Modified on: 27/04/2022
Here are the characteristics and differences between feminized cannabis seeds and autoflowering seeds
Autoflowering marijuana seeds and feminized seeds account for a significant share of the UK (and foreign) cannabis seed market. These are two types of weed seeds that are in some respects very similar but differ mainly in terms of flowering time and the yield of the cannabis inflorescence crop.
We remind you that the germination of cannabis seeds is not allowed in the UK and that the cannabis seeds on the market have only a collectable or food purpose. In any case, the cannabis seeds sold by online “grow shops” like SensorySeeds they are legal because they are THC-free products.
But let’s go straight to the point and see precisely what auto flower seeds and feminised seeds are.
Feminized Seeds: Why are they called that way?
For newcomers to the field of marijuana seeds, the term “feminized seeds” probably suggests that the seeds have a specific gender. Nothing could be further away from the truth, as the seeds themselves are not gender-specific, but the plant that could be derived from them is.
Marijuana plants can be male or female (sometimes hermaphroditic). This leads to significant differences in their yield. Male plants are useful for reproduction of the species by pollination, and their fibres are widely used in the textile market. In contrast, female plants are used primarily for the production of inflorescences.
Feminized seeds are special marijuana seeds that have a 99% chance of producing a female cannabis plant. This plant will produce THC-rich cannabis inflorescences when the hours of light received by the plant are less than the hours of darkness.
In nature, this happens after the summer, when the hours of sunshine decrease and temperatures drop. Besides, with indoor cultivation, this light/dark cycle can be simulated at any time.
Feminised seeds are therefore a handy product for both amateurs, for those who live in a country where it is legal to grow marijuana, and for professional growers. They can optimise their harvest for flower production.
Now let’s take a look at autoflowering cannabis seeds.
Read also: Characteristics of feminized outdoor cannabis seeds
Auto flower seeds: what is the meaning of the “auto-flowering” term?
In the previous paragraph, we explained why feminised seeds are called so. Now we want to clarify the concept of autoflowering seeds.
Autoflowering cannabis seeds are feminised seeds with a unique ability: to go from germination to flowering of the cannabis plant depending on the age of the plant, i.e. within a few weeks.
Do you have any idea how revolutionary it is to make cannabis seeds flower in 60 days at any time of the year?
Once the marijuana seeds germinate, the plants they produce will be female in 99% of the cases. Moreover, they will automatically start to deliver THC-rich flowers. No matter how many hours of light and darkness you receive!
It is now possible to grow feminised seeds with auto-flowering indoors with a high yield, but nothing prevents them from germinating outdoors even out of season.
Now, let’s see what the differences between feminised seeds and autoflowering cannabis seeds are.
Feminised seeds and autoflowering seeds: here are the substantial differences
The first thing autoflowering and feminised weed seeds have in common is feminisation. The reason is that autoflowering cannabis seeds are also feminised. In any case, you are dealing with cannabis seeds that will almost certainly give birth to a female marijuana plant.
But the plant born from a feminised seed is very different from the plant born from an autoflowering seed, especially in the following aspects:
- Flowering time
- Size of the plant
- Immune defence system
- Harvest yield of THC-rich heads
As we have already anticipated, plants born from feminised seeds need a specific cycle of light and darkness to reach flowering (basically 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness) while those born from auto-flowering seeds automatically pass to this phase in a few weeks.
Cannabis plants generated from feminised seeds are very vigorous and can grow up to 4 metres tall, while plants born from autoflowering seeds are dwarfed, meaning that they grow to a maximum of 60-80 cm.
The two different genetics also make autoflowering plants very resistant to fungi, moulds and parasites, thanks to their short life cycle. In contrast, feminised plants are more delicate due to their more extended period.
Finally, the yield of plants from feminised seeds is much higher than that of autoflowering plants, which concentrate their energy in the speed of production.
Read also: Autoflowering Marijuana Seeds: A Beginner’s Guide
What to choose between autoflowering and feminised cannabis seeds?
As you have read in this article, both autoflowering and feminised seeds can produce plants with qualities that lend themselves to different contexts. Where it is allowed to grow them, feminised seeds guarantee:
- Large plants
- High outdoor efficiency
- One harvest per year
Whereas autoflowering seeds allow:
- Small plant size
- Fast flower production
- More harvests per year
We can’t say that one type of cannabis seed is better than the other. Still, we can say that autoflowering seeds are more suitable for indoor cultivation and feminised seeds for outdoor cultivation.
Buy your feminised and autoflowering seeds at SensorySeeds
Now that you know all the particularities of feminised seeds and autoflowering seeds, you have all the knowledge you need to choose the ones that suit you best.
Don’t forget that in the UK it is not legal to germinate cannabis seeds, but you can collect them and become an expert in cannabis seeds!
To do so, you cannot miss the BSF seeds you will find in our shop.
What are you waiting for? Click here and buy your marijuana seeds online at SensorySeeds right now!
