Ready to learn more about the game-changing development in the cannabis industry? Autoflowering strains are making a name for themselves at an astonishing rate and are becoming the leading choice for most marijuana growers.
Today we want to devolve into some fun facts about autoflowers that you may not be aware of yet. As they continue to grow in popularity, we hope this will help you uncover the desire to grow them yourself.
What are Autoflower Cannabis Strains?
So, what does autoflowering mean, and what exactly are these strains? Well, these strains are the product of years of mindful breeding without any genetic modification. Autoflowering means that the strain transitions automatically from the vegetative stage to the flowering stage.
The strains are a subspecies of ruderalis combined with a mixture of either sativa or indica. Ruderalis is not as common of a strain in the industry due to its low-yielding properties.
However, with thorough cultivation, the successful production of autoflower cannabis has proven that these strains have so much to offer us. There are a plethora of varieties high in THC, CBD, and even those with a pleasant balance in both.
10 Facts About Autoflowers
Thinking of starting your autoflower grow journey? We want to make it easier for you to decide. You may know some of these facts already, but together, they can help you on your path to harvest. Let’s dive into the most fun facts about autoflowering cannabis strains.
1. Autoflowering strains make growing easy
If you’re new to the world of cultivation these strains are a recommended go-to for beginners. So many experienced growers state that autoflowering strains are their number one choice due to their simplicity and overall faster production.
Strains like these do not require much maintenance making them a great option for those looking to learn or desire mass harvests. They are also resilient and able to withstand discordant conditions, such as temperature changes and/or pests.
2. Fast results means more to harvest
With an above-average production rate, you can begin to see why autoflowers tend to be more desirable than other strains. In just ten short weeks these strains can transform from seeds to ready to harvest flowers. Some say with the right climates they were able to harvest as many as 5 times in a year.
Some of you may be skeptical about the yields of each harvest. It is true, these strains may not produce as much as a normal strain. However, when you think of longevity in the overall process, autoflowering strains have the ability to produce substantially greater yields.
3. Harvest any time of the year
As we just mentioned, most autoflower growers are able to harvest multiple times in just a single year! And the reason behind that would be that autoflowering strains are not restricted to light cycles.
This means that autoflowers are able to produce all throughout the year, which is why they are perfect for beginners. It gives them plenty of opportunities to learn and hone in on their skills as they venture into the world of growing.
4. Low maintenance, low-effort strains
A big benefit to autoflowers is the fact that these strains require minimal maintenance. Due to their origin from ruderalis, their genetic makeup allows them to shift into the flowering phase at rapid rates. And since the plant does this without relying on environmental factors, this makes them low-effort strains.
You must keep them well-watered and maintain their nutritional needs properly. Autoflowers, like our White Widow XTRM Auto are known to be ready for harvesting as early as 7 to 11 weeks in!
5. Compact and discrete plants
One of the most significant facts about autoflowering strains is that typically they don’t grow higher than 1 to 1.2 meters. Since they’re a derivative of ruderalis these plants grow smaller in size and have more compact buds.
With that in mind, you can see how this gives the grower the option of discretion and provides a multitude of farming options for them. Possibly the best thing about their compact size is that it allows for easier plant management, which simplifies the growing process.
6. No transplantation needed
It is common knowledge that transplantation causes quite a bit of stress to plants, causing their growth rate to diminish. So, it goes almost without saying that transplantation can be a difficult task for anyone, especially beginners.
Another place autoflowering strains shine is that they do not require transplantation. Once these strains finish the germination phase, they will spread their taproots and begin growing from a seedling into a mature plant in the same spot.
7. Autoflowering strains are resilient
Another amazing fact about autoflowering strains is that these guys are the epitome of strong and resilience. And since they’re a product of ruderalis, they share a few similarities, which makes growing them even easier.
More specifically autoflowers can withstand and survive a multitude of conditions. While most strains require special lighting regimens, and temperatures and are easily susceptible to pests or diseases. These plants are able to survive just about any environment, and that even includes colder temperatures which most strains can’t endure.
8. They can thrive in almost any lighting
So we’ve covered how resilient autoflowering strains are, but what about lighting? Photoperiod strains require lighting cycles to be able to produce. And since autoflowers are not photoperiod strains, they come in for the win yet again.
These plants can produce buds in all types of lighting making them practically unstoppable. Whether they receive just a few hours of sun a day or even 24, they continue to grow and produce at all times.
9. Autoflowers are difficult to clone
Due to their nature, one of the few difficulties with autoflowers is that they are unable to produce quality clones. Since these strains grow more quickly than others, the process of cloning isn’t an option more often than not.
In order to produce an adequate clone, you must cut a small piece of the mother plant, which in turn produces an almost exact copy of the plant. However, with autoflower growth rates, the clone will not have time to mature and will end up underdeveloped.
10. Cost-efficient
Autoflowering strains are one of the most cost-efficient strain types possible. We’ve covered their maintenance, lighting needs, resilience, convenience in size, and lack of need for transplantation.
Now, let’s figure in all the costs for farming with photoperiod strains, versus all the necessities or lack thereof with autoflowering strains. It’s almost a no-brainer when you think about how cost-effective these plants are.
The resources autoflowers require are almost the bare minimum. Instead of spending excessive amounts on fertilizer, a good mixture of perlite, coco coir, and compost will do them just right.
And as a bonus, think about the number of harvests yielded multiple times a year. You can easily see that when it comes to autoflowering strains you get your money’s worth and then some.
Final Thoughts
We’ve covered quite a lot of really fun and educational facts about autoflowering strains. With this guide, now you know why so many people are flocking to autoflowering seeds. While they have some downsides, the pros outweigh the cons for plenty of growers.
We hope to have offered some insight about these wonderful strains, and maybe even encourage you to get started on your own or next autoflower journey. Have you ever tried out autoflowers before? Which autoflower strain is your favorite, and what makes you like it more than others?
Source: https://amsterdammarijuanaseeds.com/blog/autoflower-facts/