Skunk #1’s Story and Skunk #1 Automatic Grow Report

Skunk #1 cannabis strain against the black background

When a legend such as Skunk #1 is launched in a feminized, autoflowering version, the bar is set very high. So Ellis D. couldn’t wait to conduct an indoor grow test with Skunk #1 Automatic to check how close it would come to the original Skunk #1’s quality. Learn about all the relevant strain facts and the grow test’s outcome!

“Skunk” is frequently used as a nickname for extremely strong cannabis. It’s a testament to the strength and quality of Skunk #1®. 

This legendary strain, bred during the late 1960s and early 1970s in California, was the force behind the birth of modern cannabis cultivation under artificial light and in greenhouses, fuelling the Dutch coffeeshop and grow business that started to boom in the mid-1980s.

One of the early Dutch skunk pioneers was Sensi Seeds founder, Ben Dronkers. His Sensi Seed Club (also known as the Sensi Connoisseurs Club), which became the Sensi Seed Bank and is now simply Sensi Seeds, made a major contribution to spreading skunk genetics all over the country.

Skunk #1, bred from 25% Afghani, 25% Mexican Acapulco Gold and 50% Colombian Gold, was one of the first true-breeding varieties. As such, it evolved into the plant most frequently used for creating new cannabis varieties worldwide.

Skunk #1®’s release revolutionised the world of cannabis. Four decades later, its extreme potency and incredible genotype are still at the top, and have inspired numerous hybrids.

Cultivating Sensi Seeds’ Skunk #1®

Skunk #1® is a predominantly indica queen that not only produces abundant harvests quickly, but also does it in style. Thanks to the strain’s incredible stability, you will obtain amazingly resilient plants with bold, robust indica traits from your Skunk #1® seeds – with a height boost that will delight you!

Skunk #1 cannabis seeds in a package

Skunk #1®’s stability is the one element that is on every grower’s lips. A by-product of this would be its impressive ability to fend off any obstacle that could arise. A good bet for gardeners who do not have the benefit of extensive experience in growing cannabis.

Tasting Sensi Seeds’ Skunk #1

Skunk #1® tastes like skunk. Surprise, surprise! But even more than that, Skunk #1® tastes like the ultimate old-school skunk. The potent smell is instantly reminiscent of the characteristic skunk taste, so much so that the buds give away their potency before they have even been tasted.

Skunk is not the only taste you can get out of our Skunk #1. While the skunk aspect is deliciously complemented by earthy undertones, it’s the hints of sweetness that perfectly complete the taste.

And of course, do not underestimate Skunk #1’s high. While it can relax you, it’s also notorious for causing the giggles! It definitely won’t leave you unaffected, that’s for sure.

A 40 year old evergreen gets remodelled into a fast, autoflowering version

When a strain legend such as Skunk #1 is launched as an autoflowering, feminized seed version, the new expression has a lot to live up to. The Sensi Seeds breeders spared no effort in creating an automatic version worthy of the same legendary status as its award-winning mother.

One of the hallmarks of Skunk #1 is the fact that it’s easy to grow, and with the creation of Skunk #1 Automatic, Sensi Seeds has further simplified the cultivation of this famous classic. Autoflowering varieties don’t require growers to pay attention to photoperiod or sex. It’s as simple as putting the seed in the ground and letting it work, from start to finish.

About three weeks after germination, Skunk #1 Automatic automatically starts to bloom. Within 45 -50 days, it begins to produce big, resinous buds reminiscent of its famous skunk mother. The automatic version retains the typical sweet skunky fragrance.

Just like the Skunk #1 original, the automatic version delivers the same mix of physical relaxation and cerebral enhancement. Skunk #1 Automatic is an excellent choice for an indoor grow room, but will also perform well outdoors. Thanks to its fast life cycle and the onset of flowering being independent of day length, it’s possible to have multiple harvests during one outdoor season.

Ellis D. puts Skunk #1 Automatic to the test

German master grower, Ellis D,  conducted an indoor test grow with Skunk #1 Automatic, striving to find out how close it would come to the original Skunk #1 in terms of quality. He germinated two seeds for that purpose, and they shot out of the ground like rockets after about two and a half days.

Cultivation data:

Strain Skunk #1 Automatic
Genetics indica-dominant
Life cycle 65 and 68 days
Medium Compo potting soil, 11 litre pots
pH 6.4-6.7
EC max. 1.6 mS
Light vegetative: 1x SANlight S4W = 140 Watt flowering stage: 2x SANlight S4W = 280 Watt
Temperature day: 23-28°C, night: 18-20°C
Air humidity 60% (vegetative), 40% (flowering)
Watering by hand
Fertilisation Organic Bloom Liquid from Green Buzz Liquids
Additives/stimulants More Roots, Humin Säure Plus, Big Fruits and Clean Fruits from Green Buzz Liquids
Height 61 and 68 cm
Yield 59 and 72 g

Enjoying a daily light period of 20 hours (throughout the whole cultivation cycle), the two plants soon exhibited bushy growth with lots of strong side branches and fairly thin, dark green shade leaves. Approximately at the time stated by Sensi Seeds – after three weeks – they automatically started to flower. One of them even a few days earlier, presenting its first female preflowers after two weeks and four days. Growth was pretty homogeneous, with the plants measuring 34 cm and 38 cm in height on the onset of flowering.

Full steam ahead into flowering

One week later, they put the pedal to the metal, shifting their flower production into high gear. Whilst producing astoundingly vast amounts of flower clusters, the plants kept on stretching significantly. When stem elongation had come to an end after about three weeks into flowering, one of the plants had revealed a more open and expansive branching pattern than the other.

Skunk #1 cannabis strain in a pot

But Ellis D. still considered it to be nicely compact and easily manageable. He was deeply impressed by the ‘high-octane’ flower development of Skunk #1 Automatic:

“This strain packs tremendous blooming power! Within six to seven weeks of flowering, lots of big fat buds have appeared on those numerous branches that are on a par with the original Skunk #1. It’s particularly impressive that these buds are blessed with an incredibly high calyx-to-leaf ratio – I’ve rarely experienced auto buds with such a low leaf count. An absolutely ‘hairy’ affair!

Also, their hardness and tightness is formidable. These buds don’t give a single millimetre when being gently pinched. While they have a beautifully dense resin coat, it’s striking that Skunk #1 Automatic produces very short-stalked trichomes. This does not affect potency as THC accumulates in the heads of the trichomes, not in the stalks. As for the aroma – with its very sweet and savoury, slightly penetrating smell – this auto version again is reminiscent of Skunk #1.”

An ideal indoor grow room companion with plentiful yields

The plant that started to flower a bit earlier also finished sooner. After 65 days, Ellis D. could pull out the scissors for harvesting. Having grown to a total height of 68 cm, it produced a massive central cola and lots of lovely side tops. The side tops of the bushier plant were as big, bushy, and fat as the central cola they were surrounding – a spectacular view. This plant arrived at a height of 61 cm and was fully ripe after 69 days.

Skunk #1 automatic cannabis buds against the black background

So both Skunk #1 Automatic plants hit the home stretch on time and with their short and compact growth pattern had proven to be ideal indoor grow room companions. The dried buds, full of densely set orange-brown hairs, reminded Ellis D. of a fox fur.

The buds weighed in at 59 and 72 grams which Ellis D. regarded as a magnificent result:

“For auto plants, this is truly remarkable and copious. Undoubtedly, the skunk genes have done a good job here!” Still smelling sweet and spicy, the fragrance of the dry buds revealed a more complex aroma profile, including a touch of frankincense and something woody that Ellis D. identified as juniper.

Relaxing body and mind like a long sauna session

Sitting in his wing chair after taking the first huge hit off a Skunk #1 Automatic joint, Ellis D. tilted back his head and quickly felt that familiar cannabis euphoria take over his mind. It didn’t take long for the THC effect to settle into an energetic, cerebral buzz. After half an hour, the high gave way to a full mind and body stone that felt as soft as wax. The munchies were also strongly pronounced, and as Ellis D. described, he felt “ravenously hungry”.

Skunk #1 dried buds in a blue container with the label

Within an hour and a half, the effects began to fade away, leaving only a very gentle sense of relaxation, as though he had been in a long sauna session. Ellis D. shares his experience:

“This is some seriously potent stuff, with the powerful heritage of Skunk #1 being most obvious. This automatic version produces a smooth, well-rounded, sweet smoke with a bit of toothsome spiciness that lingers on the palate. Thumbs up for this strain that fully lives up to its famous mother, Skunk #1. Without a doubt, the Sensi breeders have successfully transferred it into an autoflowering version. Equipped with a new automatic flowering gearbox and herbal HP in abundance, Skunk #1 Automatic has dashed out of the breeding garage of Sensi Seeds and instantly moved into the fast lane!”

Green Born Identity – G.B.I.

  • Disclaimer:
    Laws and regulations regarding cannabis cultivation differ from country to country. Sensi Seeds therefore strongly advises you to check your local laws and regulations. Do not act in conflict with the law.

Comments

4 thoughts on “Skunk #1’s Story and Skunk #1 Automatic Grow Report”

  1. Somerandmguy

    Skunk#1 is without doubt the nicest all-round high possible from the early strains. its a classic i have grown over 1000. Seriously hard growing and resistant to most things except full on extremes. The Auto is incredibly similar to the photo. Anyone past the age of 40 will consider this a classic strain. Get it.

    1. Scarlet Palmer - Sensi Seeds

      Hi Marco,

      You can find more information about Skunk #1 Automatic here. One of the advantages of automatic strains is that they can, in theory, be sown at any time of year, but they do need to be warm enough to survive and receiving enough light to produce buds that are worth having. You can also check out the Sensi Seeds Forum, where you can ask (and answer) questions, and see if anyone has already done what you are curious about.

      With best wishes,

      Scarlet

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    The Sensi Seeds Editorial team has been built throughout our more than 30 years of existence. Our writers and editors include botanists, medical and legal experts as well as renown activists the world over including Lester Grinspoon, Micha Knodt, Robert Connell Clarke, Maurice Veldman, Sebastian Maríncolo, James Burton and Seshata.
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