Regular cannabis seeds have both female and male seeds in an optimal percentage of 50/ fifty. Therefore, in order to determine which is which, the cannabis seeds must first be germinated and then grown until they either sprout new leaves (oria) or start to appear as males (pedal buds). The female counterpart of this plant, the cannabis flower has a greenish-black appearance and will usually float on top of the potting soil. The male counterpart has the typical large flowers that link to a colorful purple head of hair.
There are many reasons why this popular form of herb can be feminized. Most female flowers will flower first and then the male will follow. Growers commonly use feminized cannabis seeds for ensuring cross-pollination between different types of plants. This makes for healthier plants overall because any cross-pollination increases the amount of feminized plants that may be produced. Some growers also feminize cannabis seeds to make them resistant to bugs and diseases that cross-breeding various forms of herb. These traits make feminized seeds more sought-after by growers.
There are two main methods of cross-breeding used to create feminized cannabis seeds. The first method, which is most popular, is called autoflowering. With autoflowering, seeds are transferred to a growing system that produces the desired characteristics of the mother plant. For example, with autoflowering, regular seeds are transferred into a growing system that produces small stubby bundles. When those seeds germinate and grow to about six inches, the stubby bundles are separated and the seeds are dispersed over the rest of the garden soil.
The second method is known as introgression. This process involves a different set of breeding methods that cross breed regular cannabis seeds from one particular variety of herb to another. There are many different varieties of herbs out there, so it can be difficult to determine which varieties will produce the characteristics that we want to make our gardens and plants appear to our naked eyes. This is why introgression planting techniques were developed.
With introgression, plants are crossed with mother plants that have the desired characteristics we are looking for. In this case, the plants are usually grown in their natural environment, but are not “parents” in the sense that they do not give birth to their children. The result is a hybrid offspring of two parents that produces the characteristics that we want. To achieve this, the plants are crossed with other plants that produce similar or the same characteristics. These characteristics are what make some of the more common varieties so desirable.
Introgression does not always end with crossing, however. Mother plants can be crossed with wild strains that are rarely seen in cultivation, like Chinese and Portuguese herbs. These strains have been crossed with regular cannabis seeds so that they are able to tolerate the more extreme conditions they are put through in the cultivation process. Some examples of these are Lemon Grass and Cheese Plant, which are able to withstand the lack of heat and moisture typical of greenhouse growing. They are then crossed with strains like Brain Grass and African Mango to create strains that are more tolerant to more of the challenges of growing in a traditional greenhouse.
Autoflowering is another method of crossbreeding that can be used to create a feminized crop. This is a common practice used with medical marijuana, especially when the plant has specific traits or disease resistance that allow it to be feminized. Autoflowering is different than typical autoflowering because it is done on a continuous basis. When the plants are growing in their natural environment, they may still go through autoflowering. But, if they are taken out of their environment to be exposed to further autoflowering treatments, they will begin to regenerate. The plants themselves do not go through any actual feminization process when they are autoflowering; it is the feminization process that is responsible for the plants’ development.
Many of the most popular hybrid varieties available today can be considered as having feminized cannabis seeds. But, despite their potential to produce feminized cannabis seeds, some hybrid strains have had very little input from their environment or genetics. They have been crossbred to produce results that are not representative of what would be found in their environment. This can be frustrating for patients who hope to harvest a crop that is truly representative of the plants found in their region.