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A Complete Guide to the Autoflower Lifecycle

A Complete Guide to the Autoflower Lifecycle

Introduction 

Autoflower cannabis seeds are a rising trend in the industry. According to an article published in 2023 by Forbes, regular seeds dominated the market just five years ago, with feminized and autoflowering seeds being a “hard sell.” But breeders are seeing a significant rise in popularity due to the efficiency, convenience, and stability offered by autoflowering seeds.

In this article, we discuss the autoflower lifecycle. If you’ve ever been curious about how these genetically modified seeds work, read on for a brief but comprehensive analysis of this rising cultivation trend.

What is the Autoflower Lifecycle?

Autoflower cannabis plants, also known as “day neutral,” are strains created by crossbreeding pants with a wild subtype of cannabis called ruderalis. These varieties are genetically modified to switch from vegetative growth to flowering once they reach a certain age. Regular seeds require a reduction in light through the transition from summer to fall or using artificial lights.   

The lifecycle of autoflower plants is what makes them so appealing to modern cannabis cultivators. Rather than worrying about when the vegetative stage has ended autoflowers will switch into flower without changing the plant’s day period.

The Stages of Autoflower Lifecycle

One of the benefits of autoflower plants is the cultivation process remains essentially the same, other than reducing the burden of changing their light-to-dark schedule. Autoflower plants have the same stages of plant development as regular plants:

  • Germination (1-2 days)
  • Seedling (Week 1-3)
  • Vegetative (Week 3-6)  
  • Flowering (Week 7-12)

While all varieties are different, autoflower seeds typically have a shorter lifecycle. That means you won’t have to worry about switching your lighting schedule (or for the days to get shorter), and you can fit more production cycles into a year.

Cultivation Tips for Autoflower Plants

Autoflower seeds are also usually fast-growing plants, requiring adjustments if you want to get the most out of your crop.   

Consider the following tips to increase yields, optimize airflow, and maximize space:

  • Avoid the high-stress training (HST) method
  • Try the low-stress training (LST) method
  • Pick the right strain
  • Germinate in the final pot
  • Try the sea of green (SOG) method
  • Don’t overwater
  • Optimize nutrients and soil

Autoflower Strains from Trilogene Seeds

In the past, many growers have hesitated to use autoflower seeds because they fear they aren’t as consistent as the strain’s regular counterpart. However, with genetic stabilization techniques and years of experience optimizing autoflower strains, we’re 100% confident in our autoflower seed selection.

Browse our autoflower options here, and if you have any questions about growing autos or any other seeds from Trilogene, don’t hesitate to contact us!

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