Every cannabis grower wishes the marijuana growing process to be easy and straightforward. Unfortunately, it’s not always like that because factors like buying marijuana seeds, what to do to achieve the best results, and where to grow can overwhelm them. This situation is compounded by the many suppliers and strains that make it challenging to select the right seeds to grow.
There’s no doubt that better yields are generated from quality seeds bought at i49. Some dispensaries may also sell you seeds, though you need to evaluate them. Developing quality seeds requires experience in plant management and horticulture. That’s why seed banks are the ideal places to purchase your seeds, as they’ll ensure that you get exactly what you ordered – whether it’s auto-flowering or feminized seeds.
Salespeople in dispensaries may not know what exactly you need. They may end up giving you male seeds that don’t germinate buds or seeds that may fail to grow. IN this article, you’ll learn some basic things you need to consider when choosing marijuana seeds to grow.
The Gender Of Marijuana Seeds
Marijuana plants can either be female, male or hermaphrodites. Their reproductive organs are allocated on separate plants. Seeds are developed when male plants pollinate female plants. Most cannabis that’s consumed for leisure comes from seedless female flowers. That’s why it’s difficult to find seeds in products you buy from the dispensary.
Hermaphrodite marijuana plants have female and male reproductive organs that they use to generate pollen and self-pollinate. Seeds will be created through cross-pollination or self-pollination. When they mature, they drop from the plant. You can use them to produce new strains or harvest them to develop hemp oil.
How To Distinguish Female And Male Weed Seeds
Though some people believe it’s easy to differentiate male and female marijuana seeds through appearance, the only sure way of determining their sex is monitoring their growth. You can identify the sex of a marijuana plant before it flowers. That’s about after six weeks.
You’ll know that it’s a female plant if it has small buds between the branch and the central stalk. It’s these buds that grow to become flowers. Females also have white pistil hairs that sprout where the bud is supposed to form. Usually, there’ll be one or two white hairs in between the main stalk and the branch. As the flower matures, they change to red or orange.
You’ll know male plants through pollen sacks on the branches. They’re tulip-shaped and don’t have pistil hairs. Some people think that they resemble a penis and balls. If you notice some male plants in your garden, uproot them immediately.
If left to grow together, a cross-pollination will take place that will make the female plant develop seeds instead of producing flowers. IT would be best to protect your plants from pollination if you want to have a successful harvest. Most growers discard male plants because they don’t affect consumers in any way. However, they’re useful inbreeding.
Why You Need To Grow Seeds And Not Clones
Growing seeds have numerous advantages over germinating clones. Seeds generate tap roots that support the plants, making them more stable and healthy. On the contrary, clones don’t develop taproots, making plants less stable and unable to absorb enough water and nutrients.
Seeds have many varieties that you can select based on your desired end-product. Researchers also indicated that plants developed from seeds give higher yields and undergo less stress. That means they’ll not easily be affected by pests and diseases. If you’re a beginner, seeds are a great way to start growing because you can purchase them secretly in online shops.
Types Of Cannabis Seeds
The type of cannabis seed you select will determine the yield you get and how much care you give to your plant. Some options you can choose include:
- Feminized Cannabis Seeds
Feminized seeds are designed to produce female plants. They don’t occur naturally but are developed through feminization. Feminization occurs when the plants are sprayed with gibberellic acid or colloidal silver.
If you plant these seeds, you won’t worry about dealing with hermaphrodites because they may not produce such plants. Planting feminized seeds will help you determine the sex of the plants at the growth stage and save you time and money. That’s because they only have one female gene.
They’re not the best option to plant to get diversity. But they’re most suitable for growers interested in generating buds. Beginner growers who don’t know how to single out male plants that may lower their yields can also plant feminized seeds.
- Regular Cannabis Seeds
Regular marijuana seeds generate both female and plants. They’re natural because they don’t undergo a genetic or chemical alteration. If you plant them, you’ll end up with seeds that are half female and half male. Everyone, including a beginner, can grow regular seed.
However, you need to know how to identify their sex early enough to stop male plants from pollinating the female plants. Even if you remove the male plants, the female plants may become hermaphrodites. Therefore, it’s important to always lookout for a ball-like pollen sack, which indicates that the plant is transforming into a hermaphrodite.
- Auto-Flowering Seeds
Auto-flowering seeds automatically begin flowering at a certain stage. They differ from other marijuana strains that start flowering when light exposure is reduced. They come in either regular or feminized verities. You don’t have to use light to stimulate the plants to flower.
It’s also great for outdoor growing and in areas with short summers because they maximize the long summer days and absorb as much light as they can. If you want to maximize your yield, these plants are the best choice because they flower sooner, allowing you to harvest more yearly.
Unlike other seed varieties, auto-flowering seeds don’t require too much attention. They have an outlined schedule for the first six weeks. That’s when you should monitor them closely. Once the six weeks are gone, they’ll be mature and produce excellent yields without much monitoring.
Summing Up
Being a marijuana grower doesn’t require extensive knowledge but needs you to know some basic things. Understanding how to differentiate a female from a male plant, selecting the right seeds, and the advantages of using seeds over clones can be a great starting point.
