Growing

Living Soil and Cannabis: Stimulate Plant Resilience

Published

1 year ago

July 6, 2023

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Living soil is the most natural soil you can get for your plants because it thrives with beneficial microorganisms and is rich in nutrients. If you decide to work with living soil in cannabis cultivation, you can expect resilient plants with a great terpene profile – but there are also some challenges.

Soil is the foundation of life — especially plant life. Rich in nutrients, it gives plants the essential elements for healthy growth and bolsters their resilience against pests and diseases. In nature, the earth is brimming with tiny microscopic lifeforms, which are an integral part of the ecosystem.

When cultivating plants like cannabis, growers can use a variety of different potting soil, often comprised of plant materials, including peat, coir, bark, or minerals like vermiculite. Living organisms are relatively rare in these ready-made potting soils, and nutrients must be constantly added as fertilizers to keep the plants healthy throughout their growing cycle.

An alternative to this is living soil, which is richer in living organisms and closer to nature. Growing cannabis with living soil can be very fruitful, and many growers swear by it.

What is living soil?

Living soil is rich in microorganisms. These microscopic life forms live together in a soil food web, which is a complex and intricate food chain. This self-sustaining life cycle leads to a greater variety of nutrients in the earth. The plants that grow here are not only beneficiaries of the earth; they live in symbiosis with the other inhabitants.

Plants release carbon and sugars into the soil, which the microorganisms can feed on. In exchange, the organisms produce essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, which the plant can take up through its roots and grow. Everybody wins!

The organisms in living soil

The seven principal inhabitants of living soil are:

1. Bacteria

These microscopic one-celled organisms break down organic matter, release and recycle nutrients into the soil. Their secretions help to bind together soil particles promoting the formation of so-called micro aggregates in the soil, improving its structure. You could find between 100 million and 1 billion bacteria in one teaspoon of living soil. Soil with a diverse composition of bacteria leads to a more robust and resilient ecosystem and improved plant growth.

2. Fungi

Mycorrhizal fungi are critical symbiotic partners of plants and essential for an active soil community. Their hyphae – thin, rootlike structures – grow in the earth and serve practically as extensions to the plant’s roots. They enhance the uptake of water and nutrients like phosphorus. Fungi also help with the decomposing of organic matter. In exchange, plants provide the fungi with carbohydrates, making a perfect trade-off.

3. Protozoa

Protozoa are single-celled life forms and belong to the domain of eukaryotes. They feed on organic matter like bacteria and organic tissues in the soil, which makes them microbial grazers. Their consumption helps to keep the population of microorganisms in balance. At the same time, protozoa release essential nutrients, especially nitrogen, into the soil.

4. Nematodes

Nematodes are microscopic roundworms, about one millimetre in length. While some have a bad rep for being pests for cannabis plants, other kinds are the exact opposite. Beneficial nematodes deal with some of the worst pests of the cannabis plants, like fungus gnats, fleas and other unwanted bugs, by preying on their larvae.

5. Arthropods

These are all kinds of bugs, insects, and other many-legged creatures, such as springtails, mites and millipedes. They break down organic matter and serve as a food source for each other and larger inhabitants. While moving through the soil, they create channels that improve aeration and water infiltration.

6. Algae

Algae do not only live in water, and they are also ubiquitous in the ground. These terrestrial algae perform photosynthesis, produce oxygen, and contribute to nutrient cycling, nourishing the soil food web. Some algae species fix atmospheric nitrogen, making it accessible to plants. Additionally, algae can bind soil particles, improving soil structure and stability. They are, therefore, a tremendous environmental help for cannabis plant growth.

7. Earthworms

Earthworms are often called tunnel workers of the soil or even ecosystem engineers. They burrow through the soil, move it around and create tunnels through which air and water can flow. Earthworms decompose organic matter, eat unwanted pests and turn them into nutrient-rich castings. Every living soil profits from these helpful friends.

The importance of soil structure

The soil structure is defined by how loose or tight the soil particles combine into larger clusters. Keeping an eye on the soil structure is crucial for optimal water-holding capacity, efficient gas exchange, and enough space for root penetration. Conditions such as insufficient oxygen, excessive moisture, and inaccessible nutrients can occur without proper soil structure.

The major components of living soil

The four main components of living soil are:

1. Organic matter

The organic parts of living soil include the aforementioned microorganisms, as well as living and dead plant matter. This can be fallen leaves, moss, ancient peat or turf, humus, compost, and animal dung. Organic matter comprises the majority of nutrients for the food soil web, holds water and is vital for the structure. Organic matter can make up 10-20% of the soil mass.

2. Minerals

Minerals come from the bedrocks out of which the soil was originally formed. They can be classified as carbonates, phosphates, oxides, and silicates and contain macro-nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as trace elements such as iron and zinc. Minerals contribute to soil structure, influencing water-holding capacity, aeration, and soil health.

3. Water

Water is a crucial component of living soil – as it is for all life. It dissolves nutrients, making them accessible to plant roots, and enables the physiological and chemical processes needed for plant growth. Of course, it also supports the microorganisms. Without water, the soil is not much more than dead dust.

4. Air

The loose surface structure of living soil allows air to enter it and enables the lower parts of plants to breathe. The air within the soil is more humid than the air we breathe and has a higher carbon dioxide (CO2) content, which is the plant’s primary carbon source. Oxygen (O2) is especially vital for the growth of plant roots.

Where to buy living soil

You can purchase living soils from various vendors online or in grow centres. When choosing the right product, here is what to look for:

A reputable and trusted seller
The ingredients; see if there are any added microorganisms and fungi
A suitable pH; around six is optimal for cannabis
Certifications for organic, eco-friendly manufacture

How to make living soil

You can also make living soil by getting your hands dirty, experimenting with different mixtures, and discovering the perfect mix for your garden.

Ingredients of living soil:

The first step is to make a base mix from dry materials like peat moss, coco coir, ready-made base mix, and compost. Add a soil amendment that will help aerate the mix. For this, perlite or pumice is excellent. Start with potting soil as a base mix, and add water to create the desired density.

Next, add more biological organisms through amendments, inoculations, and organisms.

An essential ingredient is earthworm castings, but there are many kinds of nutrient-rich meals, including plants like alfalfa, and animal-based supplements, like fish and bone. There is also the possibility to brew a rich compost tea with nutritious ingredients and add this to the mix.

Creating living soil is not a one-day job. After you have made your mix, you should let it rest for a week or two, so the organisms can develop. When cultivating cannabis in living soil, regularly check the pH and make sure your plants get the right amount of macronutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), as well as calcium, magnesium, and boron.

Due to the wide variety of microorganisms in living soil, it does not need as much water as other growing mediums, so be careful, as it is easy to overwater. After harvesting, your living soil can be kept alive and reused numerous times.

Using living soil for indoor and outdoor cannabis growing

So should you use living soil to grow cannabis?

If you are growing outdoors, the answer is straightforward. Your cannabis plants become a part of the ecosystem, and of course, the soil should be as alive as possible. If you want outstanding harvests, it might be advisable, depending on the conditions of your soil, to enhance it first with some external living soil or add nutrient solutions.

For this, you should do a soil test first to learn about the pH level, composition and nutrient content. Then you can add amendments, organic matter and microbes. You can add mulch as straw, wood chips, or leaves to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. Watch your soil over time and add amendments to maintain its health.

Regarding indoor cultivation, living soil is one option you might want to consider. Growing with living soil is closer to nature and, if rightly cared for, will create an environment that is more nutritious, self-sufficient and resilient. If you will, living soil is more organic and holistic than the more technical and systematic approach, where you measure the composition of your soil and the nutrient supply.

The benefits of using living soil for cannabis plants

1. Enhanced nutrient availability

The diverse microbial population in the living soil helps to maintain a natural supply of nutrients, promotes optimal plant growth and reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers.

2. Improved plant health and resilience

Plants and microorganisms work together in symbiosis. Ideally, this relationship forms a small ecosystem, meaning it has better defences against pests, diseases and environmental stress. The nutrient and water uptake is improved, which enhances root growth and leads to healthier plants.

3. Better terpene and cannabinoid profiles

Cannabis plants grown in nutritious living soil tend to produce high levels of terpenes, cannabinoids, and flavonoids. This means your plant product can get more aromatic, flavourful and potent.

4. Less watering

Water retention is better than less enriched soils because the living soil is rich in organic matter, minerals, and beneficial microorganisms. This means less need for watering.

5. Investment

The initial cost for ready-made living soil is higher than standard potting soil, but it can be worth the investment over time. Living soil can be used over and over again, and at the same time, you need fewer synthetic nutrients, fertilizers, and pest control measures.

6. Environmental sustainability

Growing with living soil is closer to an organic and natural process. The more self-sustaining the system is, the fewer bottled fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides you need for optimal health. Furthermore, the more often the soil is used correctly, the better it gets.

Challenges of growing cannabis with living soil

One of the first downsides you might encounter when shopping for living soils for cannabis growing is the initial price. Living soils tend to be more on the pricey side compared to regular soils. However, you should be aware that when you stick with the living soil method, you might get more than your money’s worth since it can be reused multiple times.

You will have to adjust your methods when you are used to growing your plants with regular soil or hydroponic methods. Growing with living soil is more of an organic practice, which means that you, as a gardener, do not have many options to adjust the flow of nutrients, like adding liquid fertilizers.

For beginners, there is a pretty steep learning curve. Growing cannabis with living soil means learning about creating or finding the optimal soil mix for your specific needs. You should care for and maintain the growing ecosystem during your cultivation. Like with other methods, you must closely monitor what is happening in your soil, including the pH and water concentration.

Unwanted visitors are, unfortunately, a problem you might have to deal with, mainly if you use living soil that is self-made from compost. You might bring a population of aphids or other pests in with the mix. Also, seeds from other plants might be inside the mix and germinate. One solution here is to heat up and cook compost before mixing it in, although this also kills a lot of the beneficial life. A more natural method for dealing with pests in living soil is to promote the growth of predatory organisms, like mites.

There are some downsides when it comes to living soil, especially for indoor growing. However, many growers who have taken up the challenge successfully say that the pros, like the excellent terpene profile and the environmental benefits, vastly outweigh the initial difficulties.

Using living soil in cannabis cultivation: nature-oriented, challenging, and rewarding

Living soil is a nutrient-rich growing medium filled with diverse microorganisms, all contributing to the soil’s health and fertility. It creates a symbiotic relationship with plants, enhancing their resilience and nutrient uptake.

Growing with living soil offers a nature-oriented approach to cannabis cultivation, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers and artificial pesticides. It enhances the resilience of plants, improves nutrient availability, and can lead to fantastic terpene and cannabinoid profiles.

Have you tried growing with living soil before, or do you have advice for those looking to try living soil? Let us know in the comments below, and until next time, happy growing!

Disclaimer:

Laws and regulations regarding cannabis cultivation differ from country to country. Sensi Seeds therefore strongly advises you to check your local laws and regulations. Do not act in conflict with the law.

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autoflower seeds

5 best autoflower seed banks of 2024 by Leafly

Published

2 months ago

September 30, 2024

admin

Grow your favorite strains more easily with seeds from these top sources. These recommendations on the best autoflower seed banks are made by Leafly’s Product Picks team after extensive research, internal debate, and expert consultation. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission.

Growing your own cannabis has never been easier, and more and more Americans are discovering their green thumbs and falling in love with cannabis cultivation. A big part of the plant’s newfound popularity is the rise of autoflowering strains, which have charmed novice and expert growers alike with their low-maintenance growing style and consistent yields.

A quick look at the best autoflower seed banks

Best selection: Seed Supreme

Best classic strains: Royal Queen Seeds

Best for beginners: ILGM.com

Most innovative: DNA Genetics

Best high-potency strains: Fast Buds

Our team has been eagerly charting the epic rise of autoflowers, and we’re happy to say that the future is bright for this eternally excellent, accessible crop. To help you get in on the action, we’ve assembled a list of the best autoflower seed banks for the top spots to buy autoflowering cannabis seeds online. This list of seed banks is full of champions, innovators, and artisans, and they’re all well deserving of your hard-earned dollars.

If you’re curious about what exactly makes an autoflower an autoflower, and what sets this strain apart from traditional photoperiod strains, stick around after the list to read our breakdown of the science—no lab goggles required. But first, and without further ado, here’s our list of the very best autoflower seed banks of 2024.

The best autoflower seed banks of 2024: Reviews and recommended products

• Virtually unparalleled selection of autoflowering strains

• Sourced from a global network of breeders

• Quick delivery time and regular giveaways

Recommended strain

GG4 is one of the most famous strains in the cannabis world today and essential growing for cannabis cultivators in the same way that Citizen Kane is essential viewing for film lovers. Seed Supreme’s autoflowering rendition of this famous strain is a fast-growing and low-effort indica-like that is a great pick for either your first grow or your five hundredth. Named after the gloriously sticky resin that it produces in prodigious quantities, GG4 induces a heavily sedating high that relaxes the body, making it a perennial favorite for those who turn to cannabis as a pain reliever or sleep aid.

There’s a staggering number of cannabis strains out there—we oughta know—and the plant’s endless variety is part of the reason why so many people keep falling in love with cannabis. If you have the heart of a collector and gotta grow and smoke em’ all, then Seed Supreme is the bank for you.

They’re a verified weed seed emporium with dozens and dozens of autoflowering strains available at an affordable price point. If you’ve heard of a strain in a song, movie, or here from Leafly, then the odds are good that Seed Supreme can ship it directly to your door. Our advice? Spend an afternoon browsing Seed Supreme’s vast catalog, you’ll find enough enticing strains to plan out your next several grows & see why they’re one of our best autoflower seed banks.

“You want it? Seed Supreme has got it. We tip our cap to this bank, from one crew of strain fanatics to another.”

GG4 gets its high potency from its heavyweight progenitors, Sour Dubb and Chocolate Diesel. This heritage is also where GG4 gets its polarizing flavor; a heavy punch of diesel and ammonia undergirded by more subtle, sour aromas that make themselves known on the inhale. You can expect your GG4 to have somewhere in the low 20% THC range, plenty for even an experienced consumer with a tolerance to match. Seed Supreme’s GG4 auto is also a cinch to grow, despite the strain’s wide leaves and titanic colas due to the sturdy genetics bred into it by the team at Seed Supreme.

• Deep connection to Dutch cannabis culture

• Decades of experience selling cannabis seeds

• Online seedfinder helps customers discover new strains

Recommended strain

Amnesia Haze has been a mainstay of stash boxes the world over for many years, and Royal Queen Seeds’ autoflowering rendition of this classic is the best way to get it in your grow. Amnesia Haze first rose to prominence in the freewheeling Amsterdam scene, where cannabis’ pseudo-legal nature allowed for incredible amounts of experimentation. Amnesia Haze is one of the standout strains from that process, a citrusy sativa-like that our team loves for a morning smoke that won’t end your day prematurely with overwhelming potency.

Royal Queen Seeds is one of the relative newcomers to the US market on this list, but don’t mistake that for inexperience; they only crossed the Atlantic after establishing themselves as one of Europe’s premier sources for autoflowering and photoperiod seeds.

Born in the legendary coffeehouses of Amsterdam, the team at Royal Queen Seeds has had a front-row seat to the development of cannabis into the massive industry it is today. They’re the stewards of some of the genetics from that classic era of experimentation and popularization when Amsterdam was the center of the cannabis universe.

But don’t get it twisted and start thinking that Royal Queen Seeds is just a purveyor of hall-of-fame strains, you’ll also find both new twists on classics and wholly unique strains on the Royal Queen Seeds storefront.

“Cannabis lovers used to have to make a pilgrimage to Amsterdam for this kind of weed. Now, Royal Queen Seeds brings the best of The Netherlands to your garden.”

Amnesia Haze is one of those strains from a shadowy era of cannabis history when genetics and pedigrees get a bit muddled, but it has DNA from both South Asian and Jamaican Landrace strains. Those ancient genetics make Amnesia Haze one of the most recognizable strains on the smoke, but Amnesia Haze is also quite distinctive on the stem as well. You can expect long, thin leaves and foxtail buds with plenty of deep, verdant greens. Amnesia Haze is a bit of a shy one; it takes its time to bloom, but once it does, patient growers will be rewarded with heaps of thick, high-quality buds.

• Wide selection of affordable seeds

• Free grow bible emailed to customers with seed purchase

• Regular incredible promotions

Recommended strain

White Widow, a massively popular strain that began to dominate cannabis culture in the mid-90s, is often recommended for newer growers to get their feet wet with growing before diving in. ILGM has made it even easier to grow this famous it-strain by creating an autoflowering variant that does almost everything but water itself. Even if you’ve struggled with keeping plants alive in the past, ILGM’s White Widow Auto is a cinch to care for; with the ability to thrive in virtually any setup. This strain laughs at cramped apartment closets, fluctuating temperatures, and even some common diseases that make less hearty strains tremble.

ILGM aka I Love Growing Marijuana and their incomparable founder, Robert Bergman, have been some of the biggest names in American cannabis seeds through several of the plant’s different eras. As you may have guessed from their name, ILGM is a passion project sustained through a commitment to the joys of cannabis cultivation.

We’re big fans of their grow bible, a massive tome full of growing wisdom that ILGM sends to your email when you buy any of their seeds. And that’s the type of outfit Robert Bergman has made—a company that cares about spreading knowledge and furthering the accessibility of cannabis cultivation.

“Aptly named ILGM would be one of the best autoflower seed banks in the world even without their cartoon mascots. With, no contest.”

Like all the best heroines, White Widow’s past is a little mysterious. We aren’t sure of the specifics, but we know that White Widow is descended from a Brazilian sativa landrace and a heavily resin-producing South Indian indica. The result is the Goldilocks of indica-likes, potent but not too potent, relaxing but not sedating, an uplift that comes without panic.

These balanced qualities extend to White Widow’s flavor as well; you can expect a woody, subtly sweet taste that still carries a delightful dankness that our team of writers go wild for. Newcomers to growing and old hands alike will find something to love in ILGM’s White Widow Autoflower, so click the link below and don’t wait another day to start growing.

• Two decades of experience

• Creators of several famous strains

• Reputation for consistent innovation

Recommended strain

You may not have heard of this strain from DNA Genetics yet, but trust us, it might be everywhere soon. A true indica-lovers indica, Canelo is a closer that is best saved for the end of the night when it’s time to tune out and turn off. It excels in this role, and we’re putting our marker down that DNA Genetics’ Canelo’s profile will only keep rising as time goes on, and you can grow it and smoke it way before your local dispensary has it in stock with these autoflowering seeds. If you love indicas, or even just next-big-things, then you need to check Canelo out.

DNA Genetics is a legendary bank that occupies a rare and hallowed spot in cannabis-growing culture. They’ve recently celebrated their 20th anniversary, an incredible feat that makes them older than Methuselah in weed years. They’ve stuck around so long by consistently looking to the future and never resting on their quite considerable laurels.

They’re the minds behind several of the most popular strains to arrive since the new millennium, with a commitment to quality that has earned them the respect of breeders, retailers, and homegrowers alike. The odds are good that the next big strain is somewhere on DNA Genetics storefront, so get ahead of the curve and order some exciting autoflowering seeds from DNA Genetics before they’re cool and never let your friends hear the end of it.

“When we’re looking for something avant-garde that’ll set the smoke circle buzzing, DNA genetics is our first stop.”

OG Kush and Strawberry Banana are the direct progenitors of Canelo Auto, a prestigious parentage that makes the strain nothing less than indica royalty. You can taste and smell that heritage as well, both in the kush earthiness and fruity sweetness. These genetics also mean Canelo is a resilient plant that is quite forgiving to novice growers and less-than-ideal conditions, so don’t let either of those factors stop you from taking the plunge.

You can expect your Canelo buds to have a THC percentage somewhere in the high teens or low twenties, just enough to put you down for the count at night without a trace of grogginess in the morning. Grow what people are going to be talking about before they’re talking about it and order yourself some Canelo Auto seeds today.

• Autoflower specialists

• Winner of several global awards

• Quality Californian genetics

Recommended strain

Fast Buds’ Strawberry Gorilla Auto is one of the most-awarded autoflowering strains in the world, and it can be yours in no time flat. It recently triumphed in the American Autoflower Cup and even beat out some photoperiod strains to earn honors at the 2023 Farmer’s Cup. Those are pretty some pretty serious kudos to earn, but if you ask them, the team of Fast Buds breeders responsible for this strain would put more stock in the overwhelmingly positive response from growers who have tried their hand at growing their own Strawberry Gorilla Auto. Their hybrid has won hearts with its surprisingly potent strawberry flavor and classic diesel aroma.

Fast Buds has been on a meteoric rise, quickly rising to become some of the preeminent autoflower specialists in the world. They’re an autoflower seed bank that takes pride in their top-tier California genetics while also maintaining a global perspective on the cannabis industry.

Fast Buds’ trophy case features awards from all over the planet, a truly globe-trotting tour of excellence that we here at Leafly have to applaud (and give our best autoflower seed banks list stamp of approval). As a bank that focuses on autoflowers, they’ve done incredible work in ensuring that autoflowering strains can stand on equal footing in terms of yield and potency to their photoperiod counterparts. They’re an easy recommendation for all the autoflower lovers out there, but if you’re a skeptic who’s made it here, then our advice is to see if the autoflower experts at Fast Buds can change your mind.

“Fast Buds knows the ins and outs of autos better than just about anyone.”

Strawberry Gorilla Auto isn’t for novices in more ways than one. It benefits from an experienced hand that knows how to properly handle its height by providing support and plenty of nutrients. Those growers who are up to the task will reap some truly stunning rewards when their gorgeous purple buds are ready for harvest. Strawberry Gorilla Auto is a monstrously potent strain that can produce buds with up to 28% THC. If you’ve ever been skeptical about autoflowering strains’ ability to stack up to traditional photoperiods, we dare you to give Strawberry Gorilla a try; we won’t even say “I told you so!”

Why you can trust Leafly Product Picks

Leafly is the world’s leading cannabis discovery platform and provides a vast library of content from some of the most respected voices in cannabis. Leafly Product Picks prioritizes accuracy and integrity in our selections, working through mountains of research and testimonials to source products you can trust.

Jake Rosendale: Lead Content Writer, Brands & Products

smiling portrait photo of man in glasses and grey cap against an aquamarine background

Jake Rosendale is Leafly’s Lead Content Writer, Brands & Products. He’s been with Leafly since 2022, where he spends his time researching the best products in the wide world of weed. Jake’s been writing about cannabis, food, and wine in the Seattle area for 5 years. In addition to Leafly, you can find his work in Seattle Met Magazine and High Times. He loves sci-fi novels, country music, and Super Lemon Haze.

Anna Elliott: Senior Content Editor, Brands & Products

portrait photo of woman with short dark hair and glasses in a black polo shirt against an aqua-green background

Anna Elliott is Leafly’s Senior Content Editor, Brands & Products. She’s been with Leafly since 2021, managing and editing brand-related content and bringing the best stories on the industry’s top products to life. With a decade of experience reviewing products, covering brands, and editing stories, Anna loves talking up the people & products that make a real difference in readers’ every day. She’s found that Space Mints makes the perfect pairing for enjoying her frankly irresponsible vinyl collection.

What is an autoflower?

An autoflowering cannabis plant is any breed of cannabis that will flower after a certain period of time regardless of the amount of light the plant receives. This is opposed to traditional photoperiod strains, which will only flower due to changing light levels, either caused by the changing of the seasons or by a grower artificially lowering the amount of light the plant receives.

Autoflowers tend to be smaller, faster growing, and less potent than their photoperiod cousins, although enterprising growers are doing their best to mitigate this last point. Since autoflowers are categorically easier to grow than photoperiod plants, they’re very popular with newer growers who aren’t eager to deal with changing light levels.

All autoflowering strains share some DNA with the cannabis ruderalis plant, a variety of cannabis native to harsh northern climates, forcing the plant to evolve in ways to cope with the lack of sunlight and short growing seasons. Ruderalis isn’t very potent on its own, but breeders can cross cannabis ruderalis with traditional indica or sativa strains in order to produce a plant that flowers automatically, or an “autoflower.”

Pretty cool, right? If you’re still curious about autoflowers, cannabis ruderalis, or anything else having to do with growing cannabis, then head over to Leafly’s guide to growing marijuana. It’s the best spot on the internet to learn everything there is to know about cultivating & harvesting our favorite plant after you’ve made your picks from our best autoflower seed banks list.

Final thoughts

That’s all from us this time, so get to growing! But while you’re waiting for your seeds to germinate, make sure to check back in on this list of the best autoflower seed banks regularly to see if there are any hot new banks with fire strains you have yet to try. And don’t forget to check out the rest of our Product Picks to see our selections fore the greatest finds in the wide world of cannabis. Happy growing!

For business inquiries, please direct messages to affiliate@leafly.com.

Availability subject to law.

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autoflower seeds

Grow award-winning autoflower seeds strains at home with Fast Buds

Published

5 months ago

June 11, 2024

admin

Fast Buds helps you enjoy champion weed in record time.

With growing season in full swing, cannabis cultivators across the country are hard at work searching for their new favorite strains. One of the foremost seedbanks offering quality genetics to American growers is Fast Buds, a group of autoflower specialists who have been breeding ever since they arrived on the scene over a decade ago. Gaining a reputation for their Gorilla genetics, their most-awarded Gorilla crosses are Gorilla Cookies, Strawberry Gorilla, and Gorilla Zkittlez. We just checked in on Fast Buds’ effort to popularize autoflowering seeds in backyards across the USA, and, as befitting their name, they haven’t slowed down since.

Leafly readers get 15% off Fast Buds autoflowering strains with code LFL420.

Fast Buds has been filling their trophy case in recent years, running the table at strain competitions all over the world, including several prestigious cannabis cup victories. Competing at the American Autoflower Cup, Farmer’s Cup, Spannabis Champions Cup, Autoflower World Cup, Dab-A-Doo Brasil, and more year after year, their breeders rarely come home empty-handed. It’s safe to say that this brand of cannabis autoflowering seeds is well on their way to redefining what you can expect from autoflowering strains worldwide.

We’ve got a roundup of some of those selfsame champion strains so you can get a taste of the winning spirit and pick out some GOATs for your garden.

Strawberry Gorilla Auto

One of the most decorated strains in the Fast Buds’ stable, Fast Buds’ Strawberry Gorilla Auto took home two prestigious awards in 2023, winning Best Sativa at the American Autoflower Cup in Los Angeles in January and the ‘Highest Combined Terpenes’ title in the Home Grow Hash at the 2023 Farmer’s Cup. This latest victory in the Farmer’s Cup is quite the feather in Strawberry Gorilla Auto’s cap — not only did Fast Buds amazing autoflower hold its own against the competitor’s photoperiod strains, Strawberry Gorilla Auto’s terpenes triumphed, scoring a point for autoflowers everywhere.

Coming in bold with intense strawberry flavor, Strawberry Gorilla Auto has tested with a jaw-dropping 28.417% THC and 29.86% total cannabinoids. That’s enough to make even those with well-developed tolerances sit up and take notice, and extractors will love how much juicy resin each bud will produce. Growers of all skill levels can expect their Strawberry Gorilla plants to reach maturity in around ten weeks, when the chunky, frosty buds are ready to go. Our advice is to take some photos before you harvest; a looker on the tier of Strawberry Gorilla Auto ought to be celebrated.

Gorilla Cookies Auto

The ruling silverback among Fast Buds Autoflowers, Gorilla Cookies Auto is Fast Buds’ flagship autoflowering strain. This balanced hybrid has scored multiple awards over the years, including a victory at the Expo Grow competition and Best Autoflower at the 2022 Cosecha Cup. Gorilla Cookies also snagged the prestigious Best Indica award at the 2022 Autoflower World Cup, and honestly, it was no surprise. Gorilla Cookies has it all; it’s incredibly potent (testing at a whopping 28.5% THC!), high-yielding, resilient in many different indoor and outdoor climates, and boy, is it flavorful. The impressively high THC levels translate into an intense resin production, making her buds almost completely white and covered in trichomes late in the flowering stage.

Why autoflowering seeds are an excellent choice for backyard cannabis cultivation

If you elect to try your hand at growing Gorilla Cookies Auto, you can expect trichome-frosted buds around the size of poker chips, in around ten weeks in good conditions. Gorilla Cookies Auto also loves to stretch out, reaching up to 150cm at maturity. It’s a bit difficult to describe the flavor of Gorilla Cookies; those who have had the pleasure report notes of hazelnut, earth, dank, and even more. That might be a bit vague, but there’s only one surefire way to discover Gorilla Cookies Auto’s complex flavor: Grow it yourself.

Gorilla Zkittlez Auto

Gorilla Zkittlez Auto is another of Fast Buds’ legendary crosses that makes use of DNA from the Gorilla family, featuring a potpourri of enticing terpenes that runs the gamut from earthy, spicy early notes to a cotton-candy finish. This strain took home top honors from the 2022 Dab-A-Doo Brasil competition by charming judges with its ludicrous 29.85% total cannabinoid percentage, making Gorilla Zkittlez Auto one of the most potent autoflowering strains to be found, in addition to being one of the tastiest.

A hybrid with a balanced effect, Gorilla Zkittlez Auto makes a great smoke at any time of day, which means fans of this Fast Buds favorite may go through their stocks quickly. Luckily, Gorilla Zkittlez Auto is a shockingly high-yielding strain as well, producing up to 650gr/m² in as little as 63 days in ideal conditions. With yields like that, growers don’t ever need to be shy about indulging their love for this treat of a strain.

Banana Purple Punch Auto

Fast Buds autoflower — Courtesy of Fast Buds

The definitive end to all lingering questions about autoflowers’ ability to stack up to photodependent strains, Banana Purple Punch Auto is one of the most potent autoflowers ever tested. Tested at MJ Biz Con in 2023, Banana Purple Punch was shown to have a mind-blowing, earth-shattering 30.4% THC. That puts Banana Purple Punch solidly among famously potent strains like Green Crack and Bruce Banner, but with all the speed and convenience of an autoflower.

This indica-like will produce a respectable amount of bud in a lightning-fast seven weeks. With all these factors in Banana Purple Punch’s favor, it had no trouble winning Best Indica in the 2023 American Autoflower Cup, and it won’t have any trouble winning a spot in your heart, either.

Papaya Cookies Auto

Hash lovers, rejoice; your time has come. One of the most exciting strains on Fast Buds’ roster, Papaya Cookies is also the second-place winner of the 2024 Best New Strain award at the Autoflower World Cup. Papaya Cookies’ intense THC percentage and far-above-average resin concentration make this sativa-leaning hybrid a dream for hash makers and extractors of all kinds, but that’s not the only thing that Papaya Cookies has going for it. The judges at the AWC noted Papaya Cookies’ delicious, complex flavor as a major strong point.

Receptive to a variety of both indoor and outdoor conditions, Papaya Cookies is a great candidate for growers of all experience levels and takes well to common plant training methods. Expect your buds in just eight weeks, with up to 29% THC for full-day potency.

Apricot Auto

The winner of the blue ribbon for Best Sativa Strain at the 2024 Autoflower World Cup, Apricot Auto is a potent number with a flavor profile unlike any you’ve experienced before. As you might expect, Apricot Auto has a taste heavily reminiscent of the fruit that shares its name, a surprising and innovative flavor in cannabis. The tangy mix of sweet and sour makes for an excellent pairing with Apricot Auto’s dank notes, making Apricot Auto a truly unparalleled experience on the smoke.

Growers have found that Apricot Auto’s thick, resinous buds make it an excellent candidate for making concentrates, and with up to 26% THC content, any edibles made with Apricot Auto as a base will be plenty heavy-hitting. Apricot Auto will reach full maturity in around nine to ten weeks, so get planting now so you can have this delicious strain ready for summer’s peak.

Ztrawberriez Auto

The winner of the Best Sativa prize at the 2024 American Autoflowe r Cup, Ztrawberriez Auto’s smorgasbord of sweet and fruity terps has been winning hearts and minds across the country. Judges, growers, and anyone else who has had the pleasure to enjoy Ztrawberriez Auto report that this autoflower is an ideal daytime smoke, elevating consumers’ moods and energy levels without giving an overly stoney feeling and testing with up to 25% THC to melt worries away.

Ztrawberriez Auto is also a linebacker against pests and rough environments; even in sub-ideal conditions, Ztrawberriez Auto seeds will yield about 600g/m² in as little as nine weeks. With speed, quality, and flavor all set to the max, it’s easy to see why Ztrawberriez Auto beat out the competition.

Fast Buds has these champs, plus heaps more autoflowering strains on their website. Right now, you can get these strains and more for 15% off from Fast Buds with code LFL420. They are continuously launching new strains, running huge sales and giveaways, as well as educating consumers on the many, many benefits of autoflowers. You can also follow them on social media for interviews with growers, updates on new strains, and announcements of (even more) cannabis cup victories. Happy growing!

fast buds autoflowers — Image courtesy of Fast Buds.

Availability subject to law.

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Growing

Royal Queen Seeds & Mike Tyson are the double bill your grow needs

Published

7 months ago

April 29, 2024

admin

The King of the Ring & the Queen of Seeds make a great 1-2.

Royal Queen Seeds, the award-winning European seed bank that has recently captured the hearts and minds of many American growers, isn’t the type of outfit to just sit around on its laurels. Their high-quality genetics and respect for cannabis tradition have earned both our interest and respect ever since they made their way across the Atlantic, and they’re not even close to running out of tricks.

The drive, focus, and determination that brought Royal Queen Seeds to the apex of the weed world are shared by their newest collaborator, Kid Dynamite himself, Mike Tyson. ‘Iron’ Mike is one of the most famous and recognizable heavyweight boxers ever to tie on a pair of gloves.

His iconic tattooed face has been everywhere from the silver screen to the breakfast cereal aisle, and these days, Iron Mike is becoming the champ of a different arena, cannabis. His Tyson 2.0 pre-rolls, concentrates, and edibles have all made a splash in markets all over the states, and now, thanks to an exclusive partnership with Royal Queen Seeds, you can finally grow these strains for yourself.

Can the Royal Queen Seeds online Seedfinder find your ideal strain? We find out.

These two titans have come together to bring homegrowers some of the most exciting new seeds we’ve seen. In the later rounds of this article we’ll fill you in on the details of these new strains, but first, let’s take a look at why Mike Tyson and Royal Queen Seeds make such a powerful combo.

Get the champ in your corner

If you thought that Royal Queen Seeds’ collaboration with Iron Mike is just another celebrity endorsement, another in the long line of pretty faces trying to sell otherwise unremarkable weed, you’d better think again. Tyson brings far more than just his famous tattooed mug to the proceedings.

In recent years, Kid Dynamite has become an outspoken cannabis advocate, evangelizing for the plant’s incredible medical and recreational properties most every time he finds himself in front of a microphone, like on his weekly podcast, Hotboxin’. He’s also shown himself to have impeccable taste and a vast knowledge of weed and its history, making him one of the most dynamic personalities in the cannabis space today.

How to get the most out of these five unique strains by Royal Queen Seeds

Mike has confirmed that cannabis has been a part of his life for many years and has helped him cope with both physical and mental stress, the same struggles that bring many Americans to cannabis today. This all goes to what makes this exclusive collaboration all the more special; these strains weren’t developed only by Mike Tyson, The Baddest Man on the Planet, but also by Mike the Grower, the tireless cannabis advocate and homegrowing enthusiast.

Mike the Grower is out to spread the love of growing like a modern-day Johnny Appleseed, albeit one with a champion belt and a devastating left hook. But his cannabis bonafides are as legit as they come, and we’re thrilled that Iron Mike is a kindred spirit.

It’s tough to imagine a better collaborator for Tyson than Royal Queen Seeds. Royal Queen Seeds brings Tyson 2.0 to the next level in the same way that a great coach brings the most out of a talented fighter. RQS is a team of cannabis breeder’s breeders, with decades of experience delivering top-quality seeds to growers.

Why you should be growing F1 hybrids from Royal Queen Seeds

In the same way that a good boxing couch can take a fighter to the next level, Royal Queen Seeds brings Tyson 2.0 to even greater heights. You can be sure that any seeds ordered from RQS meet their exacting standards of genetic quality and pedigree purity, and at an affordable price to boot. Said Tyson: “If you’re the best in the world at what you do, most likely, we’re gonna be partners.”

What else is there to say? Some of the best of the best are teaming up to make themselves even better. Let’s get ready to rumble and take a look at the first six strains on offer from Royal Queen Seeds and Tyson 2.0.

Royal Queen Seeds x Tyson 2.0 Gelato 44

tyson seeds — Image courtesy of Royal Queen Seeds.

Descended from Sunset Sherbert and Thin Mints GSC, Gelato 44 is a powerful indica-dominant hybrid that doesn’t pull its punches. Newer growers need not apply; Gelato 44 is a strain that requires a consistent amount of light and good soil quality to thrive, making it a better fit for experienced growers.

While Gelato 44 is not for the faint of heart, either for growing or for smoking, those who can hang ten rounds with this strain will find that it offers a tasty citrus flavor and a pleasantly relaxing, occasionally euphoric sensation. Gelato 44 is also potent enough to overcome Iron Mike’s formidable tolerance. Growers can expect their buds to be around 22% THC by volume.

Royal Queen Seeds x Tyson 2.0 Dynamite Diesel

Named for Kid Dynamite, one of Mike’s many monikers, Dynamite Diesel is a piston-punching indica-like that’ll put even frequent cannabis consumers flat on their backs. Dynamite Diesel has DNA from two legendary strains you’re probably familiar with, Sour Diesel and Skywalker OG. With genetics like those, there was no way that Dynamite Diesel would wind up with a glass jaw—on the contrary, it’s more than worthy of bearing one of Mike’s names. This beauty takes particularly well to outdoor environments and can reach titanic 200 cm heights. Plant some this season, and you’ll have a full tank of gas come harvest.

Royal Queen Seeds x Tyson 2.0 NYC Sour D Auto

A favorite of the man himself, with NYC Sour D, you can now grow the strain that charmed The Baddest Man on the Planet. While most of the Tyson 2.0 strains are pretty heavy hitters, NYC Sour D is a lighter affair, a sour, citrus, and gas-flavored sativa perfect for an energetic morning smoke or midday rally.
Growers working with limited space will love NYC Sour D. It only grows to around 80 cm tall when grown indoors, perfect for most tents and balconies. NYC Sour D Auto comes from fine genetic stock, an heir of NYC Diesel and Sour Diesel Auto. The result is an autoflowering strain that doesn’t skimp on all the good stuff. Who says good things can’t come in small packages?

Royal Queen Seeds x Tyson 2.0 GOAT’Lato Auto

You can tell that the Tyson 2.0 team knew they had something special when they named this strain. GOAT’Lato Auto is a cross between Cookies Auto and Tyson’s own Gelato 44, an inspired combination that has resulted in a true contender. A fast-growing indica-dominant hybrid that can be ready to harvest in as little as ten weeks, GOAT’lato Auto is tough to beat if you need to grow your stash quickly.

Nearly as fun to say as it is to smoke, GOAT’Lato Auto also has the rare distinction of being among the most flavorful of all of Royal Queen Seeds’ vast stock, a tasty terpene-packed treat that comes on quickly and takes no prisoners. Fans of GOAT’lato Auto report that it’s an incredible focus aid, helping them lock in and KO chores in the first round. But is it truly the greatest Gelato of all time? Order from Royal Queen Seeds today and find out for yourself.

Royal Queen Seeds x Tyson 2.0 Punch Pie

Another of Iron Mike’s personal favorite strains, Punch Pie is a pleasure to grow for indoor and outdoor setups alike. Punch Pie’s genetics include strains like Purple Punch and Purple Kush, making it as true an indica as you’re likely to find. You’ll see it in the grow; Punch Pie likes to spread out in wide bushes, topping out at about 150 cm in ideal outdoor conditions.

When it’s time to harvest, you’ll be greeted by gorgeous, sweet-smelling buds that are caked in resin. Like any great fruit pie, you’ll be able to taste a whole medley of berries in Punch Pie, with notes of blueberry and cherry accompanied by earthy undertones. You can expect some serious couch-lock as well. The best part about Punch Pie is that it doesn’t even need that long in the oven. You can expect to harvest your Punch Pie plants in about nine weeks after planting.

Royal Queen Seeds x Tyson 2.0 Corkscrew Auto

For the final entry in our list, we’ve got a slightly sativa-dominant hybrid dubbed Corkscrew Auto. Corkscrew is the descendant of Cherry Pie Auto and Tangie, two easy-to-grow strains that can hold their own in rough conditions. Corkscrew Auto has the grit to go all ten rounds and make its genetic stock proud; it’s a tough customer that’ll thrive in whatever setup you have at home.

On the smoke, Corkscrew leads with a haymaker. You’ll feel the cerebral effects as soon as you take the first hit, helping you feel energetic and creative. Corkscrew Auto will take a touch longer than some of the other seeds on this list to harvest, but trust us, and trust Mike. Corkscrew Auto is well worth the wait.

And there’s the final bell! That’s all the Tyson 2.0 strains currently available from Royal Queen Seeds, but stay tuned—this partnership may well go the distance. Make sure to visit the Royal Queen Seeds website and follow them on socials to keep yourself up-to-date on all the new seeds they have in store. Likewise, you can keep up with Tyson 2.0 by heading to their website and following them on social media to see what sort of big moves Kid Dynamite and his crew have planned for the next round. Happy growing!

Availability subject to law.

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