Do autoflower plants produce seeds?
Like any other plant autoflowers can produce seeds, but you need a male and female plant for this to happen. Discover how breeders create autoflowering seeds, what stress factors lead to seed production, and the origins of autoflower genetics. Learn about feminised seeds, why cloning autoflowers is ineffective, and whether male autoflowers exist.
Can autoflowers produce seeds?
Yes, in short autoflowers can produce seeds. Breeders create autoflowering seeds by pollinating female autoflower plants with male pollen. This process involves having both a mother (female) and a father (male) plant. When the flowers on the female plant have been pollinated by the male pollen, seeds will begin to grow inside the flowers. The seeds will also carry the autoflowering trait.
Do autoflower plants produce autoflower seeds?
If both parents are autoflowering plants, then yes. However, the seeds produced by any cannabis plant, including autoflowers, inherit traits from both of their parents. Autoflower seeds are specifically bred by crossing a regular cannabis strain with a ruderalis strain, which imparts the autoflowering characteristic. If an autoflower plant is pollinated by a non-autoflowering strain, the resulting seeds would not necessarily be autoflowers. The more breeding between autoflowers and non-autoflowers the more the ruderalis ‘autoflowering’ trait would be bred out of the plant.
What causes a stressed autoflower to produce seeds?
Stress in all cannabis plants can cause them to produce seeds and is actually a survival mechanism. When an autoflower experiences stress, which could be caused by anything such as nutrient imbalances, physical damage or disease, it can cause the plant to enter survival mode. In this state, the plant’s main objective is to procreate and keep its genetics going after it dies. While stressed a female plant can produce male flowers or become hermaphroditic, allowing it to self-pollinate. This self-pollination results in the production of seeds, which the plant creates as a natural response to ensure its genetic lineage continues despite the stress.
How do you get an autoflower to produce seeds?
It’s not a good idea to stress a plant into self-pollination as this could end up damaging the plant. Breeders use several pollination methods. One common method is manual pollination, where breeders collect pollen from a male plant and carefully brush it onto the flowers of a female plant. The benefit of this approach is that as a breeder you can select the best female plant and the best male plant and only breed those, creating even stronger offspring.
Another method is open pollination, where male and female plants are grown together in the same space, allowing natural pollination to occur. A more controlled approach is selective pollination, where breeders isolate specific branches of a female plant and apply pollen to those areas only.
Are autoflower seeds feminised?
No, not all autoflower seeds are feminised. However, to make your life easier, all the seeds we stock at Auto Seeds are feminised.
Regular autoflower seeds do exist and will produce both male and female autoflower plants. However, they are not very popular and unless you are a breeder growing regular autoflowers is pointless.
Where does autoflower genetics come from?
Autoflower genetics originate from a wild cannabis variety called Cannabis ruderalis, which is native to Siberia. The harsh weather conditions and short summers where it grows have forced the plants to adapt by developing the ability to flower automatically, regardless of light cycles. This unique trait allows autoflowers to complete their life cycle quickly, making them well-suited for regions with shorter summers. Breeders such as Auto Seeds have since crossed ruderalis with other cannabis strains to create modern autoflowers that combine automatic flowering with desirable traits like bigger yields and potency.
How many seeds can a single autoflower plant produce?
A single autoflower plant can produce over 1,000 cannabis seeds depending on the strain and how big the plant is.
Why shouldn’t you clone autoflower plants?
While technically possible, cloning autoflower plants is just not very practical. Autoflowers only spend 2-4 weeks in the veg stage and if you clone an autoflower, it needs time to root and start growing. However, before the clone can establish itself, the plant’s internal clock will trigger it to start flowering. The result is a small, underdeveloped plant with almost no bud production.
So yes, you can clone autoflowers, but you would only grow enough weed for a few joints.
Can you get male autoflowers?
Yes, you can get male autoflowers. Regular autoflower seeds produce both male and female plants. However, you just don’t see regular seeds very often unless you are breeding your own strains.