One of the things that growers like to do is to look through various seed guides and online reviews and postings regarding different types of available strains. Some of them will refer to “autoflowering” plants. But just what does “autoflowering” really mean? Why would a grower choose to select an autoflowering plant variety?

In this article we'll discuss the reasons behind choosing an autoflower, what an autoflower is and how to set the right conditions in your garden to get the most out of an autoflower plant. 

The definition of an autoflowering plant variety is a relatively simple one. Basically, after a period of time, the plant will begin to flower automatically rather than waiting for a specified light cycle. Autoflower strains will flower on their own just after a relatively brief vegetative period which usually lasts about 2-6 weeks.

This species of plant (autoflowers) is the result of breeders who have combined certain strains of plants together over a period of time. They carefully chose particular plants with certain traits - such as fast and automatic flowering, resin and essential oil grade, flavours and amount of yields. Then once desired plants are selected they pollinate them together to create an autoflower strain. 

Before we begin a discussion on the techniques employed to raise autoflowering plants, let’s take a look at some of the advantages and caveats of growing this type of plant variety.

• An autoflowering plant is relatively small and can be considered perfect for those who have a small growing space, such as a closet or a small corner of a backyard.
  
• An autoflowering plant is able to create larger buds/flowers than regular plants by being able to receive a greater amount of light (over 12 hours in a day)
  
• For indoor growers an autoflowering plant will allow for rapid growth, they usually only need 3 months to mature and be ready for harvest. This allows you to grow up to 4 different crops a year!
  
• No matter how much sunlight they are receiving, an autoflowering plant will begin flowering whenever it's ready. 
  

But along with the pros, there are also reasons why autoflowering plants are not popular with growers.

• Autoflowering plants tend to produce smaller yields when compared to other plant strains, mainly due to their size.
  
• It can be challenging to “train” your plants to make the most of a small growing area.

However, the good news is that quite a bit of work has been done in order to increase the benefits of autoflowering plants. For example, there are many more different strains of autoflowering plants available now when compared to 10 years ago. In addition, herb potency has increased significantly as well. Because of these recent improvements, it can be advantageous for a new (or just curious) grower to give autoflowering plants a try.

One of the first things that you want to consider is the growing climate. Your autoflower plants will be flowering when normal plants will still be still in the vegetative state. Because of this, growers need to be aware of the life cycle of autoflowers and the seasons in their state / country.  Climates do vary a from state to state, for example growing Autoflowers in Queensland, especially the northern tropics can be achieved pretty much all year around.  However in Victoria where there are harsher winters you may have to have a small break during the peak of winter. 

Take note of your garden through-out the year and find where the sun hits during particular months. This will ensure you plants are in a sunny position their entire life cycle. If it's your first time growing we recommend planting them in pots which allows you to move them as the seasons change. We recommend this as you could plant your plants in a sunny position but then in 2 months time when the sun moves position they could be in shade all day long. This will drastically cut your harvest - which no one wants!

In colder climates you’ll also need to ensure that your plants are getting enough warmth in order for them to grow during winter. Planting near a building or cement wall usually helps retain a little bit of heat.  Also, if you’re growing outdoors, you need to consider that too much rain may cause your flowers to begin rotting. If you are getting a lot of rain shake the branches regularly to get rid of any excess water. 

With a bit of practise and experience in the changing seasons you can do very well with autoflowers outdoors. 

Below is a general lighting guide for growing autoflowers indoors.  

During germination, the first – 7-10 days have your lights on for 20 hours and then off for 4 hours . Having correct propagation equipment helps a lot with seed raising and striking clones. We usually recommend using  T5 lighting or LED's for propagation.

Once your plants have propagated and are about to start the growth cycle use HID or LED lights and follow the lighting cycles below:

1^st and 2^nd week – 18 hours on and 6 hours off

3^rd to 10^th week – 16 hours on and 8 hours off

10^th to 12^th week - 12 hours on and 12 hours off.

Of course, as with other plants, you will want to gradually proceed with feeding  your autoflowers - rather than instantly going to the maximum dose. The building up of nutrition should match the plant’s growth. Most autoflowering plants don't want an EC over 1.8. if your ec if higher than 1.8 it will hurt your growth.

 In regards to nutrients selecting the right type for your medium is vital. For example you will need different nutrients for growing in coco when compared to growing in water or soil. Using a nutrient that has been made specifically for the type of plant your growing also always helps. 

 Here is a simple EC and pH growing chart for autoflowers grown hydroponically:

Choosing the right amount of plants for your garden is essential. Too many plants and your garden will be crowded and the plants will suffer. Too little and your wasting energy and losing on yields. For example, say that you have a 1.2M/Sq growing space. A non-autoflowering plant will easily fill this sized space. However, when growing autoflowering plants you could fit 4-6 plants in that area. 

You should be aware that autoflowering plants won’t have time to create a canopy like regular plants will. Because of this it’s best to sequentially harvest your crop. Take the mature flowers first and then wait for the lower ones to become more dense prior to the next harvest. You can do this two or three times until the entire plant is harvested. 

So that you can get the most out of your garden, you’ll want to prepare your next lot of plants before you start harvesting. By doing this, your growing area will be producing continuously meaning a higher overall yearly yield. With autoflowering plants, you’ll have some plants that are already flowering while others are just beginning to grow. Organisation and planning ahead is key to get the most out of your autoflower garden!