Month: May 2023

For growers that are interested in creating their own cultivars regular seed is essential. Regular seeds produce both male and female plants, which allows breeders to eliminate or cross plants until they have a desired proportion of sex.

The process of germinating regular cannabis seeds is the same as any other type of seed. Germination can be improved through scarification, which is the process of breaking down a hard seed coat by physical or chemical means.

Breeding

While some growers may prefer the consistent yield of feminized seeds, there are still plenty of reasons to choose regular seed. For one, if you plan to start breeding, male plants are essential to the process as they produce pollen and help your female plants produce smokable buds.

Unlike feminized seeds which produce only female plants, regular cannabis seeds have a 50% chance of sprouting into either a male or female plant. This makes them perfect for breeders who want to create their own strains and cultivars.

Many of the classic cannabis strains that never made the cut to become feminized in the weed rush of the 1990s are available as regular seed, and they offer an incredible opportunity for growers who want to experiment with their genetics and create their own unique strains. Getting started with regular weed seeds can be an exciting journey, and the reward of creating your own special cultivar is unbeatable.

Cloning

Cloning is a more complex process than germinating seeds and can require a steep learning curve. It’s important to start with a healthy, sturdy mother plant (preferably a photoperiod strain).

The best time to take a clone is early vegetative growth. Avoid taking clones from flowering plants, as it can be challenging to reverse their cycle back into a vegetative state.

It’s also a good idea to stop fertilizing the mother plant a few days before you take your cuttings. This helps prevent an excess of nitrogen, which can trick clones into growing leaves instead of roots.

Use a sharp and clean razor or scissors to cut your selected branch from the parent plant. Immediately place the cutting in a jar with a rooting hormone. Place it in a humidity dome and keep it moist until the clone develops roots. Then transfer it into a sterile grow medium and give it the right conditions to thrive.

Harvesting

As a result of natural breeding, regular seeds are more stable than their feminized counterparts. They also have a higher germination rate, making it easier to get bud-producing plants from the start.

Feminized seeds do have their advantages, however, such as consistency and the ability to select for a specific trait without the need for sexing. These qualities make feminized seeds popular for commercial growers.

Regardless of the breeder’s preference, there are many ways to harvest marijuana seeds for the future. Some seeds are compact enough to be collected when the petals have fallen from flowers or before they burst open (dry dehiscent). Marigold, zinnias, dahlias and coneflowers can be harvested this way along with beans, poppy, morning glory and okra. Others can be gathered by tipped into buckets, bags or other containers and shaken to release the seeds. This is known as hand harvesting and it can be an arduous process but it’s often the only option when collecting seeds in remote locations.

Storage

Although seeds are in a dormant state they still carry on with their basic life processes and exchange elements and gases with the surrounding air, so proper storage is essential to ensure they remain viable. Seeds should be stored in a dark place, dry and cool.

It is possible to store regular seeds for years, but the process is complex and requires significant investment in suitable facilities. These facilities are usually reserved for seed bank or gene bank settings, but can also be adapted by smaller groups and communities.

The best way to store seeds is in a dedicated fridge, as this protects them from the large temperature fluctuations caused by opening and closing the door. If this is not possible then a dark, sealed container is needed. Glass jars, like mason jars, are ideal and can be vacuum sealed to further extend their life. A desiccant should be added to the container, which will work to maintain an optimal humidity level.

Cannabis seeds are delicate and should only be handled with care. They’ll start to sprout in-line with the seasonal change from winter to spring and a little bit of water is usually all they need to get started.

One of the simplest ways to germinate cannabis is to place them in a cup of distilled water until they sprout and then carefully transfer them (with caution) to pre-prepared soil pots.

Germination

A seed’s germination depends on three fundamental principles: warmth, moisture, and darkness. With these conditions in place, a tiny taproot emerges, and over time, a cannabis seed develops into a sprout.

When soaked in water, most viable seeds will eventually crack open and reveal a white root. Once a seed’s taproot reaches an inch or so, it is ready to be transplanted into your grow medium of choice.

ILGM offers a variety of feminized and regular seeds that have high germination rates. Their lavender feminized seeds, for example, produce high THC with a pleasant aroma and 1% CBD.

To germinate cannabis seed, place a few seeds between damp paper towels (the “paper towel germination method”), seal in a plastic bag, and set it on a windowsill where it will get light but not much heat. It takes a few weeks for a seed to germinate using this method. If the seeds fail to sprout after a couple of weeks, try soaking them in water again.

Soil

The first step to a successful cannabis plant is germinating your seeds. Germination occurs when a seed is placed in an environment that provides proper temperature, light exposure and moisture.

In nature, this happens naturally during the spring when moist soil starts to warm up with the sun’s rays. During this process, the protective shell of the seed softens and the seed starts to grow roots in the earth.

Soil is important for marijuana seed germination because it provides nutrients that the seed needs to sprout and develop into a mature plant. It also helps the seed absorb oxygen and water from the atmosphere.

There are a few different ways to germinate cannabis seeds, but the most popular is the paper towel method. This requires a few supplies, including a paper towel, distilled water and a plate. Begin by soaking the paper towel in water until it’s saturated but not dripping wet. Place the seeds on the paper towel and cover them with a plate or plastic wrap.

Water

Cannabis seeds need water to break their dormant state and sprout. Soaking in a glass of clean, warm water allows moisture to penetrate the seed shell within minutes. This causes the seed to absorb moisture and triggers hormones, releasing them into the environment to initiate germination.

A small white sprout, called a cotyledon or root tip, then emerges from the inside of the seed. This sprout will eventually grow into a mature cannabis plant with the characteristics of that strain.

If you are unsure which strains to choose for your grow, try asking fellow green-fingered friends what they enjoy and would recommend. Another great option is browsing online forums and diaries for detailed breakdowns on how to grow each strain. This is especially helpful for newcomers to find strains that are easy to grow and suit their growing conditions down to a tee.

Stone Wool Blocks

The use of stone wool (or rockwool) is popular among many commercial cannabis cultivators for seedling and clonal propagation. Cultivators appreciate the consistency that Grodan stone wool provides in its starter plugs and grow cubes which can support the rapid establishment of small seedlings, cuttings, and clones by ensuring efficient water and nutrient uptake.

This substrate also offers uniformity that can help facilitate automation and data collection for facilities conducting clonal propagation. Additionally, it is a safer alternative to other soil-based mediums for germination because it is inert and doesn’t retain volatile compounds that can harm the plant or lungs like coco coir or peat.

To prepare rockwool for cannabis, it should be soaked in water that has been lowered to a pH of around 5.5 using a pH adjuster. Some cultivators choose to lace this water with rooting stimulants to further encourage seedlings and clones to germinate and develop. Once a rockwool cube is ready for marijuana seeds, insert one seed per cube and place in a humidity dome with gentle grow light.

A seed is a fertilized, matured ovule consisting of an embryo or miniature undeveloped plant and food reserves enclosed in a protective coating. It is the result of the sexual reproduction in gymnosperm and angiosperm plants.

The seeds of some plants have cotyledons (or seed leaves) which act as the source of stored reserved food for the embryo upon germination.

Definition

Seeds are the mature fertilized ovules of flowering plants, gymnosperms and angiosperms. They contain an embryo or miniature undeveloped plant and food reserves enclosed in a protective seed coat. They are the biological way of reproduction for all flowering plants.

A seed contains a hilum, micropyle and cotyledons. Cotyledons are seed leaves that act as source of stored reserve food materials for the embryo during germination. They can be present on one end (monocotyledonous seeds) or both ends of the embryonal axis (dicotyledonous seeds). They are also known as aleurone layer.

A seed coating protects the cotyledons and embryo from physical, mechanical and temperature-related damage. It is a thick and leathery tissue. In some seeds such as beans, gram and peas, the endosperm is removed and they are known as non-endospermous seeds.

Origin

Seeds are the fruit of sexual reproduction and contain DNA from both male and female parents. They contain an embryo and a reserve of food protected by a skin called the seed coat. The embryo is a rudimentary plant from which a new one can grow, and the nutrient supply comes from tissue within the seed called endosperm.

During fertilization, male pollen grains germinate on the stigma and develop into long, slender tubes. These tubes travel down through tissue in the style, to the ovule, where they unites with the two polar nuclei of the egg.

One of the sperm nuclei fuses with the egg, forming a zygote. The other sperm cell is absorbed or aborted. The result is a seed with two parent plants’ DNA. The evolution of seeds is thought to have greatly contributed to the rapid spread and dominance of angiosperms over terrestrial flora.

Characteristics

Seed plants (spermatophytes) are the most common plants grown in gardens and on farms. They evolved to produce seeds that can wait for the right conditions to sprout into new plants. These characteristics help them dominate biological niches on land, including forests, grasslands and hot and cold climates.

All seed plants have a food reserve in their seeds, called endosperm, to fuel the growth of the embryo and the new plant. This nutritive tissue is surrounded by the protective seed coat.

Some seeds have physical dormancy barriers that must be broken by soaking or scarifying (scratching the seed surface). Others have internal chemical conditions, such as abscisic acid or gibberellin, that prevent germination until those factors are removed. These chemicals can be broken down by cold/moist stratification or leaching.

Uses

Seeds are essential for the reproduction of many plants, including grasses, trees and a wide variety of shrubs and flowers. They are also a vital source of food for animals and humans.

Depending on the type of plant, seeds come in different shapes and sizes and are covered by a protective coat or husk. Inside the seed is an embryo and a supply of nutrients. The embryo is made of cotyledons and radicle, and the nutrients are stored in a region called the endosperm.

Some seeds are sown to grow new plants, while others are used for medicinal purposes or as a food source. The neem tree, for example, produces a compound that has insect-repelling properties. This and other seed compounds are being studied for their potential to be incorporated into pharmaceuticals.

Sources

Tree seeds can be collected from farmland or natural forest, or sourced through vegetative propagation (taking cuttings or using grafting). ICRAF has developed a toolkit for managing seed sources and collecting tree seeds.

Seeds form following sexual reproduction in flowering plants and are the means of dispersal of plant species. They have the potential to travel very long distances—whether in the wind, by water currents or clinging to animals (e.g. birds) that carry them.

Seeds typically contain an embryo, food reserves and protective outer coverings. The embryos of dicot seed plants have two cotyledons while monocots have one. Local heirloom seed growers and groups are an excellent source of a wide range of varieties, and often sell them for an affordable price. They are also available at farmers markets and through online searches.