Do Autoflowers Produce Seeds?
Like every other plant autoflowers can produce seeds, but you have to have male and female plants plant for this to work. Learn how breeders breed autoflowering seeds, what stress conditions lead to seed production, and the roots of autoflower genetics. Learn about feminised seeds, why propagating autoflowers is impractical, and whether male auto plants exist.
Can autoflowers make seeds?
Yes, in short autoflowers can produce seeds. Breeders breed autoflowering seeds by pollinating female autoflower plants with male pollen. This process involves having both a female plant and a male plant. When the buds on the female plant have been fertilized by the pollen, seeds will begin to grow within the flowers. The seeds will also inherit the autoflowering trait.
Do autoflower plants produce seeds?
If both parents are autoflowering plants, then yes. However, the seeds made by any cannabis plant, including autoflowers, inherit characteristics from both of their parents. Autoflower seeds are specifically bred by hybridizing a regular cannabis strain with a ruderalis variety, which passes on the autoflowering characteristic. If an auto plant is pollinated by a photoperiod strain, the produced 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 causes a stressed autoflower produce seeds?
Stress in all cannabis plants can cause them make seeds and is actually a survival mechanism. When an auto plant goes through stress, which could be triggered by anything such as nutrient imbalances, physical damage or disease, it can cause the plant go into survival mode. In this situation, the plant’s main goal is to reproduce and keep its genetics going after it dies. While distressed a female plant can produce male flowers or become hermaphroditic, allowing it to self-pollinate. This self-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 autoflower to make seeds?
It’s not a good idea to stress a plant into self-pollination as this could potentially damage the plant. Breeders use several pollination methods. One popular method is hand pollination, where breeders gather pollen from a male plant and gently brush it onto the buds 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 better offspring.
Another method is open pollination, where male and female plants are grown together in the same space, allowing natural pollination 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 feminized?
No, not all auto seeds are feminised. However, to make your growing easier, all the seeds we stock at Auto Seeds are feminized.
Standard autoflower seeds are sold and will produce 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 indigenous to Siberia. The extreme weather conditions and brief summers where it grows have forced the plants to adapt by developing the capacity to flower on their own, regardless of light cycles. This unique trait allows autoflowers to finish their life cycle quickly, making them well-suited for regions with brief growing seasons. 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 nativesusa.com, potency.
Image reference: wild ruderalis cannabis plant
How many seeds can an individual autoflower plant produce?
An individual autoflower plant can produce over 1,000 cannabis seeds depending 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 have 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 internal clock will cause it to start flowering. The outcome is a small, underdeveloped plant with almost no bud production.
So yes, you can propagate autoflowers, but you would only produce enough weed for a few joints.
Can you get male auto plants?
Yes, you can get male auto plants. Regular autoflower seeds produce both male and female plants. However, you just don’t find regular seeds very often unless you are developing your own strains.