If you’re planning to start growing autoflowering cannabis seeds for summer harvesting, here are some tips to help you get started:
- Choose the right strain: Autoflowering strains are known for their fast flowering time, typically taking around 8-10 weeks from seed to harvest. Choose a strain that is well-suited to your climate and will mature quickly enough for a summer harvest.
- Germinate the seeds: There are several methods for germinating cannabis seeds, including using paper towels, rooting cubes, or planting directly into soil. Whichever method you choose, be sure to keep the seeds in a warm, dark place until they sprout.
- Choose the right growing medium: Autoflowering strains can be grown in soil, hydroponics, or in a soilless mix. If you’re new to growing, soil may be the easiest option as it requires less attention to nutrient levels.
- Provide adequate light: Autoflowering strains do well with 18-20 hours of light per day, and do not need a dark period like photoperiod strains. High-intensity discharge (HID) lights or LED lights are commonly used for cannabis cultivation.
- Manage the temperature and humidity: Autoflowering cannabis plants thrive in a warm, stable environment with a temperature between 70-85°F and humidity between 40-60%. Use a thermometer and hygrometer to monitor the temperature and humidity levels in your grow space.
- Fertilize and water properly: Autoflowering plants have a fast growth rate, so it’s important to provide them with the right nutrients at the right time. Follow a feeding schedule and use high-quality nutrient products specifically designed for cannabis. Water the plants when the top inch of soil is dry, and avoid over-watering.
- Prune and train your cannabis plants: Pruning and training can help to increase yield and improve the overall quality of your crop. Train the plants to grow in a certain direction and remove any yellow or dead leaves to keep the plant healthy and maximize light exposure.
By following these steps, you should be able to grow a successful crop of autoflowering cannabis for a summer harvest.
Best Time to Start Autoflower Seeds for Outdoor Planting
When starting Autoflowering Cannabis Seeds for the summer growing season it is a good idea to get them started indoors and then move the seedlings outside to take advantage of the summer heat and sunshine to get most of your autoflowering cannabis plants. Since autoflowering cannabis strains generally take 3 months to fully mature to harvest you will want to time the planting of your seeds indoors for one month of indoor vegetative growth, and two months of outdoor growth in the summertime.
For example if a grower was to start their autoflowering cannabis seeds, on April 20th, they would grow for one month and be ready for outdoor growth on May 20th. This way the grower can take advantage of the long late spring and summer days. Once the plant is placed outdoors, on May 20th it will be ready to harvest between 8 and 10 weeks later (most hybrid strains). So your autoflowers will be ready for harvest July 20th or later which would be strain dependent.
It’s Free So Take Advantage!
As far as we are concerned, one of the main advantages of growing autoflowering cannabis seeds is the opportunity to grow cannabis in the hot summer sun. This also includes being able to take advantage of the long late spring and early summer day.
When growing photoperiod cannabis (cannabis needs lighting changes in order to flower) no matter what when growing outdoors your plants will not start to flower until the darkness lasts enough each night to trigger the plant to start to flower. This generally doesn’t happen until mid August to September in the northern hemisphere.
Once fall hits the sun is lower in the sky each day, the outdoor growing temperatures are lower, and the hours of sunlight the plant receives is far less. This is a big disadvantage when growing photoperiod cannabis strains, whether they are feminized or regular cannabis seeds.
Timing Is Of Utmost Importance
Starting your autoflowering cannabis seeds at the proper time is a must to harvest the best autoflowering cannabis buds as possible. Growing autoflowering cannabis seeds outdoors each year can save medical and recreational cannabis growers alike thousands of dollars each year. Also annual plants grow the most in June and July of each year and as an autoflower grower you can take advantage of this every year.
Since growing autoflowers, they can be left out in the hot summer sun and will continue to flower no matter what the hours of darkness are each night.
Outdoor Cannabis Is Generally More Potent, Why Is This Important for Autoflowering Cannabis Seeds?
For breeders to create autoflowering cannabis seeds, they first must cross a photoperiod cannabis plant with a Ruderalis cannabis plant.
Ruderalis is a subspecies of the Cannabis plant that is native to central and eastern Asia. Unlike other subspecies such as Sativa and Indica, Ruderalis is characterized by its ability to flower automatically, regardless of the light cycle. This makes it an important genetic component in the development of autoflowering cannabis strains.
Autoflowering strains are created by crossbreeding Ruderalis with Sativa or Indica plants to produce a plant that has the desired traits of both. However sometimes the resulting strains can be less potent for THC. This is due to the fact that Ruderalis cannabis is closer to hemp for THC content than all varieties of sativa or indica. These strains are popular with growers who want a quick and easy growing process, as they do not require a change in the light cycle to flower and typically take 8-10 weeks from seed to harvest. However they can also lower the potency of the plants as well.
Some popular autoflowering strains that contain Ruderalis genetics include:
- Lowryder: A classic autoflowering strain that was one of the first to be widely available. It is known for its short stature and fast flowering time.
- Northern Lights Autoflower: A popular strain that is known for its high potency and fast flowering time.
- Blueberry Autoflower: A strain that is known for its sweet, fruity flavor and high THC content.
- AK-47 Autoflower: A fast-flowering strain that is known for its high potency and strong, relaxing effects.
- Pineapple Express Autoflower: A strain that is known for its sweet, fruity flavor and energetic, uplifting effects.
These are just a few examples of the many autoflowering strains that contain Ruderalis genetics. When choosing an autoflowering strain, it’s important to research the specific strain and read grower reviews to get a sense of the plant’s growth patterns and desired effects.
Final Thoughts
Growing autoflowering cannabis seeds in the summer sun can help to increase the potency of these strains of cannabis. It is important to time the germination of your autoflowering cannabis seeds to get the most out of the summer growing seasons.
