Knowing how to germinate auto cannabis seeds is essential for the plants to give their maximum yield. To achieve this, one must follow a set of guidelines entirely different from what we are accustomed to with seasonal feminized seeds. That’s why, here, everything is explained in detail to ensure there are no failures. To carry out the cultivation of both indoor and outdoor autoflowering seeds, it is advisable to follow the steps provided below.
Germinating auto cannabis seeds
The steps for germinating seeds are similar to those of seasonal plants and are as follows:
- The first thing that you’ll need to do is germinate the seed. You’ll need to use a germination technique (such as the paper towel method) and any cheap cannabis seed of our catalog such as Magnum Auto.
- Once the seeds have germinated or sprouted, you should prepare 7×7 pots. It is advisable to use pots with soil that allows the roots to grow without any hindrance. If the seeds are germinated in a Jiffy pellet, the netting it has can restrict root growth, resulting in stunted plants.
- Fill the pots with soil and water them thoroughly because there’s no need to water again until the plant emerges, as overwatering at this stage could cause problems.
- To plant the seed, bury it about 1 cm deep using a pen or any available tool, with the root pointing downward. Then, cover it with a little soil, not too tightly, until it reaches the surface.
- It’s recommended to provide 24 hours of light for the seedling until it’s transplanted into a larger pot if you’re growing it indoors or provide as much light as possible if not grown under grow lights.
Up to this point, there hasn’t been any significant difference from seasonal plants. However, in the case of autoflowering strains, you’ll need to wait for them to break through the soil and stretch when they emerge, seeking the light. This process can take around 4 or 5 days, not much longer, and you’ll need to be vigilant to avoid waiting too long. After this, you should transplant them into their final pots.
Transferring to the pot
To transfer to the final pot, follow the following step-by-step process:
- Fill the final pot with soil all the way to the top, ensuring it’s compact enough so that it doesn’t sink significantly when watering. It’s important not to compress it too much to allow sufficient oxygen, which promotes better growth.
- Provide 20 hours of light until the end, or as many hours of sunlight as possible.
- Once you have the final pot with soil, dig a hole where you can place the plant. The plant should be buried with the stem, leaving only about 5 cm of the plant above the soil. This encourages better root development and more stable growth.
- Water the plant slowly and around the edges to allow the soil to absorb the water. Use about one liter of water with low-concentration growth fertilizer. Adjust the watering to the specific type of substrate used, as some substrates absorb more water than others.
- Check daily to see if the pot has dried out before watering again. This usually takes about 7 days. You can easily check by lifting the pot; if it feels heavy, it still has water.
Growth stage
To enhance the plant’s development, you should water it with a growth fertilizer. Typically, this can be done after the first watering has dried out, usually around day 13-14.
Regarding watering, start with one glass of water per pot and gradually increase it, always observing the plants’ needs.
Flowering stage
Around day 25 of the plant’s growth, you should transition to the flowering stage, following these steps: begin with a flowering stimulant, followed by a base fertilizer, and finish with a root flush.
It’s worth noting that the flowering time for these plants is shorter than photoperiod strains, so it’s essential to closely monitor the crop’s development to provide everything it needs at each stage.
By following these guidelines, you can successfully germinate autoflowering marijuana seeds, resulting in more developed plants that won’t remain stunted.