You've decided to try growing cannabis, but you don't have a lot of patience. Or maybe you can only grow plants outside for a short time because of the weather in your area. If you want a quick and satisfying harvest for any reason, fast-flowering cannabis strains may be the answer. Let's look at everything you need to know to grow autoflowering and photoperiod plants well.
What are the differences between autoflower and photoperiod?
Before we get into the growing process, let's define these two main types of cannabis.
Cannabis that automatically flowers
People really like autoflowers because they grow so quickly. Unlike photoperiod strains, which bloom based on changes in light cycles, autoflowers bloom based on their age. Many autoflowering strains go from germination to harvest in just six to eight weeks.
But there are some downsides to this speed:
- Lower yields: Autoflowering strains usually produce fewer buds than photoperiod plants.
- Lower levels of cannabinoids: THC and CBD levels are usually lower, but modern breeding is trying to fix this.
Cannabis Photoperiod
Photoperiod strains need a change in the day/night light cycle to start flowering, which is like how summer turns into fall. Most of the time, growers use an 18/6 lighting schedule (18 hours on, 6 hours off) during the vegetative stage. When the plants are ready to flower, growers change the lighting to 12/12 to start bud growth.
The benefits are:
- More buds per plant means higher yields.
- Potency: More cannabinoids in most cases.
The photoperiod process usually takes longer, but with careful management of the light and growing conditions, it can go much faster.
The Fastest-Flowering Strains You Can Try
To kick off your growing adventure, let's find some really fast-growing plants from both groups.
The quickest strains for autoflowering are:
- Hindu Kush Auto takes 39 to 49 days.
- Future #1 Auto: 42 to 49 days
- Northern Lights X Big Bud Auto: 42 to 49 days
The fastest strains of the photoperiod are:
- Swiss Cheese takes 42 to 56 days to make.
- Critical takes 42 - 56 days
- Grape apes take 42 to 56 days
A Beginner's Guide to Cannabis That Grows Automatically
- Germinating Seeds
To germinate, seeds need to be in a warm, dark place (about 69.8 °F) between damp paper towels. It should take two to five days for germination to happen. - The Best Way to Grow
Autoflowers do well in airy, nutrient-rich soil or coco coir. Avoid heavy soils because they can kill roots and slow down growth. - Picking a Container
To avoid transplant stress, start autoflowers in their last pots, which should be between two and five gallons in size. This gives the plant enough space to grow roots without putting too much stress on it. - Lights for autoflowering
Autoflowers don't need their light schedule changed, but a good 18/6 or even 20/4 schedule will make them grow stronger and give you more flowers. - Taking care of nutrients
Autoflowers don't need as much food and live for a shorter time. Start with half-strength nutrients and increase them over time. Look for yellow tips on leaves, which means that the plant is getting too many nutrients. - Watching and Gathering
Use a jeweler's loupe to look at the trichomes, which are small resin glands on buds, on a regular basis. When most of the trichomes are cloudy and some are turning amber, it's time to harvest. This usually happens between 42 and 56 days.
Photoperiod Cannabis Acceleration: Speeding Up the Harvest
It is possible to grow photoperiod cannabis at a speed similar to that of autoflowers. This is how:
- Choosing and Sprouting Seeds
Start with types that bloom quickly once more. The three ways to germinate seeds, warm, moist, and dark, stay the same. - Managing the light perfectly
Light cycles have a direct effect on plants that need light at certain times of the day:- To help plants grow, start with an 18/6 schedule.
- Change to 12/12 when your plants are the right size, which is usually in two to three weeks. This cuts down on the time you need to grow a lot.
- Finding ways to speed things up
Use methods like the Sea of Green (SOG), where a lot of small plants bloom at the same time and close together. This method uses space well, makes flowers bloom faster, and guarantees earlier harvests. - Moderate and diet
Use light, nutrient-rich media like coco coir or aerated soil. Photoperiod plants need a little more nutrients than autoflowers, especially nitrogen in the early stages and phosphorus and potassium during flowering. - Looking and Collecting
Be careful and check the trichomes often. Photoperiod plants can grow quickly when the conditions are right, which means you can harvest at the best time for cannabinoids.
Common Problems with Fast-Flowering Cannabis
- Don't water too much or too little; the soil should be moist but not soggy.
- Nutrient Burn: If you give your plants too much food, the tips of the leaves will turn brown. You should always start nutrients at half strength.
- Light Stress: Make sure the plants and lights are the right distance apart. If plants are too close together, they burn; if they are too far apart, they stretch.
- Control the temperature: Keep the temperature between 69.8 °F. and 80.6 °F. to keep stress from slowing things down.
Things you need for harvest and after harvest
- Trimming and Drying: Take off the fan leaves and hang the buds upside down for 7 to 14 days in a controlled space (about 60.8 °F. and 60% humidity).
- Curing: Put the buds in airtight jars after they have dried and open them a little bit every day to let the air flow. This improves taste, smell, and strength over the course of two to four weeks.
Final thoughts
When grown quickly, both autoflower and photoperiod cannabis strains can give you very satisfying results. Autoflowers are easy and fast, but the buds they make are smaller and weaker. Photoperiod varieties produce larger, more potent harvests, but they require careful management of light schedules and other environmental factors.
With careful selection, proactive management, and close attention, you will be able to enjoy your own high-quality cannabis sooner than you thought. If you're having trouble with a short outdoor season or just want to enjoy the fruits of your labor, fast-flowering cannabis strains make it easy to get a quick and satisfying harvest.
