Choosing between autoflower, feminized, and regular cannabis seeds can make a huge difference to your growing experience, especially when it comes to plant size, flowering time, maintenance, and yield potential. Each seed type has its own advantages depending on your grow space, climate, skill level, and long-term goals. While some growers prefer the speed and simplicity of autos, others value the control and training potential that photoperiod plants provide. This guide breaks down the key differences between regular, feminized, and autoflower cannabis seeds, helping you decide which option best suits your setup and growing style.
Key Takeaways
- Regular seeds grow into male (XY) or female plants (XX)
- Male plants need to be thrown out of the grow room
- Breeders who want to make F1 seeds will use regular seeds
- Photoperiods require 18/6 for vegetation and 12/12 for flowering
- Feminized seeds produce only plants that produce buds
- Feminized seeds are perfect for first-time growers
- Autos can be grown under any light cycle
- Indoors, using 18-20 hours of light produces the best yields
- Autos are tough, resilient and well-adapted to colder climates
- The total growing time from seed to harvest will range between 9 and 12 weeks
- You cannot clone autoflowering cannabis plants
Understanding the Three Main Types of Cannabis Seeds
There are three main types of cannabis seeds that you can grow. Understanding the differences and benefits of each will be advantageous in making the right choice. Below is an explanation of how regular seeds work, what feminized seeds are, as well as autos and the key genetic differences of all three.
- Feminized autoflowering cannabis seeds
- Feminized photoperiod cannabis seeds
- Regular photoperiod cannabis seeds
Quick Comparison of Cannabis Seed Types
| Feature | Regular | Feminized | Autoflower |
| Male Plants | Yes | No | No |
| Beginner Friendly | Medium | High | Very High |
| Light Cycle Needed | Yes | Yes | No |
| Can Be Cloned | Yes | Yes | No |
| Grow Speed | Medium | Medium | Fast |
Before choosing which cannabis seeds to grow, it is important to understand how regular seeds, feminized seeds, and autoflower seeds genetics differ in terms of growth patterns, flowering behavior, maintenance, and overall grower control. Each seed type offers unique advantages depending on your setup, experience level, and cultivation goals.
What Are Regular Cannabis Seeds and How Do They Work
Regular cannabis seeds contain XX and XY chromosomes, which means you have the option of growing out male and female plants. Of course, home growers only want female plants that will produce buds, so when working with regular cannabis seeds, removing male plants before the flowering period starts, to avoid pollination is required.
Before feminized seed ever took the cannabis industry by storm, the only type of seeds available were regulars. Old school growers had been buying regular seeds for decades. As popular as feminized seeds have become amongst home growers, there are still many older growers who want regulars when hunting phenotypes. Below is an example of the lifecycle of a regular sexed photoperiod strain.
- Weeks 1-2: Seedling Stage (18/6)
- Weeks 4-8: Vegetation Stage (18/6)
- Weeks 9-10: Transition Stage (12/12)
- Weeks 11-17 - Flowering Stage (12/12)
- Harvest Stage
What Are Feminized Cannabis Seeds
Feminized cannabis seeds contain only XX chromosomes, which means that they are genetically programmed to only produce female plants. Feminized seeds mean that you do not need to worry about sexing the plants before 12/12, and being able to fill a grow space out resulting in the highest yield possible. Autos and photoperiods are both available to buy feminized.
These seeds make life so much easier for home growers, especially if you have an outdoor area and the ability to grow big plants. Knowing that you have female plants means you can go to town on the plant training and grow some absolute monsters. You do not need to think, am I wasting all my time and effort growing a male, and can make the most out of your grow space. Below is an example of a feminized photoperiod grown indoors.
- Weeks 1-2: Seedling Stage (18/6)
- Weeks 4-8: Vegetation Stage (18/6)
- Weeks 9-10: Transition Stage (12/12)
- Weeks 11-17 - Flowering Stage (12/12)
- Harvest Stage
What Are Autoflowering Cannabis Seeds
Autoflowering cannabis plants are low-profile, fast-flowering plants that will flower automatically after 4 weeks from germination. Autos do not require the same light cycle associated with photoperiods, so they can be grown indoors using 18-20 hours of light with superb results. Outdoors, autos can be planted for most of the year in a Mediterranean climate, and are extremely popular for outdoor growers.
A common practice amongst growers who reside in South America, Mexico, Spain and Thailand is to plant a Sea of Green outdoors using autos. They will grow to a medium height around 75-90cm; however, they produce a large yield when grown closely together in rows. Below is an example of the lifecycle of an autoflowering plant grown indoors using a 20/4 light cycle.
- Weeks 1-2: Seedling Stage (20/4)
- Weeks 2-4: Vegetation Stage (20/4)
- Weeks 4-12: Flowering Stage (20/4)
- Harvest Stage
Key Genetic Differences Between Regular, Feminized, and Autoflower Seeds
You have the option of growing regular sexed photoperiod cannabis plants, or to grow feminized photoperiod and autoflowering. The key genetic differences between them can influence your decision on which type of seed is right for your grow.
Regular Photoperiod Seeds
- Regular seeds grow into male (XY) or female plants (XX)
- Male plants need to be thrown out of the grow room
- Plant count can lower once male plants are removed
- Regular seeds produce stable phenotypes
- Breeders who want to make F1 seeds will use regular seeds
- Require 18/6 for vegetation and 12/12 for flowering
Feminized Photoperiod Seeds
- Feminized seeds produce only plants that produce buds
- They allow a grower to be as efficient with their grow room as possible
- Multiple different feminized strains can be grown together at once
- Outdoor growers are able to work with only females and grow huge plants
- Feminized seeds are perfect for first-time growers
- Require 18/6 for vegetation and 12/12 for flowering
Feminized Autoflowering Seeds
- Autos can be grown under any light cycle
- Indoors, using 18-20 hours of light produces the best yields
- Autos are tough, resilient and well-adapted to colder climates
- The total growing time from seed to harvest will range between 9 and 12 weeks
- Feminized autos will only produce female plants with buds
- You cannot clone autoflowering cannabis plants
Growth Patterns and Cultivation Differences
Weighing up the difference between the different types of seeds and which may be better than others in certain situations may be easier said than done. So, below I have explained the cultivation differences for indoor and outdoor.
Light Cycle Requirements for Each Seed Type
Indoor growers rely on their timer to create the light cycle required for cannabis plants to grow. There is nothing complicated you have to worry about if you are a first-time grower. Below is a breakdown of the different light cycle requirements for each seed type.
One of the biggest differences between photoperiod cannabis plants and autoflower cannabis plants is how they respond to light cycles throughout the vegetative and flowering stages. Understanding how much light each seed type requires can help indoor growers improve plant health, maximize yields, and avoid common flowering issues.
Cannabis Light Cycle Comparison
| Seed Type | Veg Cycle | Flower Cycle |
| Photoperiod | 18/6 | 12/12 |
| Autoflower | 18–20 Hours | 18–20 Hours |
Regular Photoperiod Seeds
Regular photoperiod cannabis seeds will produce photoperiod plants that are dependent on either 18/6 or 12/12 for the different stages of their lifecycle, as shown below.
- Germination stage - 18 hours of light and 6 hours of dark (18/6)
- Vegetation stage - 18 hours of light and 6 hours of dark (18/6)
- Flowering stage - 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark (12/12)
Feminized Photoperiod Seeds
Feminized photoperiods are also the same as regular photoperiods, in the sense that they are also light cycle dependent.
- Germination stage - 18 hours of light and 6 hours of dark (18/6)
- Vegetation stage - 18 hours of light and 6 hours of dark (18/6)
- Flowering stage - 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark (12/12)
Autoflowering Seeds
Autos contain the Ruderalis gene that allows them to flower automatically regardless of the lighting schedule. Of course, giving your plants as much light as possible, with a small amount of darkness, using the 20/4 regime will produce the best yields and crops.
- Germination stage - Between 12 and 20 hours of light
- Vegetation stage - Between 12-20 hours of light
- Flowering stage - Between 12-20 hours of light
Vegetative and Flowering Timelines Compared
When comparing photoperiod and autos, the most important thing to remember is that autos cannot be kept in a vegetative state for more than 4 weeks. This is the reason why you cannot clone autos, and they are popular for being reliable plants with a quick turnaround time from seed to harvest.
Photoperiods can be kept in a vegetative state for as long as necessary under an 18/6 light cycle. This means you can clone photoperiods and are able to keep a mother plant alive for long time periods.
Autoflowering plants will start flowering from the end of week 4 onwards, with most auto strains requiring 10-12 weeks before they are ready to harvest. Photoperiod cannabis seeds can only flower once the plants receive a longer darkness period of 12 hours.
Growth Timeline Comparison
| Seed Type | Seed to Harvest |
| Autoflower | 9–12 Weeks |
| Photoperiod | 14–24 Weeks |
Plant Size, Structure, and Growth Control
The best part about being an indoor grower is the fact that you have the ability to control the light cycle. This means you decide how big, bushy and tall your plants can become before inducing flower production. This is certainly the case for photoperiod cannabis plants; autos tend to grow differently when compared
- Autoflowering plants will grow as tall as 75-100 cm
- They have a short vegetative period of 28 days
- Autos do not stretch tall once flowering begins
- Autos tend to have a short and stocky structure
Suitability for Indoor vs Outdoor Growing
There are pros and cons of using regular and feminized photoperiod cannabis seeds, and autos. Whilst regular sexed seeds produce the most stable phenotypes, you do have to take into consideration that you need to throw male plants out. Working with regular seeds involves potentially throwing out a large number of male plants before flowering, wasting growing medium, plant training, nutrients, light and space.
Feminized photoperiods or autos are far more practical compared to regular seeds, due to the fact you can fill 50 pots with feminized seeds, and every one will be female! This allows small or commercial scale growers to maximise their grow room, achieve the biggest yields possible and not have to worry about reducing plant count. Hydroponic growers benefit massively from using feminized seeds, and ensure every site on the system is full of female plants only.
Yield Potential, Potency, and Final Results
Yield and potency are usually at the top of most growers’ lists when it comes to what is the most important factor when harvesting. Below is a breakdown of yield potential and how to produce the biggest yields possible, flower quality and cannabinoid profiles with photoperiod and autoflowering genetics.
Typical Yield Differences Between Seed Types
If you want the biggest yields possible, then it is more practical to grow photoperiod cannabis plants and vegetate them for a long time, combined with plant training. Then again, you can also produce incredible yields growing in a Sea of Green set up using photoperiods that flower after 2 weeks of 18/6, or planting autos.
- Autos produce short to medium-sized plants, but work great in an SOG setup
- Photoperiods can also be used in an SOG setup and produce impressive yields
- Outdoors, photoperiod plants grown over summer can become huge compared to autos
Yield Potential Comparison
| Seed Type | Yield Potential |
| Regular | Very High |
| Feminized | High–Very High |
| Autoflower | Medium–High |
Bud Density, Resin Production, and Flower Quality
Indoors, autoflowering cannabis plants grown from seed into harvest under 20 hours of light and 4 hours of darkness can produce phenomenal buds. They are dense, compact, drenched in trichomes and appear as world-class flowers. Outdoors, the quality of autoflowering buds diminishes; the same could be said for outdoor photoperiod crops. In my opinion, photoperiod and autos both produce superior quality buds.
THC and Cannabinoid Potential Across Seed Types
Photoperiods and auto both have the potential of producing excellent yields and potency levels on par with one another. You have to remember that an autoflowering variety is a cross of a photoperiod and the Ruderalis autoflowering gene. So ultimately, you are growing a plant that possesses the same quality of cannabinoids and terpenes.
Ease of Growing and Skill Level Required
I think that all growers want a straightforward and stress-free growing cycle. Knowing the ease of growing each of the different seed types and the skill level required should allow you to have a better idea of which is best suited for you.
Best Cannabis Seeds for Beginners
Feminized seeds are definitely the best way to go for beginner growers, due to the fact they can plant the seed, let it get as big as they want and flower without worrying about male plants. Deciding which is better between photoperiods and autos will be down to you.
- Photoperiods can be trained during the vegetation period
- You can take clones off photoperiods
- Photoperiod plants will be kept suspended in vegetation under 18/6
- You can grow multiple photoperiod feminized strains at once
- Autos cannot be cloned
- Autos do not require maintenance or much training
- Autos keep a low profile, making them ideal for outdoors
- Grown in a SOG setup, autos provide a fast turnaround and a big yield
Best Seed Type by Grower Goal
| Goal | Best Choice |
| Beginners | Feminized |
| Fast Harvests | Autoflower |
| Cloning | Photoperiod |
| Huge Yields | Photoperiod |
| Outdoor Stealth | Autoflower |
Training Methods and Stress Tolerance
Cannabis plant training is a clever way to get the most out of your plants in the yield department. This is the part when you can make a clear difference between autos and photoperiods.
Photoperiods can be trained for the entire time they are in the vegetative stage. This means you can apply techniques such as LST, fimming, topping, super cropping and pruning. This is especially useful for SCROG growers and anyone else who wants to train their plants out to improve light penetration and efficiency and boost yields at the same time.
Autos have a very short window of 2-3 weeks once they surpass the seedling stage. Autos are also more delicate compared to photoperiods, so any plant training techniques performed should not cause high levels of stress. The LST method is the most effective way to enhance the yield of an autoflower, without inflicting too much stress.
Training Compatibility
| Training Method | Photoperiod | Autoflower |
| LST | Excellent | Excellent |
| Topping | Excellent | Limited |
| SCROG | Excellent | Moderate |
| Super Cropping | Excellent | Poor |
Time, Maintenance, and Grower Involvement
The length of the grow cycle, how much mainitniace there needs to be, and how often you need to tend for the plants can play a role in making the right decision. Below is a short list of all the reasons why you may want to choose either regular photoperiods, feminized photoperiods or feminized autos.
Regular Seeds
- Sexing is required to remove male plants before the flowering period starts
- The final plant count can be much lower than originally anticipated
- Plant training may be wasted on plants that turn out to be male
- Male plants will be a waste of soil, nutrients, space and light
Feminized Seeds
- No sexing is required, and only germinating the seeds is necessary
- The final plant count can be decided by you, as all plants will be female
- Feminized seeds are easy to grow and reliable plants
Autoflowering Seeds
- Autos are a low-maintenance cannabis plant
- Plant training is limited due to the short vegetative phase
- Only germinating the seed inside a large pot is required
- The total growing time from seed to harvest will be 10-12 weeks
Choosing the Right Cannabis Seed Type for Your Goals
As much as we all want to get our hands on the latest and greatest genetics to emerge out of the US, we have to be realistic about which cannabis seed type and strain aligns with our end goals. Below breaks down which seed type is best for small spaces, how to make the right choice based on climate and region and cost considerations.
Which Seed Type Is Best for Small Spaces
Not everyone has the luxury of growing inside a spare bedroom, and anyone who is using a small tent or converted wardrobe will need to prioritise finding the best strain for small spaces. Your options if you are growing inside a small space is to plant 2-4 femenized fast flowering autos or 1-2 feminized indica dominant fast flowering photoperiod plants. Do not waste your time with regular seeds because you may only end up with a low plant count.
Best Cannabis Seeds for Small Spaces
| Grow Setup | Best Seed Type |
| Small Tent | Autoflower |
| Wardrobe Grow | Autoflower |
| Large Indoor Room | Photoperiod |
| Balcony Grow | Autoflower |
Choosing Seeds Based on Climate and Region
Outdoor growers will need to be extra careful when choosing seed based on their climate and region, below highlights which strains are best suited to the different climates, to allow you to achieve the best results possible.
East Coast Climate
Indica strains are known for being fast-flowering, sturdy and resilient plants that can handle cold temperatures well. Fast-flowering autos will also be a lifesaver when planted outdoors, where the climate and seasons are short. Avoid any long flowering photoperiods that require 63 days or more, to eliminate the possibility of your plants not ripening.
West Coast Climate
The weather on the West Coast is perfect for growing all types of cannabis plants. You can get away with fast-flowering Indicas or long-flowering Sativas, and can probably plant autos back to back over April until October.
Cost Considerations and Long-Term Growing Plans
The price of some seed packs these days can be anywhere from $100 upwards, with some seedbanks and breeders charging $200+. The price you are willing to pay for your cannabis seeds will be based on your budget.
You may not have a large budget and want to grow some reliable, solid genetics. Then again, you may go crazy and spend hundreds on seeds. You also have to think about whether you will be taking a clone, keeping a mother plant and holding onto the genetics for a lifetime.
- A 10-pack of regular seeds will be cheaper compared to feminized seeds
- Regular seeds are the best for phenotype hunting a keeper female for a mother
- Spending a large amount of money on seeds is worth it if you are taking clones
Regular vs Feminized vs Autoflower for Personal Use
If you are growing weed at home for your own personal use, then there is no difference if the buds came from a female found inside a regular pack of seeds, a feminised version or an autoflowering. I was once sceptical about the overall quality of autoflowering cannabis plants, but after judging a cup in Holland, I was blown away by the quality of the autoflowering entries.
Pros and Cons Summary
| Seed Type | Biggest Advantage | Biggest Drawback |
| Regular | Stable genetics | Male plants |
| Feminized | All female plants | Higher price |
| Autoflower | Fast harvests | Cannot clone |
The best cannabis seed type for your grow will depend on factors such as available space, climate, harvest speed, training methods, and the amount of maintenance you are comfortable with. Whether you are looking for fast harvests, maximum yields, low-maintenance plants, or long-term mother stock, each seed type offers different benefits for different growing styles.
FAQ: Autoflower vs Feminized vs Regular Cannabis Seeds
Are autoflower seeds better for beginners?
Autoflower seeds are often considered beginner-friendly because they flower automatically and require less light cycle management than photoperiod plants. However, feminized photoperiod seeds are also popular with first-time growers due to their ability to recover well from training and stress.
What is the difference between feminized and regular cannabis seeds?
Regular cannabis seeds can produce both male and female plants, while feminized seeds are bred to produce female plants only. This allows growers using feminized seeds to avoid removing male plants before flowering.
Do autoflower plants yield less than photoperiod plants?
Autoflower plants are typically smaller and faster-growing than photoperiod plants, which can result in lower yields per plant. However, modern autoflower genetics can still produce impressive harvests, especially when grown in Sea of Green setups or under long indoor light schedules.
Can you clone autoflower cannabis plants?
Autoflower plants are generally not suitable for cloning because they begin flowering automatically based on age rather than light cycle. Any clone taken from an autoflower plant will continue aging and flowering alongside the parent plant.
Which cannabis seed type produces the biggest yields?
Photoperiod cannabis plants commonly produce the largest yields because growers can extend the vegetative stage for longer periods and use advanced training techniques to increase canopy size.
Are regular cannabis seeds better for breeding?
Regular cannabis seeds are preferred by breeders because they produce both male and female plants. Male plants are necessary for creating new crosses, preserving genetics, and producing F1 seed lines.
What light cycle do autoflower plants need?
Autoflower plants can grow under a wide range of light schedules and do not require a 12/12 cycle to flower. Many indoor growers use 18–20 hours of light daily from seed to harvest to maximize growth and yield.
Which cannabis seeds are best for outdoor growing?
The best outdoor seed type depends on climate and growing season length. Autoflower seeds are commonly chosen for colder or shorter seasons due to their fast flowering time, while photoperiod plants can thrive in warm climates with long summers.
Are feminized seeds worth it?
Feminized seeds are often considered worthwhile for home growers because they maximize grow space efficiency and eliminate the need to identify and remove male plants during cultivation.
What is the fastest type of cannabis seed to grow?
Autoflowering cannabis seeds are generally the fastest-growing option, with many strains completing their full life cycle within 9–12 weeks from germination.
