{"id":137,"date":"2024-03-22T11:10:41","date_gmt":"2024-03-22T11:10:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.autoseeds.com\/en\/2024\/03\/22\/the-truth-behind-breeding-autoflowers-the-top-tips-you-need-to-know\/"},"modified":"2026-04-28T15:19:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T15:19:12","slug":"the-truth-behind-breeding-autoflowers-the-top-tips-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.autoseeds.com\/en\/the-truth-behind-breeding-autoflowers-the-top-tips-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"The Truth Behind Breeding Autoflowers &#8211; The Top Tips You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Today, it\u2019s no secret that there\u2019s a wide availability of hybrids on the market. While you might have some idea of how regular varieties are bred &#8211; how about autoflowers? Less common amongst the home growing scene is the knowledge on how to breed autoflowers. But, that doesn\u2019t mean autoflowering breeding isn\u2019t simple enough for anyone to take on. With these tips and tricks, you can learn how to breed autoflower plus all the breeding basics you need to start creating your own genetics. So, let\u2019s get learning!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id156_1b4a21-6c .kb-table-of-content-wrap{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id156_1b4a21-6c .kb-table-of-contents-title-wrap{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id156_1b4a21-6c .kb-table-of-contents-title{font-weight:regular;font-style:normal;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id156_1b4a21-6c .kb-table-of-content-wrap .kb-table-of-content-list{font-weight:regular;font-style:normal;margin-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;}<\/style>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"0-why-breed-autoflowers-\"><b>Why Breed Autoflowers?&nbsp;<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before we get into autoflower breeding, let\u2019s first cover the basics of what autoflowers are. Autoflowering cannabis seeds are produced by cross-breeding with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autoseeds.com\/en\/the-origin-of-cannabis-ruderalis\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.autoseeds.com\/en\/the-origin-of-cannabis-ruderalis\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ruderalis species<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autoseeds.com\/en\/what-is-cannabis-ruderalis-and-what-makes-it-so-unique\/\"  data-wpil-monitor-id=\"41\">Cannabis ruderalis<\/a> is a lesser-known variety that once grew wild. It also has faster than normal flowering time in comparison to regular varieties. The plants are smaller, yet aren\u2019t photoperiod in nature. Photoperiod being the requirement of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autoseeds.com\/en\/best-light-schedule-for-growing-autoflowers\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.autoseeds.com\/en\/best-light-schedule-for-growing-autoflowers\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cycles of light and darkness<\/a> to begin blooming.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From that description alone, you can guess what some of the general benefits of autoflowers are. To add, here are two specific benefits of breeding autoflowers yourself &#8211;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>Producing an autoflowering variety of your favorite regular variety for more compact and speedy results.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> This saves space in indoor spaces, and allows you to grow your favorite tall sativa with much less room. It also cuts down on flowering time for those seeking to be more discrete or quickening turnaround times.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Combining your favorite autoflowering strains to create a duo of their effects or traits<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If you like one autoflowering variety, but prefer the heavy yields of another &#8211; why not combine the two? In the end, you\u2019ll experience the same effects but with the perks of both.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-the-art-of-selective-breeding-\"><b>The Art of Selective Breeding&nbsp;<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.autoseeds.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/site\/\/2\/Autoflower-Breeding-2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.autoseeds.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/site\/\/2\/Autoflower-Breeding-2.jpg\" alt=\"Detail Closeup cannabis seeds for autoflower breeding \" class=\"wp-image-6817\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Selective breeding is to thank for many of today\u2019s most coveted phenotypes. It describes the art of identifying the plants that display the highest marks for any given category. For instance, does one plant have an exceptional aroma or produce bigger than normal buds? Then you may want to begin selective breeding. This means you\u2019ll separate it from the others in your crop to breed the plant with the highest pedigree. That way you know you\u2019re cross-breeding with the best of the best.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-autoflower-breeding-with-autoflowers-\"><strong>Autoflower Breeding with Autoflowers&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To begin autoflowering breeding, first, you\u2019ll need plenty of non-feminized seeds to start. That\u2019s because, just like humans &#8211; you\u2019ll need a male and female to successfully breed. Once you\u2019ve acquired your seeds, you\u2019ll germinate them and carry on through the veg stage as normal.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Around the 4 week mark, is when autoflowering varieties tend to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.420-seeds.com\/guide\/how-to-sex-marijuana-plants\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">show their sex<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. But keep in mind every variety can differ, and environmental conditions can affect growth. So, it\u2019s always best to keep a close eye on the emergence of male plants after a couple of weeks. From here you have two options &#8211;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can leave your male plants in the room with female plants, and let nature run its course! Male plants will pollinate female plants, and produce seeds that are a cross of both.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Or, if you have multiple male plants and females it might be best to consider selective breeding. In this case, you\u2019ll separate the best plant of each sex and take control of the actual phenotypes that do the cross-breeding.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b><i>Pro tip!<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If you are still growing other feminized crops not meant for cross-breeding, ensure you practice high levels of hygiene moving back and forth. Pollen from male plants can attach to clothing or skin, and transfer to the other environments you enter.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Continue growing the plants you\u2019re breeding as you would normally. From the crops, you\u2019ll gain a plethora of seeds that will now serve as a cross of the two plants or genetics you bred. Voila &#8211; you\u2019re officially an autoflower breeder. You\u2019ll want to then grow those seeds, and continue crossing for at least three generations. This allows for stabilizing of the new genetic and allows the best traits from both original strains to strengthen.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.autoseeds.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/site\/\/2\/Autoflower-Breeding-1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.autoseeds.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/site\/\/2\/Autoflower-Breeding-1.jpg\" alt=\"Cannabis Seed Forming Bud \" class=\"wp-image-6816\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-autoflower-breeding-with-photoperiods-\"><b>Autoflower Breeding with Photoperiods&nbsp;<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When breeding <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autoseeds.com\/en\/autoflower-vs-feminized-photoperiod-seeds\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.autoseeds.com\/en\/autoflower-vs-feminized-photoperiod-seeds\/\">autoflowers and photoperiod varieties<\/a>, you\u2019ll follow the same steps. But do know there are a few facts about crossing regular with autoflower that you should know before you start.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The autoflowering gene is recessive &#8211; so for it to be passed on, both parent strains must possess it. That means your offspring won\u2019t show autoflowering traits until the second generation of breeding.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Naturally, ruderalis genetics are much more unstable and less established than regular genes. That means, even if you\u2019re successful &#8211; future generations of the same cross might not bode as well.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To strengthen the lineage of autoflowering breeding with regular varieties, it\u2019s advisable to perform backcrossing.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-the-basics-of-backcrossing-\"><b>The Basics of Backcrossing&nbsp;<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Due to recessive and dominant genes, it typically takes three to four generations of autoflowering breeding to reach the desired outcome. But, in the case that you\u2019d like to strengthen the traits of one of the strains you started with &#8211; you\u2019ll need to learn about backcrossing. Backcrossing refers to taking one of the newly cross-bred genetics and then re-crossing it with the original variety.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Then you\u2019ll restart the generational cycle, and after three or so generations &#8211; you\u2019ve officially backcrossed the genetic, making it stronger in one of the original varieties traits.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-the-final-word-\"><b>The Final Word&nbsp;<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that you have a full grasp on the basics of breeding, its benefits, and how to do so &#8211; it\u2019s time to start autoflowering breeding yourself. When you learn how to breed autoflowers you\u2019re treated to the best of both worlds with your two favorite strains. Or, you can take advantage of autoflowering benefits for growing, with your favorite photoperiod plant to consume. No matter your reason, autoflower breeding is an explorative way to improve your cultivation craft.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today, it\u2019s no secret that there\u2019s a wide availability of hybrids on the market. While you might have some idea of how regular varieties are bred &#8211; how about autoflowers? Less common amongst the home growing scene is the knowledge on how to breed autoflowers. But, that doesn\u2019t mean autoflowering breeding isn\u2019t simple enough for &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.autoseeds.com\/en\/the-truth-behind-breeding-autoflowers-the-top-tips-you-need-to-know\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;The Truth Behind Breeding Autoflowers &#8211; The Top Tips You Need to Know&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":138,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[107],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-137","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cannabis-seeds-and-genetics"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.autoseeds.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/site\/\/2\/Autoflower-Breeding-3.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Super Autoseeds","author_link":"https:\/\/www.autoseeds.com\/en\/author\/autoseeds\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.autoseeds.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.autoseeds.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.autoseeds.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.autoseeds.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.autoseeds.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=137"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.autoseeds.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":500001575,"href":"https:\/\/www.autoseeds.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137\/revisions\/500001575"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.autoseeds.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/138"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.autoseeds.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=137"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.autoseeds.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=137"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.autoseeds.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=137"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}