Tipps

It has been several years now since auto-flowering varieties stopped being just a fad to become solidly established as a growing modality.

With some very good varieties on the market, improving these genetic strains was a logical step to take, as growers are increasingly demanding better results from auto-flowering varieties.

Although one mix that we tried improved both the yield and the flavour, it proved to be unstable. Having discounted that, we created our new second-generation varieties. Although their flowering time is slightly longer (set by the flowering time of the reversed pollen), the results are better, while other characteristics — resistance to light pollution, performance outdoors and resistance to pests and disease — have remained the same or even improved.

Kannabia Seeds has developed its new auto-flowering varieties by crossing feminised pollen from varieties in our catalogue with stem strains obtained from crossing with the rudelaris subspecies. The result: plants with minimal auto-flowering characteristics and flowering times that are set by the pollen of the reversed plants.

Our main goal was to create a variety that would give excellent results outdoors. And our trials have backed this up. The plants are large, with fairly big, compact buds. The rudelaris gene is manifest, and the plants flower and finish over a period when standard plants are just beginning to flower. KANNABIA SEEDS RECOMMENDS OUTDOOR USE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY.

Since some people prefer to do their growing indoors, our trials have shown that these plants develop best if you:

• Use no larger than five-litre plant pots.
• Use a photoperiod of 12-14-16 hours of light for faster results (OUR BEST RESULTS WERE OBTAINED WITH 12/12 and 14/10 PHOTOPERIODS). If you leave it at 18 hours, you will have to stop feeding with growth fertiliser after two weeks and force the plant to flower, leaving it in darkness for 24–48 hours and then resuming the photoperiod.

In any case, WE DO NOT RECOMMEND USING OUR AUTO-FLOWERING VARIETIES WITH PHOTOPERIODS OF OVER 16 HOURS, AS THE PLANTS WILL TAKE A LONG TIME TO END THE PROCESS, TENDING TO GROW TO A HUGE SIZE AND RISKING GROWING BEYOND THE GROWER’S CONTROL.

• Use high-pressure sodium lamps.
• Good results can also be obtained by switching from a longer photoperiod to a shorter one (for example, reducing from 20 hours to 12–14 hours to stimulate flowering and accelerate the process).

We hope that these tips will help to improve our direct contact with growers and distributors and provide an even better service. Personally, as Kannabia Seeds’ breeder, I look forward to your comments and will be happy to provide anyone interested with the dossiers of the outdoor and indoor trials that we have carried out with the new Kannabia’s new auto-flowering varieties.

And remember that our Flash and Gnomo catalogue is still available for results with first-generation auto-flowering varieties.