Cannabis is a warm-season annual that’s been grown historically for fiber and its medicinal and psychotropic qualities. Its yield is primarily the flowering tops and buds, which are cured and dried. This material is smoked, vaporized or made into edibles and consumed for its effects on the endocannabinoid system in the body. The main cannabinoids medicinal and recreational users are concerned with are THC and CBD.
Cannabinoids: THC & CBD
THC is psychoactive, meaning that it affects your mood, perception and other mental processes. It produces the “high” effects of marijuana. It may provide relief from symptoms associated with a range of medical conditions, such as chronic pain, nausea and vomiting, muscle spasms and poor appetite. This makes it beneficial for individuals undergoing chemotherapy or suffering from conditions that result in a loss of appetite.
THC has been studied for its analgesic properties that can reduce pain and inflammation. It also has mood-elevating effects, making it useful in managing symptoms of certain mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety.
CBD is not psychoactive. It won’t get you high, but it has gained popularity with its potential to alleviate symptoms associated with various medical conditions. It has shown promise in managing chronic pain, reducing inflammation and mitigating symptoms of epilepsy and seizures. CBD has been explored for its potential benefits in addressing anxiety and depression. It may have anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects.
If you’re going to grow Cannabis, you should think about what balance of THC and CBD you’d like in the strains you choose. Online resources readily supply this information.
Photoperiod & Autoflower Strains
Another consideration before you begin growing Cannabis is to understand the difference between Photoperiod and Autoflower strains, as it’s a critical choice that may influence or be influenced by other factors in your unique situation.
Photoperiod Cannabis:
Cannabis indica and Cannabis sativa are the traditional and most common type of cannabis cultivated. These plants rely on changes in light cycles to initiate flowering.
Photoperiod cannabis plants generally have larger yields compared to autoflower varieties. Their long vegetative phase enables the plants to grow very large and develop abundant bud sites, resulting in higher overall production.
Growers of photoperiod cannabis plants indoors have complete control over the vegetative and flowering stages. By manipulating light schedules, growers can extend the vegetative phase if necessary, giving the plants more time to develop, and then trigger flowering to produce a harvest on a planned schedule. This can be controlled easily by means of a light timer.
The majority of cannabis genetics and strains are available as photoperiod varieties. This wide range of options allows you to select from diverse genetic profiles, flavors, cannabinoid profiles, and desired effects, according to your preferences and medical needs.
A limitation of photoperiod cannabis plants may be their longer growth cycle compared to autoflower varieties, especially when growing outdoors. This extended period means fewer harvests per year, especially here in the Northland. You’ll need to start seeds in early spring indoors if you’re planning to grow these strains outdoors, and grow one larger crop all at once if you want a maximum harvest for the year. (MN law allows four mature flowering plants and four immature vegetative plants per household at once.) They can certainly be grown indoors throughout the cold season if space is available, but again, you’ll get fewer harvests per year.
Photoperiod plants are sensitive to light leaks during their dark period. Even brief exposure to light can disrupt the flowering process, potentially causing stress, hermaphroditism and reduced yields. This sensitivity means you must give careful attention to the growing environment. If growing outdoors, you may have to shield your plants from streetlights or other lights at night. Indoors, your growing space needs to be protected from light leaks by means of using a grow tent or carefully blocking windows and doorways during your plants’ dark hours.
**So, in general, Photoperiods have a large size and large yield. They need careful attention to a lighting program, which changes throughout the life cycle. They take 3-5 months from seed until harvest.
Autoflowering Cannabis:
Autoflowering strains are technically hybrids of either Cannabis sativa or C. indica bred with Cannabis ruderalis, a wild variety that was native to northern climates and had the ability to flower regardless of light conditions. Growing autoflowering strains means you don’t need to worry about switching the light schedule to initiate and maintain the flowering phase, or worry about light leaks like you do with photoperiod Cannabis. This simplicity is advantageous for novice growers or those looking for a hassle-free cultivation process.
Autoflowering plants start flowering on their own after 2–4 weeks of growth regardless of their size or light conditions. Autoflowers also need much less total time to grow. Some varieties are ready to harvest in just 8 weeks after sprouting.
Autoflower cannabis plants can be great for growers who want to keep their grow private. Their small size and compact structure make them less conspicuous, whether grown indoors or outdoors. They are also less affected by light pollution or changes in the environment, making them more suitable for outdoor cultivation.
One of the possible drawbacks of autoflower cannabis plants is their relatively smaller size and lower yields compared to photoperiod varieties. Due to their rapid growth cycle, the plants have limited time to develop, resulting in smaller plants and fewer bud sites. However, when you factor in the shorter life cycle of the plant, you may be able to make up the difference in yield size by growing more crops during the year. Also, as a homegrower, you may not want huge yields of any certain strain until you’ve tried several and determined your favorites. (MN law allows for possession of up to 2 lbs of dried cannabis flower in your private residence.)
Since autoflower plants have a predetermined life cycle, growers have limited control over their growth and flowering stages. Adjusting the plant’s vegetative phase or maximizing growth potential becomes more challenging, as the plants move quickly from the vegetative to the flowering stage regardless of environmental conditions. Experimenting with fertilizer and lighting can have some effect on your yield.
Autoflowering varieties at one time had a reputation for being not as good as Photoperiod varieties, but as breeding and genetics have been developed in the past 10 years, they are competitive on yield and potency.
**Autoflower varieties have smaller plants and smaller yields. They have a shorter time until they’re ready to harvest, 2-4 months. Their lighting requirements are simpler to manage, as they remain the same throughout their lifetime.
Photoperiod and Autoflower Cannabis each have specifics that are important to understand as you plan your grow!
