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Get tips on how to grow autoflowering cannabis indoors. Learn about the best soil, nutrients, and lighting for autoflowers.
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Autoflowering Cannabis
Autoflowering cannabis is a type of cannabis plant that flowers automatically without the need for light cycle changes. Unlike traditional cannabis strains, autoflowers do not rely on a change in the ratio of light to darkness (photoperiod) to flower. This means that they can be grown in areas with shorter seasons and can be harvested more than once per year.
The difference between autoflowers and photoperiod plants
Autoflowers are cannabis plants that flower based on their age, rather than the light cycle. This means they have a shorter overall life cycle, and can be grown in areas where the seasons are shorter or even indoors all year round. They are typically smaller plants as well.
Photoperiod cannabis plants flower based on the light cycle. They need a period of uninterrupted darkness (12 hours or more) to trigger flowering. In nature, this occurs when the days start getting shorter in autumn. Indoors, you can control the light cycle to make your plants flower whenever you want.
Advantages of autoflowers
Advantages of autoflowers:
-Autoflowers are easier to grow than regular cannabis. They don’t need as much attention and care, and they can be grown in smaller spaces.
-Autoflowers have a shorter growing season than regular cannabis. They can be ready to harvest in as little as 8 weeks from seed.
-Autoflowers are more resistant to pests and diseases than regular cannabis. They don’t need as much pesticides and herbicides.
-Autoflowers can be grown indoors or outdoors. They don’t need as much light as Regular cannabis, so they can be grown in places where it’s not possible to grow regular cannabis (like under lights in an attic).
Growing Autoflowers Indoors
If you want to grow autoflowering cannabis indoors, there are a few things you need to know. First of all, you need to understand that autoflowers are different from regular cannabis strains. They don’t rely on a light cycle to produce buds and flowers. Instead, they will flower and buds based on their age. This means that you can grow them year-round, regardless of the season.
Light
If you grow autoflowering cannabis indoors, you need to provide extra light during the flowering stage. The extra light will help the plants produce more buds.
To provide extra light, you can either use artificial lights or you can move your plants outdoors so they can get more sunlight.
If you use artificial lights, make sure to position the lights so they evenly cover all of the plants. You also need to make sure that the lights are not too close to the plants, as this can cause them to get damaged.
Ideally, you should position the lights so they are about 2 inches (5 cm) away from the top of the plant. You can adjust the height of the lights as needed to maintain this distance.
If you move your plants outdoors, make sure to do it gradually so they can adjust to the change in light levels. Start by moving them outdoors for a few hours each day and then increase the amount of time they spend outside until they are getting full sunlight for most of the day.
Temperature
Temperature is one of the most important environmental factors for autoflowering cannabis. If your grow space is too hot or too cold, your plants will suffer.
Ideally, the temperature in your grow space should be between 70-80°F (21-27°C) during the day and 60-70°F (15-21°C) at night. If the temperature gets too high or too low, your plants will start to show signs of stress.
If the temperature in your grow space is too hot, your plants will start to wilt and their leaves will turn brown and dry. If the temperature is too cold, your plants will start to turn yellow and their leaves will become brittle.
To keep your autoflowers happy, you’ll need to provide them with a consistent temperature. You can do this by using a fan to circulate air in your grow space or by using a heat lamp to raise the temperature if it gets too cold.
Humidity
Autoflowers are much more resilient to humidity fluctuations than regular cannabis strains, but you should still try to keep a consistent level of humidity in your grow room. If the air is too dry, your plants will suffer from stress and their leaves will start to curl up. If the air is too humid, your plants may develop mold or mildew.
The ideal humidity level for autoflowers is between 40% and 60%. You can measure the humidity in your grow room with a hygrometer, which is a tool that measures the amount of water vapor in the air.
To keep the air in your grow room at the ideal humidity level, you can use a humidifier or dehumidifier, or you can Ventilation to exchange air with the outside world. This will also help to regulate the temperature in your grow room.
Ventilation
Autoflowers don’t like it too hot, so good ventilation is a must. If you don’t have a fan, get one. You’ll need it to keep the air moving and prevent your plants from getting too hot. If you can’t keep the room cool, autoflowers will suffer and your yields will be smaller.
Nutrients
Your autoflowering cannabis plants need the right amount of nutrients in order to grow and produce buds. Nutrients are essential for all plants, but cannabis plants are especially needy when it comes to getting their nutrient needs met. There are a few different ways to provide nutrients to your plants.
Fertilizers
Autoflowering cannabis plants are relatively small and have a short lifespan compared to regular cannabis strains. This means that they have a high nutrient demand and can quickly become nutrient-deficient if not properly fertilized.
There are many different types of fertilizers available on the market, but not all of them are suitable for autoflowering plants. In general, autoflowers do best with organic, slow-release fertilizers that are high in phosphorus and low in nitrogen. However, every plant is different, so it’s important to experiment to see what works best for your particular strain.
Some good fertilizers for autoflowers include bat guano, worm castings, and coco coir. There are also many commercially available products designed specifically for autoflowers. As always, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to avoid over or under-fertilizing your plants.
pH
Proper pH is essential for nutrient uptake. The ideal range for autoflowering cannabis is between 6 and 7. You can easily check the pH of your water and soil with inexpensive testing kits available at most hardware stores, online, or at your local grow shop.
If the pH of your soil or water is too low (acidic), you can raise it by adding lime to your soil or using a pH UP solution to your water. If the pH is too high (alkaline), you can lower it by adding sulfur to your soil or using a pH DOWN solution to your water. Don’t worry if the pH is slightly off, as autoflowers are pretty resilient and will still manage to thrive even if the conditions are not perfect.
Watering
One of the main considerations when growing autoflowering cannabis indoors is watering. Over-watering is a common mistake made by beginning growers, as it is very easy to do. When growing in soil, it is best to wait until the top two inches of soil are dry before watering again. With hydro and coco, it is best to wait until the medium has reached 50-60% of its total water capacity.
In general, you should water your plants once every 1-2 days. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. If you are using a high-powered grow light (1000 watts or more), your plants will likely need to be watered more often. Additionally, if you are growing in a hot and humid environment, your plants may need to be watered more frequently as well.
It is important to remember that each plant is different and will have different watering needs. The best way to determine how often to water your plants is to simply check the soil (or medium) every day and water when necessary.
Training
Topping
Autoflowering plants can be topped – that is, have their main cola removed – to force them to produce more colas. This is best done early on in the plant’s life, before it has had a chance to grow too tall. When topping autoflowers, look for the point where the main stem divides into two. Cut off the uppermost portion of this stem (above the node), just above a set of leaves. Doing this will encourage the autoflower to branch out and produce more colas.
FIMing
FIMing (Fuck I Missed), topping (topping refers to the act of removing the main central cola in order to force the plant to grow lateral branches) or pinching (pinching is similar to topping but instead of removing the main cola, you simply pinch it which will damage it and cause the plant to grow lateral branches) are all excellent ways of training autoflowering cannabis plants. FIMing, topping or pinching autoflowering cannabis plants will result in a bushier plant with more flowering sites which will in turn produce more buds.
LSTing
Topping, or “LSTing,” is a training technique that involves bending the main stem of a young cannabis plant in order to force it to grow horizontally. This technique can be used on autoflowering plants, but it is most commonly used on photoperiod plants. LSTing allows growers to control the shape of their plants and ultimately increase yields.
Topping involves gently bending the main stem of the plant until it snaps. Once the stem has been snapped, it will begin to grow horizontally. Once the plant has started to grow horizontally, you can then bend the lateral branches down so that they are pointing towards the ground. Doing this will encourage the plant to grow wider instead of taller.
It is important to note that topping should only be done on young plants that have not yet started to flower. Topping a plant that has already started to flower will result in reduced yields.
Harvesting
Autoflowering cannabis is a type of cannabis that is harvested based on time, not light cycles like traditional cannabis. This makes it easy to grow indoors, as you don’t need to worry about light cycles. You can simply set a timer for when you want to harvest your crop.
Trichomes
Trichomes are the hair-like structures on the cannabis plant that produce cannabinoids and terpenes. They are often thought of as the “active ingredient” in cannabis. The trichomes on the plant will change color as the plant matures, from white to amber. This is one way to tell when your plant is ready to harvest.
You can also use a magnifying glass or microscope to get a close up look at the trichomes. When they are milky white, they are not quite ready. When they are amber, they are at their peak. If you wait too long and they turn dark brown, the cannabis will be less potent.
To harvest your plant, cut down the main stem first. Then, cut off the smaller branches and buds, being careful not to damage the trichomes. You can then dry and cure your buds, or use them immediately.
Curing
After harvesting your autoflowering cannabis, the curing process begins. This is when the THC magically transforms into CBD, and the psychoactive effects start to mellow out. But, in order for this transformation to happen, your buds need to be dried and cured properly. The process of drying and curing cannabis is crucial in order to preserve both the quality and potency of your final product.
The first step in the curing process is to cut down your plants and hang them upside down in a cool, dark, and dry place. This allows the excess water to drain from the plants so that they can focus their energy on creating Cannabinoids like THC and CBD.
Next, you will need to strip away all of the large leaves from your plants. These leaves do not contain much THC or CBD and can actually make your final product taste harsher if they are not removed.
Once your plants are dry and all of the leaves have been removed, it’s time to begin the cure! This is when you will need to place your buds in airtight containers like mason jars. Make sure to fill each jar about 3/4 full so that there is enough room for air circulation. Store these jars in a cool, dark place like a closet or cupboard.
Every day for the next 2-3 weeks, open up each jar for about 5 minutes to allow fresh air to circulate. This helps prevent mold or mildew from developing on your buds. After 2-3 weeks, your autoflowering cannabis should be sufficiently cured and ready for consumption!
