Month: June 2023

Choosing the right seeds is an important part of growing a healthy cannabis plant. Here are some tips to help you make the best decision for your needs.

A plant produces seeds after fertilizing itself with pollen from a male plant. Fertilizing a female plant with pollen from a male is called crossing or breeding.

Regular Seeds

Regular seeds have been overtaken by feminized varieties since the ’90s but they still hold their place in certain cultivator’s hearts. They offer a more natural and rewarding experience for some, especially those who are used to old-school varieties that never made the cut into the feminised market.

Cultivators grow regular seeds to breed their own strains. They are fertile and can produce both male and female plants that produce flowers. When a male plant pollinates a female cannabis flower it creates pollen sacs that are blown by the wind (or in some cases by the careful hand of a breeder) to find their way into receptive stigmas on other female flowers.

This is how new cannabis varieties are produced; by cross-pollinating a variety of different cannabis plants to create a more refined genetic strain. This is a process known as breeding and has been going on for millennia. The process is not without its risks though as it can sometimes produce a few unwanted male plants.

Feminized Seeds

If you’re growing cannabis for a specific purpose, such as extracting high-quality buds, then feminized seeds are the best option. These seeds have been bred to guarantee a harvest of only female plants, which are known for having higher potency and higher yields than male flowers.

There are many different methods used to produce feminized seeds. These techniques include using a chemical reversal to make a plant produce pollen that contains only female genes, which is then used to fertilize other female plants. The result is a guaranteed crop of female plants with a 99% success rate.

Whether you are a novice or an experienced grower, feminized seeds can make your life easier. This way, you can avoid the hassle of dealing with male plants that will ruin your crop and focus on getting high-quality buds. However, it is important to keep in mind that even feminized seeds can develop intersexual tendencies under certain stressful conditions. This is why some growers recommend planting a few regular seeds alongside feminized seeds.

Autoflowering Seeds

Autoflowering seeds are those that do not depend on changing hours of light to initiate flowering. This important trait evolved as a necessity for survival in the harsh environment of central Russia where Cannabis Ruderalis, the parent of autoflowering strains, originated.

These genetics make the plants easier to grow – not only do you not have to keep track of the light schedule, but autoflowering strains are more resilient and can naturally withstand colder weather. They are ideal for beginner growers and those who want to experiment with different strains without a lot of hassle.

When growing autoflowers, remember to keep the temperature in the grow room around 70-80°F during the day and 60-70% humidity at night. The lower humidity helps to reduce the risk of mold and mildew, which can contaminate the harvest. Autoflowers are sturdy and will respond well to training techniques, such as Low-Stress Training, which can increase the yield and quality of your crop.

Genetics

In the past, regular seeds were used to produce crops of cannabis plants that contained both male and female plants. This process is known as breeding and it works best when the initial crosses have all of their chromosomes – just like in humans. When the best plants in a crop are selected as ‘mothers’, they can produce hundreds of fertile clones over the course of several years.

Adding hemp seed to your diet is a great way to increase your protein intake and add essential vitamins and minerals to your body. The seeds are rich in soluble and insoluble fibres that boost your digestion and help prevent constipation.

If you are looking for a good website to purchase cannabis seeds, look for one that has plenty of customer reviews. This is a good sign that the company cares about their customers and provides quality products. Also, look for a wide selection of seeds and reasonable pricing.

Before feminized seeds became popular, regular seed was the go-to for growers. However, feminized seeds are now the majority of seed packs sold.

Feminized seeds are guaranteed to produce only female plants. This means that the crop will be free of male plants and will produce a higher yield.

But why do some seedbanks still stock regular seeds?

Stable Genetics

A breeder’s work doesn’t stop when they find a phenotype that displays the desired traits. They must stabilize the genetics so that these properties consistently appear in offspring.

To do this, they grow a large number of regular plants and select the best females (only the females produce buds that have psychoactive effects). The breeder can then take cuttings from the best female plant and grow them as clones.

The clones will then be crossed with stable males to produce the seeds that you purchase. Unlike feminized seeds, these are produced naturally without the use of chemicals.

Feminized seeds, on the other hand, require the use of an unpleasant-sounding chemical called colloidal silver to prevent a female plant’s pollen sacs from producing male flora. This results in fewer male plants (up to 50% less) and reduces your overall yields. Moreover, identifying and safely removing these males from your crops requires experience and knowledge that most novice growers don’t have.

Better Yields

For some growers, this is a major selling point. Regular seed produces a better yield than its feminized counterparts, especially if the plants are managed properly. This includes proper lighting and the correct use of nutrients.

While feminized seeds offer a lot of advantages, they can also be tricky to work with. Some growers may produce too many male plants, which can reduce their yield. This is why some choose to plant a few regular seeds alongside their feminized seeds, just to ensure that they’re producing the right ratio of female-to-male plants.

Feminized seeds can also be more expensive than regular ones, due to the breeding process that goes into making them. This can be an issue for some growers, as it can add to the overall cost of their crop. However, there are ways that you can cut the costs of your feminized seeds. For example, you can plant your seeds in a smaller pot or make sure that you’re using the best growing techniques.

Less Expensive

The amount of time and money that goes into producing feminized or autoflowering seeds plays a huge role in their price. Thankfully, high-quality cannabis seeds don’t have to cost an arm and a leg.

Regular seeds produce both male and female plants, but on average about half become female. This means there is no need for growers to identify and remove the male plants, which can often be a time-consuming process.

As a result, growing with regular seed is much easier and less stressful for growers than with other types of seed. However, it’s still important for growers to consider their unique needs and goals before making a buying decision. This includes taking into account factors like growing environment, desired bud qualities, and THC levels. Also, remember that purchasing in bulk can often get you free shipping and a discount or two from many online seed banks. That way, you can be sure you’re getting the best value for your grow money.

Less Predictable

Many growers find the process of working with regular seed to be more exciting and rewarding. They know that the seeds may not always produce hermaphrodite plants but they will instead show a range of phenotypes, including male and female plants. This can be an advantage in some situations, especially for growers who are preparing to perform a large pheno hunt to select for new strains.

It’s important to remember that when growing regular cannabis seeds, you will be dealing with natural pollination. This will mean that you will need to remove the male plants before they start producing seeds. This can be a difficult task, particularly in a larger crop.

In general, the decision of whether to use feminized or regular seed comes down to cultivation experience and your primary goals for the harvest. If you are growing a limited number of plants or want to manage your crop using an automatic light schedule, then feminized seeds will be a better option for you.

Ultimately the choice between feminized and regular seeds comes down to cultivation experience and goal. Growers with small indoor operations or those legally capped at a certain number of plants might prefer feminized seed.

However, many growers choose to breed with regular seeds. Here are a few reasons why:.

Stable Genetics

Regular cannabis seeds are more unstable than their feminized counterparts. When you grow regular varieties, there’s a 50% chance of male plants pollinating your females and cutting your yields by up to 90%.

Breeders will work over several generations to stabilise a strain, starting with stable mothers and fathers. Then they cross brothers and sisters, selecting for desirable traits in the offspring. Over time, desired traits become dominant and consistent, while undesirable traits are gradually eliminated from the genetic pool. Breeders may also use back-crossing to speed up the stabilization process and reinforce preferred dominant traits. This is a lengthy and labour-intensive process that often requires a large number of plants to be bred. As such, it’s not a great option for novice growers. However, it does produce hardy plants that can resist pests and survive harsh environments. This makes them better suited to outdoor cultivation. In addition, the seeds are easier to clone, which can improve yields even more.

Better Yields

If you are looking to grow the biggest harvest possible for your growing experience then regular seeds are a smart choice. Since you don’t have to worry about the male plants producing pollen, every nutrient and drop of water can be used on helping your females become the biggest, strongest, most potent plants they can possibly be.

Of course, this also means that you can save a lot of money on the cost of growing, as you will not be wasting any of your resources and supplies.

To germinate your seeds, simply place them in a paper towel with some bottled water and leave them to soak up the moisture until they sprout and are ready to be transplanted into soil. Keep in mind that the germination process may take a few days, so be patient! Keep checking the seedlings for hydration, as they can dry out quickly. If this happens, you can try rehydrating them by placing them in some warm water.

Easier to Breed

Whether you are an old-school grower or just starting out, regular seed is the way to go if you are interested in breeding your own strains. They will produce a mix of male and female plants, giving you the opportunity to create your own custom genetic crosses.

With non-feminized seeds, it is up to the grower to weed out all of the male plants before they bloom and pollinate the females. This can be a very time consuming process and can limit your yields.

Feminized seeds remove this hassle from the cultivation process by producing a predominately female crop. This allows the grower to focus all of their resources on the growth of the bud-producing plants, which leads to higher quality and yields. The feminized seeds also make it easier to clone your desired plants. This allows you to repeat the same successful growing experience for multiple harvests. This is a huge benefit for those who want to perfect their craft and make the strains of their dreams.

Lower Price

Unlike feminized seeds, which require significant chemical processing to produce, regular seed will grow into both male and female plants. This ratio can vary a bit, but most batches contain an average of 50/50 male and female cannabis plants. This allows for a much easier cultivation process as you do not have to cull the male plants from your crop.

Regular seeds are also the preferred choice for many breeders. This is because the genetics in a strain can be influenced by a number of different genes that are present in both the male and female plants.

Dutch Passion’s collection of regular seeds features some of the finest old-school strains to date. These classics were left behind in the weed rush of the 90’s and have been restored back to their original, pure form with our careful breeding techniques. These legends include White Widow, Orange Bud, Blueberry and Mazar. Their enduring popularity is due to their stable genetics and deeply enjoyable effects.