Do Autoflowers Make Seeds?

Like every other plant autoflowers can make seeds, but you have to have a male and a female plant for this to work. Discover how breeders create autoflowering seeds, what stress conditions lead to seed production, and the roots of autoflower genetics. Learn about feminized seeds, why propagating autoflowers is impractical, and whether male auto plants exist.

Can autoflowers produce seeds?

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

Do autoflower plants produce autoflower seeds?

If both parent plants are autoflowering plants, then yes. However, the seeds produced by any cannabis plant, including autoflowers, inherit traits from both of their parents. Auto seeds are carefully bred by hybridizing a regular cannabis strain with a ruderalis variety, which passes on the autoflowering characteristic. If an auto plant is pollinated by a photoperiod strain, the produced seeds would not necessarily be autoflowers. The more breeding between autoflowers and photoperiods the more the ruderalis 'autoflowering' trait would be removed from the plant.

What causes a stressed autoflower make seeds?

Stress in all cannabis plants can make them make seeds and is actually a survival mechanism. When an auto plant experiences stress, which could be caused by anything such as feeding issues, physical damage or illness, it can cause the plant enter survival mode. In this state, the plant's main objective is to reproduce and keep its genetics going after it dies. While distressed a female plant can develop male flowers or become hermaphroditic, allowing it to pollinate itself. 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 turned hermie

How do you get an auto plant to produce seeds?

It's not a good idea to stress a plant into self-pollination as this could potentially damage the plant. Breeders use several pollination methods. One common method is manual 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, https://nativesusa.com/ (https://nativesusa.com) allowing natural breeding to occur. A more precise method is selective pollination, where breeders isolate specific branches of a female plant and brush pollen to those areas only.

Are auto seeds feminized?

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

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 auto genetics come from?

Autoflower genetics come from a wild cannabis species called Cannabis ruderalis, which is native to Siberia. The harsh weather conditions and short summers where it grows have forced the plants to adapt by developing the capacity to flower on their own, regardless of light cycles. This unique trait allows autoflowers to complete their life cycle fast, making them well-suited for regions with brief growing seasons. Breeders such as Auto Seeds have since crossed ruderalis with other cannabis strains to create modern autoflowers that combine automatic flowering with desirable traits like higher yields and potency.

Image reference: 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 big the plant is.

Why shouldn't you clone autoflowers?

While technically possible, cloning autoflower plants is just not very practical. Autoflowers only have 2-4 weeks in the vegetative stage and if you propagate an autoflower, it needs time to establish roots and start growing. However, before the clone can get established, the plant's internal 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. Standard autoflower seeds give you both male and female plants. However, you just don't find regular seeds very often unless you are breeding your own strains.