By Luke Sumpter


If you've never grown autoflowering cannabis before, you might be wondering what to expect. You're probably aware of their key traits, such as impressive speed and hardy genetics. But some growers say that their small yields aren't worth the time. However, modern auto strains have come a long way—below, we'll show you how much weed you'll end up with under different conditions.

How Much Do Autoflowering Plants Yield?

The Royal Queen Seeds catalogue contains a wealth of autoflowering genetics. Our range includes something for everyone and varies in tastes, aromas, psychoactive effects, and sizes. The inherent productivity of each strain also differs slightly. Whereas powerhouse anomalies such as Watermelon Automatic will churn out up to 500g/m², you can expect an average autoflower yield from most of our auto varieties to sit within the 350–400g/m² range indoors and 100–150g/plant outdoors.

Dry vs wet: How to calculate autoflower yields per plant

Just like us, cannabis plants are composed of a lot of water. In fact, water gives freshly harvested cannabis buds around 75% of their initial weight. The number you see when shopping around for seeds reflects the overall weight of wet buds. To find out how much yield you'll end up with after drying, per plant, you can perform a simple calculation. First, weigh your wet harvest and record the yield from each plant. Once weighed, simply multiply each number by 0.25 for a relatively accurate figure of the weight your dried bounty will be.

Conditions That Affect Autoflower Yields

Now that you have a better idea of the average autoflower yield, and how to estimate the weight of your dry stash, it's time to dive into some of the factors that influence autoflower yields per plant. Luckily, you have a lot of control over all of these variables, especially if you have the room to cultivate indoors.

  • Genetics

Different strains offer different outcomes. For example, early autos such as Lowryder played a pinnacle role in the world of breeding. Still, they didn't produce enough strong buds to excite most growers. It made early autos a tool for breeders to advance and experiment with, rather than attractive strains for hobby growers to use.

Compare this to modern autoflower seeds, created by our talented breeders at RQS, and you see a huge improvement. Strains such as Hulkberry Automatic offer an impressive return of up to 500g/m² under the correct indoor conditions while producing a THC content of 21%. These stats place modern autos in the same league as many photoperiod cultivars. However, some modern autos still offer stealth over yield. Quick One grows to around 60cm and offers an average yield of 300g/m² indoors, and Royal Dwarf provides a return of 150–200g/m².

  • Environment

You'll have to keep track of variables such as temperature and humidity when growing indoors to help your plants thrive. But these figures should not remain the same throughout the entire growing cycle. You can avoid this by purchasing high-quality seeds from a reputable supplier. Plants also struggle in the seedling stage when given too many nutrients, when handled and transplanted too aggressively, or when overwatered.

Seedling stage
Vegetation stage
Temperature:
20–25°C
Temperature:
22–28°C
Relative humidity:
65–70%
Relative humidity:
40–70%
Early flowering Late flowering
(1 week before harvest)
Temperature:
20–26°C
Temperature:
18–24°C
Relative humidity:
40–50%
Relative humidity:
30–40%

Indoor growers have an advantage here. They can use humidifiers, dehumidifiers, heaters, and fans/air conditioning units to modulate these variables with grow tents. In contrast, outdoor growers have little influence over temperature and humidity—their local climate will dictate these conditions. Generally, those closer to the equator has an advantage over those who are not in this regard.

But temperature and humidity aren't the only environmental variables to consider. Indoor growers can infuse their growing space with supplementary carbon dioxide—a gas that plants use to fuel growth. Some growers report a 20% increase in yields when using CO₂. When used correctly, you could raise the upper yield limit of strains such as Purple Punch Automatic from 400g/m² to 480g/m², and that of HulkBerry Automatic from 500g/m² up to 600g/m².

But you can't start mindlessly pumping CO₂ into your grow tent. You need to aim for saturation of 1500 parts per million (PPM). To achieve this, you need to take the size of your tent into account and also adjust the temperature; plants like it hotter when they have more access to CO₂. First, you need to work out the cubic area of your grow tent using this equation: length x width x height. For example, a 2 x 2 x 2 grow tent will have a cubic area of 8m³.

Next, multiply the cubic area by 0.001 to determine how much CO₂ you'll need to use to reach a saturation of 1,000ppm. In this case, 8 x 0.001 = 0.008 cubic meters of CO₂. To reach saturation of 1,500ppm, you first need to divide this sum by two, leaving us with 0.008 ÷ 2 = 0.004. Then, add this figure to the previous sum: 0.008 + 0.004 = 0.012 cubic meters of CO₂. Finally, set the dial of your CO₂ pump to the final sum.

Growers also have influence over the growing medium they raise their plants in. While most opt for soil, hydroponic methods (a soilless technique in which the roots are either temporarily or constantly bathed in water) can result in yield boosts of around 20%. In these systems, roots have direct access to freeform water-soluble nutrients, which helps them grow faster and churn out superior yields during their set lifespan. You can expect Royal Critical Automatic, for example, to produce yields of up to 480g/m² indoors when using hydroponics techniques.

How Much Do Autoflowering Plants Yield?
  • Lighting: Indoors vs outdoors

Autos are subject to different growing conditions when raised either indoors or outdoors. This affects their output, so you can expect different results in either of these settings.

- Growing autos indoors

Indoor plants cultivated in grow tents aren't exposed to the sun. Therefore, growers need to select an appropriate light source; there are plenty of options to choose from, including LED, HPS, and CFL. You can expect different results based on the type and strength of light you choose to work with. As a general rule, many growers base their yield on receiving 1g of bud for every watt their light uses, put simply as 1g/watt. However, even with the same wattage, lights vary based on the photo-power they provide to plants. Therefore, you can expect efficient LED lights to produce more of a bounty than a HPS source of the same wattage.

However, when working with autos, we suggest adjusting your expectations to around 0.5g/watt. Going by these numbers, you can expect to receive roughly 50g/plant when using a 100W LED light, and around 40g/plant when using a 100W HPS lamp. However, you're not limited to such weak lighting. You can achieve approximately 100g/plant when using a 200W CFL, and upwards of 200g/plant under a 400W LED light.

You also need to decide how long to keep your lights on. Autos can bask in light 24 hours a day and still flower. Keeping your lights on at all times will bring your yields above the average (based on your pot size and light potency), but will cost more. We recommend shooting for 18 hours on and 6 hours off to achieve good yields while saving some money.

- Growing autos outdoors

Outdoor growers don't have as much control over lighting. Those located in warm and sunny climates further south have an advantage over those further north. However, there are other variables to consider. A grower in the south might live in a good climate, but if they only have a shady position to work with, they might experience less of a return.

You should aim to locate your plants in a south-facing position that receives a minimum of 8 hours of direct light per day throughout the growing season. If you have access to these conditions, you can expect a rewarding outdoor autoflower yield of around 150–175g/plant; genetics and climate will affect these numbers. However, if you have to make do with a shaded spot with significantly less sunlight, reel in your expectations to around 50–100g/plant.

  • Pot size

You should expect different auto yields from different pot sizes. Containers can either limit plant growth or help specimens unleash their full potential. We recommend using an 11L pot when growing autos for the best results. It's also a good idea to directly sow autoflower seeds into their final pot to avoid transplant: the recovery phase following this procedure can reduce yields as autos have such a short growing cycle.

Check out some different pot sizes, and the average yield you can expect from each, below:

  • 2L: 100–150g/m² indoors or 35–40g/plant outdoors
  • 5L: 200–250g/m² indoors or 75–85g/plant outdoors
  • 11L and bigger: 400–500g/m² indoors or 150–170g/plant outdoors
How Much Do Autoflowering Plants Yield?
  • Space

The space you have available will drastically influence your total yield at the end of a grow; the pot size you use also comes into play here. You can fit around 9 plants situated in 11L pots into 1 square metre, or 18 plants grown in 5L pots in the same space. As you can see, you don't need much room at all to grow quite a few plants.

So, how does this translate into overall yield? You need to take many variables into account. Let's say you grow 9 plants in an 11L pot under a 600W LED light. Depending on the genetics, you could expect to receive a bulky return of 600g/m². With time and experience, and by saturating your grow tent of 1,500PPM of CO₂, you could even boost this number towards 1000g/m², optimizing every inch of space.

Arrows Plants per SQM
Growspace (m²)
Pot size
Total:
25 plant/s
Arrows Plants per SQM
Growspace (m²)
Pot size
Total:
25 plant/s

Let's take a look at another scenario; you decide to use smaller 5L pots in a space covering 2 square metres. You can fit a maximum of 36 plants in this space. Under two 400W LED lights (one for each square metre) you could expect a monstrous return of 1200g/m².

To get an estimate of your yields, take these factors into consideration:

Pot size Light source
Space Are you using CO₂?

  • Nutrients

Nutrients are vital for plant growth. Your autos require macro and micronutrients in order to fulfil key processes, such as photosynthesis and protein synthesis. But cannabis autos aren't as hungry as their photoperiod counterparts. You'll need to start out with a specialised cannabis auto potting mix that should look something like this:

3 parts peat moss 3 parts compost
2 parts perlite (pre-wet) 1 part vermiculite (pre-wet)

After covering the basics, you'll also need to keep your plants fed with additional nutrients throughout the growing cycle. While synthetic options work rapidly, growers sometimes run into issues (including toxicity) that can affect plant growth and impact yields. For this reason, we suggest using organic nutrients at 75% of the recommended dose to meet the reduced appetite of your autoflowering cannabis.

Growing organically helps to preserve soil life, reduce runoff, and enhance soil structure. These factors create a better environment for cannabis plants both indoors and outdoors and can push your auto yields above the average. Considering you've covered all of the other bases, organic growing will help to push your yields that much further. No-dig methods that add mulch to the top of the soil (instead of mixing it in) help to keep soil life intact, and are known to increase the productivity of some crops by more than 30%[1].

You should also consider introducing beneficial microbes into the mix. Cannabis forms synergistic relationships with friendly bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi. It gets easy access to nutrients in return for plant sugars.

  • Training

To train or not to train? Many auto cannabis growers ask themselves this question at some point. Autos grow so fast that some cultivators question whether the stress of training could reduce yields. This definitely makes sense when considering the heavy-handed approach of high-stress training. However, these more gentle methods work well at boosting auto harvests. Many growers experience great results with low-stress training (LST). This technique involves gently tying down the main stem to the rim of the pot so it sits parallel, which allows branches to shoot upwards and create an even canopy.

What Leads to Poor Autoflower Yields?

Now you know what to aim for to produce the best autoflowering yield per plant possible. But what should you avoid? Several factors can slow down growth, damage plants, and result in poor outcomes. These are the most important issues that auto growers face:

Poor germination

You can avoid this by purchasing high-quality seeds from a reputable supplier. Plants also struggle in the seedling stage when given too many nutrients, when handled and transplanted too aggressively, or when overwatered.

Low humidity
Too little humidity can cause your plants to dry out and develop crispy leaves. Plants depend on their leaves to survive, so make sure you aim for the desired relative humidity for each stage, as detailed above (if possible).
Lighting issues
If indoors, make sure you have a light powerful enough for the number of plants you want to grow. Likewise, if your plants grow too close to the light, they can become burned and bleached. Aim to keep your light at least 20cm away from the canopy during the growing cycle. However, the type of light and its power will have an effect on this, so be sure to read our guide linked above on proper lighting.
Not enough light hours
Keep your lights on for a minimum of 18 hours each day. Anything less than this will result in subpar yields.
Small pots
Unless you're really short on space, we suggest using 11L pots to get the most out of each plant. Although you can use many small pots in a large space, this takes up more time when it comes to watering, feeding, and general care.
Recovery time and broken branches
High-stress training works great with photoperiod strains, but you risk breaking branches and stressing your plants out; these factors will slow growth and affect yields because autos have such a short growing cycle.
Pests
Small critters can inflict large amounts of damage. We recommend protecting specimens with companion plant species that bring in natural predators for the best autoflower yield outdoors.
Watering errors
Many beginners have the tendency to smother their plants with too much water. As a rule of thumb, let the top 5cm of soil completely dry out before giving your autos another drink.

Happy Auto Growing!

You're ready to get some seeds into the soil and start the journey towards harvesting your own auto stash. Remember, there are many different ways you can optimise autoflowering cannabis yields, including starting with the right genetics and dialling in temperature, humidity, feeding, watering, and training techniques. While these are paramount, you shouldn't forget to avoid those factors that can reduce yields, including poor lighting, pests, and bad watering practices.

Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

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(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

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If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

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We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

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At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

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Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

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On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

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Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

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To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: