If, unlike most of the cannabis world, you're not convinced about the positives of auto flowers, maybe we can change your mind. In recent years, auto flowers have changed the cannabis industry forever. Why might you think? Well, they are super fast to flower, low-maintenance, and don't need specific lighting, yet they produce top-quality harvests and big yields. Some cannabis breeders only work with autoflowering genetics, cornering the European market where demand for robust strains to grow outdoors is high.
Photo-period x autoflower: What are the differences?
You might be wondering what makes auto flowers different from photo-periods. There are several differences, many of which we will cover in our eight reasons to grow autoflowering cannabis seeds, and they share one main thing in common. The main difference between the two is a sub-species called Ruderalis which is present in all auto flowers. Ruderalis evolved naturally to thrive in places with little sunlight, like Siberia and the Arctic Circle.
Other differences include appearance. Compared to indica and sativa plants, ruderalis looks unimpressive in its weed-like appearance with its tiny buds, though it plays a vital role in producing autoflower cannabis strains.
Through years of careful breeding, autoflowering cannabis seeds will flower based on age rather than the light cycle. The onset of blooming is not affected by hours of light in a day, though naturally, autoflowering cannabis plants perform better when subjected to a longer light cycle (14-18 hours per day) rather than a short one.
Pros of growing autoflowering cannabis seeds in 2023
1. Save time growing autoflowers
Time is a commodity we could all do with more of, so when it comes to something that saves us time, we should explore it. Autoflowers are ultra fast to flower. Most auto hybrids will finish on average 70 days from germination. They can take longer outside but will still reach harvest 6-8 weeks before an outdoor photo-period
2. Keep things simple
One of the best reasons to grow auto flowers is that it is simple. Auto's don't need a strict lighting schedule like photo-periods, and because they flower so fast, it limits the time you have to train or manipulate your plant. You only need to germinate it before planting and let the plant work its magic.
ASC pick for keeping things simple: Auto Blueberry. This classic cannabis strain from Dutch Passion will be ready in ten weeks and is one of their bestselling auto flowers.
3. Grow anywhere: auto flowers excel indoors and out.
A good thing about autoflowers is they will grow anywhere, and if you live in the right place, you can harvest all year round. They thrive indoors because they can handle any abject lighting, and thanks to the ruderalis gene, autoflowers excel outdoors in cold, dark climates and places like Denmark and the UK. Although, they thrive in warm, sunny places like the Mediterranean too.
ASC pick for growing anywhere:Gelato Auto - This Fast Buds auto is ideal for growing outdoors in places like the UK and is a top performer in any indoor grow setup.
4. Discretion
Because the average auto only reaches 1 - 1.2m, and they are much more compact than photo-periods, they take up less space and are easier to conceal. The vegetation period will only last 2-3 weeks, not allowing the plant to grow too large. There are many reasons why a grower might want to conceal their growing, which makes auto flowers ideal.
ASC pick for discretion:Auto Duck- Dutch Passion strikes again, this time with Auto Duck. This one is compact even for an auto flower and is ideal for growers who need cannabis plants that easily blend in.
5. One pot stop: you don't have to transplant autoflowers
Although you can transplant auto flowers, it's a delicate process, and you don't have to. You can cultivate your germinated seed from one pot throughout. Bear in mind the size of the pot will be the space the root system develops, so if you want bigger plants, use bigger pots.
ASC pick for one pot stop:Sherbet Auto Blast- We could have picked any auto for this one, but we went with Sherbet Auto Blast by newcomers Monkey Genetics. This super potent hybrid can reach up to 24% THC and grow super tall for an autoflower.
6. Robust: auto flowers are super resilient
Ruderalis is once again the star of the show. Thanks to the resilient nature of this subspecies, auto flowers are more robust and resistant to diseases and pests and won't be affected if subjected to ambient light.
ASC pick for robustness: Super Skunk Automatic - We could have chosen many strains for this because autos are super robust. In the end, we went with Super Skunk Automatic by Sensi Seeds. They are the oldest seed bank in the world, and Super Skunk Automatic is known for being one of the most resilient.
7. Cost-effective
One of the best reasons to grow autoflowering cannabis seeds is that they are often cheaper than photo-periods and take up less energy because they take less time. Less time means less money spent on electricity bills and less cost generally because you will not use as much food and water for the plants compared to growing a feminized cannabis strain.
ASC pick for cost-effectiveness: This is the hardest, so here are a few,Auto Banana Blaze, Purple Bud Automatic, White Skunk Auto, Auto Gelato #33, and Auto Wappa.
8. They're constantly improving
The best thing about these plants is that each year, they get better. Year after year since their inception, their quality has increased, and more growers love them. The future is bright for autoflower lovers.
ASC pick for constantly improving:Fat Monkey Auto – This one is the perfect example of a recent autoflowering cannabis seed. It is a super potent plant with comparatively large yields of up to 600gr pm2. The breeder Anesia Seeds is fast gaining a reputation for some of the best cannabis hybrids you can exchange for currency.
Cons of growing autoflowering cannabis seeds in 2023
Though there are many more reasons to grow autoflowering cannabis seeds than not, there are a few things you might consider a disadvantage when cultivating them.
Size matters (to some), and autoflowers are usually small.
As mentioned, auto hybrids are smaller and more compact than photo-periods. What some like, others don't. So while it's a pro, the lack of height can also be considered a con.
You can't train autoflowers like photo-periods.
You might be a grower that likes to train your cannabis plants, and that is something you will have to sacrifice if you grow an autoflowering cannabis seed. Because of the speed at which they grow, they don't have enough time to fully recover from a stressful event such as topping or netting. Ruling out all those tricks and techniques you've learned to maximize your harvest potential.
Autoflowering cannabis seeds at Amsterdam Seed Center
You might have guessed it by now, but the best place to buy autoflowering cannabis seeds online is at the Amsterdam Seed Center. We are the no.1 seed bank in Amsterdam and stock the best auto hybrids that your hard-earned money can buy. Use our seed finder to filter through almost 400 of the best autoflowering cannabis seeds you can buy in 2023.