Autoflowering stra ins or also called AutoFems or autoflowering strains are a relatively new development in the cannabis industry. They are a great thing for beginners and people with little space and do not need a special light cycle. This is very convenient for many cannabis enthusiasts. Most automatic strains are ready to harvest within 8-9 weeks of germination, so you can enjoy the results quickly without having to wait as long as some regular outdoor strains. Automatic cannabis strains also avoid the problem of mould, which often occurs in cool and humid climates towards autumn when the plants are in full flower. Autoflowering cannabis plants have such a fast life cycle that they can be ready long before the autumn rains start, the sunshine hours are less and it gets cooler.
AutoFems were significantly co-developed in Spain and created for outdoor cultivation. In warm climate regions, up to 3 harvests per year are possible with autoflowering varieties. But as already mentioned above, automatic strains are also a good choice for northern regions (Netherlands, Czech Republic, etc.), where 2 harvests per year can be achieved.
The question is, how can you increase the yield of autoflowering plants? We have compiled the best tips for you for an even bigger harvest:
The vegetative phase is particularly important for autoflowering varieties.
The life cycle (age) of AutoFems is genetically determined. They make a real sprint from germination to maturity. Therefore, unlike other cannabis strains, there is not much time to compensate for mistakes in the growing phase such as lack of fertiliser, mistakes in watering, etc. If the automatic plant develops well in its very short vegetation period and reaches an appropriate size, this will also be reflected in good yields and quality. This means that right from the start, make sure that your plants get enough (but not too much) fertiliser and water, and give them as much sunlight as possible. They should be planted in a spot that receives direct sunlight all day. Many gardeners plant their automatics in pots rather than directly in the ground. This has the advantage that you can easily move the plants when the sun moves during the day and move them "according to the sun", so to speak.
The pot size for autoflowering varieties
Even for small automatic varieties, a sufficiently large pot should be chosen so that the plant and the roots can develop ideally. Healthy and strong roots enable a vital plant with a correspondingly lush yield. The pot should have a capacity of 1-3 L for young plants and 9-12 L in the flowering phase. Make sure that the roots do not touch the rim of the pot. Unlike normal photoperiod varieties, automatics will otherwise stop growing. Large autoflowering strains like the Big Devil XL Auto from Sweet Seeds can be planted in larger pots.
Good planting medium
Use a good Light Mix soil or a Cocos-Perlite mixture (50:50) so that an optimal wet-dry cycle is ensured in the plant pot and at the roots and the root ball is well supplied with oxygen.
Avoid overwatering
Avoid overwatering. The plant pot should not be a soaking wet swampland that is constantly dripping with water. The plant should be able to use up the water it is given in a few hours. The soil should be moist but not wet.
Fertilising & Watering
Fertilising the automatic plants should start when they have 4 internodes. Continue fertilising for the growth phase (grow fertiliser) until the height growth of the plant starts to stop. For automatics, it is recommended to give growth fertilizer longer, i.e. until about 3 weeks before harvest, because these varieties continue to grow for a longer time while the bust has already started. After about 5-6 weeks, rinse the substrate thoroughly with clean water so that excess nutrient salts are removed and not caked into the soil.
right time for planting
The best time to bring your automatics outside depends on which part of the world you live in. In Central Europe, you can start in spring (April/May) and harvest in July/August. In July you can plant a second time outside (in cooler regions) and these plants will be ready at the end of September/beginning of October. If you only want to start one round, early June is the best time. This way, the automatics get the best weather and the most sun, so that they produce the best harvests.
Do not prune automatic varieties
Autoflowering varieties cannot be pruned like normal strains, otherwise they will stop growing. So it's better not to do it. Moreover, it is not possible to cut cuttings from them. They have too short a life cycle and will only produce miniature plantlets.
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In our seed shop you will find a large selection of automatic cannabis strains and the latest 4th generation strains. All autoflowering strains we have in our assortment are feminised.
growing on a windowsill?