How to Grow top-shelf Autoflowers without the Hassle

Autoflowers are a game-changer for home growers—especially beginners and hobbyists. They’re fast, resilient, and don’t need strict light schedules. But to grow top-shelf autoflowers with minimal effort, you still need the right strategy, tools, and mindset.



In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to grow legendary autoflowers without overcomplicating things. Whether you’ve grown a few plants before or this is your first time, I’ll show you how easy it is to do it with Plagron substrates, nutrients, and boosters.

What Are autoflowers and why should you grow them?

Autoflowers are cannabis plants that automatically transition from the vegetative stage to flowering, regardless of the light cycle. Unlike photoperiod strains, they don’t wait for 12/12 light. This means:

• Faster harvests (8–11 weeks from seed)
• No light schedule changes needed
• Compact, stealthy grows ideal for small spaces

If you're a hobby grower looking for fast results with minimal complications, autoflowers are perfect.



Why autoflowers have unique nutrient needs

Autoflowers grow quickly and stay small, meaning:

• They prefer a light, airy substrate with a low EC
• Overfeeding is common, so prefer smaller, more often feedings rather than larger ones
• Adjust nutrient dosages to 1/2 or opt for auto-specific nutrients

The golden rule? Less is more. Start light and adjust as needed.

The best substrate for autoflowers: Cocos or Lightmix?

When it comes to growing autoflowers, your medium matters big time.

Plagron Lightmix

Plagron Lightmix is a lightly fertilized peat-based substrate that gives you control from the start. Perfect if you want to steer nutrition using liquid nutrients.

Plagron Cocos Premium

Plagron Cocos Premium is a pure coco coir substrate with no nutrients. It provides excellent drainage and root development, ideal for growers who want complete control over feeding.

Pro tip: 
For your first grow, go with Lightmix. It’s more forgiving and still offers flexibility.

Base nutrients: keep it simple, keep It strong

Plagron offers four grow styles, but for autoflowers, keep it simple. Use Terra Grow (veg) and Terra Bloom (flower) if you’re in Light Mix.

If you’re growing in coco, switch to Cocos A&B.

Feeding Schedule Tip:

If you're starting in Light Mix, use half of the recommended dosage (Bloom) starting on Pre-flower. If you're starting in unfertilized soil, follow the manufacturer's feeding schedule at 1/2 of the dosage from start to finish.

The autoflower secret weapon: additives that actually work

Your base nutrients cover the basics. But if you want your autoflowers to GROW LEGENDARY, here are the must-have extras:

Root Booster: Start strong

Use Power Roots during the first 3 – 4 weeks. It helps your seedling develop a healthy, explosive root system—essential for a short life cycle like autoflowers.

Sugar Royal: Better taste, better aroma

Rich in amino acids, Sugar Royal mimics drought stress and boosts terpene production with 75%. Start from the second week and run until harvest. 

Green Sensation: The yield maximizer

Green Sensation is a 4-in-1 bloom booster maximizing weight (74%), resin, taste, and cell strength. Start using in week 4 or 5. Watch your flowers bulk up and sparkle. When you start using Green Sensation you can stop using Power Roots.

Power Buds: More buds sites and higher THC levels

Apply Power Buds as soon as your autoflowers start showing pistils. Power Buds speeds up bud site development ideal for smaller plants like autoflowers that don’t have time to waste. It will also increase the THC levels of you buds, knock knock who’s there?

Plain water or liquid feeding? You decide the outcome

There are two proven ways to feed autoflowers. Choose what fits your lifestyle.

But here’s the truth: you’ll only be scraping the surface of what your plants are capable of. Expect basic results, small yields, and average quality at best.

Low-effort style: Pre-fertilized substrate + pH’d plain water

If you're after a completely hassle-free grow, yes—you can give your autoflowers just plain, pH-balanced water from start to finish. Especially when using a lightly pre-fertilized substrate like Plagron Light Mix, your plants will have enough to survive. 

Medium effort style: measured feeding

Now, if you want to take things to the next level, if you want dense buds, rich aromas, and legendary results, you’ll need to feed your plants the right nutrients at the right time. It’s easier than it sounds.

Just follow this simple rule:

Use the right product during the right phase—and always at half dosage for autoflowers. That’s it. No guesswork, no overload. Just strategic, simplified feeding using trusted boosters like Power Roots, Sugar Royal, Green Sensation, and Power Buds.

So… water only, or feed for greatness?

The choice is yours. But if you’re reading this, you’re probably not growing just to “get by.” You're here to Grow Legendary. Use Lightmix or Cocos Premium and feed with Plagron nutrients and boosters. This gives you full control and maximum potential, especially when using additives like Green Sensation.

How to prevent common autoflower mistakes

Growing autoflowers may sound easy, but many growers hit the same pitfalls. Avoid these:

• Overwatering: 
  Roots need oxygen! Use airy substrates and water only when the top inch is dry.
• Overfeeding: 
  Stick to half the dosage unless your plant demands more.
• Transplant stress: 
  Start autoflowers in their final container to avoid growth stalling.
• Trimming, topping or training (too late): 
  Don’t trim or top you autoflowers, only use LST (low stress training)

When and how to harvest autoflowers

Autoflowers don’t follow the same timeline as photoperiods, so don’t rely on the seed bank’s week count alone. Instead:

• Use a magnifying glass to check trichomes.
• Harvest when trichomes are mostly cloudy with some amber for a balanced effect.

The ideal grow cycle timeline (Example)

Looking for a customized feeding chart? Check out Plagon’s Grow Schedule Calculator tool and create yours!

Should you train autoflowers? Here's the real deal

When it comes to training techniques, most simply don’t work well for autoflowers. Methods like topping, pruning, and defoliating might be popular with photoperiod strains, but autoflowers grow on a tight schedule and they just don’t have the time to recover from high-stress 
interventions before entering the flowering phase. 

Pushing your plant too hard, too fast? That often leads to stunted growth and disappointing yields.That said, some advanced growers still experiment with high-stress training (HST), but for most hobbyists, it's a risk not worth taking.

The safer—and highly recommended—approach is low-stress training (LST). This involves gently bending and tying down the main stem and side branches to promote lateral growth and improve light exposure across the plant. Since LST causes little to no damage, your plant can keep growing without missing a beat.

Thinking about trying it? Then start early, ideally in the first 2 weeks of the vegetative phase. After that, let your plant do what it does best: grow.

Final thoughts: Grow Legendary, keep it simple

Autoflowers don’t require expert-level skills. They reward growers who observe, adapt, and stay consistent.

By using Plagron’s trusted products: Light Mix or Cocos Premium, Terra nutrients, and smart additives like Sugar Royal, Green Sensation, and Power Buds, you’ll give your plants the best chance to thrive without stress.

And if you’re ever in doubt? Plagron is always here to help. We’ve got your back with fast answers and expert support. So get growing, trust your instincts, and Grow Legendary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do autoflowers need darkness to flower?

No. They flower based on age, not light cycle. You can run 18–24 hours of light per day.

Should I top my autoflowers?

No. We only recommend Low Stress Training.

Can I grow autoflowers in a small tent?

Absolutely. Autoflowers are ideal for micro grows and stealth setups. If you're ready to grow better autoflowers with less stress—start with the right substrate, feed lightly, and lean on Plagron’s proven lineup to get you there.

• Less guesswork
• Top shelf buds
• Hassle-free harvests.