Regular cannabis seeds offer endless possibilities for researchers to experiment on. At first, in the early days of European cannabis, a seed was simply a marijuana seed. Today, most use the term regular cannabis seeds interchangeably with autoflowering (autointheoretic) cannabis seeds and distinguish the original ones from feminized (feminized) cannabis seeds. There is also some confusion between regular and feminized cannabis. Just because the word “cannabis” contains the letters “C” and “B”, does not mean it has any connection to the female counterpart of cannabis, which is marijuana.
In order to understand the differences in quality and yield of regular cannabis seeds, we must look at their structure. All living things reproduce differently. Some variations are common throughout the species, like red and brown eyes, different body shapes, different mating methods, etc. Some structural differences are specific to certain strains, like the presence of a putative marker, the marker resulting in inter-lineage within the gene pool, which is called “stratum corneum”.
The structure of regular cannabis seeds is highly uniform and nearly identical in all the many species. It’s even been suggested that it is common throughout the plant kingdom! However, it is just a matter of how the chromosomes are arranged on the individual cells that produce the reproductive units. Since it is extremely unlikely for females to possess the genetic coding necessary to cultivate the plants, the only option for males is to breed with other males. When the chromosomes are paired up properly, all of the desirable characteristics of each generation are passed on to the next, resulting in the ultimate plant.
When researchers began studying marijuana, they discovered that there are two distinct forms of cannabis, which differ in their production of buds. Short lived or psychoactive, strains tend to produce small amounts of buds, which may be observed during routine pot growing procedures. Longer lasting, or sedative, buds are not observed during the process, but can be detected during testing of buds that have gone through an extended period of storage. The chemical composition of long lived cannabis is highly identical to that of the short lived varieties; however, the latter tends to result in shorter flowering periods. Regular cannabis seeds are typically used in the cultivation of the psychoactive variety. Longer lasting cannabis buds are only suitable for consumption when desired, as they will only flower a few weeks after planting, rather than all day long like the short lived cannabis.
Cultivators commonly use feminized or autoflowering seeds to speed up the rate of growth of plants. These are also called “fast seeds” because they give plants a greater chance to sprout. In contrast to regular cannabis seeds that allow plant growth to proceed at a more even rate, auto flower seeds allow seeds to sprout more quickly. Many farmers who grow marijuana rely on feminized or autoflowering seeds to get high quality marijuana crops in record time. They are a vital part of the marijuana cultivation process.
Unlike regular cannabis seeds that come from one male plant and one female plant, auto flower seeds are produced by cross-breeding male plants. This cross-breeding allows two different genetic compositions to occur, thus creating two completely unique types of buds. Because only females and male plants can create these cross-bred varieties, it is extremely difficult to collect and cultivate the desired results, which is why many growers depend on these traits for producing highly desirable plants. Autoflowering seeds are not commonly used by consumers, but are more common in the cultivation of medical marijuana. A cross between a male and female plant can result in the generation of male plants that have desirable characteristics, which may include lesser amount of THC, high CBD levels, or altered characteristics.
Autoflowering strains also differ from regular cannabis seeds by their Phenotype – a series of character traits that produce different overall results. The characteristics of each Phenotype are also linked to the production of each individual plant. There are five main Phenotypes and they are described as Indigestion/Cessation (I/C), Flowery/Fancy (FL), Long/Deep (LD) and Tall (T). Autoflowering strains are the result of cross-breeding two distinct Phenotypes, which results in plants that are noted for producing flowers with different colors, aromas and tastes.
When using feminized seeds, it is important that the correct conditions are met. First, the specific flower type and height must be identified so that the correct dosage of feminization can be administered. Next, a good crop timing is necessary for fully utilizing the phenotypes. Lastly, the proper pollen type and consistency must be used in order to maximize results. In addition, proper pollination and horticultural techniques must be employed in order to fully capture the desired outcomes. All of these factors need to be considered when growing cannabis with feminized seeds, which will help minimize the risk of negative effects and maximize the yield from the plants.