What are autoflowering seeds?
It all comes down to their unique cannabis ruderalis genetics—Autoflowers are a hardy cannabis subspecies that evolved in the rugged climates of the Northern Hemisphere. Thanks to this lineage, our autoflowers don’t rely on changes in light cycles to begin flowering. Instead, they flower automatically based on age, usually flipping just a few weeks after germination. At Auto Seeds, we’ve spent over 15 years refining these fast-finishing traits for growers who want maximum results with minimal effort. While lighting preferences vary, most growers run their autos under 18/6 or 20/4 light cycles to balance growth and energy efficiency. Just skip the 24-hour light—your plants need a little shuteye too.
The advantages of growing autoflowers?
Autoflowers have come a long way since the early Lowryder days—and at Auto Seeds, we’ve been refining their potential from the very beginning. By selectively breeding pure ruderalis genetics with legendary photoperiod strains, we’ve created autoflowers that are fast, potent, and ridiculously easy to grow.
Here’s why thousands of growers—beginners and pros alike—choose Auto Seeds autoflowering cannabis strains:
- Super Fast Turnaround: Most of our autos go from seed to harvest in just 8–12 weeks, giving you the chance to grow multiple crops per year, even outdoors.
- Beginner Approved: These low-maintenance plants are perfect if you’re just starting out. No complicated light schedules, no fuss.
- Compact and Discreet: With their smaller size, autos fit neatly into grow tents, balconies, or stealthy outdoor spots.
- Built-In Toughness: Thanks to their ruderalis roots, our autos are naturally more resistant to pests, mould, and cold snaps.
- No Light Cycle Drama: Autos bloom on their own schedule—no need to mess around with 12/12 lighting or blackout tents.
- Top-Shelf Quality: We’ve spent 15+ years making sure our autoflowers deliver serious potency, rich flavour, and solid yields that rival photoperiods.
Whether you’re looking for a quick, resilient crop or simply want less hassle in your grow, our autoflower seeds deliver the goods—fast.
Who Should Grow Autoflowering Cannabis?
Short answer? Pretty much everyone. But autoflowers are especially ideal if you’re growing in colder climates, have limited space, or just want a stress-free grow. Thanks to their ruderalis heritage, autoflowing strains are naturally built to handle harsh environments—from the rugged landscapes of Russia to high-latitude areas in North America and Europe. That makes them hardier, more pest-resistant, and more forgiving than many photoperiod strains.
If you’re new to growing, you’ll love how easy and resilient autoflowers can be. And if you’re an experienced grower? You’ll appreciate how fast they finish and how well they respond to dialled-in conditions. Want to maximize yields? Run your autos under 16/8, 18/6, or 20/4 light cycles to keep those plants soaking up energy. Combine that with feminized autoflower seeds, and every plant you grow will be a bud-producing powerhouse.
How Much Can You Yield from Autoflower Marijuana Plants?
Autoflower yields can vary depending on several factors, but here’s a breakdown to help set realistic expectations:
- Indoors, most growers can expect 28–120g (1–4 oz) per plant. This depends on things like pot size, lighting intensity, nutrients, training techniques, and overall grow environment.
- Outdoors, if you’re growing in ideal conditions—think full sun, rich soil, and warm, stable weather—you might be able to push yields up to 150g (around 5 oz) per plant, especially with larger root zones and some gentle training.
However, it’s important to understand one of the key differences between autoflowers and photoperiod strains when it comes to yield:
Autoflowers have a fixed vegetative stage, usually just 2–3 weeks, before they automatically begin to flower. This means you can’t extend the veg phase to grow a bigger plant like you could with photoperiod genetics. The size—and therefore the potential yield—is mostly determined by how well the plant is supported during this short window.
So while you might not get the same monster harvests as you would from a big photoperiod plant with a long veg time, what you gain is speed, simplicity, and the ability to pull off multiple harvests per season.
Pro Tips for Growing Autoflower Seeds
One of the biggest perks of autoflowers is how easy and low-maintenance they are. That’s why they’re a solid choice for beginners—and still a go-to for experienced growers chasing fast turnarounds. But even easy grows can be optimized. So whether it’s your first grow or your fiftieth, here are some autoflower-specific tips from the team here at Auto Seeds.
Outdoor Autoflower Growing Tips
- Go stealth with small plants. Autoflowers naturally grow short and bushy—use that to your advantage. Tuck them behind fences, on balconies, or in a sunny corner of your garden for discreet growing.
- Autos don’t waste time in veg, so Low-Stress Training (LST) is the best method of training your plants without causing any stress. Start once your plant hits 3–4 nodes to open up more bud sites and boost airflow. Topping can work too, but only if you time it right.
- Stagger your grows. Because autoflower plants finish in as little as 8–10 weeks, you can germinate your next batch just before your current crop finishes. This lets you cycle through multiple harvests per season—outdoors or in a greenhouse.
Indoor Autoflower Growing Tips
- Go easy on the nutrients. Autoflower cannabis grows fast and stays compact, so your plants won’t need heavy feeding. Too much fertilizer can burn them—less is more.
- Start new seedlings every few weeks so your grow space is always running. It’s the autoflower version of a perpetual harvest.
- Since autos don’t need a 12/12 light schedule to flower, you can give them 16–20 hours of light a day from start to finish. Combine that with LST to keep those bud sites soaking it up, and you’ll be rewarded with fatter yields.
When to Harvest Autoflower Cannabis Plants
One of the best things about growing autoflowers is how quickly you get to harvest. Most strains from Auto Seeds are ready to chop down just 8–12 weeks after germination, depending on the variety and your growing conditions.
Because autoflowers develop fast, they don’t always have time to form a big, even canopy like longer-running photoperiod plants. That means top colas usually ripen first, while lower buds might need a little extra time. For the best results, we recommend a staggered harvest: trim the mature tops first, then give the lower buds a few more days to fatten up and ripen before taking those too.
Pro tip: Keep an eye on trichomes with a magnifier. Milky white means peak potency, and amber tones indicate more of a body-heavy effect—timing your harvest based on this can help tailor the buzz.
How potent are autoflowers today?
Very. While early autos topped out around 10–15% THC, modern high THC autoflower strains can now hit up to 26% THC—thanks to years of selective breeding by experienced breeders like us at Auto Seeds. Trust us, autos aren’t “weaker” anymore.
Are all your autoflower seeds feminized?
Yes—100% feminized autoflower seeds only. That means every plant will grow into a sticky, bud-producing female, so there’s no need to worry about spotting and removing males. More buds, less stress.
How do I store autoflower seeds at home?
Keep your seeds in an airtight container somewhere cool, dark, and dry. For long-term storage (6+ months), pop them in the fridge at around 6–8°C to maintain their freshness and germination power.
Why Buy Autoflower Seeds From Auto Seeds?
We’ve been perfecting autoflower genetics since 2008—long before they were cool. With our office in London, we ship can ship to anywhere in the UK within 3 days. Every batch of seeds we sell is rigorously tested for stability, germination, and potency—so you always know you’re planting the best.
Disclaimer: Please check your local laws before purchasing or germinating cannabis seeds. Cannabis cultivation is regulated or prohibited in many regions. By buying from Auto Seeds, you accept full responsibility for complying with all UK laws and regulations regarding cannabis.