If you’re planning to grow cannabis, it’s important to know what type of seed is best suited for your needs. There are several different types: autoflowering, regular and feminized seeds.
While feminized seeds are the most common and preferable, they’re not always available. Regular seeds are a viable alternative that can also work well if you can’t find them.
Breeding
Regular seed is a natural cannabis strain that has not been genetically modified or chemically altered. It contains an equal ratio of male and female plants and is a good option for breeders.
Whether you’re looking to create your own landrace strains, or simply want to try crossing two different varieties for new traits, breeding your own seed is an exciting prospect. However, you’ll need to be willing to put in the time and energy needed for successful results.
The key is to start with a small quantity of seeds. This will give you a decent range of male and female plants to choose from, while also allowing you to cull the best of them early on if necessary.
A good tip is to label your seeds with a number and strain name, which will make it easier to sort them later on. This will also help you to make detailed notes about their characteristics and their growth and flowering cycles.
Cloning
If you plan on growing regular seed in a greenhouse or hydroponic growroom, you may consider cloning them. Clones are genetically identical copies of the original plant, and they are generally easier to care for than seeds.
You can use clones to produce new plants in a short amount of time. However, you should be aware that clones are also vulnerable to environmental stressors such as pests and disease.
For a consistent source of clones, select mother plants that have been grown in the vegetative growth stage and are at least two months old. They should be healthy, have strong roots and a relatively good color.
Varieties
Regular seed varieties are purebred marijuana strains that have been kept pure by nature, or by breeders. They stem from landrace ancestors found across the globe, from Afghanistan to Jamaica and beyond.
They have a natural proportion of female and male plants, which means you can use them for breeding your own unique strains. You can also hybridize your favorite regular seeds with new genetics for even more variety and performance.
Unlike feminized seeds, which are artificially induced to express only the female gene, regular seed varieties are 100% natural and have a high genetic stability. This is especially important if you want to clone or breed them.
In addition, regular cannabis seeds are more affordable than their feminized counterparts. They’re also a good choice for novice growers.
Price
Regular seed costs depend on a variety of factors. The quality of the seeds, the economic principles of supply and demand, the amount of THC in the strain, and the legality of buying cannabis seeds in your location all play a role in determining their price.
A high-quality, high-THC seed will be more expensive than a low-quality, lower-THC seed. This is because the high-quality seeds have undergone a more intensive research and development process.
In addition, high-quality genetics are more resistant to pests and diseases than cheap seed varieties. This makes them an ideal choice for growers who want to maximize the amount of cannabis harvested from their crops.
While feminized seeds are more expensive than regular seed varieties, they offer a greater yield per plant. Feminized seeds also require a higher level of care to produce. This can mean a bigger upfront cost than purchasing regular seeds, but the increased success rate will help you recoup your investment quickly.
