Autoflowering cannabis is a combination of the genetics of Cannabis Ruderalis with the Sativa and Indica strains to produce super potent plants. These super potent plants bloom within a very short time frame, usually between eight to ten weeks. Autoflower seeds were mostly grown in central Asia and eastern Europe. However, they can now grow in the United States as well as in Canada.
There are several varieties of strains available today, however, many growers constantly look in the direction of auto flowering seed banks to procure their seeds. Autoflowering seeds particularly stand out because of the simplicity in their cultivation and the fast returns on offer.
In this article, we’ll look at the pros and cons of autoflowering seeds. Will the pros outweigh the cons or vice versa? There’s only one way to find out. Sit back and relax as we take you through the world of autoflowering seeds.
Pros of Autoflowering Seeds
The pros of Autoflowering Seeds are numerous. We will however take a look at four.
A Fast Life Cycle
This is the main reason for the adoption of autoflowering seeds. They can flower and grow very fast. Compared to other photoperiod strains, autoflowering seeds would have grown entirely while the photoperiod strains are still flowering. Autoflowers are often a combination of two or more species of cannabis.
For example, Cannabis Ruderalis takes a considerably shorter time to mature but is not as potent as the Sativa species. However, Haze, a strain of the Cannabis Sativa, has exceptional Sativa traits but takes a longer time to mature. This usually demoralizes the growers, especially newer growers. So, when growers combine the Haze and Ruderalis genetics, they get Sativa traits within a short duration.
Perfect For Growing Discreetly
One of the pros of autoflowering seeds is that they can be grown discreetly. On average, the height of autoflowering seeds ranges from sixty to one hundred centimeters. They are usually referred to as dwarf plants. As a result, you can easily plant them on your balcony or in gardens. Guerrilla growers often grow them in wild and public places. And yet, the plants remain hidden from people because of their relatively small size.
Fast growth combined with the dwarf stature enables cultivators to set up the process quickly and also dismantle the operation quickly. It makes it easy to plant at any location. Therefore, if you want a discreet operation, autoflowering seeds are the go-to option for you.
A higher percentage of CBD
Autoflowers offer higher percentages of cannabidiol (CBD) when compared to other photoperiod strains. People differ and as such prefer different things. Some persons prefer higher Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels in their cannabis. Some other persons prefer a higher CBD percentage in their cannabis. A third category prefers strains that have the perfect balance between THC and CBD levels.
A higher CBD percentage in cannabis has several benefits. For example, the non-psychoactive cannabinoids that are present in cannabis create a pleasant effect without making you “high”. In the same vein, it also offers astonishing medical benefits.
Growers benefit from this advantage of autoflowering plants in areas where marijuana is legal for only medical purposes. It is very much possible to increase the CBD levels of other great varieties by breeding them with the genetics of the cannabis Ruderalis.
Resistance to diseases.
One major concern among growers and farmers generally hovers around pests and diseases and how they affect plants and animals. A lot of losses can be incurred in a very short period as a result of pest and disease attacks. They are indeed a nightmare to farmers.
However, autoflowering seeds are very resistant to diseases. They are also highly resilient to attacks by pests. Thus, you can rest assured that you won’t lose your plants. While photoperiod strains are not so resistant, autoflowering seeds are safe from pest attacks and can last long in the right conditions.
Cons Of Autoflowering Seeds
Autoflowers also have sides that are not so pleasing. Let’s look at them below:
Lower Yield
Generally, a faster growth rate and compact size in plants always come with a huge disadvantage. The disadvantage is that the harvest will be small. Since the size of the plant is small, it means there would be fewer buds. Fewer buds mean fewer harvests. The large photoperiod plants have an advantage here.
Most of the photoperiod Sativa plants can grow up to the size of a tree. Unlike the autoflowering plants that can only grow up to a meter. And as a result, they produce fewer buds in canopies. While the photoperiod strain can take a while to flower and grow, they are more productive.
Limited or no recovery time
Because of the fast-growing nature of autoflower cannabis seeds, it is very risky for the growers to experiment. For photoperiod strains, the growers have the time to train, defoliate and prune them. If anything goes wrong, they still have time to leave the plant in vegetative mode to recover.
Autoflowering strains, unfortunately, cannot offer that luxury. It is therefore necessary to avoid errors. It calls for accuracy and precision when cutting or doing any other activity.
Conclusion
In recent times, there have been tremendous changes in autoflowering seeds. The quality has been greatly improved and move improvements are on the way. If you’re just starting out, it is better and safer to experiment with various seeds in little quantities before taking a massive investment.
Having read through the article, you’re now equipped to make a choice. Do the pros outweigh the cons for you? If the traits of the autoflowering strains align with what you want, then you should go for it.
It is a great strain with more and more improvements forthcoming. However, to get the desired results, you should source your cannabis seeds from a reputable seed bank such as the Herbies head shop. You’re sure to get quality on there.