A cannabis seed contains the genetic code for the plant it will grow. It also has a center called the radicle, hypocotyl and cotyledons, which is where the roots come from.
Once the seeds have germinated, move them carefully from the paper towel into soil pots filled with premium quality seed starting mix. This soil includes mycorrhizae, kelp, lobster compost and peat.
Reputable Seed Banks
There are plenty of reputable seed banks that offer seeds for sale, but finding the right one can be tricky. A good place to start is Rocket Seeds. This seed bank partners with several top breeders and carries 4000+ strains. Their lineup includes popular varieties like Banana Punch (Banana Kush crossed with Purple Punch) and 710 Cheese, both of which are renowned for their high THC content and heavy Indica effects.
Another excellent seed bank is ILGM, which sells high-quality cannabis strains and offers 24/7 growth support assistance. They also have a comprehensive FAQ page that can help new growers avoid common mistakes. Moreover, they stand by their products with a 100% germination guarantee, which is great for beginners.
Lastly, there’s Beaver Seeds, which has a huge variety of cannabis strains to choose from. They also sell auto-flowering and feminized seeds. Moreover, they’re known for providing fast, 7-day shipping in Canada and the US. They also provide free seeds on every order and use stealth packaging to protect their shipments.
Feminized Seeds
Feminized seeds are those that are guaranteed to produce only female cannabis plants. This is accomplished by repressing the hermaphrodite genes in the plant. This can be done by spritzing the plant with gibberellic acid or colloidal silver to change the development of the phytohormone ethylene. The hermaphrodite genes are also reduced by breeding two female plants together.
When choosing feminized seeds, you can be confident that you will grow quality buds with rich cannabinoid profiles in your garden. You can also save time and effort by not having to look for male flowers or pollen sacs, which will pollinate other plants and contaminate the harvest.
Whether you choose to feminize your own seeds or purchase pre-made feminized seeds, it is important that you keep a close eye on your plants. If you see any male flowers or pollen sacs, you must remove them immediately to avoid accidentally pollinating other female plants in your grow room.
Male Plants
If you find a strain you really like and would love to cultivate more of, cloning can help. A clone produces buds that have exactly the same characteristics as the mother plant, including flavor, cannabinoid profile, and yield.
Male cannabis plants produce pollen, which fertilizes female plants and causes them to develop seeds in their bud. This reduces the potency of the harvested flower and depletes a grower’s yield, as they devote energy to developing seeds instead of producing cannabinoid- and terpene-rich bud.
Cultivators need to screen for males to avoid ruining a neighbor’s garden, especially when they cultivate outdoors. Winds can carry the pollen over long distances. A good way to identify a male plant is by checking the joints for small, translucent hairs. You can also look at the bud for small buds that resemble pistils, as well as a fuller body of leaves than a mature female plant. These are all signs that you have a male plant.
Pollination
Like all flora, cannabis plants produce seeds in order to create the next generation. Seeds that are given the proper conditions will germinate, or sprout, and start growing into young plants. These young plants are called seedlings.
In the wild, male plants create pollen sacs that release pollen into the air. The wind then takes this pollen to nearby female plants, causing fertilization and the production of seeds. Cultivators, however, keep male and female plants separate because they do not want their plants to become pollinated.
The seeds of the cannabis plant are full of healthy fats, protein, Vitamin A, iron, potassium, zinc and magnesium. You can use hemp seeds to make a variety of products, including granola, smoothies and salad dressings. You can also grind them up and make a shelf-stable, high-protein powder that is known as hemp hearts. Hemp hearts can be sprinkled over yogurt, salads, and other foods for a nutritional boost.