Do Autoflowers Make Seeds?
Like any other plant autoflowers can make seeds, https://nativesusa.com, but you have to have male and female plants plant for this to work. Discover how breeders create autoflowering seeds, what stress conditions lead to seeds forming, and the origins of autoflower genetics. Learn about feminised seeds, why propagating autoflowers is impractical, and whether male autoflowers exist.
Can autoflowers produce seeds?
Yes, in short autoflowers can make seeds. Breeders breed autoflowering seeds by fertilizing 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 male pollen, seeds will begin to grow within the flowers. The seeds will also carry the autoflowering trait.
Do autoflower plants produce seeds?
If both parents 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 carefully bred by crossing a regular cannabis strain with a ruderalis variety, which gives the autoflowering trait. If an auto plant is pollinated by a non-autoflowering strain, the resulting seeds would not necessarily be autoflowers. The more crossing between autoflowers and photoperiods the more the ruderalis genetics ‘autoflowering’ trait would be bred out of the plant.
What causes a distressed autoflower produce seeds?
Stress in all cannabis plants can cause them produce seeds and is really a survival mechanism. When an autoflower goes through stress, which could be caused 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 objective is to survive and keep its genetics going after it dies. While distressed a female plant can produce male flowers or become hermie, allowing it to self-pollinate. This auto-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 turned hermie
How do you get an auto plant to make seeds?
It’s not a wise choice to stress a plant into auto-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 carefully brush it onto the flowers of a female plant. The benefit 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 area, allowing natural breeding to occur. A more precise method is targeted pollination, where breeders separate specific branches of a female plant and brush pollen to those sections only.
Are autoflower seeds feminized?
No, not all autoflower seeds are feminised. However, to make your growing easier, all the seeds we stock at Auto Seeds are feminised.
Regular 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 autoflower genetics originate?
Autoflower genetics trace back to a wild cannabis variety 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 ability to flower automatically, 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 create modern autoflowers that bring together automatic flowering with useful traits like bigger yields and potency.
Image reference: wild ruderalis cannabis plant
How many seeds can a single autoflower plant make?
An individual autoflower plant can make over 1,000 cannabis seeds based on the strain and how large the plant is.
Why shouldn’t you propagate autoflower plants?
While theoretically possible, cloning autoflower plants is just not very practical. Autoflowers only spend 2-4 weeks in the veg stage and if you propagate an autoflower, it needs time to root and start growing. However, before the clone can get established, the plant’s biological clock will trigger it to start flowering. The outcome is a tiny, underdeveloped plant with minimal bud production.
So yes, you can clone 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 developing your own strains.