As the popularity of feminized seeds grows, some growers are asking why Sensi Seeds still carries regular cannabis seeds. The simple answer is that we believe there are certain situations where regular seed will prove more advantageous than feminized.
Regular seed produces male and female plants in a natural ratio of 50/50. For breeders this is ideal because it preserves genetic stability and allows for phenotype variation.
Stability
Regular seeds preserve genetic stability, making them an ideal choice for breeders who want to explore new strains or maintain consistency in existing ones. Unlike feminized seeds, which are produced by forcing a female plant to produce male plants through artificial means, regular seeds allow the grower to select only the desired female plants for breeding.
The ability to select only female plants can lead to a higher yield than a typical feminized crop, as the grower will not have to cull the majority of her plants due to being male. This can be a major benefit to growers who wish to maximize the amount of buds they can harvest and recoup their growing costs.
However, because regular seeds can produce both male and female plants, growers must be sure to sex their crops promptly and remove any male plants. Failure to do so can result in cross-pollination, reducing the yield and quality of your crop.
Breeding
Regular cannabis seeds operate just as Mother Nature intended. They have a 50% chance of emerging as either male or female plants, which allows growers and breeders to create new cultivars and produce superior clones. During cultivation, growers can take advantage of hermaphroditism by brushing pollen from a male plant onto a female plant to fertilize it and create hybrids.
This method of breeding can yield great results. For example, growing a male plant with a female can accelerate flowering and increase the crop’s potency. You can also experiment with blending strains to create unique cultivars. For instance, mixing an indica and sativa can result in a balanced strain with unique terpene profiles. This can be a great way to explore the potential of a new strain or add extra flavor and aroma to an existing one. However, be careful not to overdo the breeding or you could end up with hermaphrodites or other undesirable traits.
Phenotype Variation
Regular seeds are a great option for experienced growers who want to preserve the genetics of their preferred strain. They offer a lot of flexibility in terms of plant size and flowering time, and can produce both male and female plants. However, they do have a higher chance of producing hermaphroditic plants, which can cause unwanted pollination and a decrease in overall crop quality. Therefore, careful monitoring is required to identify and remove hermaphroditic plants.
Variation in seed size and number is a key trait for crop fitness, but genetic factors influencing these traits remain largely unknown (Sadras 2007). The natural variation observed in both seed size and seed number in wild accessions of A. thaliana provides an ideal model for studying the genetic architecture of these traits. However, to date, most studies of gene-by-gene variation in seed traits have focused on mutant screens. In this study, we use a QTL mapping approach to explore genetic variation in both seed weight and seed number and their interaction with other life-history traits.
Cost
Unlike feminized seeds, regular seeds operate exactly how nature intended. This means every seed has a 50% chance of emerging as a male or female plant. The advantage of this is that cultivators can use the male plants for breeding.
Male plants are valuable because they contain pollen sacks that can fertilize the female colas and produce seeds. This process produces new cultivars and helps maintain the genetic integrity of a strain.
From a financial perspective, regular seeds are cheaper to produce than feminized ones. This makes them a popular choice for growers who prefer the challenge of culling male plants from their crop.
With a wide selection of high-quality regular cannabis seeds, you’ll find the perfect cultivar to suit your needs. Whether you’re looking for a citrusy sativa like Amnesia Lemon or a therapeutic indica such as Harlequin x Bubba Kush, our collection has something to suit every taste.
