Zamnesia - About

If you’re new to growing cannabis—or even if you have a few harvests under your belt—you’ve likely come across the terms feminized and autoflowering seeds. While they both produce high-quality buds, they offer very different growing experiences, especially when it comes to outdoor cultivation.

In this article, we’ll break down the differences, explore the pros and cons of each seed type, and help you decide which suits your goals—indoors or outdoors. Whether you're a hobbyist grower or chasing top-tier yields, understanding these seed types is essential.

What Are Feminized Seeds?

Feminized seeds are bred to grow exclusively female plants—those that produce cannabinoid-rich buds. They’re typically photoperiod strains, meaning they require a shift in light cycles (like from 18/6 to 12/12 hours of light/dark) to trigger flowering.

Benefits:

• Guaranteed Bud Production: No need to weed out males.
• Higher Yields: Feminized strains often grow larger and bushier.
• Great for Training: Their robustness makes them ideal for high-stress training methods like topping or LST.

Outdoors: A Powerhouse with Patience

When grown outdoors, feminized strains can become absolute giants, especially if started early in the season (as early as April). They’ll stay in the vegetative phase until the natural light cycle begins to shift in late summer—often flowering from August to October.

That long grow time can mean:

• Massive yields if you’re patient and have space.
• Increased risk of mold, especially during wet autumns.
• Dependency on climate—poor weather late in the season can sabotage months of effort.

What Are Autoflowering Seeds?

Autoflowering seeds are created by crossing traditional cannabis genetics with Cannabis ruderalis, a wild variety known for its resilience and ability to flower automatically based on age—not light schedule.

Benefits:

• Speedy Harvests: Most autos finish in 8–10 weeks from seed.
• Light Cycle Independence: Great for novice growers or unpredictable environments.
• Compact Size: Ideal for discreet grows and limited spaces.

Outdoors: Fast and Flexible

Autoflowers shine outdoors due to their independence from seasonal light changes. You can:

• Grow multiple cycles per season, e.g. one in May–July and another July–September.
• Avoid autumn risks like heavy rain and mold since you harvest before October.
• Adapt to northern climates where summer is short and less predictable.

Their smaller size does mean less yield per plant, but two fast harvests can often beat one big one in volume—and with far fewer weather risks.

Which One Is Right for You?

Go Feminized if:

• You want maximum yield per plant.
• You can manage the lighting schedule (indoors) or wait until late October (outdoors).
• You’re growing in dry, stable autumn climates or using greenhouses.

Go Autoflower if:

• You want quick harvests or multiple outdoor crops per season.
• You grow in a humid, wet, or mold-prone region.
• You're looking for easy, low-maintenance grows, especially as a beginner.

Where to Get Top-Quality Cannabis Seeds

Whether you're after massive photoperiod beasts or stealthy autoflower dynamos, quality genetics make all the difference. Check out Zamnesia’s Seedshop for a massive selection of both feminized and autoflowering cannabis seeds from the world’s top seed banks.

Which is best?

Both feminized and autoflowering seeds offer unique strengths. Feminized strains are all about big yields and maximum control, while autoflowers focus on speed, flexibility, and reliability—especially outdoors.

Think about your climate, growing space, and goals. And remember: there’s no harm in mixing both in your grow calendar for the best of both worlds.