Average Size of Autoflowering Cannabis Plants

If you are new to growing autoflowering cannabis, you might be curious about the average size of autoflowering cannabis plants. It’s natural for a first time grower to ask how tall or how short would the plant be considering he has to prepare ample space for his crops. A smart grower understands the space requirements of cannabis plants and uses this to create a comfortable, quiet and safe place for his crops to grow.

This article will discuss the average sizes of autoflowering plants and the factors that can affect the growth of these plants. Expert growers agree that there are many things that can affect the size of cannabis plants but the most common would be the pot size, light intensity, light spectrum, light cycle, water pH levels, watering methods, plant training and common plant stresses like pests, transplanting, ventilation and temperature.

Average Size of Cannabis Seeds

The size of an autoflowering cannabis plant ranges from 7 to 20 inches however it can be smaller if the plant becomes stressed or the living/growing conditions of the plant becomes too harsh for normal growth. The opposite or the plant could grow larger if the conditions are just right for a healthy and happy growth.

• Plant’s pot size – the size of your pot affects how large or how small your autoflowers are. If you grow and keep your plants in a small party cup, it can become root bound and this will stunt its growth. Root bound plants will not be able to get enough nutrients from soil and from plant food. Your plants roots’ won’t be able to breathe with the very limited space inside the small cup. If you don’t transplant this quickly, you can end up with a plant that has very little yield because of its stunted growth.

The best way to avoid this is to plant your autos on a pot that it will grow in. This will avoid root bound and will also avoid transplanting your plant which is one of the most common stress triggers in autoflowering plants.

• Amount of light – autoflowering plants need a lot of light to maximize its energy to grow faster and to be mature and be ready for harvest in just 8 weeks. Place your autos under non-stop 24/0 light cycle from seed to harvest and you will get a plant that is larger and with better yield. Deprive your plant with light and you will surely stunt its growth and reduce its yield. Cannabis plants actually “crawl” towards the light source if they are not getting enough light. Stretching can cause severe changes in a plant’s physical make-up. It can develop weak stems and branches and can even develop plant burn if you are not careful.
• Light cycle – autoflowering cannabis plants placed under 24/0 light cycle are going to be larger and will develop bushier buds and have a better yield. Place these plants in a 12/12 light cycle and you will get a smaller plant with a smaller yield.
• Plant nutrients – autoflowering plants are not really picky eaters what these plants need is the right combination of nutrients to be able to grow healthy and strong and develop larger yields. If you do not provide plants with the right amount of nutrients, it can suffer from nutrient deficiency. Too much fertilizer can also be damaging to your plant; it will struggle to absorb other important elements and thus will grow smaller and sick. These are the signs of nutrient toxicity.
• Plant training – this could be low stress or high stress training and either way, you will end up stressing your plant and stunting its growth. Because autos have very short lives, any kind of stress can affect them. Techniques like topping can severely stress plants because it severely affects your plant’s abilities to recover. If you must top or control your plants’ growth, make sure to choose plants that are healthy, green and ready.
• Plant transplanting – if you planted your autos in small party cups and your seedlings have grown, you must transplant these ASAP to a large pot. Transplanting young plants to a large permanent pot could be too stressful to your autos. Which is why it has to be done fast to avoid any further stress on your plants.
• The presence of pests – pests like spider mites are very common in cannabis grow rooms and these are relentless pests that are very difficult to eradicate. Spider mites are minute spider-like bugs that have flat bodies and a voracious appetite. A single mite can bite and suck up the sap from leaves and in just a few days can destroy your crops. And aside from eating plant leaves, these mites can cover leaves and buds with webbing and this can make buds useless. Pests can really reduce the size of your plants and eventually reduce your plant’s yields as well.
• Temperature and ventilation – although cannabis plants can survive almost anywhere provided their needs are met, these plants cannot thrive in an enclosed space with scorching hot temperatures and reduced ventilation. Poor ventilation could severely affect the uptake of CO2 which plants need to live and a hot room could be due to the heat emitted by your growth lights and fans. You must ensure that your plants get adequate ventilation and just the right temperature to be comfortable and to increase its height and increase your yield.
• Outdoor or indoor growing – there is a stark difference in size and height of plants grown outdoors than indoors. Outdoor plants are taller, may have one or multiple colas and are generally resilient to stress. Indoor plants are smaller and are mostly restricted to grow because of the grower’s very limited space. There are other ways to grow autoflowers such as using grow closets and green houses and because of its size you will be able to grow autoflowering plants covertly.

Understand that these factors can vary from one grower to another. And as you consider these factors, take special attention on how you can better your yield despite having smaller autoflowering cannabis plants