Regular seeds are a common choice for seasoned growers and breeders who want to work with their plants before they flower. These seeds can be a great way to develop phenotypes, explore genotypes and morphologies, and learn the basics of cannabis breeding.
However, growing regular cannabis seeds isn’t as easy as working with feminized or autoflowering seeds. In addition, half of the seeds you plant will likely turn into males.
Breeding
Regular seeds carry a genetic mixture of male and female plants, enabling breeding. Breeders use regular seeds to raise both male and female plants to create resilient clones that reduce growing times and can be used for selective breeding and backcrossing.
Until the 1980s, there were only regular cannabis seeds available for growers. Then came feminized and autoflowering varieties that stole the spotlight from the all-natural type.
Feminized seeds are great for creating new strains and standardized phenotypes, but they don’t offer the same level of genetic variation as regular seeds.
In nature, seed diversity is what makes a plant a species. That’s why cannabis breeders use regular seeds to breed, separating males from females for breeding and selecting the best specimens for pollination.
Dutch Passion offers a fantastic selection of regular seeds, including many old school classics from the 80s and earlier. These are perfect for heritage enthusiasts or breeders seeking a more authentic cannabis experience.
Cloning
Cloning is a process wherein a small sample of a plant’s tissue is grown under a grower’s control. This sample is soaked and sterilized, and the tissue is then introduced to a culture mix that contains different hormones and nutrients to promote growth and root development.
A clone can be a genetically identical plant, retaining all of the traits of its mother plant. It can also have a reduced yield and is less resistant to disease, pests and other environmental factors.
Some growers use clones to create their own strains, or they might buy them from a cannabis nursery. The latter is a good option for those who do not have the space to conduct pheno-hunting, as it can be a fast way to introduce new strains into production.
Genetics
Genetics is the branch of biology that studies genes, their effects on an organism and how they are inherited by offspring. It was first studied by Gregor Mendel, a 19th-century monk who observed the pattern of trait inheritance in pea plants.
He argued that differences between individuals are determined by single hereditary factors, called genes, which are located on chromosomes. These genes can vary from one individual to the next and are passed to offspring via sperm and egg in both sexual and asexual reproduction.
However, this model of genetics is unable to explain how certain physical features and personality traits are inherited. In order to understand how genes work, scientists study both genetic diversity and mutations.
During the growing cycle, a plant expresses its genotype (the DNA code it has) through its growth and flowering patterns, which is known as phenotype. Two seeds from the same parents have slightly different genotypes and display slightly different phenotypes, even though they are treated the same throughout the entire growing process.
Price
The price of regular seeds can vary significantly depending on a number of factors. These factors include the type of seed, its quality, supply and demand, production costs, and legality in your country.
A good way to find the best price is by buying seeds in bulk. This usually gets you a bulk discount, free shipping, and sometimes extra seeds to boot!
If you’re looking for high-quality cannabis seeds that are guaranteed to germinate, you should check out Seedsman. It’s a reputable seed bank that has partnered with 50 world-class breeders to offer its customers a wide variety of premium genetics.
In contrast, feminized seeds are a great choice for growers who want to get their hands on the same high-quality strains as those available from a reputable seed bank, but at a lower cost. Feminized seeds are incredibly efficient, saving you time and energy by cutting out much of the guesswork involved in germinating.
