Regular seed is the simplest way to grow cannabis plants and it is often preferred by experienced growers. It does require a little more work but if you are looking for genetic purity, a stable genetic line and a high yield then you will benefit from using regular seeds.
In addition to being cheaper and easier to breed, regular seeds also produce a better crop than feminized seed. This is because regular seed plants are more resilient and will not turn hermaphrodite (developing both male and female flowers) under stress.
They are cheaper
If you’ve ever been to a seed catalogue, then chances are you’ve come across the term “feminized” and/or “autoflowering”. These types of seeds are relatively recent developments that were developed to help growers with their growing challenges.
But regular cannabis seeds are also an excellent option for many growers. These types of seeds are a firm favourite among old-school growers who want to experiment with breeding their own strains.
They’re also cheaper than feminized or autoflowering seeds. This is because the extra work and resources involved in culling the males from the female plants makes regular seeds a better value for money.
These seeds also provide more stable plant genetics as they’ve not been subject to any genetic modification that could affect future generations. This is an important consideration if you’re looking to pass on your harvest to your family or friends.
They are easier to breed
Regular seeds are the best option for cannabis breeders looking to produce new strains. They also offer a wider genetic pool, so growers can work with plants with different characteristics, growth pattern, leaf and stem development, aroma, yield, terpene profile and more.
However, this does mean that breeders must use a professional approach to the process, which includes correctly labelling all their seedlings. This is especially important if you plan to reproduce first generation lineage (F1 breeding) and back-crossing.
Another reason that regular seed is easier to breed is that it provides more stable plant genetics than feminized varieties. Feminized seeds have been genetically tampered with, which makes them less likely to produce robust descendants in the future.
They are more stable
Regular seeds are much more stable than other types of seed. The reason for this is that they have not undergone any genetic tampering.
This is an important factor when it comes to plant breeding. Stable genetics are the key to producing consistent offspring every time a plant is grown from a particular seed.
In contrast, feminized seeds undergo human tampering, which can make them unstable. This means that they are less likely to produce robust descendants, making them difficult to grow.
Feminized plants also have a greater chance of turning into hermaphrodites (plants that are both male and female) when they are stressed. This is why many growers choose to use a mix of feminized and non-feminized seeds.
These two types of seeds have different pros and cons, and it’s up to the grower to decide which one will suit them best. Regardless, regular seeds are more stable than feminized varieties, and are often preferable for the beginner grower who is looking to get their feet wet and hone their growing skills.
They are easier to grow
Regular seed is easier to grow than other types of seeds. Despite the practical advantages of using them, they still require a lot of growing space, nutrients and medium.
They also require a lot of time and effort to be managed correctly. If you don’t have enough female plants to pollinate your male plants, you won’t be able to produce the amount of buds that you need to achieve your ideal yields.
Luckily, it’s possible to breed regular seeds in order to achieve female varieties of the cannabis plant. By focusing on the females only, you can be sure that your crop will hit its target size and yields.
Besides being a great way to breed new strains, regular seeds are popular among outdoor growers who wish to introduce some natural cannabis varieties back into the wild. They also allow for the collection of mother plants, which can be used as a base for further cross-pollination.
