Regular cannabis seeds are what growers used before the advent of feminized and autoflowering varieties. These seeds contain both male and female plants and can be grown to produce either flowers or buds.
When exposed to water and light, a seed abandons its dormancy and begins the process of germination. During this period, the seed will delicately rupture open its shell and grow a root.
Buying seeds
When it comes to buying cannabis seeds, there are several options available. You can buy them at a local dispensary, or you can purchase them online. The latter option may be the best choice because it offers a greater selection of seeds, as well as detailed information about the strains.
Before you purchase cannabis seeds, make sure that the seller has a good reputation. Check out customer reviews and ask fellow growers for their recommendations. You should also consider the location of the seed bank. It is recommended to choose a seed bank that ships to the U.S., because of federal regulations regarding the transfer of seeds between states.
The top-rated seed banks include ILGM, MSNL and Sonoma Seeds. These seed companies offer various payment methods and have excellent Trust Pilot ratings.
Germination
Mature seeds tend to have a hard outer shell that’s dark and may contain tiger-like stripes. They should also be relatively firm when pressed between your fingers. Seeds that are light or green or crumble easily have not matured and should probably be discarded.
The best known method of germinating cannabis seeds involves placing them between paper towels, which are then moistened with water. This process requires a dark, warm and humid environment (around 21degC is ideal). The paper towel should be checked every second day and moistened as necessary to prevent the seeds from drying out.
Some growers prefer to soak the seeds overnight in a glass of water and others use root stimulator to thin the shell for better germination, but these techniques are not generally required. It’s usually the darkness paired with moisture that wakes up the seed and gets it ready to grow a plant from its dormant state.
Cloning
Clones are exact duplicates of a parent plant and grow just as well in the same conditions. The only downside is that clones are extremely fragile, so it’s important to provide them with a healthy rooting medium and carefully regulated humidity and temperature.
Select a Mother Plant
When selecting a mother plant for cloning, it’s important to choose a healthy and sturdy specimen that is at least two months into the vegetative cycle. Avoid taking a wilty, weak-smelling plant as it won’t produce good clones.
It’s also essential to sterilize your cuttings before placing them in the rooting medium. You can use a rooting powder or gel to ensure they’re evenly coated. Many growers prefer gel to powder as it’s less messy and easier to use.
Breeding
Creating new strains is one of the most exciting things to do as a grower, opening up doors to unique terpene profiles, increased yield, and resilience. However, breeding can also be one of the most challenging things to get right, especially for beginners.
To breed, you need a male and female plant that can produce seeds. This process can be done by crossing the plants and selecting the best offspring. However, you must also keep excellent records so you can track the performance of your offspring.
This is one of the reasons why we recommend purchasing from seed banks with a good reputation for customer service and plenty of cannabis cups to show for it. We also recommend concentrating on specific traits that you want to bring forward in your next crop, such as flowering time or resin production.
Genetics
In the cannabis industry, genetics are the underlying foundation for the entire experience. This explains why so many growers are drawn to specific cannabis strains with unique aromas, flavors, and potency profiles.
Regular marijuana seeds have a full complement of chromosomes and can produce either male or female plants. Feminized marijuana seeds are professionally bred to ensure that only female cannabis plants will emerge from them.
You can test the sex of your cannabis seeds by dropping them in a glass of water. Seeds that float are male and should be discarded; seeds that sink like botanical cannonballs are female and should be germinated. Feminized seeds are a great choice for beginners who want to avoid the hassle of separating males from females. However, some growers prefer the genetic diversity that comes from growing regular seeds.
