5 Tips: How To Grow Autoflowering Seeds By Philosopher Seeds

The Philosopher Seeds breeding team is constantly working on the development of its autoflowering strains. Thanks to the group of growers and other people involved in collaborating with this solid team, Philosopher Seeds gathers information regarding all the varieties being grown and makes it available to our community in this interesting post on 5 amazing tips to grow autoflowering cannabis. They will surely be of great help for your cannabis garden, and you will obtain the best results from each autoflowering variety of this committed seed bank.

1. Single transplant and pot size

Autoflowering varieties have a fixed life span limit before birth. These plants, in particular, need only 60-70 days to complete their lifecycle (growth/flowering). Therefore, the number of transplants and the pot size are determining factors to be considered if good yields are desired. With a single transplant into the final pot (11-18 litres) just after germination, combined with a good lighting photoperiod, you will ensure maximum performance for each plant you grow. With the cannabis strain Fraggle Skunk Auto you will be able to obtain up to 100-125 grams per plant.

2. Ideal for off-season outdoor growing and places near the Equator

These little beauties are not dependent on the number of hours of light they get to start flowering. 30 days after germination, they will begin to form flower clusters very quickly. In places near the Equator, where there is always a photoperiod of nearly 12 hours of light and 12 hour of darkness and marijuana plants need extra light support during the first weeks of life, this type of seeds is ideal. Very easy to grow and ready to harvest in just 60-70 days from germination, these strains have very compact and aromatic buds, especially the marijuana strain Cheesy Auto, with its heady and intense fragrance.

For off-season outdoor growing, automatic varieties offer the possibility of growing before the spring-summer season, during the first 70 days of spring (dates depending upon hemisphere), and starting a second crop which would be germinated in the middle of summer and harvested in autumn (dates depending upon hemisphere). These are short-cycle crops and allow us to harvest very early.

3. Perfect photoperiod for autoflowering seeds

To obtain higher yields and more compact flowers, and as long as the required space and height are available (not in small spaces and with low consumption lamps) it is important to perform an initial vegetative period with a photoperiod of 20 hours light and 4 hours of darkness during the first 3-4 weeks (depending on the variety) until you get the desired height.

After that, the photoperiod can be reduced to 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness. With this technique, much more compact fruits are obtained and less time for flowering is needed. Most autoflowering varieties from Philosopher Seeds are harvested within 60-70 days (from seed germination) depending on the phenotypes that are being grown.

4. For low-consumption lighting and small spaces only

Automatic plants are ideal for small spaces and places where low-consumption lighting systems like LEDs are used. These crops are grown in a different way compared to the previous examples, in which there was sufficient space for the plants to grow. Here we are interested in reducing the size of our plants to the desired height, making plants to flower in spaces of just 60-90 centimetres.

In contrast to previous techniques, here we want to keep the plants in an average-sized pot (depending on the available space for your crop). These are 2-5 L. pots per plant. As soon as the roots colonize the bottom of the pot, they will begin to flower regardless of their actual size.

5. Type of substrate and feeding for autoflowering seeds

Using a substrate which is suitable for the nutritional needs of automatic varieties is very important. For this type of plants it is important to prepare a substrate that has enough oxygen in order to allow rapid root growth during the first weeks of life. Good roots means higher yields. If you add 15% of coco coir to the soil mix, as well as a good auxin-based stimulant during the first 30 days of life, this will ensure a lush and healthy plant growth.

The level of nitrogen in the soil should be very low and the substrate should be properly fertilized; using the “All-Mix” type of substrates is not a very good idea. Plants will be over-fertilized during the first days and this will hinder the final growth and the yield of each plant. Best results are obtained with Light Mix substrates (especially those by Plagron). Very good results are also obtained with inert substrates like coco coir, even in hydroponic systems for the most experienced growers.

Conclusion

These varieties are ground-breaking in the current world of cannabis growing, and they offer new growing techniques while extending the possibilities of growers worldwide. Today, many seed banks are adding these seeds to their collections. You can now choose your autoflowering varieties from Philosopher Seeds at Zamnesia and enjoy a pleasant experience with each of its automatic varieties.

Miguel Antonio Ordoñez

With an AB Mass Media and Communications degree, Miguel Ordoñez is a veteran writer of 13 years and counting and has been covering cannabis-related content since 2017. Continuous, meticulous research along with personal experience has helped him build a deep well of knowledge on the subject.

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