Cannabis Seeds
Cannabis seeds are what most new growers will be starting a grow with. Here we will take a look at how they are made and where to obtain them.
How a Seed Is Made
Cannabis seeds are traditionally created from a male and female cannabis plant. In the flowering cycle, a male plant creates pollen in pollen sacs, and when the pollen sacs are fully developed, they open up, spreading the pollen around, which will pollinate any nearby female flowers. From this point, a seed will be fully developed in the female flowers in about 1−2 months.
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While that is how most seeds are produced, there is an exception to this, and that is from hermaphrodite plants. Due to either genetics, external stress, or certain chemicals, female cannabis plants can create their own pollen sacs, which can pollinate itself as well as other female plants. Because the seeds created this way have no male genes, all the resulting seeds will grow to be female plants as well, which is how feminized seeds are created.
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However, based on how the hermaphrodite plant came to be, the seeds it produces could have a chance of becoming a hermaphrodite plant as well, which would make these seeds terrible for bud production, but as long as the parent plant started with good genetics and became a hermaphrodite through the right processes, the odds of her seeds becoming hermaphrodites are much lower.
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The Types of Seeds Available
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As for the different types of cannabis seeds available, there are two categories of seeds and then two types for each category. The photoperiod “normal” seeds and the ruderalis “automatic” seeds are two species of cannabis that have different growing traits due to their lighting requirements, and then there are regular seeds and feminized seeds for each of those species.
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In terms of what to look for in a healthy seed, although each different strain of cannabis has seeds that could look slightly different from each other, the rule of thumb is that if the seed is firm and dark in color, then it is mature and ready for germination. If it is lighter in color and soft, then it is underdeveloped and probably won't sprout. This is, of course, a generalization and useful only if you are making your own seeds. If buying seeds, as long as you are buying from a trusted source, you should expect that, no matter what the seeds look like, they are ready to germinate.
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Where to Obtain Seeds
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In terms of where to buy seeds, if you have access to a local dispensary, some will have seeds (and/or clones) for sale; otherwise, there are a lot of reputable seed banks online. You can find an up-to-date list of the ones that we have experience with at: http://www.WeedinaPot.com/Seeds all of which will ship the seeds to just about anywhere in the world.
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For unused seeds, you want to store them in a dark, cool and dry environment. Cannabis seeds will germinate when in contact with moisture in a warm environment, so by preventing both, it ensures the seed can be stored long-term. In general, seeds can last for a few years if stored correctly, although the longer they are stored, the lower the odds of germination.
Regular vs Automatic Seeds: Which Are More Beginner-Friendly?
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Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this question, as both types of seeds have their pros and cons. Regular seeds are more error-friendly during the vegetative stage, as any issues that arise delaying a plant’s growth can usually be offset by prolonging the vegetative stage. Automatic seeds, however, can handle any type of light schedule, allowing for grows in areas where accidental light leaks might happen. Automatic seeds also shorten the entire grow cycle considerably, allowing less time for pests, mold and mildew to develop on a plant, but with automatic seeds, any mistakes made during the grow cycle that stunts a plant’s growth will result in a smaller yield.
Did this guide help? This article was taken directly from The Absolute Beginner's Guide to Growing Cannabis book, so if you like the advice above you'll love the rest of the book, which includes a lot of exclusive content not found anywhere else. You can find both the e-book and paperback copy on Amazon, and it's free with a Kindle Unlimited subscription!