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All growers, whether experienced or beginners, when starting their own crops have to decide: autoflowering vs feminized seeds. The differences between these two types of seeds can be significant, so we have decided to create a post that provides more information on the subject to assist the grower in this decision.
Characteristics of feminized and autoflowering seeds
When talking about the differences between feminized and autoflowering marijuana seeds, it is necessary to clearly understand the morphological characteristics of each variety. Below is a brief summary of the structure of each variety and the main factors that could affect the cultivation method.
Autoflowering seeds
When we talk about autoflowering seeds, we refer to plants that, as their name suggests, have an automatic flowering type after a pre-set period. This means their flowering is not affected by light changes and the day-night cycle, allowing them to be grown at any time of the year. The most notable morphological characteristics of this plant include:
- Small size: The small size of autoflowering plants allows them to be grown on balconies or terraces without taking up much space or attracting attention.
- A wide variety of leaves: The quantity and size of the leaves depend on the more or less sativa or indica influence of each autoflowering strain. Generally, this plant appears bushy with large, dark green leaves.
- Flowers with little resin: The flowers of autoflowering seeds are usually less dense and with little resin, resulting in a lower amount of cannabinoids compared to feminized seeds.
Feminized seeds
Feminized seeds are the most demanded by growers, as they are designed to produce only female plants. They guarantee the grower a cannabis plant capable of producing flowers, unlike males. The morphological characteristics of feminized seeds are very different from autoflowering ones.
- Large size: Feminized plants are known for their tall stems and robust structure, often requiring pruning and other cultivation techniques to manage their size, especially in small spaces.
- Fewer leaves: Unlike autoflowering plants, feminized plants have fewer leaves, leaving more space for the flowers.
- Dense, resinous buds: The flowers of feminized seeds are denser and more resinous, resulting in a higher amount of cannabinoids compared to autoflowering seeds.
Differences between feminized and automatic seeds
As mentioned earlier, the morphological differences between these two varieties, autoflowering and feminized, require different care when growing them. The characteristics that determine a clear contrast between feminized and autoflowering seeds are mainly three: morphological structure, light dependence, and yield quantity and quality.
Morphological structure
The morphological structure determines the type of cultivation to be applied and, above all, the use or not of additional cultivation techniques. The low and compact structure of autoflowering plants makes them perfect for both indoor and outdoor spaces. In contrast, feminized plants have a tall and robust structure that must be managed through pruning when grown in small spaces. In any case, pruning is often discouraged for autoflowering plants, as they have such a rapid flowering type that the plant may not have time to recover.
Light dependence
Obviously, the characteristic that truly makes the difference between the two is undoubtedly the light independence of autoflowering plants. This feature allows them not only to be grown at any season but also to obtain more than one harvest per year. Feminized plants, being seasonal, only offer one harvest per year; however, autoflowering plants, under optimal conditions, can offer between 3 and 4 harvests. On the other hand, photoperiod varieties require a lot of attention and, although the amount of flowers can be higher than autoflowering plants, the flowering period is much longer.
Flower quantity and quality
Another advantage of feminized varieties is their abundant production of large, resinous flowers rich in cannabinoids. In contrast, autoflowering plants, needing less time to flower, also have a more modest yield, with flowers that are less resinous and contain fewer cannabinoids.
Finally, it is important to remember that autoflowering plants can only be grown from a seed, while feminized plants can be used to produce mother plants and cuttings.
How to choose the ideal seed
As we have seen, the two seed types have very different morphological characteristics and behave differently when grown. For this reason, there is no ideal seed between the two; each can be chosen according to cultivation needs and personal use.
For example, if you are a beginner grower looking for a plant resistant to any kind of stress, the autoflowering seed is generally recommended. This plant does not requirespecific care and can be grown at any time of the year, offering a quick flowering period.
On the other hand, if you feel capable of managing a larger, non-light-sensitive plant, you can opt for a feminized seed. This type of plant requires more attention, but when it flowers, it offers large buds in great quantity.
