What is a autoflowering cannabis plant?

[Keeno]

What is a autoflowering plant?

A autoflowering plants are a variety of plants in the cannabis family that rely on time to go into flower rather than a light schedule. Most autoflowering strains are ready to harvest within 10 weeks from germination. Autoflowering plants have come a long way in recent years, there are many varieties to choose from.

Where did autoflowering strains come from?

Autoflowering plants were bred and created using a variety of cannabis called Ruderalis. This is a cannabis variety that originates in Asia/eastern Europe, more specifiacally Russia. Over time it has evolved to deal with the harsh seasons and short summers. It has done this by not relying on the amount of hours per day to dictate its life cycle. Photoperiod plants need 12 or less of light to induce flowering. Given the short and harsh summer of the areas Ruderalis cannabis has found a home it has learnt to use time not hours of light to flower and therefore reproduce. Ruderalis as a variety has little attraction due to its very low THC content.

Advantages of Autoflowering plants:

Given the fact this variety of cannabis has had to evolve a short life span, it is possible for growers to plant a seed and harvest as early as 8 weeks from that day, some varieties claim to be shorter others longer. This can be appealing for growers who want a quick harvest.

Growing autoflowering plants outside in temperate climates will mean you can harvest twice in a good summer, as opposed to once with a photoperiod cannabis plant. This also means it can be grown outside in places where there are shorter summers.

There are many varieties of autoflowering plants now, a few years ago this was not the case. Its easy to find just about any strain in autoflowering seeds.

Due to the short life span, many (not all) autoflowering plants can be kept short and manageable, ideal for small growing spaces and stealth.

There is no need for separate veg and flower areas, autoflowering plants will go into flower at 18-24 hours of light per day. Ideal for people who wish to stagger their harvest times without having multiple growing areas.

Disadvantages of autoflowering plants:

Due to the Ruderialis genetics used to produce autflowering strains many growers are of the opinion that autoflowering strains are not and will not be as strong as the equivalent photoperiod plant of the same strain.

The short life cycle is very appealing, but once you germinate your seeds you have effectively lit a fuse. Should you run into any difficulties during your grow you cannot extend the veg period to get things right.

When growing a autoflowering plant you don`t have time to train your plant, some growers will top or apply some LST to a auto, but the plant will go into flower when it wants to, normally within weeks of germination. This means the grower may not be able to get a even canopy or desired structure to increase potential harvest.

[ShabbyOrange]

Learnt a few things i didn't know before hand, nice, thanks mate.