What distinguishes Autoflowering Vs. Feminized Seeds? As you venture into the world of home gardening, that query will undoubtedly arise.
There are numerous cannabis strains available now, with a variety of effects, flavors, development methods, and yield sizes. The cultivation process and smoking experience can now be tailored to your precise desires.
But only if you are aware of what you’re looking for.
The number of alternatives and unfamiliar jargon can be overwhelming for a novice. How can you select the best seeds for your needs by reducing your selection pool?
The alternative is a terrific place to start. Your choice of purchase, setup, and output depends on your understanding of the distinction between feminized seeds and auto-flowering seeds.
Learn about feminized and auto-flowering cannabis plants, their growth, and what to anticipate from them.
FEMINIZED VS. AUTOFLOWERING SEEDS
Cannabis seeds that are feminized and auto-flowering can be purchased from physical and online seed banks. The majority of modern retailers’ libraries are made up of this pair, depriving the common seeds of attention.
What distinguishes feminized seeds from auto-flowering seeds? What exactly do these two phrases mean?
Feminized seeds:
Plant sex is referred to as being “feminized.” Due to the absence of male chromosomes, feminized seeds only grow into female plants.
The colas on female harvests can be smoked. To fertilize females and spread their family line, males carry pollen sacs.
Both commercial and home producers prefer female cannabis seeds. They do away with the need to risk pollination spoiling your crop by destroying half of your batch.
But sex isn’t what makes feminized seeds different from auto-flowering seeds. In actuality, female auto seeds predominate. When addressing feminized seeds, individuals simply refer to the photoperiod seed variety.
When the days start to get shorter in the late summer, plants from photoperiod seeds begin to bloom. The crops are pushed to flower and diversify their species by the light conditions, which signal the approaching fall. Your girls generate seedless, sticky buds for smoking because there aren’t any males nearby.
To fully understand the distinction between feminized and auto-flowering seeds, additional information is required. You must understand how cannabis is grown without light operation.
Autoflower seeds
The flowering pattern is referred known as autoflower. After a certain amount of time in the vegetative stage, autoflower seeds grow into plants that bloom on their own.
Now let’s discuss ruderalis and how it relates to the distinction between feminized and autoflowering seeds.
The third cannabis family is ruderalis. It evolved for hardiness and a shorter life cycle in the chilly regions of Eastern Europe. It also has no photoperiod, blooming whenever it reaches a specific size, regardless of the time of year.
Small, hardy Ruderalis plants produce small, low-THC, low-CBD buds.
By combining it with photoperiod strains, breeders used this herb. Offspring cultivars have ruderalis growth characteristics while retaining the majority of Indica and Sativa parent attributes.
Plants that do not experience photoperiod are weaker and smaller than photoperiod plants. However, they deliver quick buds in a manageable package, so they are worthwhile.
You are aware that these two concepts are not synonymous. However, that is typically how dispensaries talk about them. So what distinguishes feminized seeds from auto-flowering seeds that are sold in stores?
Fems vs. Autos in dispensaries
You are contrasting two growth patterns when discussing the distinction between feminized and auto-flowering seeds. It comes down to photoperiod vs. non-photoperiod development as both seeds are typically female.
The table compares the same strain’s photoperiod and auto versions under similar circumstances.
| Photoperiod (feminized) cannabis | Autoflower cannabis |
| Larger crops | Smaller crops |
| Larger yields | Smaller yields |
| Suitable for trimming and training | Not suitable for trimming and training |
| Depends on the seasons | Grows any season |
| Slower growth | Faster growth |
| Flowers when there’s under 14 hours of light | Flowers automatically |
| Usually more potent | Usually less potent |
| More beginner-friendly | Intermediate-level |
Let’s examine which variety is better for you now that you are aware of the distinction between feminized seeds and auto-flowering seeds.
Which seeds should I purchase: Feminized or Autoflowering?
You may choose the choice that is best for your garden by understanding the distinction between feminized seeds and auto-flowering seeds.
As a general rule, choose feminized seeds if:
- Your harvest’s top priorities are aroma and potency. Buds grown by fems are more robust and aromatic.
- You want to achieve higher yields. Larger photoperiod plants produce more bud sites and put on weight for large harvests.
- You’ve just started cultivating. Fems flower and ripen more slowly, giving them more opportunity to iron out beginner mistakes.
Given the distinction between feminized and auto-flowering seeds, autos are a preferable choice when:
- You reside in a frigid region. Autos complete their life cycle faster, vegging and flowering while the weather is still pleasant. You stay away from the final and first frosty days.
- You desire more seasonal yields. In a warmer climates, outdoor growers can maintain two non-photoperiodic gardens each summer.
- You want to test a different strain. Before committing the entire growing season to this plant, cultivate a smaller auto batch and give it a test smoke.
Grow Cannabis Your Way
The growing problem is made easier from the start by understanding the distinction between feminized seeds and auto-flowering seeds. These terminologies are inevitable when purchasing seeds, so why not prepare yourself for success by becoming familiar with them?
Apply the advice to choosing a kind, but keep in mind that both variations merit your consideration.
After making the initial purchase, don’t think of your decision as final. Buy both varieties of seeds and try them both. Your preference should be based on your experience.
