Advantages of autoflowers for beginners?
- Autoflowering strains are the perfect choice for budding growers because they are super resilient to pests and mold, and require less maintenance than most photoperiod options. Unlike traditional cannabis strains, autoflowers transition from the vegetative stage to the flowering stage automatically based on age, not light exposure. This means you don’t have to worry about changing light schedules, making them ideal for those new to growing cannabis.
- They also have a shorter growth cycle, typically from seed to harvest in 8-10 weeks. This surprisingly quick turnaround lets beginners enjoy all that hard work sooner, and lets them try growing a wide range of different strains quickly.
- Autoflowers are compact in size, making them perfect for indoor spaces or limited outdoor areas. Their small stature is excellent for beginners who may not have a lot of space but still want to cultivate their own cannabis plants, and for those growing outdoors who also want to keep things discreet.
What is the easiest autoflower seed to grow?
The easiest autoflowering seed in our current menu is Polar Express Auto. This strain is a pure cross of the all-time classic Northern Lights #5 and Californian Kush (and a little Lowryder 2 mixed in for autoflowering genetics). Polar is well-known for its heavy resilience to both mold and pest issues, it isn’t picky about temps or humidity, and can produce huge yields both indoors and out.
Other options that are great for beginners include:
- JUICY LUCY AUTOFLOWER SEEDS
- HIJACK AUTOFLOWER SEEDS
- DIESEL BERRY AUTOFLOWER SEEDS
- AUTO CHEMDOG SEEDS
How long do autoflowers take to grow?
Most autos take about 8 to 10 weeks to go all the way from seed to harvest. Crazy, but true!
This rapid growth cycle is a major advantage for beginners, allowing novice Dr Greenthumbs to quickly build up experience and confidence, while also giving them the opportunity to experiment with different strains.
This is all due to Ruderails/autoflowering genetics which are the result of crossbreeding Ruderalis strains with a photoperiodic cultivar, resulting in offspring that flower automatically regardless of light exposure, but with much higher potency rates than the original autos!
This means that autoflowers will start to bloom without any changes in lighting, which means that you can have plants of all ages growing under one light.
Some autos (mostly Sativa dominant options) can take upwards of 12 weeks, but this is still a significantly shorter time frame compared to traditional photoperiod strains.
How big do autoflowers get?
Autoflowers typically grow to be between 2 and 6 feet tall.
It really depends on how you train and feed them, and if they are growing under lights or outdoors.
If left to grow naturally, most autoflowers will reach a height of around 3 to 5 feet. However, they can be trained using techniques like low-stress training (LST) to encourage more lateral growth and keep the plants shorter.
When grown indoors in perfect conditions, most autos can easily top 4 feet. Again, we always suggest using LST or a ScrOG net to keep them a little shorter and more manageable. The lateral growth achieved by both of these training techs can result in increased yields thanks to a more even spread of light and better canopy air exchange.
For those growing outdoors, the height of autos will vary depending on climate and sunlight exposure. In cooler climates with shorter days, plants may not reach their full potential size. If you plant them, and it then rains for the next month, they might only be a foot tall by the time the sun finally comes out, which will severely reduce the final yield potential. However, in warmer climates with longer days, plants can reach heights of 5 to 6 feet without breaking a sweat.