Autoflowers. For the longest time, they had a bad reputation.
Lower quality and lower yielding than traditional, photoperiodic cannabis strains.
And honestly, that reputation was warranted.
But not anymore
Thanks to the hard work and dedication of a handful of top-class breeders, things have changed in the last decade.
Now, the best autos can match photoperiods in both quality and yield.
Keep reading for our list of the best-yielding autoflower strains available. With these strains, you can get similar results to top photoperiod strains.
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Highest Yield Autoflowering Strains
If you’re looking for the highest-yielding autoflower strains on the planet currently, you’re in the right place. Here are our five top picks for maximum yield potential.
Gorilla Cookies Auto by Fast Buds
- THC Content: 27%
- CBD Content: <1%
- Indoor Yield: 400-550 gr/m2
- Outdoor Yield: 300-350 gr/plant
- Flowering Time: 9-10 weeks
If you are looking for a massive yielder and huge levels of THC, Gorilla Cookies Auto by Fast Buds is the strain for you.
GCA comes in with a whopping 27% THC potential, making it the highest tested autoflower in the world to date (learn all about the science behind cannabis potency).
Fast buds has been on top of the autoflowering genetics game for a couple of years now, and with the new addition of Gorilla Cookies Auto, it looks like they are perfectly poised to stay there for the foreseeable future.
As with all strains, the key to getting the absolute maximum yield is to provide the perfect growing conditions.
Gorilla Cookies Auto by Fast Buds loves indoor cultivation (although she works great outdoors also) with the temps stable at around 23° Celsius.
In good growing conditions, this strain is capable of reaching heights of 1.5 meters and producing 400 to 550 grams per square meter indoors, or 300 to 350 gams per plant outdoors.
Diesel Autoflower
- THC Content: 14.3%-19.3%
- CBD Content: <1%
- Indoor Yield: 375 gr/m2
- Outdoor Yield: 90-110 gr/plant
- Flowering Time: 8-9 weeks
Diesel Autoflower is a multi-award winning autoflowering strain from a legendary US-based seed house. This 70% Sativa dominant strain boasts some insane yields and a THC potential of up to 19%.
Diesel Autoflower loves both indoor and outdoor cultivation. Outdoors she works better in a slightly warmer climate with maximum sunshine.
Indoors, you want to keep this strain under at least 20 hours of light a day. You can expect yields in the range of 375 grams per square meter indoors, but only up to 110 grams per plant outdoors.
This is a very forgiving strain, which makes it perfect for novice growers. We do, however, recommend supplementing with light plant training during the vegetative stage, in order to ensure maximum yield potential. Tying down or setting up a SCROG net is definitely recommended.
Super Lemon Haze Autoflower by I Love Growing Marijuana
- THC Content: 22%
- CBD Content: <1%
- Indoor Yield: up to 425 gr/m2
- Outdoor Yield: up to 80 gr/plant
- Flowering Time: 7-10 weeks
Super Silver Haze Auto is one of the highest-yielding old-school strains and one of our absolute all-time favorites.
With a 20% Indica 80% Sativa split, THC levels of up to 22%, and a much faster lifecycle than the photoperiodic version of this plant, there’s really not much to hate. And that’s not even mentioning the yield potential.
Now, keep in mind that with all of the strains mentioned here today, yield potential is the key. There is absolutely no guarantee that you are going to reach this potential unless you give the plant what she wants.
Sure, all of these strains will give you the best shot at huge yields, but you are going to have to put in the work to get there. In this case, Super Lemon Haze Autoflower likes a lot of sunshine and warm climates.
But what she really craves is an indoor growing environment, with very little variability in terms of temps and humidity levels.
In good growing conditions, Super Silver Haze Auto can produce up to 425 grams per square meter indoors, or up to 80 grams per plant outdoors.
Banana Purple Punch Auto by Fast Buds
- THC Content: 26%
- CBD Content: <1%
- Indoor Yield: 450-550 gr/m2
- Outdoor Yield: 60-200 gr/plant
- Flowering Time: 8-10 weeks
This is another Fast Buds option, and also one of their newer genetics. Fast Buds really are knocking it out of the park recently, and the fantastic Banana Purple Punch Auto only proves this once again.
This is our number one pick for outdoor autoflowering big-yielders, and it comes with the added bonus of packing in purple hues!
This is a solid Indica dominant strain with one of the shorter cultivation periods (just 56 days in perfect conditions), a THC peak of 26%, and a final yield potential of 450 to 550 grams per meter squared indoors, or over 200 grams per plant outdoors.
There’s really not much more you could ask for from an auto! If you are planning on growing outdoors, make sure to check out our guide on how to grow autoflowers outdoors.
Northern Lights Auto
- THC Content: 22%
- CBD Content: <1%
- Indoor Yield: 450-550 gr/m2
- Outdoor Yield: 60-200 gr/plant
- Flowering Time: 8-10 weeks
Northern Lights is a popular strain, because it is incredibly pleasant to smoke. It is an indica dominant strain (90% indica). It is known as one of the easier strains to grow, making it excellent for beginners.
When cultivated indoors, this strain can yield 450 to 550 grams per square meter. It generally grows to be between 24 and 32 inches tall. Outdoors, and in warmer climates with full sun coverage, this strain produces 60 to 200 grams per plant.
The Northern Lights strain has a fairly high THC content, too. It can contain up to 22% THC. Its CBD content is under 1%.
What Exactly Is An Autoflowering Cannabis Strain?
Just in case you are not sure, autoflowering cannabis strains are those that switch from the vegetative to the flowering stage automatically – usually after a few weeks of age.
This differs from photoperiodic cannabis strains, which require you to manually change the light cycle in order to induce flowering, or for the natural sunlight hours to decrease as the season changes.
As such, you can complete an autoflower grow cycle in as little as 7–10 weeks (from seed to harvest), making them the perfect choice for novice growers, or those looking to get multiple harvests in a single season.
This is all thanks to Ruderalis genetic heritage that all autoflowering cannabis strains share, which allows them to flower independently of the light cycle.
If you want to see the different types of autoflowering seeds that are available, you should check the best autoflower seed banks. You can find them listed here.
High Yield Autoflower Strains: Final Thoughts
The days of autoflowers underperforming are long gone. Modern autoflowering seeds produce plants that grow faster than photoperiods, but yield just as much and give you buds of a comparable quality.
Of course, genetics do matter. You want to make sure you buy only the highest yielding autoflower strains. Any of the 5 strains listed above fits the bill. You can’t go wrong with any one of them.
Aaron says
I Disagree with your Claim, when you Say Autos are just as good As Photos. There is no auto that can compare to Photos. Autos ain’t even in the same League. I’m a cannabis Breeder Myself.
Roy Kontulahti says
I have grown for 50 years and cross pollinated autoflowers grown on my deck at 6 weeks from seed black tuna rockstar and northern lights auto flower . has little light I can send a photo . Big powerful buds and hard . Respectfully
Anonymous says
daAaron.