Do Auto Plants 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 breed autoflowering seeds, what stress factors lead to seeds forming, and the origins of autoflower genetics. Read about feminised seeds, why cloning autoflowers is impractical, and https://nativesusa.com/; nativesusa.com, whether male autoflowers exist.

Can auto plants make seeds?

Yes, in short autoflowers can produce seeds. Breeders create autoflowering seeds by fertilizing female autoflower plants with male pollen. This method involves having both a mother plant and a father plant. When the flowers on the female plant have been pollinated by the pollen, seeds will begin to grow inside the flowers. The seeds will also carry the autoflowering trait.

Do autoflowers produce autoflower seeds?

If both parent plants are autoflowering plants, then yes. However, the seeds produced by any cannabis plant, such as autoflowers, inherit traits from both of their parents. Autoflower seeds are specifically bred by hybridizing a regular cannabis strain with a ruderalis variety, 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 crossing between autoflowers and photoperiods the more the ruderalis 'autoflowering' trait would be bred out of the plant.

What makes a distressed autoflower produce seeds?

Stress in all cannabis plants can cause them make seeds and is really a survival mechanism. When an auto plant experiences stress, which could be triggered by anything such as nutrient imbalances, physical damage or disease, it can cause the plant enter 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 produce male flowers or become hermaphroditic, allowing it to pollinate itself. This self-pollination results in the creation of seeds, which the plant produces as a way to survive to ensure its genetic line continues despite the stress.

Image reference: cannabis plant that has hermied

How do you get an autoflower to produce seeds?

It's not a wise choice to stress a plant into auto-pollination as this could potentially harm the plant. Breeders use various pollination methods. One common method is hand pollination, where breeders gather pollen from a male plant and carefully brush it onto the flowers 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 breed those, creating even stronger 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 targeted pollination, where breeders isolate specific branches of a female plant and brush pollen to those areas only.

Are autoflower seeds feminized?

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

Standard autoflower seeds are sold and will give you both male and female autoflower plants. However, they are not very common and unless you are a breeder cultivating regular autoflowers is pointless.

Where does autoflower genetics originate?

Autoflower genetics come from a wild cannabis variety 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 on their own, 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 create modern autoflowers that combine automatic flowering with useful traits like higher yields and potency.

Image reference: ruderalis cannabis plant

How many seeds can an individual autoflower plant make?

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

Why shouldn't you propagate autoflowers?

While technically 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 get established, the plant's biological clock will cause it to start flowering. The result 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 couple of joints.

Can you get male auto plants?

Yes, you can get male auto plants. Standard autoflower seeds give you both male and female plants. However, you just don't see regular seeds very often unless you are breeding your own strains.