One of the game-changers in the field of cannabis cultivation is auto-flowering seeds. It is a treat among growers who have limited vertical clearance in their growing space. You’re here because you got tired of scanning online catalogs of seed banks and keeping you on the waitlist on when it will be available. But what are these auto-flowering seeds they are gossiping about, why do most growers seek this type of seed, and how to make autoflower seeds?
This article is an in-depth explanation about the background and a five-step guide in creating your own batch of auto-flowering seeds. The answers are within your screen. Read on and know more about why auto-flower seeds are a hit in cannabis growing communities.
What is Autoflowering Cannabis Plants?
There are two cannabis types that most growers and smokers are familiar with. These are cannabis indica and cannabis sativa, but the bloom of cannabis ruderalis as another type due to its adaptation to its environment. Cannabis ruderalis blooms regardless of the amount of light or dark they are exposed to. They are a rare subspecies that bloom even when grown in environments where fluctuations of climate and light are present.
Cannabis ruderalis is created through breeding sativa and indica strains. They produce indica-sativa hybrids that deliver characteristics that are similar to auto-flowering plants. Moreover, they produce a higher yield and better bud quality as compared to identified pure breed ruderalis strains. This is one of the primary reasons why auto-flowering seeds are a good start among first-time growers. They are not tedious and are very independent during their flowering phase.
In the simplest explanation, auto-flowering strains flower on their own time frame. They do not require a specific number of hours designated for exposure to light or too dark. Auto-flowering strains will flourish once it has reached the required phase for development. The flowering time is quite short, ranging from two to four weeks. Not only did you save time, but you are able to deliver two to three batches on the average flowering time, which can last up to 12 weeks.
A 5-Step Guide in Making Autoflower Marijuana Seeds
The properties of auto-flowering cannabis seeds enlighten most growers, breeders, and distributors. They do not just promote growth efficiency but as well as enhanced bud produced quality. The biggest question right now is how to make autoflower seeds?
If you’re one of the newbies gaining interest in this wonderful seed type, we made a condensed guide that will help you make the first step in making your own auto-flowering marijuana seeds.
Step 1: Study and Train the Plants
The first step in creating your own auto-flower marijuana seeds is to study its properties, characteristics, growing requirements, and such. It would be best to familiarize yourself with the important details about the strain.
This is a way of providing techniques or first-aids just in case the creation of auto-flower seeds fails. Bear in mind that marijuana strains are unique, and they have various characteristics that make them stand out in the growing cannabis community.
Aligned to this, you have to let the plant adapt to your growing terms. It would be best to have them trained as early as their vegetative growth. With the time being relatively short, you have to devote hours in training, considering that the growth may occur as early as the second week. As a grower, you have to seek for different angles in making auto-flowering cannabis seeds possible.
Once your plant blooms three nodes, they develop canopies that block the lower part from acquiring light, air, and nutrients. This is why the topping technique would be highly recommended to make way for the buds on the lower part of the plant.
Another technique that you can try is leaf removal by pulling them down sideways. This technique promotes vertical growth producing more buds. Be wary. Once the marijuana plants start to flower, do not apply the topping technique.
Step 2: Consider the Environmental Conditions
Auto-flowering marijuana plants allow flowering even when they should be in the state of vegetation. This type of marijuana seed is in opposition to photoperiod flowering plants. Meaning, they do not require to wait for the plant to start flowering early or late in the season.
More than just the absence of light cycle requirements; what you need to consider is the environmental conditions. Creating auto-flowering marijuana seeds is all about balance in terms of climatic conditions. Balance out the warm, cold, dry, and wet conditions explaining why this is best done in greenhouse growing environments.
Controlled environments like indoor and greenhouse growing spaces are highly suggested in preventing the plant from drying or rotting. This is actually an effective way of providing protection from unwanted infestation.
Step 3: Refrain Heavily Feeding the Plants
One of the misconceptions in growing any type of plant is how they overfed or over nourish the plant to make its growth faster. When in reality, they do not. Even though the period of time during its vegetative cycle is relatively short, feeding them lightly is highly suggested.
The more that the growing pacing starts to go fast, the little number of nutrients should be given to the plant. The amount that should be given should be half of the recommended dosage. Once the plant starts to grow bushy, that is when you can feed them at a full dosage of nutrients.
During its vegetative stage, it requires Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. These three, also known as N-P-K, are the best fertilizer that will further nourish the growth of your auto-flowering plant. Too much or too little can affect its growth. It would be best to follow the ratio of N-P-K of 20-10-10 or 10-5-5, depending on your preference.
Step 4: Harvest by Batch
The fourth step in making auto-flowering marijuana plants is to harvest them by batch. Since they do not produce much canopy, the upper part of the plant should be harvested first. This gives the lower part more time to flourish, acquiring equal distribution of air, light, and nutrients. They end up denser and more compact for the next harvest. Moreover, this buys you more time to test the first buds harvested and see what goes from there.
Step 5: Prepare for the Next Cultivation
Since you already know the process of producing your own auto-flowering seeds. It’s time to try cross-breeding a strain of your own. This is one way of getting a hold of the process and, later on, will deliver auto-flowering marijuana seeds to the best of your ability. With the numerous marijuana strains in the market, you have limitless opportunities for producing auto-flowering marijuana strains.
No time to breed your own autoflower seeds? Click here to purchase them online!
Conclusion
Auto-flowering cannabis seeds serve benefits in cannabis growing communities. From bud production quality to the shortened flowering time, the process is easier as compared to photoperiod cannabis seeds.
This condensed guide has taught you how to make auto-flower seeds. Now, what you have to do is apply what you have learned and test it on different purebred and crossbred strains. Enjoy how to make autoflower seeds of cannabis!