Cannabis is a multipurpose crop used for fibre, seeds and other products with nutritional and functional features. However, the cultivation of C. sativa L. plants with a high THC content is prohibited.
Regular seeds can grow into male or female cannabis plants. Since only female plants produce the psychoactive flowers, most cultivators prefer feminized seeds.
Regular Weed Seeds
Regular cannabis seeds are a great choice for growers who want to explore breeding options. Since marijuana is a dioecious plant, all regular seeds have around a 50% chance of producing male or female plants. When growing regular cannabis seeds, it is important to identify and separate male plants early to prevent pollination, which will reduce the yield of usable buds.
When grown correctly, regular seeds produce some of the best-tasting, high-quality buds available. These seeds are chemically unaltered, which makes them a great choice for consumers who wish to avoid the use of artificial chemicals in their cultivation.
Growing regular seeds is also a great way to learn about the vegetative process of cannabis. As the plants veg and enter flowering, you will see the physical differences between male and female plants, which can help you identify the seeds that are ready to harvest. This is a skill that will serve you well in your future cannabis endeavors.
Feminized Weed Seeds
Female cannabis plants produce the coveted buds, so breeders have developed techniques to create feminized seeds. Feminized seeds offer a greater degree of crop uniformity in terms of growth and flowering times, which can improve cultivation efficiency and consistency.
To produce feminized seeds, breeders inject male plants with gibberellic acid or colloidal silver to collect pollen containing X chromosomes. This pollen is then used to fertilize a number of female flowers, resulting in a higher percentage of female seeds.
Growers using feminized seeds can rest assured that nearly all (99%) of the plants they grow will be female. This eliminates the need for gender identification and allows growers to focus their efforts on cultivating high-quality buds. Feminized cannabis plants also tend to produce larger and more potent yields than regular plants. Purchasing feminized cannabis seeds from a reputable seed bank ensures that you are getting the best quality and value for your money. Look for a company with a customer-friendly return policy to guarantee your satisfaction.
Auto-flower Seeds
Auto-flower seeds are perfect for growers who want to enjoy a fast harvest. The plants require less attention and can be grown with a light cycle of 18 hours of darkness and 6 hours of light (18/6). This schedule offers a balance between optimum light absorption and nightly recovery time.
With improved breeding techniques, many auto-flower strains can now reach high potency levels and be ready to harvest in about nine weeks from germination. They are also more resistant to stress and environmental changes than regular photo-period plants.
Another advantage of auto-flowering cannabis is that it allows for multiple harvests per year. Since the plants flower automatically without a change in light cycles, this gives growers the chance to harvest twice or even three times throughout the growing season. This is especially useful in regions with strict marijuana laws. In addition, auto-flowering plants are sturdy and handle training and topping well. This makes them an ideal choice for new growers.
Cannabis Strains
Cannabis seeds are best used for producing clones, which are tiny replicas of the parent plant that have a full set of chromosomes and are hermaphrodites. A small number of these clones can be selected as ‘mother plants’, which are then used to produce a crop of uniform, female marijuana plants.
Cultivators breed different strains to create hybrids with certain characteristics, such as aroma, potency, and effects. They give these strains names based on their unique traits. For example, Sour Diesel has a sour fuel-like aroma, while White Widow is named for its thick coating of white resin.
Some marijuana strains have been shown to help alleviate specific symptoms, such as chronic pain and lack of appetite. These strains are often referred to as medical marijuana. However, the effects of marijuana vary from person to person and depend on your weight, overall health, and experience level. Marijuana also passes through breast milk and can have adverse effects on infants.
