Do Autoflowers Produce Seeds?
Like every other plant autoflowers can make seeds, but you need a male and a female plant for this to happen. Learn how breeders create autoflowering seeds, what stress conditions lead to seed production, https://nativesusa.com/ (nativesusa.com) and the roots of autoflower genetics. Learn about feminised seeds, why propagating autoflowers is impractical, and whether male autoflowers exist.
Can autoflowers make seeds?
Yes, in brief autoflowers can produce seeds. Breeders create autoflowering seeds by pollinating female autoflower plants with pollen. This method involves having both a female plant and a father 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 carry the autoflowering trait.
Do autoflowers produce autoflower seeds?
If both parents 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 crossing a regular cannabis strain with a ruderalis variety, which passes on the autoflowering trait. If an autoflower plant is pollinated by a non-autoflowering strain, the produced seeds would not necessarily be autoflowers. The more crossing between autoflowers and non-autoflowers the more the ruderalis genetics ‘autoflowering’ trait would be bred out of the plant.
What makes a distressed autoflower produce seeds?
Stress in all cannabis plants can cause them produce seeds and is actually a survival mechanism. When an auto plant experiences stress, which could be triggered by anything such as nutrient imbalances, physical damage or illness, it can make the plant go into survival mode. In this state, the plant’s main goal is to survive and keep its genetics going after it dies. While stressed a female plant can develop male flowers or become hermie, allowing it to pollinate itself. This self-pollination results in the production of seeds, which the plant produces as a way to survive to ensure its genetics continues despite the stress.
Image reference: cannabis plant that has turned hermie
How do you get an auto plant to produce seeds?
It’s not a good idea to stress a plant into auto-pollination as this could potentially harm the plant. Breeders use various 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 benefit of this approach is that as a breeder you can choose the best female plant and the best male plant and only breed those, creating even stronger offspring.
Another method is open pollination, where male and female plants are grown together in the same space, allowing natural breeding to occur. A more precise method is selective pollination, where breeders separate specific branches of a female plant and apply pollen to those areas only.
Are auto seeds feminized?
No, not all autoflower seeds are feminized. However, to make your life easier, all the seeds we carry at Auto Seeds are feminised.
Regular 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 cultivating regular autoflowers is unnecessary.
Where does autoflower genetics originate?
Autoflower genetics trace back to a wild cannabis species called Cannabis ruderalis, which is native to Siberia. The extreme weather conditions and short summers where it grows have pushed the plants to adapt by developing the ability to flower on their own, regardless of photoperiods. This special trait allows autoflowers to complete their life cycle quickly, making them ideal 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 desirable traits like higher yields and potency.
Image reference: ruderalis cannabis plant
How many seeds can a single 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 spend 2-4 weeks in the veg 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 result is a small, underdeveloped plant with minimal 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 autoflowers. Regular autoflower seeds produce both male and female plants. However, you just don’t see regular seeds very frequently unless you are breeding your own strains.