There are some strains that don’t require weather to display color. These phenotypes often have black in their names: Black Diesel, Black Mamba, Black Willy, Black Widow, Black Tuna, and a landrace, Vietnamese Black. Violetta and Malawi can be used as well. These have dark purple leaves by the time of harvest.
I accidently discovered some purple Autoflowering Cannabis one fall when Alaskan cold temperatures hit my plants, destroying chlorophyll and leaving purple anthocyanidins. One or two weeks of exposure at 7–10°C (45–50°F) will do the trick. Over 14°C (75°F) the chlorophyll returns.
Strains for THC
Obviously, one might want to develop a high THC producing strain. This is the major cannabinoid that is measured by labs, as it has been (wrongly) assumed to be the only thing that controls the plant’s psychoactivity. Look for numbers of 20% THC or higher.
Current high (sorry) percentages for THC have just started to reach over 30% of the plant’s resin, as of this printing. This is a great increase over earlier years and are a direct result of breeding programs.
Strains for CBD
CBD does not produce a psychoactive response, as you now know. It impacts the body but not the brain. It is in great demand by those who want some of the plant’s medical benefits, however. During prohibition days, no one paid much attention to CBD, so there wasn’t much effort to increase its numbers. Things have changed. Now there are 100 % CBD strains, even in the Autoflowering arena.
SEED STORAGE
If you grow your own seed, you are going to end up with more seeds than you can possibly plant. This is both because these little plants can produce a lot of seed when you let them, but also because you are probably limited in how many plants you are allowed to grow, unless you are a licensed commercial or caregiver grower. Store excess seeds in an airtight container in a dark, cool spot or give them away!
Fortunately, Cannabis seeds can be stored for 5 or 6 years before they begin to deteriorate. Light, temperature, and moisture are key things to control. You also need to protect your seeds from pests like rodents and birds (Cannabis seed, in the form of hemp, is in bird feed mixes), as well as from ethylene exposure.
You will need a glass container for storage. These do not leak. Plastic baggies are not the way to go as they often are not airtight and deteriorate. (Especially in the presence of piney-smelling Auto-flowering Cannabis, right?) Do not forget to label your jar.
It is imperative that seed goes into storage dry and remains dry. To ensure this, you will need to end up with seeds that have about 2 to 4 percent water. Use a desiccant pack to absorb the moisture in the jar and hold it. These have the added advantage of absorbing the small amounts of ethylene given off by the seeds, which has a deleterious effect on them.
Some freeze seeds to store them, but that is not a suggestion I support. Instead, a cold room, a basement, a crawl space, or a garage will do. You can use the refrigerator, of course, and this may be the easiest, but you have to worry about fluctuations in temperature. (Place your jars way in the back and don’t open the door so much!) A dedicated refrigerator may be called for, depending on how deep you get into breeding. (However, even leftover seeds from a packet should be stored properly.)
It is light, temperature, and humidity fluctuations that should be avoided. This is why it might make sense to keep your seeds in a jar in a dark room that maintains temperature, instead of a refrigerator that is in constant use. It is up to you.
CLONING AUTOFLOWERING CANNABIS IS NOT PRACTICAL
Traditionally, cloning (simply growing a plant from cuttings) has not been a method for reproducing Autoflowering Cannabis. One reason for this has to do with the size of the early Autoflowering Cannabis plants. These were originally really small, about 12 inches. It was, frankly, pretty hard to take a viable cutting which would have enough nodes to work with.
In addition, Autoflowering Cannabis plants simply grow too fast for cuttings to root and develop a worthwhile number of flowers. Super Autoflowering Cannabis plants may have long enough branches and take longer to grow. If you want to try cloning, use these and take cuttings early.
The best time to take a cutting to use as a clone is around the 3rd week. As you now know, for many Autoflowers, this is simply too late. Flowers will have appeared. You are really wasting your time if a clone is taken too long after the first white pistils appear.
If you do decide to try and clone, take your cuttings carefully. You want to use a sharp razor blade and cut one of the very lowest branches close to the main stem. Ideally, it should have three nodes, but you might get away with two. Remove leaves starting to grow from the bottom node of the cutting, split the stem from the bottom up 1/2 inch (give or take, depending on what you have to work with). Use a sterilized razor blade or sharp knife.
Then dip the cutting into rooting hormone, which you can get at nurseries and grow stores. Place the cutting into a small container of potting soil. Cover it with a plastic bag or similar material to make a tent, keeping in the humidity.
The clone should root in a week. It will probably be going into flower, but it will grow and develop buds. These may be a big “meh,” or they may even surpass those of the mother plant. And, since this is not the normal way to reproduce your plants (although it is fun), when it works you get bragging rights in the Autoflowering Cannabis community and with your fellow home gardeners.
SOME FINAL TIPS
Breeding Autoflowering Cannabis plants is not difficult, but it does take time and so it takes patience. There are a few rules to keep in mind, and the very first is not to skimp on genetics. You should use high-quality seed to begin with. This probably means pre-feminized seeds are the only way to go, unless you are looking to produce pollen from a male plant or expand your skills in growing by getting into feminization of your own seeds.
Find seed from breeders you can trust. Seed packets should contain a lot of information and a picture, or should direct you to a website that contains information. The genetics of the strain should be listed so you can look up the variety and know what you are working with. Don’t buy unless you really understand what you are getting.
If nothing else, learn to appreciate those commercial breeders who work to keep happy all those who are not interested in producing their own seeds.
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AUTOFLOWERING BREEDING STOCK: SOME CLASSICS TO KNOW, GROW, AND USE
AN EVER-INCREASING NUMBER of commercial Cannabis breeders are developing Autoflowering Cannabis seeds for use in commercial production and also for sale to home gardeners. As a result, there are plenty of Autoflowering varieties from which to choose seed, with more coming online all the time. These are available to grow and for your own breeding program, should you decide to experiment.
For a home gardener, the seed selection process can be overwhelming, if not bewildering. (It is no different with tomato selections!) The confusion is for three reasons, not the least of which is that most gardeners do not yet have experience with various types of Autoflowering Cannabis plants. You gradually learned about plum, heritage, early, and other types of tomatoes. It is the same with Autoflowering Cannabis.
Next, there isn’t a standardized system for naming varieties based on proven genetics. This allows plants to be named after such diverse things as pets, fruits, breakfast cereals, girlfriends, famous people, and all manner of locations around the world. There is even one variety named for a US president (Obama Kush).
The third reason there is confusion is because most of the varieties of seed today are either the results of efforts to grow better Cannabis during prohibition or the progeny of those efforts. Again, all of this breeding work was done underground because of prohibition. There was little cross communication among the community of growers and little help from universities and researchers. Nor was it possible to grow in the best places, unimpeded.
What we know now is that unless you have a DNA test done on your plants, there is no way to be sure what you are really growing. Still, there are a
few ways to help make the determination as to what seeds you want to grow.
The best is to have test results. It is now possible to determine the chemical contents of Cannabis. Initially, tests concentrated on THC and CBD percentages. Today, there is a growing (literally) recognition that terpenes and flavonoids are also important, and many breeders are including these in their test reports. Yours will not be an exact duplicate, but what you grow should be close to what the breeder’s numbers reveal.
If there are no test results available, then you should next study the plant’s ancestry. The names of Autoflowering Cannabis varieties often mimic the names of their established and well-known larger cousins. Those selling seed almost always provide cultural information that includes an explanation of the plant’s lineage. If this information is not found on the seed package, look for a website to supplement handouts at stores. (See Resources.)
The point is, if you know some of the standby, popular, big-plant Cannabis types, it will help in understanding what you are growing or want to grow in terms of Autoflowering Cannabis. This is particularly so as more and more efforts are underway to identify and use landraces now that prohibition allows for a concerted and open effort to commercialize Cannabis.
LANDRACE VARIETIES
Landraces have always been great for Cannabis breeding purposes. They are genetically stable, 100% sativa or 100% indica, and relatively rare. This made them ideal for developing new varieties. They were collected in the 1960s and ‘70s and are now often hoarded for commercial breeding purposes.
All of the seeds available for growing Cannabis today owe their genetics to approximately 40 of these landrace strains. If there is a country in the name of a Cannabis strain, it is most likely either a landrace or a very close descendant of one. Well-known sativa landrace varieties include Acapulco Gold, Durban Poison, and Panama Red. Perhaps the best-known landrace indica is Hindu Kush.
Knowing the landraces used for breeding is useful because each does have stable traits. Each has its own unique flavor and profile of terpenes and cannabinoids. It is worth noting a few. You will quickly become familiar with them as you get deeper into growing Auto-flowers. This information will help you choose which seed varieties to grow.
Afghanistan and Pakistan landraces
Hindu Kush is the most famous of these strains, which are all indica. In fact, as a group they are often known as Hindu Kush. They were originally grown at high altitudes, where it is very dry, and were grown to make hashish, which demands lots and lots of trichomes. They produce profusely from small plants because they develop lots of branches.
The most famous Hindu Kush landrace is Afghani, also known as Affie or Afghani #1. It became the basis for all breeding programs because it ripens in mid-October when started in the spring. This was very early for Cannabis growers as most are not harvestable until December and even January.
The relatively short growing season (wow, what would an Autoflower have done for them?) meant you could grow outdoors without using a greenhouse. Hindu Kush was used for a lot of hybrids because of this. They are small and stocky plants with lots of resin production so, when you grew them clandestinely indoors, you didn’t need as much space.
In addition to Hindu Kush, Lashkar Gah and Mazar i Sharif are other less well-known varieties. Progeny of breeding programs using these include Bubba Kush and Purple Afghani.
Jamaican landrace
These plants were grown from seed imported from India by workers and advisors the British brought to Jamaica to work plantations. They are all sativas and produce a very strong psychoactive response when used.
The famous reggae singer Bob Marley grew up in Jamaica. Lamb’s Bread and King’s Bread were his most beloved Caribbean landrace strains.
South American landraces
Mexico, Panama, Columbia, and many other South American countries are home to famous landraces. Some of these were developed in the mountains and others on the low plains, but all had the advantage of a great equatorial growing season. These are all sativa plants and were also developed from plants brought over to the Western Hemisphere by workers who first arrived in the Caribbean.
Producing a long central stem and lots of THC, but also CBD and CBNA, the most well-known South American landrace is Colombian Gold. It was an early favorite in the 60s. Less well-known, but utilized for all manner of breeding, are Cali Hills, Punto Rojo, and Santa Marta Gold. These have been used to breed Cheese, Skunk, and Haze.
African landraces
Africa has a long history of cultivating Cannabis. It is home to some of the most interesting landrace strains. Given the size of the continent, these can be very different.
The most famous African landraces are Malawi Gold and Durban Poison. Both plants take advantage of a long growing season. They produce tremendous amounts of resin. They are both sativa strains.
You may encounter Swazi Gold and Kilimanjaro, both obviously African. These are sturdy plants with buds that have elongated calyxes and very few leaves. They tend to flower for a long time and are known for producing a sweet resin.
Landrace map
Thai and Southeast Asian landraces
Thai landrace strains have special elongated flowers with a fantastic citrus aroma and strong psychoactive effects. Plants have high amounts of THC and low amounts of CBCA and CBD. They are all sativa, and the most famous are Thai, Aceh, and Chocolate Thai; and Luang Prabang from Laos.
North American landrace strains
Ever since the 60s, the search has been on for North American landrace strains. They have been found in Mexico with Acapulco Gold, and there is a Hawaiian strain known as Maui Wowie.
Miscellaneous strains
There is a landrace strain for every region. It doesn’t matter if you are in Morocco, Lebanon, Russia, or Pakistan, there is most probably at least one landrace variety worthy of including in a breeding program. Again, you should note the presence of countries in names, as this is the big tip-off that you have a strain with landrace ancestors.
TEN CLASSIC VARIETIES
In addition to pure landraces, there are some modern bred varieties that have enough cachet to be famous. These are sought-after and are the basis of many commercial breeding programs.
The home gardener should recognize some of the very well-known varieties sold in dispensaries and used for breeding purposes. When you see the names of these in the variety or its lineage, they indicate unique characteristics. Look for them.
Haze
This one has to be on the top of most lists. According to friend George Van Patten, aka Jorge Cervantes, it is found in the genetics of 10 to 15 percent of all Cannabis. This sativa was developed in the 1960s and ‘70s in Santa Cruz, California, and is said to have Colombian, Mexican, Thai, and Indian sativa in its genes. These are all narrow-leaf sativa varieties. The plant is known for its pine and lemon tastes and is at once both sweet and spicy.
The buds of Haze plants are thin, so it does not make a good cross for bud size; look for other advantages, like its disease resistance and the long period before it produces seeds, which could make some of its genes useful when you want to develop a strain you can clone.
Look for Super Silver Haze and Lemon Haze, two famous off-breeds using Haze genetics. They show what breeding can do for a varietal strain.
Hindu Kush
Hindu Kush can produce some very strong psychoactivity. This is a true Kush, meaning it was originally developed for use as a hash plant. The flowers were meant to be dried and sifted to recover the trichomes. It is an Afghani indica that dates back to at least the 13th century.
The harvest from these plants tends to impart a very sedative effect. The taste is often described as harsh or raw. This is because these plants were really originally bred for producing hash.
Skunk
Skunk? What kind or name is that for something that you might ingest? Still, a lot of Dutch-produced seeds have this in their genes, and Cervantes suggests that 30% of all Cannabis has this
strain in their genes. When it was developed and released, it was like a revolution in the world of Cannabis breeding.
It is hard to believe, but Skunk actually tastes sweet. It is sativa and produces a very strong “head” high. It has a lot of both Columbian and Acapulco Gold, which actually makes it an indica-sativa mix. Its colas are nice and thick, just the thing to breed into an Auto-flower. And it flowers early, in usually between 50 and 70 days.
Afghan
This landrace from Afghanistan has been bred and bred ever since it was brought to the United States in the 1970s. Today, Afghan or Afghani #1 or Affie is the foundation of almost every single indica plant breed.
Afghan is often considered the variety that gave rise to the prohibition-era reputation of a Cannibis with a killer (meaning very good) stoner effect. It is strong. It has lots of myrcene and has a distinct, sedative couch-lock impact on users, as opposed to a cerebral high.
AK-47
It is unclear what the AK stands for in this variety, but it makes sense for it to be Afghan Kush. What is certain is that the name has nothing to do with the AK-47 machine gun used in Afghanistan at the time of its “discovery.” That part of the name probably comes from the Dutch labeling system used during breeding development.
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