• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Grow Light Info

Helping You Choose the Right Grow Light

  • Grow Lights
    • LED Grow Lights
      • Buying Guides
      • Reviews
        • BestVA DC Series Review
        • HLG Review
        • KingLED Review
        • Mars Hydro Review
        • Phlizon COB Series Review
        • Spider Farmer Review
        • Viparspectra Review
      • Tips & Advice
    • HID Grow Lights
      • Buying Guides
        • Best CMH Grow Lights
        • Best HID Grow Lights
        • Best MH And HPS Bulbs
      • Tips & Advice
    • Fluorescent Grow Lights
      • Buying Guides
        • Best T5 Bulbs For Veg
        • Hydrofarm AgroBrite T5 Review
      • Tips & Advice
    • Grow Light Guides
      • Adjustable Grow Light Stands
      • Best Lights For Vegging
      • Best Lights For Flowering
    • Tips & Advice
  • Grow Tents
    • Grow Tent Buying Guides
      • Best Large Grow Tents
      • Best Small Grow Tents
      • Quictent Review
      • Secret Jardin Review
      • Vivosun Review
    • Grow Tent Info
  • Seeds
    • Best Place To Buy Marijuana Seeds
    • Best Autoflower Seed Banks
    • Highest Yielding Autoflowers
    • Seed Banks That Take PayPal
    • Crop King Seeds Review
    • ILGM Seed Bank Review
    • Marijuana Seeds NL Review
    • Seedsman Review
  • Other Equipment
    • Best Digital Scale For Weed
    • Best Fan For Grow Tents
    • Best Humidifier For Grow Tents
    • Best Microscope For Trichomes
    • Best Scissors For Trimming Weed
    • Best Timer For Grow Lights
  • Indoor Growing
    • Cannabis Cultivation
  • Cannabis Info
    • Useful Info
    • Fun
You are here: Home / Indoor Growing / Cannabis Cultivation

How To Get Bigger Yields From Autoflowers (The 3 Keys)

Last updated July 30, 2024 By Steven 3 Comments

How To Get Bigger Yields From AutoflowersAutoflowers are famous for producing lower yields.

They have many advantages, like being good for growing in small spaces, but yield has always been their one big drawback.

That is no longer true.

There are now a number of high-yielding autoflower strains.

If you start with a high-yielding strain and provide your plants the ideal conditions, you can get bigger yields from autoflowers.

Yields that come close to matching top photoperiod strains.

Keep reading to learn exactly how to get bigger yields from autoflowers. We will cover everything you need to know to maximize those yields.

Contents

  • 1 How To Get Bigger Yields From Autoflowers
    • 1.1 Choose The Right Autoflowering Strain
    • 1.2 Provide Ideal Environmental Conditions
      • 1.2.1 Lighting
      • 1.2.2 Temperature And Humidity
      • 1.2.3 Air Circulation
      • 1.2.4 Soil Quality
      • 1.2.5 Nutrition
    • 1.3 Growth Training
    • 1.4 Harvesting
  • 2 How To Get Bigger Buds On Autoflowers: Final Thoughts

 

How To Get Bigger Yields From Autoflowers

They three keys to bigger yields from autoflowers are to choose the right strain, to provide the ideal environmental conditions, and to train and trim your plants correctly.

Providing the right environmental conditions includes the lighting, ventilation, temperature, humidity, soil, water, and nutrients.

If you want your plants to yield nice, fat buds, the first step is to carefully selecting your autoflowering strain. Some strains simply won’t yield as much as others.

Then you need to pay attention to the growing conditions. Your autoflowering cannabis plants need ideal environmental conditions, such as correct lighting schedules, good air circulation, and the ideal temperature and humidity levels.

big yield on autoflower weed plant

Itโ€™s also very important to ensure your plants are receiving the perfect nutrient levels and that you use a decent growing medium. Finally, you can train and prune your plants to maximize cola production. Let’s take a closer look at the factors that will impact your yields the most.

 

Choose The Right Autoflowering Strain

The first step in achieving huge yields from your autoflowering plants is selecting an appropriate strain. When selecting the strain, you should pay attention to the genetics and its unique characteristics.

You should consider factors such as the potential size of the plant, the yield potential, the expected potency of the buds, and the overall growing difficulty.

This article lists the highest-yielding autoflower strains. The first strain listed in that article, Gorilla Cookies, is a hugely popular strain among autoflower growers.

The seeds produce compact and relatively short plants that donโ€™t take up as much space as other strains, yet the yield tends to be good.

On average, they yield up to 600 g/mยฒ (2 oz/ftยฒ) indoors and up to 800 g (1.75 lb) per plant outdoors. The aromatic, fist-sized buds can contain up to 25% THC.

To attain these yields, you will also need to pay attention to the environmental conditions during growth and ensure your plants receive the correct amount of water and nutrients.

 

Provide Ideal Environmental Conditions

The biggest advantage to growing indoors is that you can make sure your plants get the exact environment they need to flourish. Here is what you need to give them.

 

Lighting

lighting to boost yield of autoflowers

All plants require adequate lighting to grow strong and healthy, and cannabis plants are no different. This article discusses the light requirement of weed plants.

Of course, there is a big difference in lighting between autoflowering strains and photoperiod strains.

When growing photoperiod strains, the flowering stage is triggered by the ratio of light to dark that the plant receives, with a 12-hour period of darkness being the trigger.

However, autoflowering strains behave differently. Their flowering stage is triggered by the plantsโ€™ maturity.

Because you donโ€™t need to reduce the amount of light you give your plants down to 12 hours with autoflowering strains, you can carry on giving your plants more light, which will stimulate them to grow bigger, healthier buds.

Typically, autoflower growers keep their plants on a 18/6 light-to-dark cycle. This extra light should help you get the desired results. Of course, it does mean higher electric bills.

 

Temperature And Humidity

Maintaining the proper temperature and humidity levels is also crucial to maximizing the yields of your autoflowering marijuana plants. You should aim to keep the temperature between 68ยฐ and 77ยฐ F during the day and between 62ยฐ and 68ยฐ F at night.

The ideal humidity level to aim for during the vegetative stage is between 50% and 70%, while during the flowering stage, you should aim for 40 to 50% humidity.

You should also pay attention to the genetics of your selected strain. If the grower’s notes list different requirements, adjust accordingly.

 

Air Circulation

diagram showing air circulation system

You should also ensure that your cannabis plants have proper air circulation while growing. Good air circulation helps prevent mold and mildew from developing on the buds, which can affect the quality of your yield. Many growers use fans or they set up an air circulation system in their grow tent for this purpose.

 

Soil Quality

Another way to maximize your plants’ potential is to make sure you choose a viable growing medium. Autoflower strains prefer a pH range between 6.0 and 6.5 (in soil), so make sure to test and adjust accordingly.

Having the correct pH level in the soil ensures your plants can take up the nutrients they require. If the pH level is off, the plants will not be able to absorb certain nutrients, leading to a deficiency.

 

Nutrition

Whether you are growing photoperiod or autoflowering weed plants, providing them with the correct nutrients throughout the growing cycle is crucial for their growth and overall health.

An important difference between autoflowering and photoperiod strains is that autoflowering strains tend to produce smaller plants with a smaller root mass. This means that they require a little less nutrition.

Too many nutrients can be harmful to your plants, even causing plant death in some cases. Pay attention to the recommended NPK levels for the strain that you are growing, and do not exceed these amounts.

When you have a good-quality growing medium with the correct pH levels, feeding your plants the correct levels of nutrients will help you achieve bigger yields.

 

Growth Training

stress training a weed plant

There are different training techniques you can use when growing cannabis plants, but the two most common ones are low-stress training (LST) and high-stress training (HST).

LST involves gently bending and tying down the branches of your plants, encouraging them to grow horizontally rather than vertically. This technique helps to create an even canopy and maximize light exposure, resulting in bigger and better yields. It also keeps plants from growing too tall.

To train your plants using the LST method, use soft plant ties to bend the branches down and away from the main stem, making sure not to break or damage them. Our low-stress training step-by-step guide has more.

HST, on the other hand, involves more aggressive methods like topping or pruning to create multiple colas and stimulate lateral growth.

This technique is riskier and can cause stress to your plants, so it’s only recommended for experienced growers. If done correctly, though, HST can result in bigger yields and more compact plants.

 

Harvesting

harvested autoflower yield

Knowing when to harvest your autoflower weed plants is crucial for achieving the desired potency and flavor of your buds.

Harvesting too early can result in buds that are underdeveloped and lack the desired THC levels, while harvesting too late can lead to buds that are overripe and have begun to degrade.

To determine the right time to harvest, you should observe the trichomes on your buds. Trichomes are the small, crystal-like structures that contain the cannabinoids and terpenes that give cannabis its sought-after effects and flavor.

When the trichomes turn from clear to cloudy or amber, it’s a sign that the buds are reaching their peak potency and flavor, and it’s time to harvest and start the drying and curing stages.

 

How To Get Bigger Buds On Autoflowers: Final Thoughts

The keys to maximizing autoflower yields are to begin with a high-yielding strain, to provide the ideal growing conditions, and to shape your plants to maximize cola production.

If you do these three things correctly, you will get huge yields from your autoflowering marijuana seeds. Yields that come close to those you can get from photoperiod weed strains.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rickey Cox says

    May 16, 2024 at 20:32

    I ordered some nudes from you guys and so far I have yet to receive then. Kind of wondering if you can check on it for me it’s been going on two weeks now
    Thank you
    Rickey Cox

    Reply
    • Steven says

      May 17, 2024 at 01:41

      I don’t sell anything, so you couldn’t have ordered them here (and I’m guessing you mean nutes, not nudes; no one would want nudes from me, even if I paid them). What business name is on the receipt?

      Reply
  2. Josh says

    August 6, 2024 at 19:21

    The problem I have with hst is when you top even after the first two nodes is they want to start budding soon after, I had one that produced the most when a bug ate the top after just one node, it just doesn’t stay in the vegative stage long enough to do much pruning, any ideas, I tried filming but it didn’t take guess I left too much of the leaves

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Recent Articles

thc cbn cbd and marijuana potency

What Are THC, CBN & CBD And How Do They Relate To Marijuana Potency?

Things That Cause Stress In Cannabis Plants

7 Things That Cause Stress In Cannabis Plants (And Why Stress Is Bad)

Improve Bud Quality In Cannabis Plants

6 Ways To Improve Bud Quality In Cannabis Plants

Top 10 Strains For Maximum Yield

Top 10 Cannabis Strains To Grow For Maximum Yield

How To Make Your Own Cannabis-Infused Edibles

How To Make Your Own Cannabis-Infused Edibles At Home (Easy Step-By-Step Guide)

Eco-Friendly Cannabis Cultivation

Eco-Friendly Cannabis Cultivation: 8 Tips For Growing Green And Sustainable

1 Gram Of Weed Per Watt Of Light

1 Gram Of Weed Per Watt Of Light (Is It Realistic & How To Achieve It)

How To Make Cannabis Tinctures At Home

How To Make Cannabis Tinctures At Home (Easy Step-By-Step Guide)

Save Electricity When Growing Weed

7 Tips To Save Electricity When Growing Weed

marijuana flowers

How To Make Bubble Hash At Home (Step-By-Step Beginner’s Guide)

Footer

Important Pages

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Terms And Conditions

Image Reuse

Images on this site are free to share (unless attributed to a 3rd party), as long as you give credit to Grow Light Info and provide a link back to the page from which the image came.

Disclaimer

Some recommended products may use affiliate links. GrowLightInfo.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

*Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates.

Contact

Grow Light Info is owned and operated by:

McBrain Global LLC
30 N Gould Street, Suite R
Sheridan, WY 82801
USA

Phone: +1 (307) 269-0897
Email: mccabesteven9@gmail.com

Copyright © 2025 ยท McBrain Global LLC ยท All rights reserved.