Whether you’re purchasing marijuana seeds for medical purposes, or are looking to start your very own Cannabusiness — in areas where marijuana is legal — there are some things you need to know.
Weed seeds are the heart of any medical marijuana business. Whatever your goals, it all starts with the cannabis seed itself. Choosing the right cannabis seeds can be a bit daunting for novice grower. Cannabis seed sellers can often have exhausting lists of cannabis seeds that showcase different ranges of THC and CBD content, as well as flowers and plants. Terms like “autoflowering” and “feminized” may not make sense to someone who’s just starting to grow.
“Weed seeds are the heart of any
medical marijuana business.
Choosing the right cannabis seeds can be
a bit daunting for novice grower.”
Sticky situations also arise when it comes to cultivation. Understanding how to store seeds properly, collect and breed your own, create clones, and even pollinate plants makes “just growing some weed” far more difficult than it sounds. But having some basic knowledge about the plants and cannabis seeds themselves can help you to create the crop of your dreams. These ten important aspects of marijuana seeds can help get you growing in no time.
Ten Important Aspects of Marijuana Seeds
1. Laws Concerning Cannabis Seeds
Laws concerning the purchase of cannabis seeds and cultivation of plants are extremely varied, based on where you are. Certain countries throughout the world allow for personal crops, where in others it’s highly illegal. Some places you can have seeds, some you can’t. Specifically in the US, laws vary greatly from state to state. It’s important to be aware of what the law says about growing cannabis at home, as well as any laws associated with the country you plan on buying your cannabis seeds from.
2. How to Order Seeds
The online marketplace for cannabis seeds is definitely thriving. It’s not difficult to find a store that is capable of catering to the exact needs and demands of any one individual. However, you have to be sure that you’re getting your seeds from a reputable dealer, and that they are legally capable of getting their seeds to you. Just because a company can legally sell you seeds, and in turn it’s legal for you to own them, does not mean that it is legal to germinate the seeds or grow plants.
It’s important that you be aware of the laws of any countries you will be dealing with in this process. It’s also important to pay attention to reviews, and make sure that what you’re ordering, is in fact what you’re getting. Pay special attention to how the company that has cannabis seeds for sale stores, packages, and ships them, to ensure quality upon arrival.
3. Feminized Seeds
Feminized seeds are seeds that are genetically designed to be female. As most producers don’t want male plants (see pollinating) as only females actually produce buds that are smokable. One male plant can ruin an entire crop, so it’s important to pay close attention to your plants while they are growing, to ensure that any male plants don’t reach a flowering stage. Feminized seeds can help take the guesswork out of this system. Remember that no science is perfect, and with feminized seeds it’s still possible to wind up with a male plant now and again. If you’re using a reputable seed retailer than the likelihood of male plants will decrease with the quality of the product.
4. Autoflowering Seeds
Autoflowering strains have their ups and downs, so be aware of what it is you want to grow before you order seeds. Autoflowering plants are great for home growers that just want a stash of mellow, smokable weed. Most autoflowering strains have a much lower THC content than traditional strains, but the also take much less time and effort to grow.
Autoflowering strains can go from seed to harvest in only about 2 months, as they automatically switch from vegetative to flowering stages without needing different photocycles, where with traditional strains, you’ll have to start cycling the amount and intensity of light the plants get to encourage bud growth. Another positive/negative to growing these strains (depending on what you’re looking for) is that the plants themselves are much smaller and more compact than their sativa and indica counterparts.
5. How to Grow Seeds
Growing requires quite a bit of space if you’re not planning on choosing an autoflowering strain. If you plan on growing indoors, make sure that you have nice big pots, plenty of good soil, grow lights with timers, and fans to give the plants all the fresh air they need. Make sure to read up on the specific growing techniques designed for the type of seeds you will be purchasing before you buy- so you don’t get stuck with a handful of cannabis seeds that you can’t grow.
6. THC vs. CBD
As the news of how useful CBD really is spreads, more and more people are looking to grow either CBD only plants, or plants that produce a higher ratio of CBD to THC. Depending on what you want out of your future plant, make sure you know the exact ratio you’re looking for. The higher the CBD, the lower the psychoactive effects. The higher the THC- the higher you get. If you’re planning on making CBD only tinctures and oils, as these strains are legal to have in some countries that outlaw recreational marijuana, make sure that you research the best option for your needs.
7. Cloning plants
A great way to continue a crop that you’ve lovingly grown from seed is to create clones. Cloning plants isn’t particularly difficult and is the only way to get a plant that has the same attributes as the mother. Marijuana plants will genetically change through generational reproduction (through pollination) so even though you can cultivate and collect seeds yourself, future generations with be different from the original plant.
To create a clone, choose a sturdy and healthy lower branch from the mother plant. Using a razor blade, cut as close to the mother stem as possible at a 45 degree angle. Immediately place the stem into water and allow it to root. Then, grow, baby, grow!
8. Pollinating Plants
In order to pollinate a plant you must first grow a male plant into the flowering stage. Once pollen sacks begin to form, a few will burst open and release pollen. Once this happens, very carefully remove all of the pollen sacks and let them dry for about a week. Once they’re dry, place them in a plastic sack and shake until all of the sacks have released their pollen. You may have to pinch or cut open any sacks that don’t crack open on their own.
When you’re chosen the mother plant, about 2-3 weeks into the flowering stage, use a paint brush to pick up the collected pollen and brush it onto the whisky white hairs of the mother plant. About six weeks later you should have your own cannabis seeds!
9. Collecting Seeds
To collect the seeds you’ve now created, just pick them up as they fall off the plant! Mature seeds with be full and roundish, with a dark brown hue. Most mother plants will begin dying as soon as seeds start to form, so try and keep your plant alive long enough for all seeds to reach viability. After the mother plant has died, hang it upside down to dry so you can collect any extra seeds that haven’t fallen off. Once she’s good and dry, break up the plant over a screen and collect any seeds that fall out.
10. Storing Seeds
To properly store your weed seeds, make sure that they are perfectly clean following collection, as any leftover plant matter can contaminate them and make them harder to use later. Marijuana seeds are notoriously finicky and require specific environments to be able to achieve long term storage. Make sure that you place your uber clean seeds into an airtight container, preferably vacuum packed. Stored seeds can’t be exposed to light, oxygen, or much moisture. Some people will put a little bit of rice in with their seeds to act as a desiccant. Once your seeds are properly sealed, place them in a fridge or freezer to ensure that they don’t germinate.
What are your tips regarding Cannabis seeds?
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