Do Autoflowers Produce Seeds?
Like every other plant autoflowers can make seeds, but you have to have a male and a female plant for this to happen. Discover how breeders breed autoflowering seeds, what stress conditions lead to seeds forming, and the origins of autoflower genetics. Learn about feminised seeds, why cloning autoflowers is impractical, and whether male auto plants exist.
Can auto plants produce seeds?
Yes, in short autoflowers can produce seeds. Breeders breed autoflowering seeds by pollinating female autoflower plants with male pollen. This method involves having both a mother plant and a male plant. When the buds on the female plant have been pollinated by the pollen, seeds will begin to grow inside the flowers. The seeds will also inherit the autoflowering trait.
Do autoflowers produce seeds?
If both parent plants are autoflowering plants, then yes. However, the seeds produced by any cannabis plant, such as autoflowers, inherit characteristics from both of their parents. Autoflower seeds are carefully bred by hybridizing a regular cannabis strain with a ruderalis variety, which gives the autoflowering trait. If an auto plant is pollinated by a non-autoflowering strain, the resulting seeds would not necessarily be autoflowers. The more breeding between autoflowers and photoperiods the more the ruderalis 'autoflowering' trait would be removed from the plant.
What makes a distressed autoflower produce seeds?
Stress in all cannabis plants can make them make 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 go into survival mode. In this state, the plant's main objective is to survive and keep its genetics alive after it dies. While stressed a female plant can produce male flowers or become hermie, allowing it to pollinate itself. This auto-pollination results in the creation of seeds, which the plant creates as a natural response to ensure its genetics continues despite the stress.
Image reference: cannabis plant that has hermied
How do you get an auto plant to make seeds?
It's not a wise choice to stress a plant into auto-pollination as this could potentially harm the plant. Breeders use various pollination methods. One popular method is manual pollination, where breeders gather pollen from a male plant and gently brush it onto the flowers of a female plant. The advantage of this approach is that as a breeder you can select the best female plant and the best male plant and only cross those, creating even stronger offspring.
Another method is open pollination, where male and female plants are grown together in the same area, allowing natural breeding to occur. A more controlled approach is selective pollination, where breeders isolate specific branches of a female plant and brush pollen to those areas only.
Are auto seeds feminised?
No, not all auto seeds are feminized. However, to make your growing easier, https://nativesusa.com/ (https://nativesusa.com/) all the seeds we stock at Auto Seeds are feminised.
Standard autoflower seeds are sold and will give you both male and female autoflower plants. However, they are not very popular and unless you are a breeder growing regular autoflowers is unnecessary.
Where does auto genetics come from?
Autoflower genetics come from a wild cannabis species called Cannabis ruderalis, which is native to Siberia. The harsh weather conditions and brief summers where it grows have pushed the plants to adapt by developing the ability to flower automatically, regardless of light cycles. This special trait allows autoflowers to finish their life cycle quickly, making them ideal for regions with brief growing seasons. Breeders such as Auto Seeds have since crossed ruderalis with other cannabis strains to create modern autoflowers that bring together automatic flowering with desirable traits like higher yields and potency.
Image reference: wild ruderalis cannabis plant
How many seeds can a single autoflower plant produce?
A single autoflower plant can make over 1,000 cannabis seeds based on the strain and how large 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 vegetative stage and if you clone an autoflower, it requires time to establish roots and start growing. However, before the clone can establish itself, the plant's biological clock will trigger it to start flowering. The outcome 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 couple of joints.
Can you get male auto plants?
Yes, you can get male auto plants. Regular autoflower seeds give you both male and female plants. However, you just don't see regular seeds very often unless you are breeding your own strains.
