Understanding Autoflowering Cannabis: Growth Patterns, Varieties, and Maturation Times
Autoflowering cannabis, also known as day-neutral cannabis, automatically shifts from vegetative growth to the flowering stage based on age rather than the light-to-dark hour ratio required by photoperiod-dependent or short-day strains. Autoflowers usually mature in less than 10 weeks from seed, with dwarf varieties remaining short but still providing a decent yield. In contrast, “super autos” can take over 100 days to mature and grow over 6 feet tall.
The origins of autoflowering cannabis can be traced back to the ruderalis plant, known for its resilience in harsh environments and native to regions in Russia, Central Europe, and Central Asia. It was first formally identified by Russian botanist Janischewski in 1924. The early autoflowering strain, Lowryder, developed by breeder The Joint Doctor, combined genetics from a Mexican strain and Russian Cannabis ruderalis.
Initially, autoflowers were not popular among recreational users due to their low THC levels. However, breeders have since developed autoflowering strains with high THC or CBD levels that mature quickly, making them comparable to traditional photoperiod strains in potency. Modern autoflowering strains can even have THC levels up to 27%.
Autoflowering strains have several advantages, including a short lifespan, stealthy growth due to their small size, ability to flower without a change in the light cycle, and potential for multiple harvests in a single outdoor growing season. However, early versions produced low yields and were less potent compared to photoperiod strains, leading some growers to view them as a fad.
Breeding autoflowering cannabis can be straightforward when using two autoflowering parents but becomes more complex when crossing with a non-autoflowering strain. While autoflowering cannabis has improved significantly, there is still a risk of acquiring genetics that do not flower automatically, which can be mitigated by purchasing seeds from reputable vendors.