How To Grow Autoflowering Seeds

Like all Marijuana strains, Autoflowering seeds have a number of basic requirements such as light, fresh air, water and nutrients.

Although the majority of people grow Autoflowering strains outdoors, they can also be successfully cultivated using an indoor growing area. Learn more about those techniques in our previous Growing Autoflowering Marijuana Indoors article.

Germinate your seeds in the usual manner, for new growers, we recommend soaking the seeds in a cup of water for approximately 24 hours, before placing them between damp paper towels until the white ‘tap’ root becomes exposed. Once the seed husks have cracked and the root begins to grow, carefully remove the seed and plant directly into a good-sized pot, bucket or container, we recommend between 5 -10 liters.

The soil or growing medium such be moist and well aerated, allowing for plenty of room and oxygen around the roots. Using the best quality soil will help to provide many of the necessary nutrients the plant needs through the first few weeks of its development, during which time the roots are only using a small amount of the available soil, and care needs to be taken not to over-water, or ‘burn’ them by using additional nutrients they do not require.

Once the seedling has established its roots and begins to grow, it will develop and produce sets of leaves rapidly. Unlike traditional Marijuana seeds, which have separate growing and flowering cycles, Autoflowering seeds develop, grow and produce buds simultaneously, with the first flowers often showing by the production of the third set of leaves.

With no requirement for set, regular hours of darkness, Autoflowering seeds will grow and flower over an average of eight weeks, achieving complete maturity regardless of the time of year. However, the plants do require as many hours of strong, direct sunlight as possible, and produce their biggest and best quality harvests during the late Spring and Summer months, when the daylight hours are at their longest and strongest.

Ensure the plants receive plenty of water, but do not allow the soil to become water-logged, as this will drown the roots and reduce the plants development. If you have used a good quality soil, there is little need for additional nutrients, as the soil should contain sufficient quantities. During the next four weeks allow the plants to develop naturally, placing them in bright, sunny locations where they can enjoy as many hours of direct sunlight as possible.

Do not prune Autoflowering plants, unlike feminized super-cropping techniques, it reduces the overall yield, as the plants do not have sufficient vegetative time to recover. Plants can be bent to encourage lateral branches to develop, but many growers leave their plants to develop naturally during this time, and that is often the best option.

As we have said, Autoflowering seeds produce plants that are completely feminized and begin flowering soon after sprouting. Although this happens from the start, it’s during the second four weeks of the plants life that they really begin to develop large amounts of flowers and begin to form buds. During this time your plants will still need as much strong, daily sunlight as possible, but their nutrient needs will alter, and we advice using a good quality Marijuana fertilizer to help achieve the best results.

Up to this point, learning how to grow Autoflowering seeds has been easy, and over the course of 8 – 9 weeks the plants will have grown, flowered and matured ready for harvesting. Average heights reach up to a meter, with many strains producing a large central cola’s and several smaller buds from their branches.

Checking the plants small, swollen resin glands with a magnifying glass is the best way of deciding if your plants are fully mature and ready to harvest. The bulbous ‘pin-like’ head that fills with resin should have changed from clear, to a ‘milky’ and cloudy color. If left any longer, this resin will change to an amber color, resulting in a heavier, more lethargic ‘stoned’ sensation.

Once you’re happy your plants are mature, cut the stems and remove the large fan leaves. With little if any resin, they are considered of no use to most growers and can be composted. Leave the remaining buds and sweet-leaves on the branches, hanging them upside down in a dark room at an even ‘room-temperature’ with plenty of air-flow.

Over the course of approximately a week, the buds should have dried sufficiently for them to be snapped from the stem. If they bend, rather than break cleanly, they probably still contain too much moisture, and require a few more days to completely dry.

Your buds can now be smoked, although they will still contain a residue of moisture, producing a ‘green’ flavor. This is the remaining chlorophyll, and can be removed by curing your buds. Place them into an air-tight jar or container, removing the lid several times a day to allow any moisture to escape. Over the course of a few days, the buds will stop becoming moist when sealed, improving the flavor, aroma and how they burn.

This basic guide will help you learn how to grow Autoflowering seeds, producing your own successful crop of plants and buds. Growing your own Marijuana with Autoflowering strains can be quick, simple and easy, follow a few basic rules and allow the plants to develop naturally.

Often referred to as ‘throw-and-grow’ seeds, Autoflowering strains are perfect for growing outdoors, and the preferred choice of many guerrilla growers.

If you would like to learn more about how to grow Autoflowering seeds, download the I Love Marijuana Grow Guide. Written by Robert Bergman, it details all aspects of Cannabis and Marijuana cultivation, from selecting the best seeds and strains for your growing techniques, through to improving the taste, yield and potency.

Completely free and without obligation, you can download the Marijuana Grow Guide today and learn more about how to grow Autoflowering seeds.