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.
- One thing we’ve found after years of breeding autoflowers is that compact plants are often much easier for beginners to manage. They’re easier to train, easier to light evenly and generally more forgiving in smaller grow spaces, which is why many of the strains in this collection naturally stay at a manageable height.
What is the easiest autoflower seed to grow?
If somebody asked us which strain we’d recommend for their very first grow, we’d usually point them towards Polar Express Auto. During our own trials it’s consistently proven to be one of the most forgiving genetics we’ve developed, combining resilient growth, excellent resilience and reliable harvests across a wide range of growing conditions.
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 of our beginner autoflower strains are ready to harvest in around 8–10 weeks from seed, allowing new growers to gain experience much faster than they would with many traditional photoperiod varieties.
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 autoflower seeds 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 4 to 5 feet tall.
Looking for more than just beginner-friendly varieties? Browse our complete collection of autoflower seeds to compare high THC, high yield, indica, sativa, outdoor and fast-flowering genetics, all developed by the Auto Seeds breeding team.
