Getting started as a cannabis grower for the first time? If so, there’s no doubt that starting with autoflowering marijuana seeds is the way to go. These seeds are specifically bred, so they are easy to grow and hit the flowering stage quicker than an average cannabis plant.
The thing about picking up autoflowering cannabis seeds is they can be more expensive. To help you out, we’ve pulled together some top autoflowering cannabis strains to consider.
First, What Are Autoflowering Cannabis Strains?
While Indica or Sativa cannabis plants rely on sunlight hours to hit their flowering cycles, autoflowering plants do not. These cannabis strains have been crossed with a specific type of cannabis: Ruderalis. Wild Ruderalis-type cannabis grows in areas where there may not always be long hours of sunlight. Therefore, the plants flower depending on their growth cycle or age instead of how many hours of sunlight they are exposed to.
If you grow traditional cannabis plants, your flowering cycle is at the mercy of how much light you provide or how much light the sun delivers. This can mean the time-to-flower takes a lot longer, and there is more room for error with an indoor grow. By contrast, autoflowering cannabis strains work well for beginners who may not be wholly familiar with the process of using lighting to manipulate the flowering process.
Top Autoflower Strains
1. Watermelon OG Auto
- Type: Indica-dominant
- Grow Time: ~9 weeks
- THC: ~20%
- Yield: up to 500g/square meter
The strong hint of watermelon with this strain is exactly where she gets her name. Watermelon Automatic serves up an unmatched refreshing, fruity flavor paired with a potent THC content. Several attributes make Watermelon Auto a preferred strain for first-time growers: she’s easy to manage with a shorter stature, fast to flower, and completely gorgeous with thick resin-coated trichomes.
2. Blueberry Auto
- Type: Indica-dominant
- Grow Time: ~ 8 weeks
- THC: ~21%
- Yield: up to 650g/square meter
Blueberry Auto, also known as Blueberry Glue Auto, is by far one of the most popular autoflowering cannabis strains you can grow. BB Auto flowers impressively fast, and yields can be just as impressive both indoors and out. The flavor, aromatics, and effects of Blueberry Auto are the triple positives of this strain. You can always count on a blissfully sweet flavor and aromatics, but a clear-headed high that leaves you euphoric and relaxed.
3. White Widow Auto
- Type: Indica-dominant
- Grow Time: ~8 weeks
- THC: ~19%
- Yield: up to 500g/square meter
White Widow is a notorious marijuana strain because it can be so highly potent and incredibly capable of infusing you with euphoric energy. The strain is a go-to for people who prefer weed that doesn’t lead to couch lock. As a grower, though, White Widow is just as rewarding to work with. She’s an eager grower even in less-than-ideal conditions, doesn’t have a long flowering time, and can still offer a nice yield.
4. Amnesia Haze Auto
- Type: Sativa-dominant
- Grow Time: ~12 weeks
- THC: ~18%
- Yield: up to 400g/square meter
If you’re all about growing a famous strain that serves up a quick flowering time, Amnesia Haze is the way to go. Amnesia delivers a heady high with citrus, earthy aromatics and flavors hard to beat. While this cultivar is relatively easy to grow, she does not like to be overfed, so you have to be careful about watering and offering extra nutrients.
5. Green Crack Auto
- Type: Sativa-dominant
- Grow Time: ~10 weeks
- THC: ~20%
- Yield: up to 650g/square meter
If you’re all about energy-inducing cannabis strains, Green Crack is going to be one of your best contenders. This strain is a hybrid but leans heavily into the Sativa side, which may account for its reputation as the perfect get-up-and-go weed. Green Crack flavors come across fruity and skunky with a hint of pepper, which is a nice outcome for a fast-flowering cultivar that grows so quickly.
6. Sour Diesel Auto
- Type: Hybrid
- Grow Time: ~10 to 14 weeks
- THC: ~20%
- Yield: up to 6oz for 3 square feet
Sour Diesel is a well-balanced Hybrid strain with a slight Sativa lean, and this particular strain is highly regarded for both its potency and insanely pungent aromatics. The effects can be described as happily relaxing—it picks up your spirits and then lulls you into incredible relaxation. Sour D is not the fastest grower, but has a compact size and truly delivers when it comes to yield. And, the cultivar is hardy and easy to grow.
7. Afghan Auto
- Type: Indica
- Grow Time: ~10 to 14 weeks
- THC: ~20%
- Yield: up to 6oz/per 3 square feet
Afghan is one of the most preferred Indica-dominant strains known for its high potency, giggly euphoria, and piney-sweetness. Growing Afghan is just as much of a joy as smoking it. While not as speedy of a grower as a few other cultivars, this cannabis strain does not disappoint with output. And, Afghan is very resistant to mildew and mold, both of which can be an issue for new growers.
8. Bruce Banner Auto
- Type: Sativa-dominant
- Grow Time: ~10 to 14 weeks
- THC: ~25%
- Yield: up to 6oz for 3 square feet
Bruce Banner has a star-worthy lineage: OG Kush and Strawberry Diesel. So, what you get with good ole Bruce is a profound diesel flavor and a relatively potent head/body high. A lot of people love Bruce Banner because it is said to induce a creative mindset. However, as a newbie grower, you’ll love this cultivar because it has a small size, impressive yield, and captivating aroma.
9. Girl Scout Cookies Auto
- Type: Indica-dominant
- Grow Time: ~10 to 14 weeks
- THC: ~21%
- Yield: up to 6oz/per 3 square feet
GSC (Girl Scout Cookies) is a heavy-handed Indica known for its deeply trance-inducing capabilities and sweet flavor. The GSC Autoflower cannabis strain is a quick grower with an output that’s hard to match. And, GSC is a small plant that’s easy to manage if you’re working with an indoor grow operation. Therefore, the autoflowering variety of GSC is a top choice for beginners.
10. Northern Lights Auto
- Type: Indica-dominant
- Grow Time: ~10 to14 weeks
- THC: ~23%
- Yield: up to 600g/square meter
Northern Lights is a well-known cannabis cultivar, specifically because it is considered to be a great sleep aid with incredible sweet meets spicy flavor. However, as an auto-flowering marijuana strain, Northern Lights is beloved because she yields an impressive amount of buds and is not a finicky grower in the slightest. Plus, the plant does not grow very tall, which makes it perfect for small indoor grow-ops. This strain is also quite resistant to disease—another perk for beginners.
Final Thoughts on Picking Autoflowering Cannabis Seeds
When you are just getting started as a cannabis grower, picking the best seeds can seem like an overwhelming process. However, as long as you trust a reputable seed bank and know a bit about the different varieties, you should be just fine. The advantages of autoflowering cannabis varieties for new growers are clear: rapid flowering, easy growth, and relatively reliable outcomes. Therefore, going with an auto strain is always a good recommendation to follow as a new grower.Â
