In cannabis cultivation, the main factor that influences a grower’s choice between regular or feminized seed is their cultivation experience and the primary goal for the harvest.
Feminized seeds offer the grower a higher chance of female plants and a lower chance of hermaphrodite plants (the ability to produce male flowers). This, in turn, means they will almost always provide twice the yields as regular varieties.
They’re cheaper
Regular seed is the result of a cross between a male and female Cannabis plant. They’re typically cheaper than feminized seeds, but they’ll still require more work from you.
Feminized seeds are a great option for growers who want to produce fast-flowering strains with high yields and smokable buds. They’ll also produce plants that won’t need to be pollinated, which will help you get a larger harvest compared to non-feminized strains.
However, if you’re interested in breeding your own strains or creating genetically stable clones, regular seed is the way to go. It will still require a little more work, but it can be a worthwhile investment in your future growth.
In addition, regular seeds are usually more resistant to stress than feminized seeds. This can be helpful if you’re working with smaller indoor spaces or have a cap on your total number of plants.
They’re easier to grow
While you might think that regular seeds are a bit of an eyesore, they’re actually easier to grow than their feminized counterparts. The main reason for this is because they produce female plants 99% of the time, whereas feminized seeds will have some male plants in them.
As a result, you’ll be able to easily weed out any males and get rid of them before they become problematic. This means that you’ll end up with a much larger harvest from the seeds that do end up being females.
You’ll also be able to make cuttings with these seeds more easily. These clones will be far more stable and resistant to heat and stress, and they’ll have better genetics.
In addition, you can also breed and create new strains with regular seed. This allows you to experiment with the best old-school varieties that weren’t available in feminised form, and to create unique hybrids with them. Ultimately, growing regular seed is a lot of fun, and a great way to preserve the rich genetic diversity of cannabis!
They’re more stable
Regular seed are genetically slightly different from their feminized counterparts, and can work to your advantage in certain situations. They’re less likely to turn hermaphrodite when stressed, for example.
They’re also more suitable for rooting cuttings (also known as clones) because they’re more stable and possess stronger genetics. Moreover, they’re also easier to grow and can be cultivated for longer periods of time than feminized seeds.
If you’re looking to breed and create new strains, regular seeds are the way to go. They produce a natural proportion of male and female plants, making it much easier to find good breeding stock and make the best crossbreeds.
In addition, regular seeds are less expensive than feminized varieties, which means you’ll get more for your money. And, unlike feminized seed packs, you’ll also have the ability to pass on the genetics of your favorite strains once the seeds run out.
They’re easier to breed
There’s a lot of hype surrounding feminized and autoflowering seeds, but regular seed has its place as well. There are growers who appreciate the vigour, variety and purity that regular seed offers.
When you use regular cannabis seeds to breed, you’re able to cross different male and female specimens. This means that you can combine traits like potency, taste, terpene profiles and colour to create a new strain.
If you want to try out a new terpene profile, for example, or find a strain that flowers quickly and produces a strong yield, it’s easier to do with regular seed.
Feminized seeds are also great for those who don’t have a lot of space, as they will only produce feminised plants and don’t waste time sexing out males. Whether you decide to choose regular or feminized, it’s best to make sure you get seeds from a reputable seed bank. If they’re not up to scratch, you could end up with a batch of hermies that don’t even flower properly!
