Autoflowering cannabis strains are renowned for their resilience, speed, and overall ease. These traits make them ideal for beginners, experienced growers seeking an easy stash, and those seeking to optimise turnover.
Autoflowering cultivars are predisposed to flower based on age, as opposed to a change in the light cycle. Most varieties surge from seed to harvest in 8–10 weeks and reach a small to medium height that makes them easy to manage and conceal.
Many growers previously associated autos with low-grade weed, and viewed their speed as a trade-off for potency. However, innovative breeders have created a new wave of strains that boast rapid flowering times alongside THC and CBD levels—not to mention flavours—that rival many photoperiod strains.
Check out the best autoflowering strains to cultivate in 2020 below.
ROYAL GORILLA AUTOMATIC
Not long ago, some growers would turn up their noses at those who chose to grow autoflowers. The reason behind this is that early autos simply couldn’t match the yield, potency, and flavour of photoperiodic strains. Today, no one would dare say anything bad about Royal Gorilla Automatic, a dank auto that is more than deserving of the spotlight. This uber-potent lady from the US West Coast is a cross of Royal Gorilla, Royal Cookies, and ruderalis. She has been finely tuned for exceptional performance, beastly potency, and top resin production. Not to mention, she delivers up to 400g/m² of dense bud indoors—all within a short 8–10 weeks from seed.
Royal Gorilla Automatic boasts an impressive 20% THC, so she can deliver a real knockout punch. She starts you out with a happy, heady euphoria that makes way for an incredibly relaxing couch-lock. Smoke (or vape) the girl, and you will taste Diesel flavours with citrus, pine, and fruity notes.
GREEN GELATO AUTOMATIC
Green Gelato Automatic represents the new standard for autoflowering genetics. She packs all of the best traits of a high-quality photoperiod strain into a small and easy-to-grow package accessible to novices and those limited by space.
As the progeny of Green Gelato and Cookies Auto, Green Gelato Automatic descends from a prestigious line of THC titans with tantalising terpene profiles. Her tapered, light-green buds pack a massive THC content of 24%, which synergises with earthy and sweet terpenes to provide an energising and motivating head high.
Indoor plants won’t surpass 120cm in height, but still churn out an impressive 375–450g/m². Plants grown outdoors in containers and raised beds peak at 120cm as well, offering a return of 100–175g/plant. Prepare to harvest her aromatic buds 9–10 weeks after germination.
NORTHERN LIGHT AUTOMATIC
Northern Light is a very popular indica among cannabis cultivators of all experience levels. Bred sometime in the 1970s in the US, she has her roots in Afghan genetics, which give the strain versatility, reliability, vigour, and top yields. No wonder she has remained a staple indoor strain up to this day! Royal Queen Seeds’ Northern Light Automatic is one of the highest-yielding autoflowering strains available. She keeps things manageable at a height of only 90–120cm indoors, yet you can expect to get as much as 550g/m² in good conditions, and up to 200g/plant when grown outdoors.
After a reasonable 9–10 weeks from germination, you can enjoy the same sultry taste of her photoperiodic ancestor, alongside an extremely relaxing high with a nice cerebral uplift to it. Superb as a nighttime smoke for some chill time, but also great at any other time of day when you need her!
WHITE WIDOW AUTOMATIC
_The_ White Widow is another classic strain beloved by cannabis smokers and growers all over the world. Royal Queen Seeds took an original White Widow variety and gave the strain an autoflowering update with the help of a fine ruderalis specimen. Out comes the same spectacular White Widow, but now so easy to grow that even bloody novices can handle her! Indoors, she will stay at a convenient height of 40–80cm and produces a very impressive 450g/m² after about 80 days post-germination. Grow her outdoors, and you can expect around 240g/plant in good conditions.
White Widow Automatic is not extremely potent at 14% THC, but she’s still strong enough to make for a very good high. Compared to her photoperiodic sister, her effect is a tad more physical and stoney, making her an excellent smoke for some cool relaxation at the end of the day. She has a pungent aroma and taste defined by woody and earthy notes, yet her smoke is pleasantly smooth.
AMNESIA HAZE AUTOMATIC
The original Amnesia is a famous sativa with a cult following. Her euphoric high and unique flavour are the reward for what many would describe as a difficult growing process. Most Hazes need around 12 or more weeks to flower, and their size and nutrient demands can be an issue too. Luckily, Amnesia Haze Automatic by Royal Queen Seeds is here to save the day! This fabulous autoflowering variant does away with the long wait, instead requiring only 80–85 days from germination. Moreover, she will remain at a convenient height of 80–150cm, which makes her very manageable.
Amnesia Haze Automatic provides the same superb heady effect that made her big sister so famous—a high that is as cerebral as it is uplifting. Another highlight is her classic Haze aroma that blends earth and citrus notes to max capacity. As long as you make sure not to overfeed her, growing (and enjoying) Amnesia Haze Automatic will be a breeze.
FAT BANANA AUTOMATIC
Fat Banana Automatic puts the power of new-school autoflowering genetics on display. Royal Queen Seeds teased out the best traits of Fat Banana and Cookies Auto over several generations and stabilised them in a reliable phenotype.
They settled on a final version of the strain that features small and compact buds bursting with THC. At first glance, these blossoms seem innocent. However, her THC content of 22% swarms the CB1 receptors with only a couple of hits. Within a matter of seconds, her phytochemical cocktail of cannabinoids and earthy terpenes cast a stoning effect over the body and mind.
Indoor plants peak at 100cm and provide a rewarding yield of 375–450g/m² after 9–10 weeks post-germination. Outdoor plants reach a similar height and produce 90–175g/plant.
PURPLE QUEEN AUTOMATIC
Purple Queen Automatic puts on a show during the flowering phase. This mellow auto produces thick and glistening buds that boast fantastic shades of purple, dark green, and orange. Bring these flowers to your group smoking sessions to amaze your botanical buddies.
Looks aside, Purple Queen Auto provides an exceptionally chilled-out experience. Her moderate THC level of 16% converges with fruity terpenes to provide a deeply relaxing physical high.
Watch these mesmerising purple buds emerge at the end of a rapid growing cycle of 8–9 weeks. Expect to harvest 350–400g/m² from indoor plants topping out at 90–130cm. Outdoor plants provide 100–150g/plant and perform best in polytunnels and greenhouses.
HULKBERRY AUTOMATIC
The original HulkBerry pushed the boundaries of cannabinoid production and amazed the European cannabis world with her hard-hitting highs. Royal Queen Seeds managed to capture the best elements of this legendary high in an autoflowering strain.
After crossing HulkBerry with Diesel Automatic, the progeny emerged as a sativa-dominant variety boasting long, tapered flowers with a THC level of 21%. Opening a stash jar full of these buds releases a wave of sweet and fruity terpenes into the air, which gives a hint of the flavours to come.
HulkBerry Auto thrives in a mild climate and does particularly well in grow tents and greenhouses, where she reaches a height of 80–120cm. Indoor plants produce 450–500g/m² and respond well to LST. Outdoor plants offer 100–150g/plant and do well when interplanted with companion species such as basil. You can expect to make the chop just 8–9 weeks after your seeds germinate.
QUICK ONE
Quick One, believe it or not, grows really quick. Plant your seed, and this indica-heavy specimen will fill your bags in a short 8 weeks from seed. Royal Queen Seeds brought this strain to life by reinvigorating the “original auto” Lowryder, which itself is a cross of Williams Wonder, Northern Light, and ruderalis. Not only does Quick One eagerly grow you top bud in record time, the plant, which indoors won’t exceed a height of 50–60cm, is also great if your growing space is limited. Grow her in optimal conditions, and you can expect a decent 325g/m² indoors and up to 150g/plant outdoors.
At 13% THC, Quick One is considered a mild strain, but this isn’t a bad thing! In fact, she can be ideal for those seeking something tame to enjoy during the day. With this girl lit up, you can just sit back, chill, and enjoy. Her flavour is great as well, blending tangy citrus notes with sweet fruit for an ideal smoking experience.
PURPLEMATIC CBD
Purplematic CBD merges stunning aesthetics with high levels of CBD. After crossing Kush Rose Auto CBD with Afghan Rose Auto CBD, our breeders landed on a particularly beautiful strain that produces a relaxing yet lucid effect.
Her flowers feature a dark purple crown perched atop compact, trichome-laden buds. These pretty nuggets possess an impressive CBD content of 17% alongside a THC level of 0.5%. Smoking or vaping these buds offers peace of mind without any psychoactive side effects.
Purplematic CBD reaches up to 120cm indoors and provides up to 450g/m² after just 8–9 weeks. She handles low-stress training well, and is generally resilient. Plants grown outdoors peak at a taller height of 140cm and produce up to 150g/plant.
Have you found a favourite that you want to grow from our list of top autoflowers? For even more choices, check out all the cannabis strains in the Royal Queen Seeds catalogue! RQS offers not just top autoflowers, but also feminized cannabis seeds and CBD-rich medicinal cannabis seeds.
Happy growing!
