What are Autoflowering Marijuana Seeds?

For novice gardeners, growing marijuana can be tricky, especially if you aren’t blessed with the kind of space that makes for a great grow op. The blackest thumbs can have great success with even a single plant if they have the right tools, and autoflowering marijuana seeds make it that much easier.

Autoflowering means what it sounds like

Thankfully, the smart people behind some of the finest strains figured out they could cross-breed marijuana strains with cannabis ruderalis. This subspecies is known for its ability to flower once it reaches a certain height, regardless of sunlight. Breeders isolated that particular feature, and between ruderalis’ relatively innocuous other properties and some skill, managed to preserve the uniqueness of each cross-bred strain. Hence, we get an autoflowering Northern Lights plant, for instance, with the same effects and flavors as a regular Northern Lights plant.

In general, marijuana plants are photoperiod, meaning they won’t switch from the vegetative stage to the flowering stage, where we get those sticky buds, until they experience a change in their light cycle. Ruderalis plants typically begin to flower on their own after a short vegetative period, anywhere between 2 and 4 weeks.

Why you’ll benefit from planning Autoflowering marijuana seeds in your garden

You know the phrase, “Many hands make light work”? Consider autoflowering genetics the extra hands your marijuana seeds need – strains bred with ruderalis level the playing field for people who have never planted pot before, or those who just want to enjoy homegrown weed without putting in as much work:  

1. The addition of autoflowering genetics to your favorite strain means the period of growth (from germination to flowering) is shorter than the average. They often reach maturation and harvest within three months.
2. These plants start producing flowers regardless the amount of light they receive, which means you don’t have to pay quite as much attention to the signs (often, a plant in the vegetative stage will give off minute clues that it’s ready to enter the next chapter of its life), and this can be kinder to your electricity bill – most marijuana plants want anywhere between 18 and 24 hours of light during the vegetative stage, and a switch to 12 hours of light, 12 hours of darkness, triggers the flowering phase.
3. Because of their smaller size, autoflowering marijuana plants are much more suited to indoor grow rooms – they easily thrive in small spaces like closets.
4. Autoflowering seeds tend to produce plants that are resilient and naturally resistant to mold, pests, and frost (perhaps because ruderalis itself originates in such harsh and unforgiving climates, where hardiness was a necessity).
5. Medical fans might appreciate autoflowering marijuana seeds as they can often contain higher concentrations of CBD, with slightly lower THC, an important feature if you’re looking to reap the benefits of medical weed without the trippy hallucinations brought on by THC.

There is a downside to autoflowering marijuana seeds

With the good comes the bad, although it’s really not that bad.

Autoflowering marijuana plants produce smaller yields because of their stature. Breeders have tried to counteract this by creating strains that are more potent upon harvest.

Some breeders complain that with autoflowering strains you are limited in your ability to train growing bushes using specific techniques that make the most of your grow space. Unless you plan on getting experimental with your ganja garden, this shouldn’t be a problem for beginner growers or those just looking to have a regular harvest on their hands.

Time to get the ball rolling

Now that you know a little more about autoflowering genetics, it’s time to see how they can work in your garden. Beginner, intermediate, or master gardener, you will find high-quality autoflowering marijuana seeds for both recreational and medicinal purposes when you peruse our selection of top-notch strains. A good garden starts with great seeds – Pacific Seed Bank has your autoflowering marijuana seed needs covered.