definitive pot.
• Make sure that the substrate is aerated, this will accelerate the metabolic processes of the plant and you will take advantage of its short life cycle every day.
• During the first weeks of life, try to water them sparingly but frequently, if there is something that can be problematic for autoflowering plants, it is a flooded substrate, since it could cause a blockage in the plant and this would cause its growth to stop.
💡Know the differences between autoflower vs feminized seeds, we have an article that explains it.
