Written by Ad OpsOverview
Auto Sour Diesel Haze is a fast, high-energy autoflower that fuses the electric uplift of classic Sour Diesel with the lofty, incense-laced character of Haze, then locks it into a dependable ruderalis-driven schedule. Bred by Seedsman, this hybrid carries a ruderalis, indica, and sativa heritage, yet it expresses a decidedly sativa-forward personality in the jar and in the garden. Growers choose it for rapid turnaround, zippy daytime effects, and a terpene profile that makes itself known from across the room.
Across modern catalogs, contemporary Sour Diesel autos are consistently listed at very high THC, and marketplace data commonly places this class at well over 20 percent THC with minimal CBD. Seed Supreme, for instance, lists Sour Diesel autoflower as a very high THC cultivar with low CBD, a pattern that aligns with the sensory punch this variety delivers. When you add Haze influence, expect a terpene set that skews lemony, piney, and peppery over a deep, gassy backbone.
From first spark, Auto Sour Diesel Haze tends to be fast-acting, cerebral, and energizing, echoing the well-known Sour Diesel effect profile described by Leafly as dreamy, cerebral, and energizing. The autoflower expression aims to preserve that signature pace while shortening the grow cycle to around 10 to 12 weeks from seed. For home growers seeking a no-fuss sativa-leaning auto with punchy aroma and memorable flavor, this cultivar hits the sweet spot between speed, potency, and personality.
History
To understand Auto Sour Diesel Haze, start with Sour Diesel, a 1990s East Coast legend known for its fuel-forward nose and soaring head high. Sour Diesel likely traces back to the Chemdawg and Super Skunk lines, with some accounts noting Northern Lights influence, explaining its vigor and dense bud formation. It rose to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s as a go-to wake-and-bake cultivar, prized for mood lift and productivity.
Haze, by contrast, began life in 1970s California, built from tropical sativa genetics that deliver long-lasting, cerebral effects. Haze progeny are renowned for lemon and incense tones, as well as elongated flowering times in photoperiod form. When combined with Diesel genetics, Haze often contributes added brightness, complexity, and a more ethereal, heady arc to the high.
Ruderalis enters the picture to bestow autoflowering capability, a trait stabilized from hardy Northern stock with the ability to flower by age rather than light cycle. The first mainstream use of ruderalis to create true autos reached growers in the early 2000s and has since been refined dramatically. Today’s autos routinely achieve 20 to 25 percent THC, as highlighted by Dutch Passion in their guides to top-tier autoflowers.
Seedsman brought these streams together to create Auto Sour Diesel Haze, aiming to preserve the signature speed, clarity, and diesel bite while compressing the timeline. The result is a hybrid that offers a modern answer to an age-old grower wish list: fast, potent, and flavorful. Where older Hazes could demand 14 or more weeks of flower, the auto format reliably finishes in less than 12 weeks from seed.
Public grow reports and retailer commentary consistently frame Sour Diesel autos as reliable outdoor performers, with Seed Supreme and related outdoor strain roundups praising their resilience and punch. Dutch Passion’s outdoor lists also showcase Diesel hybrids as capable of surviving variable weather when given adequate airflow and sun. Auto Sour Diesel Haze inherits these robust attributes, making it a strong candidate for short-season regions and staggered summer runs.
Genetic Lineage and Heritage
Auto Sour Diesel Haze carries a three-way heritage of ruderalis, indica, and sativa, with the experiential balance pulling toward sativa dominance. Sour Diesel contributes the fuel-forward aromatics, high-octane mental lift, and some structural density from its indica-flavored ancestry. Haze brings the lemon, pine, and incense notes alongside extended cerebral clarity and creative drive.
The autoflowering trait comes from stabilized ruderalis lines, which supply the age-dependent flowering response and a measure of environmental hardiness. Modern breeding has largely overcome early-generation auto compromises in yield and resin density, especially when crossing with high-output parent lines like Sour Diesel and Haze. The end product is a genotype that flowers fast without sacrificing the resin-coated calyxes and terpene punch for which these parents are famous.
Genetically, Sour Diesel’s roots are most commonly linked to Chemdawg 91 crossed with Super Skunk or a Skunk-heavy background, with some narratives including Northern Lights. This blend explains the mix of sativa-leaning effects with a backbone sturdy enough to deliver dense, sparkling buds. Haze, in contrast, is a thoroughbred sativa family, merging landrace genetics from Colombia, Mexico, and Thailand into the foundational California Haze line.
Expect genetic expressions that include tall internodes, vigorous lateral branching, and a cola structure that leans sativa but finishes faster due to the ruderalis infusion. Phenotypic spread can include citrus-forward or gas-forward examples, but most cuts balance diesel, lemon, and herbal spice. Seed stability in reputable modern autos tends to minimize extreme outliers, supporting consistent indoor scheduling.
Overall, the lineage yields a plant that embodies modern autoflower strengths: fast from seed, high in THC, and abundant in monoterpenes. The Haze layer adds a cerebral edge that many Sour Diesel fans enjoy, rounding out the experience beyond raw energy. It is a hybrid built for the contemporary grower who wants sativa clarity without the photoperiod wait.
Appearance and Morphology
Auto Sour Diesel Haze typically grows to a medium height for an auto, settling around 70 to 120 cm indoors depending on pot size, light intensity, and training. Internode spacing is moderate, giving buds space to swell without sacrificing canopy density. The plant tends to produce a strong central cola with several vigorous satellite tops when trained lightly.
Leaves skew toward the sativa side with slender blades, yet they are usually a shade darker than pure sativa leaves thanks to Diesel influence. In early flower, pistils are long and ivory, shifting to orange and rust as the plant matures. Calyxes stack into spears that can foxtail slightly near the tips under high light or heat, a normal expression in Haze-leaning phenos.
Trichome coverage is generous, with a frosty layer that can cloud over quickly during ripening, making harvest windows easier to judge by resin color. Under magnification, heads are plentiful and bulbous, indicative of high resin output consistent with THC-dominant autos. Sugar leaves often carry a heavy dusting, enhancing bag appeal and hash yield.
By late flower, the bouquet becomes unmistakable, and even small plants can perfume a room with diesel and citrus. Buds tend to dry to a lighter lime green with neon accents, contrasted by amber pistils. In jars, the structure remains springy rather than rock-hard, which helps preserve terpene richness during the cure.
Aroma and Flavor
The aroma opens with classic sour diesel fumes layered over bright citrus and pine, a union of the Sour Diesel and Haze lineages. On the grind, expect a burst of lemon zest and grapefruit rind, followed by peppery spice and an herbal, incense-like lift. Base notes carry earthy musk and a faint skunk sweetness that lingers in the background.
Inhalation is sharp and fuel-forward, with a lemon-lime flash that edges into pine and eucalyptus. As the hit settles, a pepper-caryophyllene tickle develops on the tongue, transitioning to a herbaceous finish. Exhale often leaves a tangy diesel echo paired with a dry citrus peel sensation that begs for another draw.
Flavor intensity is high, and the terpene set pushes through most consumption methods, whether vaporized or smoked. Low-temperature vaporization around 175 to 190 C preserves the limonene, pinene, and terpinolene notes that make the taste sparkle. Higher-temperature sessions will amplify fuel, clove, and earthy tones while softening the lemon brightness.
Fresh jars can smell nearly industrial, with that unmistakable petrol quality known to Sour Diesel fans. Once cured, the profile refines into a cleaner, denser citrus-diesel hybrid, where Haze adds airy top notes. The overall balance reads as zesty, gassy, and slightly peppered, with resin that clings to glass and grinders.
Cannabinoid Profile
Auto Sour Diesel Haze is typically THC-dominant, with modern marketplace listings for Sour Diesel autos regularly exceeding 20 percent THC. Seed Supreme specifically calls out Sour Diesel autoflower as very high THC with low CBD, a pattern growers should expect here as well. In practice, home test kits and third-party labs commonly report THC ranges from 18 to 25 percent in well-grown autos of this lineage.
CBD is usually minimal, often between 0 and 1 percent, which keeps the psychoactive effects vivid and unbuffered. Minor cannabinoids like CBG can present in the 0.2 to 1.0 percent range, adding subtle steadiness to the experience. CBC may appear around 0.1 to 0.3 percent, while trace THCV is plausible due to sativa ancestry, occasionally registering 0.1 to 0.4 percent.
The high THC and low CBD ratio explain the fast-acting, head-forward onset that users consistently report. It is a profile designed for alertness and drive, rather than heavy physical sedation. Those seeking to moderate intensity can blend with a CBD flower or consider a 1 to 2 mg CBD topper per session to slightly temper the peak.
Because cannabinoid outcomes depend on environment and harvest timing, growers can nudge the profile by choosing their trichome window. Pulling when most trichomes are cloudy with few ambers preserves a brighter, racier edge, while harvesting at 10 to 15 percent amber lightly deepens body effects. Proper drying and curing preserve acid cannabinoids and protect against terpene loss that can dull the perceived potency.
Terpene Profile
Expect a monoterpene-forward bouquet dominated by myrcene, limonene, and pinene, with notable contributions from beta-caryophyllene and terpinolene. In lab-tested Diesel and Haze families, total terpene content commonly lands in the 1 to 3 percent range by dry weight when grown and cured well. Dutch Passion notes pinene and myrcene dominance in several high-terpene autos with roughly 11 week cycles, a pattern that fits the bright diesel-haze signature here.
Myrcene typically ranges from 0.3 to 0.9 percent, lending the earthy-musk base and enhancing diffusion of other aromatic molecules. Limonene around 0.2 to 0.8 percent drives citrus zest and contributes to the strain’s perceived mood lift. Alpha- and beta-pinene in the 0.1 to 0.5 percent range add pine resin character and a crisp, alert feeling.
Beta-caryophyllene contributes a pepper-spice tickle and interacts with CB2 receptors, potentially shaping the body sensation without heavy sedation. Terpinolene may appear from 0.05 to 0.3 percent, bringing a lilting, herbal citrus top note often associated with Haze lineage. Minor players like ocimene, humulene, and linalool can modulate nuance, shifting jars toward floral, woody, or sweet undertones depending on phenotype.
Environmental control has a measurable impact on terpene retention and expression. Keeping late-flower canopy temperatures near 22 to 25 C, with night drops of 2 to 3 C, helps preserve monoterpenes that can volatilize above 26 to 27 C. Gentle drying at 18 to 20 C and 55 to 60 percent RH for 10 to 14 days can reduce terpene losses compared to fast, warm dries.
Experiential Effects
The onset is swift and cerebral, often noticeable within one to three minutes when inhaled, matching Leafly’s description of Sour Diesel as fast-acting and energizing. The first phase brings mental brightness, a sense of uplift, and a motivation bump that many users liken to a strong cup of coffee. Haze influence expands this into a more panoramic, slightly trippy headspace without tipping into fog.
Peak intensity generally arrives around 15 to 25 minutes after initial consumption, tapering slowly over two to three hours for most users. The experience tends to be linear rather than wavy, with a steady plateau of focus and euphoria. Beta-caryophyllene and pinene contributions may add a tactile, clear-edged feel that complements task-oriented use.
Commonly reported positive effects include enhanced mood, curiosity, talkativeness, and a propensity for brainstorming. It is a cultivar that pairs well with music production, writing sprints, and long walks where sensory detail feels heightened. Many users find it especially effective as a pre-errand or daytime social strain.
Potential side effects include dry mouth, red eyes, and in sensitive individuals, a transient spike in heart rate or anxiety at higher doses. New consumers may prefer microdosing between 1 and 2.5 mg THC per inhalation session and stepping up in 2.5 mg increments. For experienced users, 5 to 10 mg THC inhaled may deliver full-spectrum effects without overwhelming clarity.
Because this strain is light on CBD, the high can feel unbuffered at large doses, shifting from energizing to edgy. Keeping sessions moderate and well hydrated helps maintain the sweet spot of uplift and ease. When consumed late in the day, some people may experience delayed sleep onset due to lingering stimulation.
Potential Medical Uses
While individual responses vary, Auto Sour Diesel Haze often aligns with daytime symptom management where energy and mood are primary goals. Reports around Sour Diesel suggest benefits for stress relief and mood elevation, and Cannaconnection notes its use in holistic contexts for reducing stress and low mood. The Haze component may add focus, paralleling descriptions of haze autos like Haze Berry Auto providing a caffeine-like, controllable buzz.
Patients dealing with fatigue tied to depression or seasonal affective patterns might find the energizing arc helpful for daily activation. Anecdotal accounts also point to support for attention deficit scenarios where bright, stimulating strains aid in task initiation. Pinene and limonene, both abundant here, are frequently associated with alertness and an uplifted affect in user reports.
For pain, the profile leans toward neuropathic and tension-related discomforts rather than deep somatic sedation. The beta-caryophyllene content may support a sense of physical ease through CB2 interaction, which some consumers associate with reduced peripheral irritability. However, those seeking heavy analgesia or sleep support may prefer a cultivar with higher myrcene plus a stronger indica tilt.
Nausea relief is another potential application, as fast-acting sativa-leaning strains can quickly ease appetite aversion and queasiness for some users. Inhalation offers onset within minutes, which is advantageous in episodic nausea compared to edibles that require 30 to 90 minutes. If appetite stimulation is a goal, pairing this strain with a small meal can compound benefit without overshooting into couchlock.
As always, medical use should be approached thoughtfully, starting with low doses to map individual response. Those with anxiety sensitivity may find that smaller, spaced doses preserve the mood lift while avoiding jitter. Consider discussing cannabinoid use with a healthcare professional, especially if taking medications metabolized by CYP450 enzymes.
Comprehensive Cultivation Guide
Seed to harvest timeline and scheduling: Auto Sour Diesel Haze generally completes in 10 to 12 weeks from emergence under an 18 hours on, 6 hours off light schedule. Many growers see visible preflowers by day 21 to 28, with bulk weight accumulating from weeks 5 to 10. For flavor-focused outcomes, plan for 70 to 85 days in most rooms, with phenotypic variance on either side.
Environment: Aim for 24 to 28 C in early vegetative growth, stepping down to 22 to 26 C during flowering to preserve monoterpenes. Relative humidity should start around 65 to 70 percent in week 1, drop to 55 to 60 percent in mid-veg, and finish at 40 to 45 percent in late flower. Maintain good airflow with 0.5 to 1.0 m per second across the canopy and fresh air exchange every one to three minutes.
Lighting: Autos thrive under consistent light, with 18 hours on as the gold standard for growth without excessive energy use. Target a PPFD of 400 to 600 µmol m−2 s−1 in early veg and 650 to 850 µmol m−2 s−1 in peak flower, equating to a daily light integral around 35 to 45 mol m−2 day−1. Keep LED fixtures 30 to 45 cm above the canopy once plants acclimate, adjusting to maintain leaf surface temperatures near 25 C.
Medium and pH: A light, airy substrate is critical for autos that dislike overwatering and compaction. In soil, use a high-quality light mix with 20 to 30 percent perlite; pH the irrigation to 6.2 to 6.8. In coco coir blends, maintain pH 5.8 to 6.2 and irrigate to 10 to 20 percent runoff to avoid salt buildup.
Containers and transplanting: Autos prefer minimal transplant shock, so start in final containers when possible. A 3 to 5 gallon, or 11 to 19 liter, fabric pot balances fast root oxygenation with adequate volume for strong yield. If you must transplant, move once at day 10 to 14 from a small starter to a final pot using a gentle, intact root plug.
Nutrients and EC: Feed lightly at first, as autos are sensitive to overfeeding. Seedlings do well at EC 0.4 to 0.6, rising to 0.8 to 1.2 in veg and 1.4 to 1.8 during peak flower, depending on medium and cultivar hunger. Many growers find success using 10 to 20 percent less nutrient strength than they would with photoperiods of similar size.
Irrigation: Water to full saturation with moderate runoff and then allow the upper 2 to 3 cm of medium to dry before next irrigation. In coco, frequent smaller feedings keep cation exchange balanced, while in soil, deeper but less frequent watering preserves oxygen. Always adjust for plant size and transpiration rate, which increases as biomass and light intensity climb.
Training: High-stress techniques like topping can succeed if done early, but low-stress training is generally safer for autos. Start LST by day 14 to 20, gently bending the main stem to create an even canopy and multiple tops. Light defoliation can improve airflow, but avoid heavy leaf stripping that could slow an auto during its fixed lifecycle.
CO2 and advanced controls: Supplemental CO2 up to 900 to 1000 ppm during lights-on can support higher PPFD and faster growth if environmental controls are tight. Pair this with precise VPD management around 1.1 to 1.3 kPa in mid-flower for optimal gas exchange. Keep night CO2 at ambient and avoid sealing the room unless you have active dehumidification to prevent mildew.
Pest and disease management: The dense, terpene-rich flowers can attract spider mites and challenge airflow if canopies get too thick. Use an integrated pest management plan including sticky cards, routine leaf inspections, and beneficials like Phytoseiulus persimilis for mites and Encarsia formosa for whiteflies. Prevent powdery mildew with good airflow, spacing, and a late-veg sulfur burn if your facility allows, but never use sulfur in flower.
Outdoors and greenhouse: Autos excel outdoors, and sources such as Seed Supreme’s outdoor guides highlight Sour Diesel autoflower as exceptional in that setting. Time plantings so flowering falls during the sunniest, driest weeks, often by sowing in late spring for a mid-summer harvest. In favorable conditions, individual autos can produce 80 to 200 grams per plant outdoors, with indoor scrogs achieving 350 to 500 grams per square meter.
Nutrient strategy by phase: In early growth, favor a mild nitrogen-forward feed with ample calcium and magnesium to support rapid cell expansion. From week 4 onward, gradually shift the ratio toward phosphorus and potassium to fuel floral development while trimming nitrogen to prevent leafiness. Supplemental sulfur at 40 to 60 ppm during mid-flower can enhance terpene synthesis when balanced with magnesium to avoid antagonism.
Week-by-week outline from seed: Week 1, gentle light at 300 to 400 PPFD, RH 70 percent, and just enough moisture to keep the cotyledons happy. Weeks 2 to 3, increase PPFD to 450 to 600, begin LST, and feed at EC 0.8 to 1.0 with a 2 to 1 to 2 NPK ratio. Weeks 4 to 6, preflower and early bloom, ramp PPFD to 650 to 750, EC 1.2 to 1.4, and maintain RH around 50 to 55 percent.
Weeks 7 to 9, peak bloom, PPFD 750 to 850, EC 1.4 to 1.8, RH 45 to 50 percent, and tighten airflow. Watch for potassium demand and keep calcium steady to prevent tip burn and brittle stems. Week 10 onward, begin your ripening strategy, with a light reduction in EC and RH 40 to 45 percent to protect against botrytis.
Harvest timing: For a zippy, sativa-leaning effect, harvest when trichomes are mostly cloudy with up to 5 percent amber. For a touch more body, wait until 10 to 15 percent of heads turn amber while avoiding widespread degradation. Pistil color alone is unreliable; use a jeweler’s loupe or microscope at 60x for accurate assessment.
Flush and finish: In coco and hydro, a 5 to 10 day low-EC finish can improve burn quality without starving the plant too early. In soil, a steady taper rather than an abrupt flush maintains microbial balance and helps avoid yellow, terpene-depleting stress. Keep day temperatures modest in the final week to avoid volatilizing limonene and pinene.
Drying and curing: Hang whole plants or large branches at 18 to 20 C and 55 to 60 percent RH with gentle airflow not directly on buds. Expect 10 to 14 days until stems snap rather than bend, then jar with 62 percent humidity packs if needed. Burp jars daily for the first 10 days and then weekly for four to eight weeks; many growers see flavor peak around weeks 4 to 6.
Post-harvest yield and potency: Properly grown autos of this lineage commonly return 0.8 to 1.6 grams per watt under efficient LEDs and optimized conditions. Total terpene content of 1 to 3 percent is achievable with cool late-flower temperatures and careful cure. Over-drying is the chief enemy of this profile; prioritize slow, cool cures to preserve the lemon-diesel sparkle.
Troubleshooting: If vertical stretch exceeds expectations, reduce DLI slightly and increase blue spectrum to 20 to 30 percent if your fixture allows. For pale new growth, check iron availability and root-zone pH, particularly in coco where pH drift can quickly lock out micronutrients. In the event of terpene loss or bland aroma, revisit late-flower temperature and dry-room RH, which are often the culprits.
Phenotype notes: Citrus-leaning phenos may show a sharper limonene-pinene nose and slightly lighter bud color, while gas-forward phenos carry more myrcene and caryophyllene depth. Both express the quick, cerebral arc, but citrus jars can feel a notch brighter and more sparkling on the palate. Regardless of pheno, the ruderalis backbone keeps the calendar tight and dependable.
