How to Grow Lowryder Auto
Lowryder Auto is a piece of cannabis history: the original stable autoflower that launched the entire category. It carries a gentle 12–14% THC, a clean, earthy flavour and a creative, euphoric, uplifted effect on a tiny, fast, famously easy plant that flowers automatically and finishes in record time.
Built from Northern Lights #2 crossed with William’s Wonder and Mexican Ruderalis, it is a 60% indica, 40% sativa autoflower that first brought ruderalis genetics into modern breeding. The result is a compact, resilient plant that is forgiving to grow, quick to finish and gentle in effect, a true cornerstone variety.
Recommended Strains
Lowryder Autoflower
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THC | 12% - 14% (Low) |
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Type | Autoflowering |
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Yield | Low |
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Phenotype | 60% Indica / 40% Sativa |
Lemon Auto
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THC | 17% - 25% (High) |
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Type | Autoflowering |
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Yield | Medium |
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Phenotype | 40% Indica / 60% Sativa |
Because it is small, quick and almost foolproof, Lowryder Auto is an ideal first autoflower. You can see the full genetics and buy Lowryder Auto seeds on the strain page, and browse more of our autoflowering seeds alongside it.
Strain Profile at a Glance
| THC | 12–14% (low) |
|---|---|
| Lineage | Northern Lights #2 x William’s Wonder x Mexican Ruderalis |
| Type | Autoflowering |
| Genetics | 60% Indica / 40% Sativa |
| Climate | Temperate |
| Life cycle | 8–10 weeks seed to harvest |
| Harvest | All season |
| Height | 3.28 ft / 1 m |
| Yield | Modest |
| Yield indoor | 0.16–0.39 oz/ft² (50–120 g/m²) |
| Yield outdoor | up to 21.16 oz/plant (600 g/plant) |
| Grow difficulty | Beginner-friendly |
| Flavors | Earthy |
| Effects | Creative, Euphoric, Uplifted |
Promos & Deals
The Original Autoflower
Lowryder Auto is where autoflowering cannabis began. Developed in Amsterdam, it was the first stable autoflower to reach the market, and it changed cultivation forever by offering a plant that flowers on its own schedule with no need to manage light cycles. Growing it is a direct link to that history.
Its influence is everywhere in the modern catalogue: popular Blimburn autos such as Sour Diesel Auto and Blue Dream Auto build on Lowryder genetics. From Northern Lights it keeps a classic indica backbone, while the Ruderalis side gives it the speed and resilience that made autoflowers mainstream.
Climate and Where to Grow It
Lowryder Auto suits a temperate climate and is happy both outdoors and in a controlled indoor tent. Its standout feature is size: at around 1 m it is one of the most compact plants you can grow, which makes it perfect for small tents, balconies, discreet spots and stealthy setups where height is limited.
Because it autoflowers and finishes fast, you can run it across most of the season and fit several cycles into a year. Indoors its yields are modest at 50–120 g/m², in line with its small stature, while a larger outdoor plant can bring in more. Keep airflow steady and humidity moderate as the small, resinous buds mature.
Indoors, aim for daytime temperatures around 70–80°F (21–27°C) and keep gentle airflow through the canopy. Its tiny footprint makes it ideal for a sea-of-green approach, where several small plants grown close together make up for the modest size of any single one.
Growing Autoflowering Seeds
As the original autoflower, Lowryder flowers automatically with age rather than on a change in the light schedule. That removes the biggest decision of a photoperiod grow: you never flip the lights, and the plant simply moves into bloom on its own after a few weeks of early growth.
You can run it under a long day, around 18–20 hours of light, for its entire life, which keeps energy high right through flowering. Start it in its final pot to avoid transplant shock, since autos do not like having their quick life cycle interrupted, and feed gently while young. From seed to harvest the whole run takes about 8–10 weeks.
Feeding Schedule (EC Guide)
This is a small, undemanding plant, so keep nutrients light and let its fast cycle do the work. Start low, build up gently as it enters bloom, and taper off for the final flush so the clean, earthy flavour comes through without any harshness.
| Stage | EC (mS/cm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Seedling | 0.4–0.6 | Very light feed, focus on healthy root growth |
| Vegetative growth | 0.8–1.2 | Build the frame, raise nitrogen gradually |
| Early flower | 1.2–1.4 | Shift toward bloom nutrients (P and K) |
| Full flower | 1.4–1.6 | Peak bloom feed while the small buds fill out |
| Flush | 0.0–0.4 | Plain water for the final 1–2 weeks |
Flowering and Harvest
Because it autoflowers, Lowryder sets its own pace, with the full cycle running about 8–10 weeks from seed. As a slightly indica-leaning plant it stays short and compact, filling in small, tidy buds quickly rather than stretching the way a sativa would.
There is little to manage with such a small plant, but keep the canopy open and light close to make the most of every bud. Harvest when most trichomes have turned milky-cloudy with a few amber heads for the fullest expression, and run a short plain-water flush in the last week or two before you cut it down.
Drying and Curing
Dry whole plants or branches in a dark room at around 60°F (15–18°C) and 55–60% humidity for 7–14 days, until the thin stems snap rather than bend. With small, quick-finishing buds a gentle, even dry is especially important, as they can dry out fast and lose aroma if the room is too warm.
Then cure the trimmed buds in sealed jars, burping them daily for the first week and letting them settle for three to four weeks. A proper cure brings the clean, earthy character forward and smooths the smoke, which is exactly what this pioneering autoflower deserves.
What to Do With Your Trim
Don’t bin the sugar leaves you remove while manicuring. Even on a small plant, Lowryder’s trim is worth saving for dry sift, bubble hash or rosin, letting you turn the leftover sugar leaves into a little bonus concentrate rather than throwing usable material away.
Flavor and Terpenes
Lowryder Auto has a clean, earthy flavour, simple and classic rather than loud or fruity, true to its old-school, ruderalis-influenced roots. It is a straightforward, grounded taste that reflects the strain’s heritage and smooths out nicely with a careful cure.
It carries a modest terpene stack, and the ones that lead it shape the flavour clearly. Myrcene and humulene carry the earthy depth; caryophyllene adds a gentle peppery note; and pinene with linalool round it out with a fresh, softly herbal edge. A supporting hint of terpinolene and farnesene fills in the aromatic corners.
Effects and Best Use
With its near-balanced genetics and low THC, Lowryder Auto is reported as creative, euphoric and uplifted, a bright, clear-headed lift over a light, comfortable body feel. It makes a good daytime companion, giving a gentle, mood-boosting spark that keeps the mind engaged rather than foggy or heavy.
At just 12–14% THC it is one of the milder strains you can grow, which is exactly the appeal for anyone who wants an easygoing, functional effect. That gentleness, the tiny size, the fast finish and the historic pedigree are why Lowryder Auto remains a beloved classic.
Common Problems and Pro Tips
The first thing to set expectations on is size and yield: Lowryder is deliberately tiny, and its indoor numbers (around 50–120 g/m²) are modest by modern standards. That is not a fault, it is the strain’s character. The pro move is to grow several small plants close together in a sea-of-green, which turns that compact size into an efficient, space-saving harvest.
Because it is an autoflower with a short life, it does not bounce back well from setbacks, so the usual auto rules matter even more here. Start it in its final pot rather than transplanting, keep training gentle if you train at all, and avoid heavy feeding, since this small, low-THC plant does not need much and overfeeding can stall its quick cycle.
As a pro tip, treat Lowryder as the ideal learning strain it is: its speed, small size and forgiving nature make it perfect for dialling in an autoflower routine before moving on to bigger, higher-yielding modern autos like Sour Diesel Auto. Follow the trichomes rather than the calendar at the end, and give it a short plain-water flush so the clean, earthy flavour comes through at its best.
FAQ
Is Lowryder Auto the original autoflower?
Yes. Lowryder Auto is widely regarded as the first stable autoflowering strain ever released, developed in Amsterdam from Northern Lights #2, William’s Wonder and Mexican Ruderalis. It brought ruderalis genetics into modern breeding and became the foundation for countless autoflowers that followed, which is a big part of its appeal.
Is Lowryder Auto an autoflower?
Yes, it is the strain that defined the category. As an autoflower it flowers automatically with age rather than on a light change, so you can keep it under a long 18–20 hour schedule for its whole life, and it runs from seed to harvest in about 8–10 weeks with no light flip.
How strong is Lowryder Auto?
Lowryder Auto is a low-THC strain, testing around 12–14%, which makes it mild and clear-headed rather than overpowering. That gentleness is part of its charm: it gives a creative, euphoric, uplifted lift that stays functional, so it suits anyone who prefers an easygoing, manageable effect.
Is Lowryder Auto indica or sativa?
It is slightly indica-leaning, at roughly 60% indica and 40% sativa, with ruderalis in the mix from its Mexican Ruderalis parent. That near-even balance gives a creative, uplifted head lift over a light, comfortable body feel, making it a versatile, daytime-friendly strain rather than a heavy one.
How much does Lowryder Auto yield?
Lowryder Auto is a modest producer, reflecting its small, pioneering stature: indoors it gives around 50–120 g/m², with up to roughly 600 g from a larger outdoor plant. Yield was never its headline; growers choose it for speed, ease and history, and often run several small plants to boost the total.
What does Lowryder Auto taste like?
Expect a clean, earthy flavour, simple and classic rather than loud or fruity, true to its old-school ruderalis-influenced roots. Myrcene and humulene carry the earthy depth, caryophyllene adds a gentle peppery note, and pinene with linalool round it out with a fresh, softly herbal edge.
