What Are Autoflowering Seeds?
Autoflowering seeds are exactly what they sound like—they flower on their own, no matter how much light they get. Unlike regular or photoperiod seeds that need you to switch up the light cycle to trigger flowering, these cultivars do their thing automatically, usually within 2–4 weeks of sprouting.
They’re super beginner-friendly and great if you’re short on space, time, or just want a quicker harvest. Most autoflowers stay compact too, which makes them perfect for growing indoors or keeping things low-key outside. And thanks to years of solid breeding, modern autoflowers are just as strong and flavorful as photoperiods.
Basically, if you want an easy grow with fast results, autoflowering seeds are where it’s at.
How Long Do Autoflowering Seeds Take From Seed To Harvest?
Most autoflowering seeds can be harvested after around 8 to 12 weeks.
Growing Autoflowering Seeds: Outdoor vs. Indoor
Growing autoflowers indoors or outdoors both have their perks—it just depends on your setup and goals.
Outdoors, autoflowers are great because they don’t care about light schedules. You can plant them pretty much anytime the weather’s decent, and they’ll do their thing. Since they have a short life cycle, you can squeeze in multiple harvests in one season. Just keep in mind they’re a little more sensitive to rough weather, so you’ll want to time things right and maybe give them some shelter if storms roll through.
Indoors, you’ve got full control—light, temps, airflow, all of it. Autoflowers don’t need a 12/12 light cycle to flower, so you can keep lights on 18–24 hours a day to help them bulk up faster. The shorter height also works in your favor if your space is limited. The main thing is making sure you don’t overdo it with nutrients or stress them out—they’re fast growers and don’t like being messed with too much.
Either way, autos are chill and low-maintenance. Indoor gives you control, outdoor gives you freedom. Both can bring solid results.
How Much Do Autoflowering Plants Yield?
Yields from autoflowering seeds can definitely hold their own these days, but they’re usually a bit smaller than what you’d get from photoperiod cultivars. On average, most indoor growers can expect around 1–5 ounces per plant, depending on the setup, light quality, and the genetics you’re working with.
Outdoors, yields can be a little higher—up to 6 ounces per plant—especially if you’re growing in big pots with good sunlight and decent soil. The key thing to remember is that autoflowers don’t get as big because they have a shorter life cycle, usually wrapping up in about 10 weeks. But what they lack in size, they make up for in speed and simplicity.
If you’re running a dialed-in indoor grow, you can boost your overall yield by growing multiple autoflowers in the same space instead of just one or two big plants. So while a single plant won’t give you a monster harvest, autoflowers can still be super efficient and totally worth it.
How Big Do Autoflowering Plants Get?
Autoflowering plants stay on the smaller side, which is a big part of their appeal. Most autos top out around 1 to 3 feet tall, though some can stretch a little taller depending on the genetics and growing conditions.
Their compact size makes them perfect if you’re tight on space, growing indoors, or just trying to keep things discreet. You can easily tuck a few into a small tent, balcony, or backyard corner without drawing much attention.
Even though they’re smaller, autoflowers still pack a punch. They focus on quick growth and efficient bud production instead of turning into towering trees. If you’re running multiple plants in a small area, their short stature actually works in your favor—you can fit more in and still get a solid harvest.
THC Levels: Autoflowers vs Regular Strains
Back in the day, autoflowers had a rep for being weaker—but that’s not the case anymore. Thanks to better breeding, a lot of autoflowering cultivars now hit THC levels that are just as strong as photoperiod strains. We’re talking 20% or more in a lot of cases.
The big difference used to be that autoflowers were crossed with ruderalis genetics, which naturally had low THC. But modern breeders figured out how to keep the autoflowering trait without sacrificing potency. So if you’re going for a strong high, you don’t have to write off autos anymore.
That said, photoperiod strains still give growers more control over how long the plant stays in each stage, which can sometimes mean bigger plants and heavier resin production. But for most people, today’s autos have more than enough strength to get the job done.