Autoflower Seeds for Balcony and Small Space Growing

By Trent LaPierre, Master Grower and founder of Quebec Cannabis Seeds. More than 35 years of growing experience.

If you only have a balcony, a patio or a small corner of a yard, autoflower seeds are the variety I recommend most. I have grown cannabis for over 35 years, and I started Quebec Cannabis Seeds in 2015 to put reliable, cold-climate genetics in the hands of Canadian growers. Here is why autoflowers do so well in small outdoor spaces, and what I tell people before they plant.

1. They stay compact

Autoflowers do not stretch the way many photoperiod plants do. A properly grown autoflower stays small enough that it will not fill your whole balcony or take over the space. That is a real advantage when you share the space, have neighbours, or simply want to keep the plant discreet.

2. They often yield more outdoors than indoors

Autoflowers that are planted properly tend to produce considerably more outdoors than they do under indoor lights. Full sun, fresh air and a good container let the plant reach its potential. Indoor growing has its place, but for autoflowers I get my best results outside.

3. Outdoors, plan for a longer finish than the listed time

The flowering times you see listed for autoflowers are generally indoor figures. When an autoflower is planted outdoors and grown properly, it stretches, and you can easily add two to three weeks to the listed time. If the plant is thriving and healthy, it can run as much as a month past its due date. I have grown autoflowers listed at about 70 days that took 110 to 115 days outdoors. A longer finish is not a problem; it usually means the plant is healthy and putting on size.

4. Results depend on the grower

Autoflowers are fussy. They do not handle stress, and stress can push them into bloom early, which costs you size and yield. That is why the same genetics can give very different results. I grew my Jack Herer Auto properly outdoors and it reached five feet and yielded about 350 grams. Friends of mine grew the same genetics in less ideal conditions, and theirs finished at three feet and yielded only about 80 grams. The seed was the same. The growing conditions were the difference.

5. Most are ready to harvest in August

Photoperiod plants usually finish in September or October. Almost all autoflowers, planted at the usual time, are ready to harvest in August. Because they take longer outdoors than the listed time, plant early in the season so they finish before the weather turns.

6. Harvesting early means a cleaner crop

Mold, mildew and bud rot come with rain and cold. In Canada, the worst of it arrives in September and October, when heavy morning and night dew keeps plants wet and the buds never get a chance to dry. Bud rot (Botrytis) spreads fastest in damp, cool, still conditions, which is exactly the weather late-season photoperiod plants have to sit through.

Because autoflowers are harvested in August, before the rains and cold begin, they are far less exposed to bud rot, mold and other disease. The result is usually a cleaner, healthier harvest.

Quick facts

• Compact size: well suited to balconies and small spaces.
• Listed flowering times: generally indoor figures. Outdoors, add two to three weeks; a thriving plant can run up to a month longer.
• Example: an autoflower listed at about 70 days took 110 to 115 days outdoors.
• Yield example: the same Jack Herer Auto genetics gave about 350 g at five feet in good conditions and about 80 g at three feet in poor conditions.
• Typical harvest: August when planted at the usual time.
• Flowering trigger: age, not a change in the light schedule.
• Main risk avoided: late-season rain, dew, cold, mold and bud rot.
• Recommended seeds: feminized autoflowers.

Trent’s tips for a balcony autoflower grow

• Choose the sunniest spot you have. More direct sun means a better harvest.
• Keep stress to a minimum. Steady watering, steady feeding and no rough handling. Stress is what costs autoflowers their size.
• Plant in the final container from the start. Autoflowers do not like being transplanted. Use a pot with good drainage that is large enough for the whole life of the plant.
• Give the plant airflow. Space containers so air moves around the plants, and be aware that balcony walls can trap heat and reflect it back.
• Choose feminized autoflower seeds so every plant you grow can produce buds.
• Plant early, as soon as the risk of frost has passed, so the plant finishes in August before the damp autumn weather.
• Check your local regulations before you grow.

Choose your seeds

Browse our autoflower cannabis seeds, see our picks for beginners, or explore our outdoor seeds. Trent's own Jack Herer Auto is a good place to start. Each strain page lists flowering time, height and difficulty. At Quebec Cannabis Seeds, delivery is guaranteed at 100% and germination is guaranteed at 80% (replacement seeds if fewer than 80% germinate). See our Trust & Guarantees page for the details.

Frequently asked questions

Can you grow autoflowers on a balcony?

Yes. Autoflowers stay compact and flower on their own schedule, so they suit balconies, patios and other small outdoor spaces. They do not grow tall enough to take over the space the way many photoperiod plants can.

Why are autoflowers a good choice for small outdoor spaces?

Autoflowers stay smaller than most photoperiod plants, so they do not fill up a whole balcony. They begin to flower with age rather than in response to a change in the light schedule, so there is no light cycle to manage.

Do autoflowers yield more outdoors than indoors?

In the experience of QCS founder Trent LaPierre, yes. Planted properly in a good container with full sun, autoflowers tend to produce considerably more outdoors than they do under indoor lights. Results depend heavily on the grower: the same Jack Herer Auto genetics reached about five feet and yielded about 350 grams for Trent, while friends growing the same genetics in weaker conditions finished at about three feet and 80 grams.

How long do autoflowers take to finish outdoors?

The flowering times listed for autoflowers are generally indoor figures. Outdoors you can usually add two to three weeks, and a healthy, thriving plant can run as much as a month past its listed time. Trent has grown autoflowers listed at about 70 days that took 110 to 115 days outdoors.

When are autoflowers ready to harvest outdoors in Canada?

When planted at the usual time, almost all autoflowers are ready to harvest in August. Because outdoor plants take longer than the listed time, plant early in the season, and check the flowering time on each strain page.

Why do autoflowers have fewer problems with mold and bud rot?

Bud rot and mildew thrive in cool, damp weather, and the worst of it arrives in September and October, when morning and night dew keeps plants wet and buds cannot dry. Autoflowers are usually harvested in August, before that weather begins, so the risk is much lower.

Are autoflowers sensitive to stress?

Yes. Autoflowers are fussy and do not handle stress well. Stress can send the plant into bloom prematurely and reduce size and yield, so keep conditions steady and avoid transplanting.

What size container is best for an autoflower on a balcony?

A container with good drainage that is large enough to hold the plant for its whole life, since autoflowers prefer not to be transplanted. Planting directly into the final container is the usual advice.

What seeds should I buy for a balcony grow?

Choose feminized autoflower seeds. Quebec Cannabis Seeds lists flowering time, height and difficulty on every strain page so you can pick a variety that suits your space.