If you’re looking to grow a variety of marijuana strains, regular seeds are the way to go. As long as you separate your male and female plants, these seeds will produce smokable buds and new seeds.
But, like all other cannabis seeds, they can still turn into hermaphrodites if stressed. That’s why many growers choose feminized seeds.
Breeding
Although many growers now prefer feminized seeds, regular cannabis seeds are still very much a part of the cultivation world. They can be used to breed new strains by using a simple process that involves placing a male plant near a female to produce pollen. This pollen can then fertilize the female plant to produce new seeds.
While it may take a bit more time and effort to produce new seeds, this method can be highly rewarding for the patient grower. This is especially true for those that like to get creative with their breeding endeavors.
To begin the breeding process, a grower must first identify the sex of each of their plants. This can be done by examining the nodes located at the base of the stems. As the plant enters the flowering stage, the nodes will start to develop pollen sacks and stigmas. It is important to quickly identify and cull the male plants to prevent them from pollinating the females and producing seeds.
Cloning
While clones are exact copies of their mother plants, they don’t grow as fast or as easily as seeds. They also require a lot of care and attention to prevent nutrient burn or other problems.
When selecting a clone, look for a branch that is sturdy and has at least two nodes. The cutting must be a full-grown plant, and it should be free of insect pests, fungi, and other diseases. Soak the clone in water with a pH of 5.5 before transplanting it to its growing medium, which can be Jiffys or rockwool cubes.
If you’re not planning on breeding, choose a regular pack of marijuana seeds. Then, inspect the mother plants for male pollen sacs and discard them before they can pollinate your female cultivars and produce weed seeds instead of smokable buds. This will keep your yields high and your harvests consistent. Otherwise, select feminized seed packs that provide a 99% guarantee of female plants.
Genetic Diversity
With such a strong focus on feminized seeds, it’s easy to forget that regular cannabis seeds play an important role in maintaining genetic diversity. Seed banks like Seeds Here Now are crucial in this endeavour, helping breeders maintain a large and diverse range of marijuana strains. This is done by offering a selection of landrace and heirloom varieties, as well as hybrid creations. F1 hybrid cannabis seeds are created when two different strains are crossed and their offspring exhibit ‘hybrid vigour’, displaying traits from both parent strains.
Regular seeds are also the preferred choice of growers who wish to start breeding their own strains. They are the only seeds that contain male and female chromosomes, and can therefore be used to create feminized marijuana plants. This eliminates the need for identifying and removing male plants, and saves time and effort. It’s also a great way to learn more about selective breeding and backcrossing. This can be highly gratifying, as you’ll end up with your own unique and potent strains.
Tough Plants
Many growers are choosing feminized seeds over regular ones, but regulars still have their place. Before feminized seeds were available, cultivators had to identify male plants early in the flowering stage and remove them before they pollinated the females, producing seedy buds. Male plants are useful, though, because they produce pollen that can fertilize other female plants to create more marijuana strains.
If you’re interested in working with regular seeds, it’s best to find a trustworthy seller that practices impeccable storage. This ensures that the seeds aren’t exposed to light for long periods of time, which can dry out their nutrient reserves and make them hard to germinate.
The best way to tell if your seeds are viable is to perform the “float test.” Put them in a glass of spring or distilled water and let them soak. Healthy, viable seeds will sink to the bottom of the glass, while immature seeds will float on top. The shells of high-quality seeds will also have a sheen and feel supple between your fingers.