Before feminized seeds became popular, growers had to produce their own regular seeds to get the desired results. They produced about 50% male plants and 50% females. Unfortunately, hermaphrodite plants will also sprout from regular seeds, and they will become hermaphrodites in response to stress (topping, fimming, lollypopping).
Despite this, many growers continue to choose regular seeds for several reasons.
Unaltered Genetics
The genetics of regular seeds are completely natural. Because they have a 50% chance of producing male and female cannabis plants, they’re the perfect choice for experienced growers looking to explore breeding options.
The healthiest seeds contain a good amount of protein, a crucial nutrient for muscle growth and repair, immune function and mental alertness. Seeds also provide a healthy dose of fibre, which is an important part of a balanced diet and can protect against digestive issues like constipation, diverticulitis and hemorrhoids.
However, as with all non-feminised marijuana seeds, about half of your planted regular seeds will turn out to be male. If you don’t remove them, they will pollinate your female plants and reduce your yield. This is why they aren’t recommended for novice growers.
Stable Yields
While feminized seeds are the best choice for growers seeking a high-quality yield, regular seed breeders can create strains with extreme potency or specific flavor profiles. Regular seeds also allow for back-crossing, which is necessary for creating new cultivars.
In addition, regular seeds are less expensive than feminized seeds. A pack of 10 seeds will produce a minimum of half female plants, meaning the grower won’t have to deal with the frustration of having to cull male plants or waste growing medium and nutrients on them.
On average, a pack of 10 regular seeds produces smokable buds in half of the plants, a much better return on investment than feminized seeds. This is why a lot of experienced growers still prefer working with regular seeds.
Cheaper
Cheaper varieties of weed seeds are a big draw for first-time growers, as well as those looking for good value cannabis seeds. Seed banks like MSNL and Herbies often sell cheap mixed packs of regular or feminized strains that can be really affordable.
Working with regular sexed plants is also an advantage for pheno hunters as they can select from large selections of both male and female plants to find the perfect mother. This process can save a lot of time, hydro system space and nutrients in a garden.
Growing regular seeds can be less expensive than feminized, as growers only need to cull a handful of male plants throughout the growing process. However, feminized seeds can still come out cheaper when factoring in the 50% loss rate associated with sexing.
More Stable Genetics
If you’re interested in growing as natural as possible, then regular seeds are a great choice. This is because unlike feminized seeds, they will produce male and female plants. These plants can then be sexed and removed, thus eliminating the possibility of an inter-sex or hermaphrodite plant being produced during the growing process.
Regular seeds also allow you to cross different strains, creating unique and high-quality strains. This is a popular choice for growers, as it allows you to create the best possible strain to suit your preferences and growing environment. It is also more cost-effective than feminized seeds, making it an excellent option for breeders. You can find a range of quality, regular seeds here. The genetics have been carefully selected to ensure the highest quality.
Easy to Breed
There is a certain charm to growing regular marijuana seeds and many growers choose this option over feminized ones. With a regular seed, you’ll get to experience the process of breeding a strain from its parents. This is a fun and rewarding hobby that can be done at home, even for the beginner.
To breed your own strains you’ll need to isolate male plants from female ones at the start of flowering. This ensures that you only grow female plants that will produce smokable buds.
The process of breeding can be a lengthy one, so it’s recommended to take detailed notes throughout your grow. This will help you better understand your plant’s traits such as how it handles stress, its leaf patterns, internodal spacing and its stretch once flowering begins.
