Auto-flowering Seeds Growing Timeline
Autoflowering Cannabis Growth Timeline
Autoflowering cannabis plants automatically transition from vegetative growth to flowering based on age, rather than light cycle changes. This timeline shows the typical stages of an autoflowering plant's lifecycle.
Week 0Week 2Week 4Week 6Week 8Week 10
Germination & Seedling
Weeks 0-1
Key Events:
- Seeds germinate within 24-72 hours
- First set of true leaves appears by day 5-7
- Seedling establishes root system
Care Tips:
- Light: 18-24 hours daily (CFL or LED at 25% power)
- Water: Light misting, keeping medium just damp
- Nutrients: None needed yet
- Humidity: 65-70%
- Temperature: 70-75°F (21-24°C)
Avoid: Overwatering, high-intensity light, and any nutrients at this stage
Early Vegetative Growth
Weeks 1-3
Key Events:
- Rapid leaf and stem development
- Plant height increases significantly
- Root system expands throughout growing medium
Care Tips:
- Light: 18-20 hours daily (increase LED to 50-60% power)
- Water: Allow top inch of soil to dry between waterings
- Nutrients: Begin at ¼ strength vegetative nutrients
- Humidity: 55-60%
- Temperature: 70-78°F (21-26°C)
Important: This is the best time for any low-stress training techniques (LST). Autoflowers have limited time to recover from high-stress techniques.
Pre-Flowering
Weeks 3-5
Key Events:
- First pistils (white hairs) begin to appear
- Plant growth rate accelerates
- Final vegetative stretch occurs
Care Tips:
- Light: 18-20 hours daily (increase to 75-80% power)
- Water: Slightly increase watering as plant demands more
- Nutrients: Transition to bloom nutrients (½ strength)
- Humidity: 45-50%
- Temperature: 68-78°F (20-26°C)
Note: Stop all training techniques by the end of week 4 to allow the plant to focus on bud development.
Main Flowering Period
Weeks 5-8
Key Events:
- Buds form and increase in size rapidly
- Trichome production increases
- Strong cannabis aroma develops
- Pistils remain white and active
Care Tips:
- Light: 18-20 hours daily (full power)
- Water: Regular watering but avoid overwatering
- Nutrients: Full-strength bloom nutrients
- Humidity: 40-45%
- Temperature: 68-75°F (20-24°C)
Watch for: Nutrient burn, light stress, and humidity-related issues. This is when plants are at their hungriest but also most sensitive.
Late Flowering & Ripening
Weeks 8-10
Key Events:
- Bud growth slows as ripening begins
- Pistils darken from white to orange/brown
- Trichomes turn from clear to cloudy to amber
- Some leaves may yellow naturally
Care Tips:
- Light: Maintain 18 hours daily
- Water: Reduce slightly in final days
- Nutrients: Flush with plain pH-balanced water for the final 7-10 days
- Humidity: 35-40%
- Temperature: 65-75°F (18-24°C)
Harvest window: Watch trichomes with a magnifier. Harvest when most are cloudy with 10-30% amber for optimal potency and effect.