While many growers now use feminized seeds, regular seed is still available. It offers a variety of advantages for gardeners that want to produce their own cannabis.
Growing regular seeds gives you the opportunity to cook up unique crossbreeds that express never-before-seen phenotypes. This can be an exciting adventure for the experienced grower.
Breeding
Regular seeds are the only cannabis seed type available until the 1980s, when feminized and autoflowering varieties took over. They produce male and female plants and are photoperiod, meaning that they grow according to the light cycle. They are also less expensive than feminized seeds and can be used to cultivate clones.
Feminized and regular seeds can be crossed to create hybrids, but this process is complex and risky. It requires a large amount of focus and expertise, so it’s not recommended for beginner breeders. In addition, it can affect the flower quality of your finished crop.
Unlike feminized seeds, regular seeds often produce more male plants than females, which can reduce your yields by up to 50%. It is important to eliminate male plants as soon as you can, because they will pollinate your females and prevent them from producing buds. In some cases, you may even need to cull the entire crop. This can be frustrating, especially if you’re hoping for a high-yielding harvest.
Cloning
Clones are branch cuttings from a cannabis mother plant that are replanted to develop roots and grow into a mature marijuana plant. They have the same genetic information as their parent plants, and they are a good choice for new growers who want to try a strain again. Cloning can be a complicated process, and it requires some experience to do well.
A clone should be placed in a rooting medium as soon as it is cut. This can be as simple as soil, or it can be starter cubes that help the clone to establish a strong foundation. It should also be dipped into water immediately. This will prevent it from drying out and promote a faster rooting response.
Another advantage of clones is that they don’t need to go through the germination and seedling stages. This saves growers time and money. However, clones can also bring unwanted pests into a grow room, especially if the mother plant was sick or diseased.
Organic
Choosing organic seeds is a great choice for your garden or farm. It requires a different approach to farming, but it also offers a lot of benefits for your health and the environment.
Conventional seeds are grown in chemical-intensive systems, which create negative byproducts that affect everything from the soil and ecosystem to people working and living near farms. In order to become certified organic, farmers have to use sustainable methods for three years in a row.
Seeds for sale are often labeled with different descriptors, such as Non-GMO, Primed, Heirloom, or Organic. These terms can be confusing and misleading. However, it is important to understand the differences between them.
The biggest difference between organic and regular seed is that organic seeds are not treated with chemicals. This reduces the risk of the seeds becoming contaminated with pathogens during storage and transport. In addition, it can help farmers increase seed self-sufficiency and lower costs. It also helps address bigger issues in agricultural production by decreasing the reliance on a seed industry that is based on proprietary control.
Price
As the most economical choice, regular seeds provide growers with the greatest range of possibilities. This is especially true for those interested in breeding and developing their own strains. They can also be used to create resilient clones, which can reduce growing times and costs.
While feminized marijuana seeds are preferred by some, regular seed remains highly desirable for experienced cultivators and breeders. This is because they have a 50/50 chance of producing male and female plants, which are required for breeding. They also offer a greater range of genetics, including rare and exotic cultivars.
Tropic Thunder regular is an indica strain that delivers a tropical paradise high. Its fruity tones of lemon, orange, tangerines, and grapefruit tickle the taste buds as it relaxes the mind and body. This strain is best suited for veteran cultivators and takes up to ten weeks to finish flowering, producing crops of up to 35 oz. It is also a great option for those who are looking to combat migraines, depression, stress, pain, and anxiety.
