Years ago, many people did not take cannabis auto-flowering strains seriously. They were not so much impressive and couldn’t easily match the potency of photoperiod strains. But a consumer need calls for more research. By cross-breeding cannabis ruderalis with indica and Sativa dominants, breeders developed the modern auto-flowering strains that are more potent, provide better yields and intense aromas. Some even surpass the potency of photoperiod strains.

Growing auto-flowering cannabis strains outdoors can be exciting and rewarding when you follow the right steps. They grow fast, flower automatically after a certain period, and are more resilient to weather extremities. They can also fit pretty everywhere because they are compact and do not grow as tall as the photoperiod strains making you enjoy a discreet cannabis cultivation experience. Therefore, more growers are taking advantage of the unique growing characteristics of auto-flowering strains to produce quality buds.

Although many people prefer to grow them indoors, you can get the most of them by taking advantage of the nature outdoors. Here are some top hacks for growing cannabis auto-flowers outdoor.

Plan your cultivation

The best thing about auto-flowering cannabis strains from the United Strains of America is that they grow fast, and you can even harvest your buds 8weeks after germination of the seedlings. Although the rapid growth is an advantage, it also means they are less forgiving to cultivation mistakes. Due to their short growth period, you don’t have the time to correct mistakes as you would with photoperiod strains, whereby you can prolong the vegetative period. Any error such as overwatering that occurs within the short lifespan can lead to low yields.

To avoid any mistakes, you need to carefully plan your cultivation so that your auto-flowers achieve maximum growth within their short lifespan. Start by considering how viable your location is. Do you intend to plant the seed in containers or garden beds? How is the climate? Will the plants get enough sunlight? Which nutrients will you use?

You need to have answers to such questions when choosing your strain. For instance, if you live in an extremely cold climate, choose more cold-resistant strains to avoid disaster and optimize your cannabis cultivation.

When should you plant?

While photoperiod strains rely on the natural daylight hours to thrive in their vegetative and flowering phases, the beauty of auto-flowers is that they will flower regardless of the daylight cycles. That means you can plant auto-flowering seeds whenever you want all year round. Ideally, cannabis auto-flowering plants grow best when they can access at least 10-12hours of adequate sunlight.

Therefore, it is best to plant your auto-flowers seeds in spring, around late April to early May, when the days are longer. That means you can harvest in June and start another cultivation period in early August to harvest in October. But if you are in a slightly warmer climate with no frost, you can achieve up to four harvests in a year.

If you live in the north, you want to avoid the extremely cold and rainiest months of the year so you can plant your seeds in the spring when there is no frost. Keep in mind the shorter summers, so you should not plant too late to avoid flowering your plants during the rainy season. If you live in locations with a rainy fall, you can plant in June to harvest in August. That way, your buds won’t be affected by cold hence you get to prevent molds.

Generally, you need to consider your climate before growing planting your auto-flower seeds. Time the cultivation so that the plants get plenty of sunlight and avoid frost and rains.

Modify the soil for maximum nutrients

Although auto-flowering strains require fewer nutrients than photoperiod strains, you want to ensure they have sufficient nutrients throughout their growth period. The soil in your outdoor location may not be optimal, so you may need to improve it with compost, worm castings, and other organic fertilizers. You can dig some holes and fill them up with the organic substrate before planting your seedlings.

Germinating your auto-flowering seeds

Giving your auto-flowering seed a good start in life is the best thing you can do to ensure they thrive. The best way is to plant the seeds in their final container to avoid the transplant shock, which can slow down growth. Remember, auto-flowering plants don’t have enough time to recover, so you want to prevent any stressors. So use a large pot or plant the seeds directly in the garden bed from germination to harvest.

Watering and nutrient feeding

Since auto-flowers do not grow as big as photoperiod strains, they need less watering but enough to make them achieve maximum growth. overwatering and underwatering is not ideal. Allow enough time for the topsoil to dry between watering to avoid waterlogging the roots, leading to rot or mold growth. As for the nutrients, be careful not to overfeed the plants.

You should only use the minimum recommended dose and monitor how the plants respond. Besides, when you amend the soil with the right substrate, your auto-flower plants have everything they need to achieve maximum growth.

Harvesting your buds

Depending on the variety, some auto-flowers will be ready within 60days from germination. Similar to photoperiod strains, you know the harvest time is near when the pistils on the buds are white. When they start turning brown to orange, the buds are ready for harvest. However, you also need to examine the trichomes on the flower to determine the right harvest time.

You can use a magnifying glass to check the trichomes closely. During early flowering, the trichomes are clear, but they turn cloudy or milky white to indicate the harvest time. Some growers harvest when the trichomes start turning to amber.

conclusion

With this guide, you can look forward to growing your auto-flowering cannabis seeds with ease to achieve maximum yields. Be sure to time the best planting time when the plants will be exposed to maximum sunlight and closely monitor them to prevent any cultivation mistakes that can impact the yields.