Me and a friend are working on growing, but as we're browsing seeds to buy, we notice that there's normal feminized seeds, but then there's 'autoflowering' seeds. Is there any perks for growing normal seeds, or is growing autoflowering seeds just better altogether?
Cannabis sativa transitions to the flowering stage based on the photoperiod. Ruderalis, otherwise known as ditch weed, flowers based on elapsed time since germination. Breeders crossed the two to create a hybrid that has the psychoactive properties of cannabis sativa with the flowering behavior of ruderalis. That way, the grower does not have to control the photoperiod, he does not have to enforce 12 hours of darkness each day to trigger and maintain flowering. Many people are very happy with autoflowering plants, but I've never heard a dealer advertising his gear as containing ruderalis. If you are in a position where you can enforce the photoperiod, then I would recommend the feminized, non-auto seeds.
What the above said. Autos in the past have sucked new generation strains particularly the ones from Paradise Seeds and Dutch Passion have increased the yields dramatically, Check out autoflower.net its a forum site like this one but all autoflowers in particular the Dutch Passion section. Youll see some amazing grows but the newer autos "super autos" can take a while longer to flower 70-100 days in some cases vs 60 days. As for perks well really no huge difference they both require the same needs. Autoflowering simply means they flower with no regard to light sced but age. It will flower when it feels like it regardless of what you do it to.
Veg some photoperiod seeds while you run some autoflowers... By the time the autos are done, the photoperiod plants will be ready to switch to flower. Good Growing!