Why Grow Feminized Seeds?

Regular cannabis seeds are made when a male cannabis plant pollens a female cannabis flower. Male pollen is airborne and blown by the strong wind (or transferred by the hand of a skilled breeder) to the flowering buds where it finds the most suitable receptive buds. It is a process of independent evolution, without the need for guidance from any kind of “guide.” This process also ensures that the potency of each individual flower is highly variable; thus, each plant has its own “unique” and distinctive characteristics that separate it from the others. If you have ever had a chance to professionally grow cannabis, then you know how essential it is for the eventual flowering of potent cannabis.

In fact, the very word, ‘cannabis,’ is a misnomer. In common usage, cannabis is often thought of as just a weed. While it is true that marijuana is commonly seen as a weed growing on your lawn or garden, the truth is that it contains dozens of distinct varieties, all with distinctly different physical and even genetic compositions. Just like regular cannabis seeds, these feminized seeds have undergone independent evolution. And just like the marijuana plant itself, they are subject to change and mutation overtime.

When a male cannabis flower pollens a female cannabis flower, the pollen sacs open and allow the pollen to be released. These contain high levels of estrogen and, while they may look quite similar to male flowers, the pollen sacs contain female chromosomes. This means that the plants will grow into females only if they receive adequate amounts of male pollen. And since females need the same conditions to flourish as males, the result is a feminized cannabis plant. The end result can be highly successful breeding between different feminized strains of marijuana, producing strains with altered traits and flavor profiles.

There are two ways to cultivate feminized cannabis plants. One is through autoflowering seeds, which are specially designed for the task. Autoflowering seeds, also known as “feminized hydroponic” seeds, contain both male and female chromosomes and therefore look and behave like regular cannabis seeds. These seeds can be sown in containers and transferred to outdoor gardens. But some growers find that there are significant disadvantages to using autoflowering seeds.

First, they may be difficult to obtain. Since many marijuana cultivators consider feminized cannabis varieties to be a highly desirable breed, it may be difficult to find reliable breeders willing to source them. Some growers also face difficulty in creating the environment necessary for successful cultivation. Second, although most regular cannabis seeds look and act like regular cannabis varieties, some feminized strains do not behave like regular seeds because they contain special genetic make-up.

Hybrid marijuana producers may use regular seeds to hybridize their plants. In this case, regular seeds, but with one or two additional chromosomes from other species, replace the mother plant‘s chromosomes. This allows the producing plants to contain genes from more than one species, increasing the likelihood of disease and insect resistance. However, it also increases the chances of producing abnormal and irregular flowering plants, sometimes referred to as “feral populations.” Many hybrid cannabis strains have been identified with characteristics indicative of having undergone frequent cross-breeding.

Cultivators may also save time and expense by breeding their feminized seeds at home instead of sending the plants to seed banks. Home cultivation allows growers to identify and select desirable characteristics in each plant and create the conditions necessary for continuous yield production. Breeders can also increase the yields from each plant by carefully selecting the best growing period for each type of hybrid. The result is a consistently high quality crop that is free of defects and produces larger yields than can be produced from seed banks. For these reasons, home gardeners and indoor gardeners who are interested in growing cannabis are better served by engaging in cultivating feminized seeds rather than regular cannabis seeds.

Hybrid plants are most often healthier and produce more vigorous, larger blooms than do regular cannabis seeds from which the plants are bred. However, the greater vigor and production of feminized plants come at a cost. There is a greater chance that the plants will suffer from fewer diseases and bugs because of the genetic variance that is present in their composition. Regular cannabis strains have been shown to be free of bugs and disease, while hybrid varieties do have more problems with a susceptible root system and an inability to withstand drought or heat.