Most cannabis consumers are familiar with the terms indica and sativa. However, the designations between different types of cannabis plants go much deeper than these two basic categories. For growers, the more important question is, “Autoflower or Photoperiod?”

In this week’s episode of Growing with Cannabis Tech, we take a quick moment to talk about who we are and why we’re so passionate about this project. Then, we’ll talk about autoflower vs. photoperiods and why autoflowers are better suited for smaller grow spaces and beginners. Then, we’ll introduce Kyle Hamilton of Green Goddess Supply to talk about autoflowers and his experience with Green Goddess.

What are Cannabis Autoflowers?

Autoflowering cannabis plants flower automatically after a certain amount of time, regardless of the amount of light exposure. Most plants take just 65-80 days to mature, thus making them a great choice for home growers looking to get a quick harvest in a short amount of time. Autoflowers also tend to be smaller than regular cannabis plants, so they can be grown in smaller spaces, and they are typically more resistant to cold and pests, making them great for growing in colder climates.

Derived from Cannabis Ruderalis, autoflowers are naturally more hearty and less prone to beginners’ mistakes such as overwatering or underwatering. Plus, they require less maintenance with a standard 18/6 lighting schedule throughout their lifecycle.

On the other hand, photoperiod cannabis requires changing the lighting schedule in order to trigger the flowering stage. During the vegetative stage, they are a bit more temperamental, and the plants must receive adequate light, nutrition, and water. Although many are more THC-potent, photoperiod plants require 12-16 weeks for a mature harvest.

5 Major Differences between Autoflower and Photoperiod

Cannabis Autoflowers offer numerous benefits for home growers. Here are a few we discovered during our inaugural run.

• Autoflower cannabis plants are usually smaller and take less time to flower than photoperiod cannabis plants.
• Autoflower cannabis plants begin flowering on their own, regardless of the light cycle, while photoperiod cannabis plants must have a certain number of hours of darkness each day to begin flowering.
• Autoflower cannabis plants flower faster and can be harvested sooner than photoperiod cannabis plants.
• Autoflower cannabis plants are typically more resistant to temperature extremes and pests than photoperiod cannabis plants.
• Autoflower cannabis plants will not produce as much yield as photoperiod cannabis plants, but some cultivars can produce high-quality buds in a shorter amount of time.

Concierge in Your Corner

Finally, I’ll introduce you to Kyle Hamilton, our personal concierge, who is available for all Green Goddess Armoire and ATS-42 owners. Whether you’re a new grower or you’ve been growing for years, it never hurts to have someone you can turn to when questions arise.

Just in the last two weeks, we’ve met with Kyle three times to talk about various questions regarding setting up our tent, how much water they need, and are the lights on the right settings. He’s been a wealth of knowledge!

Watch the video to learn more from Kyle, learn about Black Strap – the autoflowers we’re growing in our tent, and see the plants for yourself as of just this morning!

Thanks again for joining in!