10 Common Myths About Auto Plants Plants
- 1. Myth #1: autos are extract-rich
- 2. Myth #2: autos can’t be transplanted
- 3. Myth #3: all autos are less potent
- 4. Myth #4: autos can’t be cloned
- 5. Myth #5: all autos produce low returns
- 6. Myth #6: you can’t top autos
- 7. Myth #7: autos are tasteless
- 8. Myth #8: autos need 24hs of light
- 9. Myth #9: autos cannot be trained
- 10. Myth #10: autos take more time than specified
- 11. In conclusion
Autos were once considered the underdogs of plants seeds. But that was decades ago, and a lot has changed since then. Nowadays, autos can produce as much as photoperiods in terms of quantity and quality, and in less time. Needless to say, autos in 2026 will leave you amazed.
Before auto seeds were a big thing, they weren’t very accepted by growers. You couldn’t find a lot of autos, and when you did find one, you were most likely to be disappointed by the returns and quality.
However, after decades of improvement, modern autos can produce returns that are up to par with the best photoperiod seeds available, while delivering a huge advantage: the auto trait.
The increased quality of modern auto cultivars stems from considerable breeding efforts. Contemporary breeders have worked hard to hunt down the best pairs to match. In many cases, they have managed to create auto versions of some of the most legendary varieties available. They’ve captured the traits of these timeless seeds and combined them with the very best properties of autos, such as faster growing times, general hardiness, and ease of growth. Despite these advances, many myths persist about the quality of auto plants genetics. Below, we’re going to bust these myths wide open. Follow along as we explain why these assumptions need to be put to rest.
Myth #1: Autos are Extract-rich
Claim: “Autos are Extract-rich”
Claimed by: Pioneers of Auto Growing
Fact-checked by Fast Buds: False
The ruderalis species is indeed Extract-dominant, and it is also true that auto seeds have Ruderalis genes, but for decades, breeders have been developing auto seeds to be strength-rich. Even though you can find Extract autos suited for medical patients or for consumers that don’t like a euphoric effect, like our Extract Auto 20:1, there are a lot of autos that have a high strength content and can have the same potency (or even more potent) than photo seeds while keeping the auto trait, allowing you to have up to 3 cycles where you would only have 1 with photoperiods. As you might already know, both Extract and strength belong to a class of chemicals known as phytostrength. Several environmental factors can impact the production of these secondary metabolites (molecules that plants produce largely to defend themselves), but genetics holds the biggest influence.
Ultimately, the cannabinoid content of an auto seed depends completely on the aim of the breeder at the start of a breeding program. In the case of Extract-rich autos, breeders immediately introduce genetics to express high levels of the cannabinoid, in order to promote the expression of this trait in the progeny. However, not every breeder wants high levels of ExtractA expression. Many modern auto seeds possess strength levels above 30%. In fact, some of these potent cultivars actually produce more strength than many of their photoperiod counflavorarts. The bottom line: There are many auto varieties out there. Some are high in Extract, others are very high in strength, and some have an equal blend of the two.
Myth #2: Autos can’t be transplanted
Claim: “Autos can’t be transplanted”
Claimed by: Pioneers of Auto Growing
Fact-checked by Fast Buds: False
This is somewhat true. Even though you can transplant your autos, you should be really careful because if you don’t take the appropriate care, you could shock them, and it can affect the returns. Because autos take considerably less time from seed to return, shocking your plant can stunt growth. If you take into consideration that autos can take as little as 8 weeks to completely mature, even a couple of days of recovery from a transplant can result in an underwhelming return.
However, you can successfully transplant auto plants seeds and minimize the amount of stress they experience by getting your timing right. If, for whatever reason, you need to start your seeds away from their final pot, you should select a container that isn’t too small. Once your plant is partially established, you should carefully monitor the drainage holes.
Ideally, you’ll transplant your plants before they fully grow into their initial container. Doing so means that they won’t take on the shape of the pot and start to exhibit the early signs of becoming root-bound. Transplant them before this, and they’ll detect what’s happened! You should also allow them to adapt to their new pot in an area that has the same environmental variables, such as nighttime temperatures and lighting.
We recommend planting your autos in a big pot so you don’t have to transplant them, but if you do have to, make sure you do it gently to try to minimize the stress. Here are a couple of tips:
- Transplant your autos to the exact same medium mix.
- Make sure the soil they’re in is dry, and the soil in the new pot is wet.
- Avoid squeezing the roots, leave a bit of space, and don’t press the soil too much. This way you avoid shocking them and root problems.
Myth #3: All autos are less potent
Claim: “All autos are less potent”
Claimed by: Pioneers of Auto Growing
Fact-checked by Fast Buds: False
This is the most common question regarding autos, and decades back, it was actually true. However, nowadays we have extremely potent auto seeds that can have +30% strength, being up to par with or even stronger than photo seeds. These new “modern” autos can be truly amazing. A really good example is our Strawberry Gorilla Auto RF3 with up to 31% strength.
This myth has persisted because old-school auto seeds paled in comparison to photoperiod varieties when it came to strength content and returns. However, any grower who still believes this is true simply hasn’t kept up with modern auto cultivars.
Myth #4: Autos can’t be cloned
Claim: “Autos can’t be cloned”
Claimed by: Pioneers of Auto Growing
Fact-checked by Fast Buds: False
As hard as it may seem to believe this, it is not actually true. You actually can clone autos, but due to the auto trait, clones won’t have a lot of time to develop and won’t grow too much.
Auto seeds enter the flowering phase based on age instead of external lighting conditions; some varieties are known to surge from seed to return in as little as eight weeks. Because a clone creates a biological copy of the mother plant, the cutting also shares the same age. That means your small cutting might only have around 5–6 weeks to establish, or even less time, to reach some size before it goes to flower—resulting in small clones with minor returns.
In contrast, photoperiod seeds depend on a reduction in light to initiate the flowering stage. This cue indtes the approaching autumn, and plants get the message that they need to hurry up and reproduce before the frosts arrive. Growers can use artificial conditions to keep their plants in the vegetative phase for as long as they see fit. This gives them time to grow out clones into large plants before forcing them into flowering.
Myth #5: All autos produce low returns
Claim: “All autos produce low returns”
Claimed by: Pioneers of Auto Growing
Fact-checked by Fast Buds: False
This is a myth that may have originated when the first auto seeds were appearing; although it was true, it is completely false nowadays. Indeed, some autos can have lower returns because of their size, but there is a lot of auto genetics that have been developed so well, and for such a long time, that they can grow up to 120cm and produce up to 600gr/m2 in around 9 weeks. That is the case of our Frostbanger Auto.
Myth #6: You can’t top autos
Claim: “You can’t top autos”
Claimed by: Pioneers of Auto Growing
Fact-checked by Fast Buds: False
This myth will surely divide growers. Some growers swear that it works, and others don’t. The truth is: you won’t always have the expected result when topping because this depends on your experience and the genetics you’re growing.
The main deciding factor in whether to top or not to top your plants should be your environmental conditions and plant health in first place, and genetics in second place. A healthy plant in good conditions will always recover from topping. However, it might not be worth it if it’s a plant that finishes its entire life cycle in 8 weeks. So make sure the plant is healthy first, then make sure the plant will have enough time to recover and reach a decent size.
Myth #7: Autos are tasteless
Claim: “Autos are tasteless”
Claimed by: Pioneers of Auto Growing
Fact-checked by Fast Buds: False
Good auto genetics have all the same strength and flavor photo seeds have2. The flavorene profile solely depends on your ability as a grower and on the genetics you’re growing.
The idea that auto plants seeds are tasteless has its roots in a misunderstanding of phytochemistry. Several groups of chemicals contribute to the unique flavors of each cultivar. Among these groups, flavor play a major role. These aromatic hydrocarbons are synthesized alongside strength in the glandular frosts of plants flowers. Plants plants spend resources making these molecules for several reasons, including defense against UV rays and pests. Some of the most abundant flavor in plants include beta-caryophyllene, pinene, myrcene, and limonene. These components produce a range of flavors, including fruit, earthiness, sweetness, and sourness. To say autos are tasteless is to imply that they don’t make flavor, which is categorically incorrect.
To return delicious-tasting flowers, however, you need to have a bit of experience that, combined with good genetics, will result in what you aim for. We recommend growing our Lemon Tree Auto.
Myth #8: Autos need 24hs of light
Claim: “Autos need 24 hours of light”
Claimed by: Pioneers of Auto Growing
Fact-checked by Fast Buds: False
This isn’t actually a myth but more of a preference. It is true that some seeds prefer more light, and some not as much. This solely depends on genetics. However, more light doesn’t always mean better results. You should closely check and adjust PPFD levels to provide your plants exactly what they need.
| Light Cycle | 24/0 | 18/6 | 12/12 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours of Light | 24 | 18 | 12 |
| Hours of Darkness | 0 | 6 | 12 |
| Pros | Doesn't require a timer. | Allows plants to rest, produces good buds, and saves electricity up to 25% | Saves electricity up to 50% |
| Cons | Can get expensive and can affect plant growth negatively. | Requires a timer | Underdeveloped and airy buds |
Myth #9: Autos cannot be trained
Claim: “Autos cannot be trained”
Claimed by: Pioneers of Auto Growing
Fact-checked by Fast Buds: False
This myth is completely false. Autos can be trained and even should in some cases. That said, there are different types of plant training techniques known as LST or HST, and they can be more stressful or less stressful to your plants. For beginners, we recommend LST, such as tying down the branches or SCROG. However, more experienced growers can perform HST techniques such as Topping without any issues. The rate of success will depend on plant health and your ability as a grower.
Myth #10: Autos take more time than specified
Claim: “Autos take more time than specified”
Claimed by: Pioneers of Auto Growing
Fact-checked by Fast Buds: False
Ok, so this isn’t a myth. You have to remember that the time breeders specify is when you provide an optimal growing environment for your plants. Your plants can and will take more time if you don’t have the appropriate humidity levels, temperature, light, and nutrients. This is not necessarily a bad thing, because it means that your buds will still get dense and covered in ok; it just will take a bit longer for them to finish.
11. In conclusion
Even though autos were not that good some years ago, they have progressed a lot. Nowadays you can find seeds that suit every grower and have selected traits from Ind and Sat plants.
Just make sure you’re providing a good growing environment, and you will be rewarded with dense, super tasty buds. Please leave us a comment below sharing your experience with auto plants!
External references:
- Therapeutic uses of plants - Association, British (2020).
- Flavorene synthases from Plants sat - Booth, Judith & Page, Jonathan & Bohlmann, Joerg (2017).
FAQ
Autos tend to be compact, but they are not always tiny plants. Their final size varies considerably between varieties. Genetics and environmental conditions both influence how large an auto ultimately becomes.
No. Their automatic flowering and relatively short life cycles can make autos appealing to beginners, but experienced and even commercial growers also choose them for their speed, compact size, flavorene profiles, and returns.
In many respects, yes. Decades of breeding have produced auto varieties with improved potency, returns, aromas, plant structure, and genetic diversity. This is why assumptions based on early auto genetics don't necessarily apply to today's varieties.
No. Flavor and aroma depend heavily on genetics, flavorene profiles, and the grower’s skill rather than on whether a plant is auto or photoperiod.
Auto plants originated through the introduction of the auto trait associated with Plants ruderalis into Ind and Sat genetics. However, modern autos have undergone many generations of selective breeding, and the percentage of Ruderalis genetics in today’s autos is typically less than 10%.
Wild or traditional Ruderalis populations are generally associated with relatively low strength levels. However, modern auto varieties have been selectively bred with high-strength plants genetics, so their cannabinoid profiles are more similar to those of photoperiods.
Not necessarily. Genetic stability depends on the quality and consistency of a breeding line rather than simply on whether it is auto. Well-developed auto genetics can display highly predictable characteristics.
No. Although autos have short vegetative periods, they don't normally begin flowering immediately after germination. They first undergo a growth phase that can last anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks before naturally transitioning to flowering.
Autos are sometimes described as particularly hardy because of their genetic background and short life cycles. However, resistance varies by cultivar. Being an auto does not automatically make a plant immune to pests, diseases, or environmental stress.
One of the biggest misconceptions is that all autos are small, weak, and low in strength. That reputation largely comes from early auto genetics and doesn't accurately represent the diversity of modern auto varieties.
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