Autoflower THC Primer Guide
Growing Preferences
Growing Preferences
Day neutral hemp, scientifically known as C. ruderalis or colloquially referred to as “autoflowering” hemp, prefers long, dry, and sunny days. During establishment the plant requires regular watering to maintain even moisture. The soil should never drop below 50% of capacity, and on hot days (above 80° F) should stay above 80%.
Early applications of a balanced vegetative feeding program are critical to developing a well branched, large plant. The goal is to create as many flowering sites as possible within 3-5 weeks of growth, at which point they will begin to show signs of flowering. At this time it is best to maintain a strong vegetative feeding program and begin to slowly introduce more phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients to prepare for the plants reproductive (flowering) phase. The plants should continue to grow quickly and stack up flower sites from weeks 3-8. During Weeks 8-12 the flowering sites will bulk up and become dense, especially at the very end of the cycle. It is important to let the plants finish and fully mature before harvesting to maximize the biomass yield and cannabidol content of the crop.
Plants that grow during the summer when the days are long, warm, and sunny will ripen and be ready to harvest faster than in the winter where the shorter and colder days with less light can add an extra 10-20 days on the time to harvest. These plants have a strong appetite for light! The more light they receive, the faster they grow and come to maturity. True autoflowering plants can come to maturity even under a 24 hour daytime light cycle (no darkness/night). Weak, low watt lighting typically used to keep clone plants “vegging” will not speed up the growth of autoflower plants or prevent them from flowering.
One of the most important parts of growing day-neutral varieties is to minimize transplant shock. Any shock resulting from improper transplanting, can contribute significantly to reduced yields. Unlike other agricultural crops, especially vegetables and flowers, day neutral hemp varieties want to be transplanted as fast as equipment and handling will allow for, or within 10 days of emergence. Please see our propagation guide for more information.
Days to Seed Emergence:
2 – 5
Days to Flower:
21 – 35
Days to Maturity:
68 (Summer) – 95 (Winter)
Days to Seed Emergence:
2 – 5
Days to Flower:
21 – 35
Days to Maturity:
68 (Summer) – 95 (Winter)
Best Times to Plant
Best Times to Plant
- Fully Outdoors: After last frost date -12 weeks before first frost date
- Can use remay when they are young to protect in an emergency but its not ideal
- Under Hoops: 2 weeks before last frost date – 8 weeks before first frost date
- Can use remay when they are young to protect in an emergency but its not ideal
- Night time lows ideal above 45° F
- Soil temps ideally above 64° F
Transplanting
Transplanting
Recommended Plants per:
- Acre – 11,000-18,000 plants
- 10,000 square feet – 3,400 – 4,600 plants
Common Plant Spacing
- Field planted (spacing is based on center to center -> tractor wheel spacing)
- 1 row on a 30’’ bed
- 12’’ apart in row -> 17,424 plants per acre
- 16’’ apart in a row -> 13,068 plants per acre
- 18” apart in a row -> 11,606 plants per acre
- 3 rows on a 60’’ bed
- 12’’ apart in row -> 26,136 plants per acre
- 18’’ apart in row -> 17,424 plants per acre
- 2 rows on a 60’’ bed
- 12’’ a part in row -> 17,424 plants per acre
- 16’’ a part in a row -> 13,068 plants per acre
- 18” a part in a row -> 11,606 plants per acre
- Raised Garden bed or greenhouse planted in pots
- 18’’ on center (offset planting)
- On a 100’ X 5’ bed that would be ~ 222 plants
- 1 row on a 30’’ bed
Per Acre Yields
Total Flower Biomass
Below Average: 1500 lbs/acre
Average: 2150 lbs/acre
Above Average: 3000 lbs
What is the typical total biomass yield per plant?
2 – 4 oz
What percent of my crop will I be able to trim?
25-50% depending on several factors
- Variety
- Time of year planted
- Overall growing conditions
- Harvest timing
What percent CBD do your autoflower varieties have?
Between 6 -12% CBD.
Our current catalog contains ratios between 22 – 27:1.
Per Acre Yields
Total Flower Biomass
Below Average: 1500 lbs/acre
Average: 2150 lbs/acre
Above Average: 3000 lbs
What is the typical total biomass yield per plant?
2 – 4 oz
What percent of my crop will I be able to trim?
25-50% depending on several factors
- Variety
- Time of year planted
- Overall growing conditions
- Harvest timing
What percent CBD do your autoflower varieties have?
Between 6 -12% CBD.
Our current catalog contains ratios between 22 – 27:1.
What is the difference in how Autoflower and normal clone varieties grow?
Autoflowering varieties initiate their reproductive (flowering) phase of growth regardless of daylength. Clonally propagated varieties are short day plants that require 12 hours of darkness to initiate their reproductive (flowering) phase.
How long does it take from seed for
Autoflower plants to come to harvest?
Our Autoflower varieties take approximately 68 to 95 days depending on the variety of time of year. Generally, during the summer months with higher light intensity the crops finish faster and on the shoulder seasons in the early spring and late fall it will take an extra 10 – 20 days for the crop to come to full maturity. During the heart of the growing season the crop takes 75 days to finish.
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