Out of the 5 cannabis seed varieties that Growers Choice has to offer, autoflowering seeds are undoubtedly the most popular. Auto strains are generally said to be easier to grow and harvest throughout every cycle, particularly for beginner growers who are still learning the skill of cultivating a cannabis garden. In today’s post, we’ll walk you through some tips and tricks on how to maximize your autoflowering yields.
It’s every grower’s dream to cultivate the most product from a single cannabis plant. In order to achieve this, growers must start from square one with a single seed, hopefully, one from Growers Choice. Did you know that one single cannabis seed can produce up to $200 worth of cannabis? That ought to save a lot of trips to the dispensary, as well as a great deal of money in the long run. Your autoflowering yields have the power to live up to their full potential so long as you practice the following methods
Prepare and plan ahead
Autoflowering strains don’t give you a lot of time to overthink and act last-minute. In fact, most auto strains make the decisions themselves as to take some of the work off of your shoulders as a beginner. We like to call auto strains highly independent and self-motivated to grow as quickly as possible. Due to these characteristics, it’s critical to plan ahead.
- Have you thought about soil? Or no soil? Or hydroponics?
- What nutrients are you going to use?
- What about your lighting set-up?
- Are you an indoor or outdoor grower?
- Do you have a ventilation and watering system?
All questions you need to answer before you begin germination. If you’re unsure about any of these factors, do some more research before you dive headfirst into the growing cycle. We have an amazing following on Instagram where you can ask fellow growers questions in the comment section.
Play it safe with a single pot
Like most plants, cannabis often requires multiple pots throughout their maturity cycle to thrive. As your cannabis plant grows, so does its roots, which require larger and larger pots as time goes on. In the case of autoflowering strains, however, it’s better to play it safe with a single pot. Start your auto strain in its “final” pot as it spares you the time of re-potting and re-planting.
Experienced growers may wish to take the gamble with two pots throughout their plant’s cycle but beginners should stick to one. If you’re absolutely adamant about re-potting, make sure that all other factors remain precisely the same to maximize your autoflowering yields. This comes down to your soil, nutrients, lighting, water amounts, location, etc.
Follow a consistent light cycle
Due to auto strains’ resilient and tough nature, they can grow in just about any setting and lighting condition. That said, they certainly prefer a consistent light cycle that offers about 18 hours of direct sunlight followed by 6 hours of darkness. If you need to set a reminder or alarm clock on your phone, do so to make it easier. If you absolutely cannot move your plants within that time, rest assured that auto strains can still thrive with 12 hours of sunlight and 12 hours of darkness. They’re not super-duper picky.
Keep an eye on your nutrients and pH levels
Just because auto strains take some of the work off your shoulders, that doesn’t mean you can neglect them entirely for days on end. You need to check-in on your plants to make sure they have the correct quantity of nutrients as well as steady pH levels. Without regular check-ins, you run the likelihood of reducing your autoflowering yields.
Sometimes, beginners make the mistake of overloading their auto strains with nutrients to make it grow faster and larger. You’re actually harming your plants by doing this. It’s better to add more nutrients at a single time than to do all-in right away.
As for your soil’s pH levels, it should range between 6.0 to 7.0. Auto strains growing with the help of hydroponic systems do well from 5.5 to 6.5. It’s not necessary to maintain an exact number but keep it between 5.5 and 6.5 as much as possible.
Customize your experience
Despite all our tips and tricks, it’s important to know that YOU, the grower, also play a huge role in this. If you were to ask 100 growers how they maximized their autoflowering yields, you might get 100 different answers since every grower’s journey is slightly different. Don’t be afraid to play around with your grow room until you find the perfect fit for your lifestyle and budget. If you know you can’t afford a fancy LED light or hydroponics set-up, stick with good ol’ soil. It’s never let us down before.
