Will Cannabis Genetics Be Restricted?

Do Autoflowers Produce Seeds?

Like any other plant autoflowers can produce seeds, but you need male and female plants plant for this to happen. Learn how breeders create autoflowering seeds, what stress conditions lead to seed production, and the origins of autoflower genetics. Learn about feminised seeds, why propagating autoflowers is impractical, and whether male auto plants exist.

Can auto plants make seeds?

Yes, in short autoflowers can make seeds. Breeders create autoflowering seeds by pollinating female autoflower plants with male pollen. This method involves having both a mother plant and a male plant. When the flowers on the female plant have been fertilized by the male pollen, seeds will start to grow inside 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 produced by any cannabis plant, including autoflowers, inherit characteristics from both of their parents. Autoflower seeds are carefully bred by crossing a regular cannabis strain with a ruderalis strain, which gives the autoflowering trait. If an autoflower plant is pollinated by a non-autoflowering strain, the produced seeds would not necessarily be autoflowers. The more breeding between autoflowers and photoperiods the more the ruderalis ‘autoflowering’ trait would be bred out of the plant.

What makes a stressed autoflower make seeds?

Stress in all cannabis plants can cause them produce seeds and is actually a survival mechanism. When an autoflower goes through stress, https://nativesusa.com/, nativesusa.com, which could be caused by anything such as nutrient imbalances, physical damage or illness, it can make the plant go into survival mode. In this situation, the plant’s main goal is to survive and keep its genetics going after it dies. While distressed a female plant can develop male flowers or become hermie, allowing it to self-pollinate. This self-pollination results in the production 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 wise choice to stress a plant into self-pollination as this could potentially damage the plant. Breeders use various pollination methods. One popular method is hand pollination, where breeders collect 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 stronger 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 targeted pollination, where breeders isolate specific branches of a female plant and brush pollen to those sections only.

Are autoflower seeds feminised?

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

Standard autoflower seeds are available 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 autoflower genetics come from?

Autoflower genetics trace back to a wild cannabis species called Cannabis ruderalis, which is indigenous to Siberia. The extreme weather conditions and brief summers where it grows have pushed the plants to adapt by developing the ability to flower automatically, regardless of photoperiods. This unique trait allows autoflowers to complete their life cycle fast, making them ideal 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 desirable traits like higher yields and potency.

Image reference: wild ruderalis cannabis plant

How many seeds can a single autoflower plant produce?

An individual autoflower plant can make over 1,000 cannabis seeds depending on the strain and how big the plant is.

Why shouldn’t you clone autoflowers?

While theoretically possible, cloning autoflower plants is just not very effective. Autoflowers only have 2-4 weeks in the vegetative stage and if you propagate an autoflower, it requires time to root 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 tiny, underdeveloped plant with minimal 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 give you both male and female plants. However, you just don’t find regular seeds very frequently unless you are breeding your own strains.