There are many different varieties of cannabis, but the most potent is regular seed. Regular seeds used to be harvested daily from the tops of flowering plants in the garden. Harvesting the plants was done by “breaking open the flower heads” – removing the flowering top. The seeds would then be placed in small mesh baskets and allowed to fall into a small hole in the ground below.
Due to the heavy buds found on indica and sativa plants, it is necessary to hand pick the seeds before harvesting them. Heavy buds typically have a shorter shelf life. It is possible to harvest many small, even delicate, seeds at a time. Harvesting the seeds at different times of the year will ensure consistent high-quality harvests each time the plants are picked. When picking the seeds from the heights of plants, they should always be done after the plant has flowered or turned brown.
It is possible to grow cannabis with one regular seed and several hybrid seeds. Most often, however, indica and sativa breeders keep only one hybrid and produce smaller amounts of the cannabis plant each year. Hybrid seeds can help ensure that high-quality harvests are produced each growing season. They can also increase the chances of developing a stable genetic structure for future crops by providing alternate lines of ancestry if one particular variety is subject to genetic deterioration.
For indoor gardens, feminized seeds are an ideal choice to provide consistent high-quality harvests. Indoor cannabis seed can be used for starting new seedlings in hydroponic applications, germination of young seedlings in flowerless forms, and for propagating existing plants. Feminized cannabis seeds are a less expensive option than germination kits for starter plants. Kits contain everything needed to grow a plant, including seeds, fertilizer, hoses, drip system, bulbs, pots, air stones, hanger, and trays. A starter kit is a good way to get started with indoor gardening, but it will not provide a steady supply of marijuana. When a plant starts to grow well, it may be necessary to purchase more starter plants or buy feminized cannabis seed for the next growing season.
Autoflowering cannabis seeds are ideal for those who are new to cultivating marijuana. Autoflowering seeds are similar to regular cannabis seeds, except they have two chromosomes, allowing them to grow towards the top of the garden rather than stay where they begin. Autoflowering seeds can be stored for up to three years without thawing. This allows the gardener to easily control the height of the plants’ canopy. When autoflowering cannabis seeds are stored, they usually are not fertilized, but instead just allowed to become acclimated to their new environment. After about one year, they can be started with fertilizers and begin producing their first leaves.
Many companies offer feminized seeds. These plants don’t have one chromosome from a male plant. They are called female by most companies because they look and grow like a male plant. It is important to make sure that the seed company uses bees, not male bees, in their growing process because the bees will eat the male pollen, which is very harmful to the plants.
When buying feminized autoflowering seeds, it is best to buy them in bulk because each plant has to be established and then nurtured on its own. If the company does not guarantee that the plants will continue to flower and grow, then it is not worth the money. Some companies that offer this service can have plants bloom and then be stored at their warehouse for about ten weeks. This allows the buyer to have a plant on hand that they can have flowering quickly.
All indica plants grow well on their own. When a grower begins to cultivate them, it is important to remember that they will produce more buds if they receive an adequate amount of light and heat. The majority of strainers come with an adjustable system that allows the grower to vary the amount of light and heat they provide to the plants. This way they can control the plants’ environment and cultivate them into blooming and flourishing plants. Different strains will flower differently and some may bloom twice as fast as others. The slower-flowering strains are the ones most often used for indoor gardening.