BF Auto Critical: The Production Engine
Note: Just like Super Magnum Auto, BF Auto Critical is primarily a breeding tool. It is the proprietary genetic stock Barney’s Farm uses to inject "Critical" mass (yield and structure) into their other autoflowers. If you are growing Purple Punch Auto, Dos Si Dos Auto, or Gorilla Glue Auto, you are seeing the influence of this plant. It is the reason those "Exotic" strains can now produce commercial-level yields in an autoflowering format.
BF Auto Critical: The Production Engine
Strain Overview
Type: Indica-Dominant Autoflower (Breeding Stock)
Breeder: Barney’s Farm (Proprietary Selection)
Lineage: Critical Mass (Mr. Nice Seeds heritage) x BF Super Auto #1
Market Status: The "Yield Booster"; BF Auto Critical is the genetic anchor responsible for the size and weight of Barney’s Farm's modern autoflower catalog. The original Critical Mass (a reworked Big Bud) became a legend in Spain for one reason: it produced heavier flowers than anything else on Earth. Barney’s Farm stabilized an autoflowering version of this giant to act as a father plant. Its job is simple: ensure that delicate, flavorful mothers (like Purple Punch) produce fat, heavy colas that don't rot.
THC Content: 15% – 20% (Dependable Potency)
Dominant Terpenes: Myrcene, Pinene, Caryophyllene, Humulene
Key Effects: Physical Relaxation, Mental Calm, "Stoney" Comfort, Sleep Aid
If you wonder how Barney’s Farm manages to get 500g/m² out of a small autoflower, the answer is usually BF Auto Critical.
This strain is the "Structural Engineer" of the breeding room. While other strains provide the fancy flavors (blueberry, cookie dough, papaya), BF Auto Critical provides the frame to hold it all up. It passes on the "Critical" gene—an aggressive flowering trait that forces the plant to pump energy into flower mass rather than stems or leaves.
History and Lineage: The Bilbao Giant
To understand the importance of this breeding tool, you have to look at its legendary ancestor.
The Origin (Critical Mass): In the 1990s, Shanti Baba (Mr. Nice Seeds) reworked the classic Big Bud and Skunk #1 to create Critical Mass. It became the #1 commercial strain in Europe (especially Spain) because it grew fast, resisted mold, and yielded massive amounts of weight.
The Adaptation: Barney’s Farm needed those traits in their autos. They crossed elite Critical Mass clones with their BF Super Auto #1 to create a father plant that was autoflowering but retained the "Big Bud" structure.
The Role: When crossed with a low-yielder (like Purple Punch), BF Auto Critical fixes the yield issue, creating a hybrid that tastes like the mother but yields like the father.
Terpene Profile: The Old School Skunk
As a breeding tool, its flavor is robust and traditional—a classic "Weed" smell that provides a solid base for other terpenes.
Dominant Terpenes
Myrcene (The Musk): The dominant terpene. It provides a heavy, damp earth aroma that is classic to the Skunk family.
Pinene (The Forest): Adds a sharp pine and herbal note. This terpene is often associated with the structural vigor of the plant.
Humulene (The Wood): A woody, hoppy undertone that grounds the scent.
Flavor Notes:
The Aroma: It is pungent and reliable. It smells of wet pine forest, lemon skunk, and spice.
The Smoke: Thick and earthy. It tastes of herbal tea, wood, and mild citrus. It is a nostalgic flavor for those who smoked in the 90s.
Strain Effects: The Heavy Anchor
The genetics of Critical Mass are heavily Indica-leaning, and BF Auto Critical passes this "stone" onto its offspring.
The Experience
The Drop: The high is physical. It bypasses the head and settles in the shoulders and legs.
The Comfort: It induces a state of relaxed apathy. You feel comfortable doing absolutely nothing.
The Sedation: It is not a racy high. It is a slow-down strain, excellent for ending the day.
The Stability: It provides a very stable, predictable high without paranoia or anxiety, which helps balance out racy Sativa mothers in breeding crosses.
Best For: Breeding stable hybrids, commercial production, and evening relaxation.
Growing BF Auto Critical: The Branch Breaker
This is the trait that makes this strain invaluable. It grows to produce weight.
Growth Structure
The Architecture: It grows with an Open Structure. Unlike leafy Kush strains, BF Auto Critical has wide internodal spacing. This allows light to penetrate deep into the plant and airflow to move through it.
The Resistance: This open structure makes it highly resistant to Bud Rot and Mold, even though the buds are huge.
The Yield: Extreme. It passes on the potential for massive harvests. The branches often need support (bamboo stakes) because the buds get too heavy for the stems.
The Speed: It is fast, usually finishing in 70 to 75 days.
The Vigor: It is a vigorous vegetative grower, establishing a large root ball quickly.
Grower’s Tip: If you are growing a strain with "Critical" in the lineage (like Purple Punch Auto or Critical Kush Auto), be prepared to support the branches. By week 6 of flower, the weight of the buds can snap the stems if you haven't used a trellis net or yo-yos. This is the "Critical" trade-off: huge buds require structural support.
Final Verdict: The Yield Machine
BF Auto Critical is the reason the modern autoflower market exists as it does today. It proved that you could shrink a commercial monster like Critical Mass into an autoflowering format without losing the yield. It is the silent partner in your garden, ensuring that your Purple Punch Auto doesn't just smell good, but actually fills your jars with heavy, dense, mold-free nuggets.
You should choose strains with BF Auto Critical lineage if:
You want Maximum Yields.
You live in Humid Climates (Mold resistance).
You want Dense Buds.
You are a Commercial Grower.
Score: 9.1/10 (The Production Engine)