How to Grow Autoflower Marijuana Indoors or Outdoors?

Autoflowering marijuana strains can be quite difficult if you’re still at the stage of testing the waters. From seed to harvest, observation and evaluation of the crops are highly suggested to promote the growth of the strains. One of the queries often asked in marijuana growing communities is how to grow autoflower marijuana indoors or outdoors. 

This article will provide enlightenment and aid during the process of growing autoflowering marijuana strains. From its advantages and disadvantages to steps that will further assist you, it’s all here. Read on and identify if the autoflowering marijuana you have is best grown indoors or outdoors.  

Indoor-grown Autoflower Marijuana Plants 

Growing marijuana indoors is often done by cultivators who lack in outdoor growing space or practice discrete cultivation. Since different marijuana strains require different growing requirements, having an indoor grow room is highly beneficial if you want to try strains requiring controlled environments. 

There are numerous advantages and disadvantages indoor-grown autoflower marijuana plants deliver. From the time, effort, and nourishment, you have to weigh in the factors that should constitute your choice to grow indoors. These can be in the form of grow rooms or greenhouses, depending on the qualifications of the strain. 

Advantages 

Autoflower marijuana plants are suggested to be grown indoors because of the subtle amount of space they consume. The ruderalis genetics they deliver small to medium in height growth, which is ideal for small space grow rooms. Here is a list of advantages for growing autoflower marijuana indoors. 

1. The strength of growing marijuana indoors is the way they utilize controlled environments. Options are present in case you want to grow autoflower marijuana in colder or warmer climates and lighter or darker cycles. The grow room promotes the opportunity of these plants to mature up to their fullest potential. 
2. The power to grow marijuana in the most discrete way is the second most benefit of growing indoors. This will help you grow even in places with neighbors bothered with the strong smell these plants infuse. The growing operation is completely discrete and free from disturbance of the household and the neighborhood. 
3. Growing indoors is usually done within an empty and unused room within the vicinity of your home. This will help you keep a close eye during the process of their growth. From the vital signs, temperature, lighting, these factors will be easier to monitor, especially when something goes wrong. Immediate responses can be easily delivered. 
4. The last advantage is the ability of the autoflower marijuana plant to bloom at its full potential. Since the climatic and environmental conditions are controlled, you have the power to adjust and help your plants adapt to indoor grow houses. From promoting the air quality to boosting the nutrients that help in nourishing the plant, indoor-grown autoflower marijuana strains thrive beautiful and large amounts of buds. 

Disadvantages 

In contrary to the advantages of growing autoflower marijuana indoors are its disadvantages. It’s more than just the cost, effort, and numerous growing requirements. Sometimes, these factors can be quite hard to control. Here is the list of disadvantages of growing autoflower marijuana indoors. 

1. If you want to grow autoflower marijuana indoors, you have to invest money to support its expensive requirements. The cost of growing is not cheap compared to outdoor-grown ones. From the equipment to the consumption of energy, this is not an economical way of growing marijuana, especially if you’re running a business. 
   More than just the expenses for the soil, water, pots, and nutrients, you have to purchase grow lights, install a ventilation system, and measuring devices. The start-up costs are quite high, but from a disadvantage, it becomes an advantage in the long run. 
2. Growing autoflower marijuana indoors consumes numerous hours designated for monitoring. Since the growing is done in the most artificial method, factors such as lighting, ventilation, and odor control and be quite difficult to manage all at once. If you’re using hydroponics as a medium, more than just money, you have to invest a large number of hours. 
3. The power of the sun is difficult to mimic in indoor grow environments. From the spectrum to its intensity, nothing beats the benefits the sun brings to the plants. Grow lights are readily available in the market to serve as an artificial sun. The spectrum the sun brings is quite hard to beat even when you surround the grow room with grow lights. 

8 Tips and Tricks in Growing Autoflower Plants Indoors 

With the numerous advantages and disadvantages of growing autoflower marijuana indoors, you shouldn’t be surprised by their built reputation in marijuana growing communities. To further aid you in choosing between these spaces, here are tips and tricks that can help you in how to grow autoflower marijuana plants indoors. 

Choose the Right Strain to Plant 

The growing requirements of each autoflower marijuana strain vary from one another. Not all can thrive successfully in indoor growing setup considering their needs for a natural environment. 

Before anything else, you have to study the genetics of the strain to identify its growing needs and patterns. Check the strains of your personal preference and see if they meet the qualifications you are looking for. 

Stimulate the Roots 

The early sprouting stages of growing autoflower marijuana strains indoors is to boost the health of the root system. This will help in strengthening and supporting the vertical growth of your plant. Choose the right type and dosage of nutrients for your desired strain. 

After you have placed your seeds in a pot, it would be best to utilize root stimulants to maintain the health of the roots and the plant itself. As much as you want to boost the root system, overfeeding the strain will negatively affect its growth. 

Consider Airy and Light Soil as Medium 

The growing preferences of autoflower marijuana strains require light and airy soil. These soil types contain relatively minimal levels of nutrients to boost their growth. A good tip would be to mix your own soil because pre-made ones are often overfed with Phosphorus, Nitrogen, and Potassium. It would be best to empower the soil with the right organic fertilizers too. 

Try Different Mediums 

There are numerous mediums that you can use apart from the soil. One of the highly suggested mediums for autoflower marijuana strains is the use of Sea of Green or SOG. Carrying out the SOG method is the process of planting your seeds in small containers to manage a grow space one square meter per plant. Try and test different pot sizes and choose what would suit the indoor grow space best. 

Manage the Water Consumption

How should you water an autoflower marijuana indoors? Water them when they need it the most or when the soil turns dry already. This is better than watering the marijuana plants on a fixed schedule. They usually dry out in two to three days. Observe the bottom part of your pot to see if the soil has already dried out. Overwatering can cause your autoflowering plant to die, so it would be best to keep it at a minimum. 

Reduce the Nutrients 

Compared to growing photoperiod marijuana strains, autoflowering ones bloom at its finest when the nutrients you feed them are kept at a minimum. These plant types grow even with the absence of supplements because most mediums are already incorporated with nutrients to support the phases of its growth. 

Be Wary of Environmental Factors 

Autoflower marijuana strains require well-managed environmental factors. From its airflow, temperature, humidity, and even lighting, these constitute the growth of the plant. Always check the ventilation system within the room. The air quality highly affects the production and growth of the plant. These prevent the infestation of molds and mildews as well as pests. 

Harvest by Batch 

Since the flowering time of autoflowering marijuana plants ranges from three to six weeks, it would be best to harvest by batch. Start the harvest from the top to the middle and middle to the bottom part of the plant. This will allow the middle to the bottom part of the plant to mature, considering that the large flat leaves serve as a canopy that prevents the lower part from acquiring light, air, and nutrients. 

Outdoor-grown Autoflower Marijuana Plants 

Outdoor-grown autoflower marijuana plants are often chosen by growers with a large outdoor space. It can be a backyard or just a simple garden as long as the soil meets the requirements of the marijuana strain. This growing pattern may seem less discrete but ensure that you have enough space to conceal the strong odor marijuana infuses. 

Advantages 

Autoflower marijuana plants are often cultivated in outdoor growing environments to maximize space. The ruderalis genetics they uphold produce small to medium-sized plants that can thrive a large number of plants when grown outdoors. Here is a list of advantages for growing autoflower marijuana outdoors.

1. The costs of growth are relatively cheap compared to indoor growing setups. You invest in mediums, seeds, and water rather than equipment to build factors such as temperature, humidity, and air. The plants can acquire a full spectrum of the sun that lights the plant from top to bottom. 
2. They require less effort, time, and work. It’s easier to grow outdoors because there’s no need to control the growing environment. Autoflower marijuana plants adapt to the environment, especially when it comes to acquiring light, air, and nutrients. 
3. Outdoor-grown autoflower marijuana plants is a more organic style of cultivating. There’s no need for inorganic fertilizers and chemicals that will help them thrive. The surrounding soil alone will help in nourishing your marijuana plant. 

Disadvantages 

With the numerous advantages, outdoor-grown autoflower marijuana strain comes with the disadvantages alongside. Growing outdoors may put marijuana plants in a lot of risks. Especially in infestation, the plants are more exposed to molds, mildews, and pests. 

1. The growth is dependent on what nature can offer. Fluctuations in weather can negatively affect the growth of the autoflower marijuana plant, especially if it is between rainy and sunny seasons. They have no control over the changing seasons, which explain that outdoor-growing is not suggested if you’re up for a monthly harvest of yield. 
2. There is no sense of privacy when it comes to growing outdoors. This can be a disturbance in the neighborhood because of the smell they infuse. Even when you grow them by the woods or within your backyard, the smell can tell that you’re a cannabis grower. 

Tips and Tricks to Follow in Growing Autoflower Plants Outdoors

Growing autoflower plants outdoors are less complicated than it is indoors. With the yield and bud quality they produce, no wonder why outdoor-grown ones are popular among marijuana growing communities. To further aid you in choosing between these spaces, here are tips and tricks that can help you in how to grow autoflower marijuana plants outdoors. 

Germinate the Seeds

Germinating autoflower seeds is similar to the way photoperiod ones do. There are numerous methods on how. You can use the paper towel method or the glass of water method before planting them down on their final pot. Transferring the plant from a small to a large pot will not just slow it down, but it can put its development to a full stop. 

Choose a Suitable Container or Growing Spot 

Even if autoflower marijuana plants grow small, it would be best to plant them in big containers to strengthen the stimulation of its roots. Pots that can hold ten to fifteen liters are highly suggested. That pot will serve as the final pot because transferring from one pot to another is not encouraged. 

Control the Water Intake 

Autoflower marijuana plants grow small in size, which explains why they require small amounts of water as compared to photoperiod ones. For outdoor-grown ones, ensure that the soil is kept moist if rain seldom waters the plants. It would be best to water the plants once the soil is completely dried up to help in the process of its nourishment. 

Harvest Accordingly 

On average, autoflower marijuana plants grown outdoors ranges from four to six weeks, but in some cases, the number of weeks can exceed. You will see the changes in your plants that will tell you if they are already ready for harvest. 

These signs include fine trichome covering, blooming pistils, and sugar leaves production. Observe the color of the trichomes and the pistils to tell if you can have the buds chopped down. But the easiest way to tell is the switching of colors of the leaves from green to bright yellow. 

Conclusion

The facts stated above will help you plan your next cultivation of autoflower marijuana plants. Moreover, you can already tell how to grow autoflower marijuana strains for both indoor and outdoor growing environments. If you’re having a hard time choosing a grow setup, you can also try greenhouse grow rooms instead. Both indoor and outdoor grow spaces have their advantages and disadvantages. It’s up to you to choose which works well with your terms and which do not.