Month: April 2023

The cannabis seeds industry is thriving due to the growing popularity of legal weed and the expansion of retail stores. However, the growth of this market has faced some setbacks recently.

There are several types of cannabis seed – regular, feminized, autoflowering and CBD. Understanding the differences between these seed types will help you choose the best seeds for your grow.

Germination

Cannabis seeds need to germinate in order for them to grow into a full-grown plant. This is the first step in their lifecycle and requires a lot of attention and precision.

A seed will need water, warmth, and air to sprout a small taproot and then begin growing leaves. In the right conditions, this process should be triggered within 12-36 hours of moisture being introduced.

Germination of cannabis seeds is relatively easy and can be done in several ways. However, it is best to stick with a method that has proven successful time and time again.

Soil

A cannabis seed is a delicate organism and needs to be protected from any interference. The most natural way to do this is by germinating your seeds in soil.

Soil contains minerals and microbes that help your plants develop. It also has the perfect temperature for germination.

Potting soil is the best for germinating cannabis seed because it has the right acidity and a good balance of nutrients. The pH level of potting soil should be between 6.0 and 7.0.

Light

Cannabis seeds contain all the genetic information needed to germinate and grow into a plant. To sprout, a seed must receive light (in the right spectrum), moisture, and temperature.

The first signs that a seed has sprouted are the emergence of the first white tap root, or radicle. It will push its way deeper underground in search of more water, and send up a shoot that will eventually become the first leaves of the plant.

This stage of growth lasts for about 2-3 weeks indoors and up to 6 weeks outdoors, depending on the strain. After the seedling grows a strong root system, it will transition to the vegetative stage, where it produces leaves for photosynthesis. The vegetative stage will last from 3 to 16 weeks.

Temperature

Temperature is one of the most important factors to consider when germinating cannabis seed. Overall, seeds need temperatures between 70degF-90degF (21degC-32degC) to germinate properly.

Seed germination can be compromised by low or high temperature, too much moisture and lack of air. In fact, many growers will germinate their seeds indoors before they go outside to maximise their germination rates.

Some growers find that jiffy pods, coffee filters and rock wool cubes work well for cannabis seeds. However, the Dutch Passion team have seen cases of seed germination issues when growers use these methods incorrectly.

Water

Cannabis seed requires a certain amount of water to germinate and grow healthy. Experienced cannabis growers know that overwatering seeds can stunt growth and even kill them, while overwatering plants can cause rot in their roots.

To avoid this, it’s important to water only the amount of soil your plant needs, not more than 25% of its pot volume. This way, the water will drain away without soaking the soil to excess.

It’s also important to use the right type of water when you’re growing your cannabis plants, as tap water and river water differ a lot. Moreover, it’s important to check the pH and EC levels of your water so that your plants can absorb all the nutrients they need.

Despite the increasing popularity of feminized seeds, regular seed remains an important part of the cannabis scene. It’s a great choice for new growers, and is less expensive than feminized seeds.

Regular seeds produce about 50% male and 50% female plants, and will rarely go hermaphrodite (develop both male and female flowers). They’re also more resistant to stress, making them a great option for beginners.

It’s cheaper

Many people don’t realize that regular seed is actually cheaper than other types of seed. This is because regular seed typically has a higher percentage of seeds per ounce than other kinds of seed.

For example, a Golden Alexander seed has 10,750 seeds per ounce (like powder!), while a Cardinal Flower has 705,797 seeds per ounce. This means that a single ounce of Golden Alexander can grow as many as 1 plant on every square foot of a 1-acre planting, while a single ounce of Cardinal Flower can only produce one plant per square foot.

This can make regular seed a great choice for new gardeners and homeowners who want to get started with a small budget. It’s also an excellent option for professional gardeners who need to stock up on seed for multiple plantings. It can also be a good choice for those who want to save money on seeds by taking advantage of seed sales and promos.

It’s more stable

Regular seed is more stable than clones and cuttings because it’s taken from a plant that is already in the vegetative phase. As a result, the growth is less uneven and the plants are better able to ward off pests and diseases.

Choosing the right seed is a crucial step in the cannabis growing process, as is choosing the appropriate strain for your needs and goals. The best way to do this is to choose a variety that is genetically stable and is suited for the climate in which you live. The best strains will be resistant to the elements while also providing you with an ample harvest. This should be your primary consideration, along with the location and growing conditions you’re planning on cultivating in. There are a number of top-grade varieties available, including autoflowering and traditional flowering varieties. To make sure you’re not missing out on the good stuff, we recommend checking out our seed guides and selecting your favorite by comparing their features.

It’s easier to breed

Regular seed is the cheapest type of cannabis seeds, and they’re easier to breed than feminized seeds. These seeds don’t require a special growing medium and can be cultivated in any environment. They also have a lower chance of turning into hermaphrodites.

They’re also easy to clone, and they produce vigorous plants that can be grown in any climate. In addition, they’re more resistant to stress than feminized seeds.

Breeding marijuana plants is a fun and rewarding way to create new strains with unique characteristics. The process is called cross-breeding, and it involves crossing a male and female plant to create a progeny with a 50/50 mix of male and female genetics.

It’s more versatile

Regular seed is a versatile type of cannabis seed that has several advantages over feminized seeds. It is easier to grow, requires less maintenance, and can produce higher yields.

Regular seeds are also more resistant to stress and have a lower probability of turning into hermaphrodites (flowering both male and female flowers). They are suitable for breeding, and they allow growers to create unique crossbreeds that will give them the perfect strain for their growing space.

Breeding is essential for cultivators who want to make their dream strain a reality. You must select your favourite male and female species, and mix them to create offspring that reflect the best traits of each.

Regular seed is one of the oldest and most popular types of cannabis seeds available. They are a good choice for growers who want to breed their own strains.

Regular seeds contain both male and female chromosomes in an ideal ratio of 50/50. As a result, they are easy to breed with the plants that make seeds from them.

Stable Genetics

Stable genetics are an art form and are a true labour of love for breeders. This is because they require many generations to achieve a desired outcome, and it can take some time for desirable traits to become dominant.

To stabilise a strain, breeders use a variety of techniques, including selective homozygous breeding and back-crossing. Selective homozygous breeding reduces variations and eliminates undesirable traits, while back-crossing reinforces preferred dominant characteristics.

In a stable strain, Mendelian inheritance dictates that 25% of offspring resemble both parents equally, while 25% will express traits closer to the mother and 50% will be hybrids with combined features (e.g., a flowering plant that produces lots of buds).

Variability and predictability are the two key terms to watch for when selecting and crossbreeding seed. Generally, a higher ratio of predictability is the best indicator that the strain you are cultivating is likely to produce predictable results.

More Vigorous Plants

Regular seed is a more traditional method of growing cannabis that’s a bit less popular than feminized seeds. However, it’s a good way to experiment and learn about how marijuana plants work and breeding.

In contrast, feminized seeds are specially bred to produce only female plants. This means you can count on getting a bud-producing plant almost every time you buy a pack of feminized seeds.

Feminized cannabis plants are also more resistant to pests and have a longer flowering cycle, which can save you a lot of time and money in the end. They’re also a great choice for growers who want to experiment with new strains without sacrificing their yield or terpene profile.

Some growers also choose to keep their mother plants, grown from regular seeds, for decades or even generations. These plants can then be crossed with new feminized seedlings to create even more vigorous strains. It’s also possible to root cuttings from them for extra genetic diversity.

Better for Breeding

Regular seed is the best choice for those who want to breed their own marijuana strains. It allows the full lineage of plants to be passed on and gives the grower more control over which phenotypes they choose to keep in their garden.

Unlike feminized seeds, regular seed will produce a variety of different phenotypes. This can be a fantastic way to explore new genetics and find unique phenotypes that might not be available in feminized seeds.

This also means that regular seeds are more stable, as they haven’t been subjected to any modifications that could make future generations less stable. It is therefore important for commercial breeders to provide regular seeds so that the genetic heritage of cannabis can be conserved and kept alive for generations to come.

Cheaper

Regular seeds are much cheaper than feminized or autoflowering seed. Feminized seeds require a lot of effort and resources to breed correctly, as they only have a 50% chance of producing female plants.

Despite this, growers often choose to buy regular seed instead of feminized or autoflowering seed for a few reasons. First, they have a better chance of finding new phenotypes that are not already available in the market.

Second, they are more resistant to pests and diseases than feminized seeds. Third, they tend to be more vigorous and can handle stress better.

Another reason why growers choose to use regular seed is because they can keep mother plants for breeding purposes. This can be a very exciting experience. In addition, the phenotypes from these seeds can be more genetically stable, which makes it easier to retain the characteristics of the strain in clones or cuttings.