When it comes to growing cannabis, there are many different types of seeds that cultivators can choose from. The main difference between them is whether they’re feminized or regular.
Feminized seeds are designed to produce only female plants, while regular seeds may also produce males. If you’re looking to breed or take clones, it’s a good idea to go with regular seed strains instead of feminized ones.
Stable Genetics
Stable cannabis genetics are a must for any cultivator. They provide consistency in a plant’s cannabinoid profile and predictable flowering times, which help growers manage their operations efficiently.
To create a stable strain, breeders select two healthy parents and cross them repeatedly to produce offspring that contain traits from both of their ancestors. Depending on parent stability, these offspring will display different phenotypes, including growth, organoleptic, and psychoactive traits.
However, when one or both of these parents are unstable, they can result in a wide range of heterozygous offspring that are not expected to express Mendelian ratios. These offspring are referred to as F1 hybrids, and will be crossed again to create the f2 generation.
This is a time-consuming process, and it can take more than twelve generations before breeders can successfully create a stable seed. This is one reason that agtech companies are becoming increasingly active in the cannabis space, as they have the expertise and resources to develop new stable seeds.
Easy to Breed
Regular seeds are a good choice for breeders looking to cross-breed strains. They can produce male and female plants, making them ideal for breeding marijuana strains.
The main advantage of regular seed is that it produces a natural proportion of male and female cannabis plants. This means that you will have a better chance of getting a high-quality, cannabinoid-rich crop.
In addition, regular seeds are more stable than feminized ones. This makes them ideal for keeping mother plants for taking cuttings or clones.
Some growers also find that they can use regular seed to create their own unique phenotypes. They can do this by breeding two different strains together and collecting pollen from the resulting hybrid.
Despite the advantages of regular seed, there are some growers who still prefer to use feminized seeds for breeding purposes. Generally, feminized seeds are better for commercial growers who are looking for a specific sex ratio, while growers looking to cross-breed their favourite strains or develop new varieties should consider using regular seed instead.
More Vigorous Plants
A big reason to stock regular seeds over feminized is that they typically produce more vigorous plants that can better handle stress and tolerate a larger number of growing conditions. This is especially true if you are taking cuttings from your mother plant, which will give you a healthier strain that you can keep and pass on to future generations.
Another important benefit to using regular seeds is that they are a good source of source material for breeding and creating new cannabis varieties. This is particularly helpful for growers who are interested in creating their own unique genetics, rather than hybridising.
Buying and growing a large number of cannabis seeds can be stressful, so it’s always helpful to know what you’re getting into before you commit. There are many different options, including autoflowering seeds (photoperiod-dependent), feminized seed and old-school, untreated normal cannabis seeds. Ultimately, what works best for you depends on your needs and preferences.
Less Expensive
There are a variety of factors that play into seed price, such as the strain, quality, and where you buy from. In general, more common varieties of seeds are usually less expensive than more exotic ones.
Regular seeds are a popular choice among growers who want to create genetically sturdy clones. They’re also great for those who want to try breeding.
Feminized seeds, on the other hand, are a better option for growers who want to focus on yield. They don’t require growers to worry about sexing males and are easier to germinate.
However, the downside is that feminized seeds are more expensive than their regular counterparts. For that reason, many growers choose to use a mix of both types. They can select the strongest plants for their crops and can then cross them with a desired strain to create new hybrids. This is a lot of work and can be time-consuming, but it’s worth it in the end.
