Do Autoflowers Produce Seeds?

Like any other plant autoflowers can make seeds, but you have to have male and female plants plant for this to happen. Discover how breeders create autoflowering seeds, what stress conditions lead to seed production, https://nativesusa.com/ (https://nativesusa.com/) and the roots of autoflower genetics. Read about feminized seeds, why propagating autoflowers is impractical, and whether male autoflowers exist.

Can autoflowers make seeds?

Yes, in short autoflowers can make seeds. Breeders breed autoflowering seeds by fertilizing female autoflower plants with male pollen. This method involves having both a female plant and a male plant. When the buds on the female plant have been fertilized by the male pollen, seeds will start to grow within the flowers. The seeds will also inherit the autoflowering trait.

Do autoflower plants produce seeds?

If both parent plants are autoflowering plants, then yes. However, the seeds made by any cannabis plant, such as autoflowers, inherit traits from both of their parents. Auto seeds are specifically bred by crossing a regular cannabis strain with a ruderalis strain, which gives the autoflowering trait. If an auto plant is pollinated by a photoperiod strain, the produced seeds would not necessarily be autoflowers. The more crossing between autoflowers and photoperiods the more the ruderalis 'autoflowering' trait would be bred out of the plant.

What makes a distressed autoflower make seeds?

Stress in all cannabis plants can cause them make seeds and is actually a survival mechanism. When an autoflower goes through stress, which could be triggered by anything such as feeding issues, physical damage or illness, it can make the plant go into survival mode. In this situation, the plant's main objective is to reproduce and keep its genetics alive after it dies. While distressed a female plant can produce male flowers or become hermie, allowing it to pollinate itself. This self-pollination results in the creation of seeds, which the plant produces as a natural response to ensure its genetic line 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 wise choice 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 collect pollen from a male plant and carefully 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 better offspring.

Another method is natural pollination, where male and female plants are grown together in the same space, allowing natural pollination 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 autoflower seeds feminised?

No, not all autoflower seeds are feminised. However, to make your life easier, all the seeds we stock at Auto Seeds are feminised.

Standard autoflower seeds are available and will give you 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 auto genetics originate?

Autoflower genetics come from a wild cannabis species called Cannabis ruderalis, which is native to Siberia. The extreme weather conditions and brief summers where it grows have forced the plants to adapt by developing the ability to flower automatically, regardless of photoperiods. This special trait allows autoflowers to finish their life cycle quickly, making them well-suited for regions with shorter summers. Breeders such as Auto Seeds have since hybridized ruderalis with other cannabis strains to create modern autoflowers that combine automatic flowering with desirable traits like higher yields and potency.

Image reference: wild ruderalis cannabis plant

How many seeds can an individual autoflower plant make?

An individual autoflower plant can produce over 1,000 cannabis seeds based on the strain and how large the plant is.

Why shouldn't you propagate autoflower plants?

While technically possible, cloning autoflower plants is just not very effective. Autoflowers only spend 2-4 weeks in the veg stage and if you clone an autoflower, it needs time to establish roots and start growing. However, before the clone can establish itself, the plant's internal clock will trigger it to start flowering. The outcome is a tiny, underdeveloped plant with almost no bud production.

So yes, you can propagate 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 produce both male and female plants. However, you just don't see regular seeds very often unless you are breeding your own strains.