The great news of autoflowering F1 hybrid seeds is radically changing the way of growing . Cannabis is a wonderful plant, but until now, growing it has been a bit like playing Russian roulette.

Genetically identical strains produced plants with different life cycles and characteristics, from aromas to potency levels, making cultivation unpredictable and inconsistent.

But with the advent of Royal Queen Seeds' F1 hybrid seeds in 2023, all this is set to change. After years of development, in fact, the seed bank is launching carefully selected seeds from pure, exclusive and quality genetics onto the market.

For the first time in the history of this business, growers around the world will finally be able to enjoy stability and uniformity never seen before. With unmatched vigor, taller plants and higher yield production, F1 hybrids are already changing the way cannabis is grown and will likely do so more and more.

And the great thing is that the benefits don't end there. Because not only can commercial growers grow cannabis more efficiently and productively, but patients can now access more reliable medical cannabis.

We at Grow Shop Italia have talked and discussed a lot with our dear friend Nino and the staff of Royal Queen Seeds about this absolute novelty for the last fifteen years, practically since the introduction of autoflowering plants into the cannabusiness. The debate was immediately very heated , not only among us, but among all European growers and enthusiasts in the sector.

The question that everyone must be asking appears logical and free from any polemical conspiracy: "But will these hybrids really work?" .

We came up with an idea and our answer is: “Yes! They will work . " But we also asked ourselves: “Will this innovation bring real value and evolution to the cannabis species?” . But in the meantime let's try to explain what it is.

Here is what you will find in this article in detail:

Keep reading.

Read also : “ The best cannabis strains ever ”.

Autoflowering hybrids F1: what you need to know about the breeding process

You will surely have planted a batch of cannabis seeds of the same variety, which then all germinated into very different seedlings. With F1 hybrid cannabis seeds this will never happen to you again.

Autoflowering F1 hybrids are a category of cannabis seeds created through a process of genetic combination between different autoflowering strains. Hybridization and crossing are very widespread practices in the world of cultivation. There is a substantial difference between the two processes.

Hybridization , which is what interests us, is a completely natural practice that aims to combine the best characteristics of each genetic variety (through the crossing of male and female pollen) in order to produce strains of plants that grow quickly and with high yield potential. Unlike crossing, therefore there is no manipulation of the genetic makeup.

But let's see exactly how an autoflowering F1 hybrid is born :

  1. Two different "pure" parent genetics with desirable characteristics are chosen;
  2. The parents are crossed together to create a new plant that will have a combination of genes from both.

The difference with traditional hybridization is that in the case of F1s the breeding work is done starting from two pure genetic lines . This operation is also known as "inbreeding" .

The F1 hybrid offspring will acquire the best characteristics. We talk about "heterosis" or an intensified manifestation of the desirable traits of both parents. The seedlings will therefore be larger and stronger, more resistant with a rapid and high yield potential, richer in cannabinoids and terpenes.

Crossbreeding is only the first step in the process of creating the F1 hybrid. The F1 hybrid auto seeds obtained are further selected and cultivated in order to identify those that have the desired characteristics.

In essence, the seeds are tested for their ability to self-flower, for their growth and production. Once the variety is selected, the seeds are established to ensure greater uniformity and genetic homogeneity in the production of new plants.

What is are hybrids F1 seeds and what are their characteristics

F1 cannabis seeds are probably the future of cannabis genetics. Unlike traditional hybrid seeds, which can be created by crossing any cannabis strain, F1s are born from two pure genetic lines .

This table helps you better understand the difference:

F1 hybrid cannabis strain

Traditional cannabis strain
  • homozygous parents;
  • over 3–4 years of professional breeding;
  • uniform strains with stable traits;
  • heterosis effect (known as “hybrid vigor”);
  • professional market.
  • heterozygous parents;
  • short breeding period;
  • high genetic variation;
  • trait segregation;
  • not suitable for the professional market.

F1 seeds have been used for some time in the field of growing ornamental plants and fruit, vegetables and greens. However, they are absolutely new to the world of cannabis, of which Royal Queen Seeds is the absolute pioneer.

Thanks to the vigor of the hybrid, transmitted by crossing from the two pure parent genetics, a hybrid F1 seed is able to offer:

  1. Stability and vigor;
  2. Unrivaled higher yield;
  3. Uniform crops;
  4. Larger seedlings;
  5. Higher THC.

A true revolution for cannabis cultivation on any scale, don't you think? But before telling you why it is really advantageous to grow autoflowering plants born from F1 hybrids, let's focus on a fundamental difference.

Differences between f1 and f2 hybrid: what are they?

"F1" seeds are so called because they are the first generation of seeds produced by crossing two different, genetically pure varieties. The abbreviation “F1” therefore stands for “first filial generation” .

When F1 hybrid seeds are grown and subsequently crossed, the resulting seeds will be called F2 cannabis seeds . In this case, the acronym “F2” indicates the second generation.

The main differences concern:

  • Genetic stability : F1s tend to be more genetically stable than F2s, as the first generation of crosses combines only two parents with different characteristics, while F2 hybrids combine different combinations of genes;
  • Homogeneity : F1 hybrids tend to be more uniform in their growth and flower production than F2 hybrids, as they tend to have very similar genetic characteristics to each other and to the original parents;
  • Potency : In some cases, F2 hybrids can be more potent than F1 hybrids, as the combination of different genes can lead to greater expression of certain genetic characteristics;
  • Complexity : F2 hybrids can be more complex genetically, as they are the result of a cross between two F1 hybrids that already have a combination of different genes.

In summary, the diversity of these two categories of cannabis seeds lies in their creation process as well as in their genetic characteristics. The choice between one hybrid and another depends on the grower's personal preferences and the specific needs of each crop. But let's now see the advantages and disadvantages of F1 autoflowering seeds : continue reading.

Advantages of f1 seeds: why choose them?

Royal Queen Seeds F1 autoflowering hybrids undoubtedly offer some surprising and significant advantages which can be summarized as:

  1. Uniform plants with stable growth traits;
  2. Absence of relevant phenotypic variations;
  3. Faster growth and flowering;
  4. Greater resistance to unfavorable conditions, parasites and stress;
  5. Higher yields;
  6. Higher and more stable concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes resulting in a potent and uniform final product;
  7. Higher THC content.

F1 hybrid plants are sturdy and stable, offer a high level of resistance against harmful insects and parasites , and produce buds loaded with THC and CBD in large quantities. And when we say they are uniform, we are certainly not saying an exaggeration!

You can grow 10 or 10,000: each specimen will show the same structure in terms of height and size, the same appearance and an almost identical phytochemical profile. Thanks to their feminized autoflowering nature, they are also easier to manage and control , therefore also ideal for growers of any experience level.

Whether you are a novice grower or a professional grower with a large-scale cultivation, know that these F1 hybrids are perfect if you want stable, homogeneous crops of unrivaled vigor, with abundant and top quality yields in indoor, outdoor or in the greenhouse.

However, let's be 100% honest, there are some challenges in using F1 hybrid seeds . Technically, F1 hybrids are plants that are standardized through a breeding and inbreeding process. In this way, their seeds will produce plants that are increasingly equal and homogeneous with each other.

This hybridization process, as happens in dog breeds and plant species, on the one hand leads to greater purity and the possibility of planning more for the future , but on the other hand it impoverishes some aspects such as:

  • The natural ability of plants to adapt;
  • The variable that produces competition and improvement of recessive or dominant genetic aspects.

In short, in simple words, in nature it is the adaptation of the species and the non-standardized variable that creates evolution and improvement in flavours, aromas and resistance, obviously to the detriment of the weaker species, as Mendel teaches us.

F1 standardization creates more equality and homogeneity in a crop, allowing greater control and future planning of the business, but inevitably something is lost.

F1 hybrid cannabis seeds: standardize or let nature prevail?

F1 hybridization, as we have seen, is a process that, although new in the cannabis world, has already been successfully used for years in ornamental nurseries and fruit and vegetable growing .

You will surely have seen practically perfect fruit and vegetables on the supermarket shelves, all the same in shape and colour, without bruises.

Here, putting the world of cannabis aside for a moment and speaking more generally, that is the most striking example of the standardization of F1 hybrid seeds .

This evolution of modern cultivation techniques is widely used throughout the world to produce high-quality and perhaps good-looking foods, but which lack the authentic flavor of the past. And what we eat, for example, how much can it influence our health?

This is the reflection, as banal as it is profound, with which we want to leave you. Will autoflowering F1 hybrid seeds really be the future or ruin of the industry?

It is important to consider not only the advantages but also the challenges that the use of these seeds presents us with. And, in light of this, use them responsibly to ensure food safety and long-term sustainability.

Standardize production, yes. But sometimes it would be better to leave nature free to evolve according to its rules, don't you think?

Discover our category dedicated to Ryal Queen Seeds autoflowering F1 hybrids.