Do Autoflowers Make Seeds?
Like every other plant autoflowers can produce seeds, but you have to have male and female plants plant for this to happen. Learn how breeders create autoflowering seeds, what stress factors lead to seed production, and the roots of autoflower genetics. Read about feminised seeds, why propagating autoflowers is ineffective, and whether male auto plants exist.
Can autoflowers make seeds?
Yes, in brief autoflowers can produce seeds. Breeders breed autoflowering seeds by fertilizing female autoflower plants with male pollen. This process involves having both a mother plant and a father plant. When the flowers on the female plant have been pollinated by the male pollen, seeds will begin to grow within the flowers. The seeds will also carry the autoflowering trait.
Do autoflowers produce autoflower seeds?
If both parents are autoflowering plants, then yes. However, the seeds made 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 strain, which gives the autoflowering characteristic. If an autoflower plant is pollinated by a non-autoflowering strain, the resulting seeds would not necessarily be autoflowers. The more crossing between autoflowers and non-autoflowers the more the ruderalis genetics 'autoflowering' trait would be removed from the plant.
What causes a stressed autoflower produce seeds?
Stress in all cannabis plants can make them make seeds and is actually a survival mechanism. When an autoflower goes through stress, which could be triggered by anything such as nutrient imbalances, physical damage or illness, it can cause the plant enter survival mode. In this state, the plant's main goal is to reproduce and keep its genetics going after it dies. While stressed a female plant can develop male flowers or become hermaphroditic, allowing it to self-pollinate. This auto-pollination results in the production of seeds, which the plant creates as a way to survive to ensure its genetics continues despite the stress.
Image reference: cannabis plant that has hermied
How do you get an auto plant to produce seeds?
It's not a good idea to stress a plant into self-pollination as this could potentially harm the plant. Breeders use several pollination methods. One common method is hand pollination, where breeders collect 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 choose 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 pollination to occur. A more precise method is targeted pollination, where breeders isolate specific branches of a female plant and apply pollen to those areas only.
Are autoflower seeds feminised?
No, not all auto seeds are feminised. However, to make your growing easier, all the seeds we carry at Auto Seeds are feminised.
Regular autoflower seeds are available and will give you both male and female autoflower plants. However, they are not very common and unless you are a breeder growing regular autoflowers is unnecessary.
Where does auto genetics originate?
Autoflower genetics come from a wild cannabis species called Cannabis ruderalis, which is indigenous to Siberia. The extreme weather conditions and short summers where it grows have pushed the plants to adapt by developing the ability to flower automatically, regardless of photoperiods. This special trait allows autoflowers to complete their life cycle fast, making them well-suited for regions with shorter summers. Breeders such as Auto Seeds have since hybridized ruderalis with other cannabis strains to develop modern autoflowers that bring together automatic flowering with useful traits like bigger yields and potency.
Image reference: ruderalis cannabis plant
How many seeds can an individual autoflower plant make?
An individual autoflower plant can produce over 1,000 cannabis seeds depending on the strain and https://nativesusa.com/ (LINK) how big the plant is.
Why shouldn't you propagate autoflower plants?
While technically possible, cloning autoflower plants is just not very practical. Autoflowers only spend 2-4 weeks in the veg stage and if you propagate an autoflower, it needs time to establish roots and start growing. However, before the clone can get established, the plant's biological clock will trigger it to start flowering. The outcome is a small, underdeveloped plant with minimal bud production.
So yes, you can clone autoflowers, but you would only grow enough weed for a few joints.
Can you get male autoflowers?
Yes, you can get male auto plants. Standard autoflower seeds give you both male and female plants. However, you just don't find regular seeds very frequently unless you are developing your own strains.
