Autoflowering seeds are typically a mixture of cannabis sativa or indica with cannabis ruderalis, a species native to Russia and Asia. People don’t grow cannabis ruderalis on its own because it typically lacks a high degree of THC content. But because this species flowers automatically after roughly seven weeks and fares well in cold weather, these traits have made them desirable to use for interbreeding. An autoflowering cannabis strain switches from the vegetative stage to the flowering stage automatically instead of requiring closely timed hours of light and dark. Photoperiod flowering seeds start to bloom after the summer solstice, while autoflowering seeds flower after a specific phase of the development period. In other words, they grow automatically (hence their name, “autoflowering”) when they reach the right size.
Autoflowering cannabis plants tend to be smaller than other cannabis plants, especially in comparison to sativa strains (indica tends to be shorter, regardless if they’re autoflowering or photoperiod flowering). In comparison to regular photoperiod flowering feminized cannabis, autoflowering strains are better able to fend off mold and pests. Read more details and benefits to growing autoflowering seeds below.
Autoflowering seeds tend to grow more quickly than indica and sativa strains, with some strains ready for harvest from seed in as little as 2-3 months.
Autoflowering plants don’t rely on the amount of light available each day to enter the flowering stage. This independence means you can harvest outdoor-grown mature buds several times a year. How do you do it? One way is to stagger your plants. Start a couple of plants a month or two before the rest. That way, you can harvest some plants while others are nearing maturity, and the harvest cycle continues. You could also start a few plants at the beginning of your outdoor growing season, and then plant a few more once the first few plants have finished. Because they grow so fast, there is plenty of time.
One of the biggest pro is their small size. Because of their cannabis ruderalis heritage, autoflowering marijuana plants tend to be smaller and more compact when compared to the ordinary sativa, indica, and hybrids of these two. This smaller size makes autoflowering cannabis plants suitable for growing in confined spaces, such as a garden or on your balcony. Their compact size also makes it easier to look after. It’s simple – if your plant grows past six feet and you can’t see the top of it, it will be harder to manage. Autos, however, rarely exceed 1,2m, so it is easy to trim, train, or otherwise care for them during the different stages of their growth.
Autoflowering cannabis seeds exhibit this attribute. They switch into a flowering mode as a result of their genetic programming rather than environmental factors, such as the amount of light they are receiving each day. Therefore, you don’t have to bother changing to a 12/12 light cycle to induce the flowering phase in autoflowering marijuana plants. Autoflowering strains in general require less maintenance, making them easier to grow.
Another key benefit of autoflowering marijuana plants is an easy growing experience due to their ruderalis heritage. Because of their fast adaptation as detailed above, these plants are hardy and resistant to several adverse conditions. Ordinary cannabis plants can easily succumb to many diseases and pests, but autoflowering plants will stand up to such a threat and survive.
Similarly, autoflowering strains are also resistant to mold, overfeeding, and underfeeding, while regular photoperiod varieties will be adversely affected by these conditions. If you live in an area where the climate can change rather quickly, or you aren’t too particular about maintaining the ideal growing conditions for cannabis, then opt for autoflowering strains since these are more forgiving when conditions aren’t exactly right.
Research into the medicinal value of marijuana is still ongoing, but we, so far, know a lot about the therapeutic benefits of cannabidiol (CBD). It is actually one of the most abundant cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. The ruderalis genetics in autoflowering cannabis seeds lead to plants that are relatively lower in THC content and higher in CBD. This means that those looking to enjoy the medicinal benefits of cannabis can easily obtain it from these easy-to-grow plants. However, if you are mostly interested in the high that cannabis can provide, autoflowers are still a good choice since many varieties offer high THC content (in addition to CBD).
People who are just starting out on the exciting journey of growing their own cannabis would be well advised to opt for autoflowering cannabis seeds. They are easier and less demanding to grow than photoperiod regular strains. For example, with regular strains, you need to monitor and change the light cycle so that the plants have 12 hours of darkness each day while in the flowering stage. Any light finding its way to the plants can make them halt their flowering and yield poor-quality buds. Light can also cause the plant to re-enter the vegetative phase and stay there for an indefinite duration.
Autoflowering strains are ideal for beginners because you don’t have to worry about lighting. They also grow much faster, leading to even faster rewards.
People who grow regular photoperiod cannabis plants have to go to great lengths to exclude light from their grow facilities, and this task can sometimes seem near impossible. This is because city or urban environments have artificial light that can “confuse” photoperiod plants into “thinking” that daylight hours are still more than the hours of darkness. The ambient light, therefore, tends to lower the quality and quantity of buds harvested from photoperiod cannabis strains.
However, autoflowering cannabis plants remain unaffected by the ambient light in cities, or the light which leaks into a grow facility when a tent tears or the grow facility gets damaged in any other way. The plants will, therefore, reach their full potential as long as you keep other necessary settings in order.
Take a close look at your cannabis buds. They’re covered in sticky, shining dots of resin, and in this resin are hundreds of therapeutic compounds that contribute to the effects and benefits of cannabis. You’re likely already acquainted with the plant’s two most famous compounds, THC and CBD, but there are many other compounds the plant produces in lesser abundance that seem to play a supporting role in the overall effects of a particular strain.The theory that various cannabis compounds work together to create unique effects and benefits has been coined “the entourage effect.”
When we smoke or vaporize cannabis, our bodies take in hundreds of botanical compounds. Each one arrives with unique effects and benefits, and their behavior may change in the presence of other compounds. This is the entourage effect. It’s kind of like how your mood might change depending on your social environment. How do you behave when you’re alone, at a party with strangers, or hanging out with your best friend? Your mood and the personality you project shifts depending on who’s in the room.
Cannabis plants also produce other cannabinoids like CBN, CBC, CBG, and dozens more – as well as terpenes, which are aromatic compounds also readily found in the essential oils of lavender, orange, black pepper, eucalyptus, and much more. With such a diversity of useful compounds in cannabis, the possible synergies could make your head spin with excitement. Unfortunately, there are very few studies that explore these synergies in humans – it’s still only a theory supported by a small body of research, and of course, loads of anecdotal evidence from curious cannabis enthusiasts around the world experimenting with new varieties of the plant.
This theory of the entourage effect is thoroughly described in a review called “Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects,” authored by Dr. Ethan Russo—a neurologist and pharmacologist who has long studied cannabis compounds and how they affect the body. In this review, Dr. Russo details the studied benefits of common cannabis compounds, and based on their pharmacology, describes their potential synergistic effects. To reiterate, the entourage effect remains an unproven theory. But as terpenes and novel cannabinoids become objects of consumer intrigue, we’re likely to find more research on the horizon.
In response to this decades-long demand for higher highs, the plant has been bred to contain virtually nothing but THC. Practically every other cannabinoid is a whispered afterthought, with some high-CBD cultivars posing exceptions. Getting the plant to produce a diverse “treasure trove” of therapeutic compounds will require a lot of time—and consumer demand. Interest in terpenes and rare cannabinoids is beginning to flow in, if only at a slow trickle. We’re starting to see, for example, cannabis breeders focus on CBG production and extract producers capture novel cannabinoids like CBN, CBC, and delta-8-THC.
And research on terpene entourage effects is also increasing in interest. With the continued spread of legalization and information, it’s nice to think we’re not too far off from unlocking the treasure trove cannabis has to offer.
]]>As the legal use of hemp and other cannabis products grows, consumers are becoming more curious about their options. This includes cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), two natural compounds found in plants of the Cannabis genus. Both compounds interact with your body’s endocannabinoid system, but they have very different effects.
Cannabis consumers have long prized potency (a high THC content) as one of the main factors that makes a particular strain more desirable. Though traditional demand for THC has caused an oversaturation of high-potency products, many consumers are starting to prefer less intense products that are lower in THC and higher in the non-intoxicating compound called CBD (cannabidiol). THC and CBD are both cannabinoids derived from the cannabis plant, but they’re different in many ways that may influence your next seed purchase. Read on to learn more about these compounds. While they may have a lot in common, they have some key differences that determine how they’re used.
An easy way to think about it is that THC is defined by what cannabis makes you feel, while the effects of CBD can’t be felt. The important distinction is that, unlike THC, CBD will not intoxicate you. It also addresses one of the most common reasons people choose to use CBD for pain and wellness management. CBD can also block some of the intoxicating effects of THC. By binding to cannabinoid receptors, it will keep THC from activating those receptors. This translates to a less intense psychoactive effect, which is why products with a mix of both CBD and THC are great for medicinal relief and first-time consumers.
This does not mean that CBD, by itself, cannot offer an effect. High doses of CBD often produce a profoundly relaxing experience. Like stepping out of a hot tub, your body may feel tingly and relaxed, and your brain may be clear.
Both CBD and THC have the exact same molecular structure: 21 carbon atoms, 30 hydrogen atoms, and 2 oxygen atoms. A slight difference in how the atoms are arranged accounts for the differing effects on your body. Both CBD and THC are chemically similar to your body’s endocannabinoids. This allows them to interact with your cannabinoid receptors. The interaction affects the release of neurotransmitters in your brain. Neurotransmitters are chemicals responsible for relaying messages between cells and have roles in pain, immune function, stress, and sleep, to name a few.
Despite their similar chemical structures, CBD and THC don’t have the same psychoactive effects. CBD is psychoactive, just not in the same manner as THC. It doesn’t produce the high associated with THC. CBD is shown to help with anxiety, depression, and seizures. THC binds with the cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptors in the brain. It produces a high or sense of euphoria. CBD binds very weakly, if at all, to CB1 receptors. CBD needs THC to bind to the CB1 receptor and, in turn, can help reduce some of the unwanted psychoactive effects of THC, such as euphoria or sedation.
CBD and THC have many of the same medical benefits. They can provide relief from several of the same conditions. However, CBD doesn’t cause the euphoric effects that occur with THC. Some people may prefer to use CBD because of the lack of this side effect. In June 2018, the American FDA approved Epidiolex, the first prescription medication to contain CBD. It’s used to treat rare, difficult-to-control forms of epilepsy. Epidiolex was granted a license by the European Union in September 2020.
CBD and THC both have medical benefits. They’re also both considered safe, but consider the possibility of side effects and interactions with other drugs you’re taking. Talk with your doctor or a qualified cannabis or CBD clinician before use and if you have any questions.
]]>It was the 1980s when the first feminized cannabis seeds hit the market. These days, it’s hard to imagine a world without them! Conquering legal cultivation markets on a global basis at every level, the world has universally embraced the era. Even those who were initially skeptical have accepted and acknowledged the extraordinary value this progress. Immensely popular and representing extraordinary value for money, buying quality females comes highly recommended for amateur and expert growers alike. The term ‘feminized’ refers to a very specific type of cannabis seed, which has been bred not to contain male chromosomes. Buying female seeds eliminate male plants from the equation, along with the potential damage they can do where unwelcome.
Feminized seeds produce only female plants. Therefore the threat of accidentally pollinating crops by misidentifying a male is minimized. A male-free crop is only one reason to use all-female seeds: another might be the preservation of a particular characteristic or plant type. The predominant way to preserve the exact genetics of a plant is by cloning. However, a plant crossed with itself produces seeds that retain its parent’s favorable characteristics.
Another reason to use this technique is to create a hybrid of two female plants. If a branch of one female is turned “male,” there will be pollen to fertilize the other plant, and to create seed when no male is around. Feminized seeds are produced by inducing a normal female, not a hermaphrodite, to grow male flowers with viable pollen.
The pollen contains only female, or X, chromosomes because the plant has no Y, or male, chromosomes. The progeny will inherit an X from the male flower’s pollen and an X from the egg donor female flower. The resulting seeds can only inherit two X chromosomes, which means that almost all the resulting seeds will be girls! Congratulations!
In mature human females, taking male hormones causes masculinizing changes such as breast shrinkage, muscle bulking, and a lowering in voice pitch. The primary sex organs have already been formed, but they shrink. A similar thing happens when female plants are treated with masculinizing chemicals. The difference is that while a mature human has already formed her sex organs, every time a plant produces a new flower, it is growing a new sex organ. Plants under chemical influence grow viable male flowers, even though the plant is still a female with two X chromosomes, the pollen has only female chromosomes.
By far, the noted breeder Soma developed the easiest method. He noticed that when colas of many varieties reached late ripeness (which, by the way, we prefer as the harvest-time) a few viable male flowers appeared. This is also a sign that the buds are ripe. Harvest the pollen using a fresh watercolor brush and brush it directly on the flowers or store it in a small glass or metal container. Not all varieties produce male flowers at the end of ripeness, but many do, and they do it reliably. Very small amounts of pollen are produced using this method, but a little pollen applied properly goes a long way.
Hermaphrodite cannabis plants do occur and they also provide the goods! Some varieties flower normally outdoors but experience indoor growing conditions as stressful and produce hermaphrodite flowers. The pollen from these male flowers can be used for breeding, provided that the resulting plants are going to be grown outdoors, where they won’t exhibit the unwanted hermaphroditism. Plant stresses such as irregular light cycles and heat sometimes induce hermaphroditism. However, stress techniques are not reliable.
Laboratories And Commercial Seed Producers Use Three Chemicals To Induce Male Flowers In Female Plants: Gibberellic Acid, Silver Nitrate, And Silver Thiosulfate. They each inhibit the plant’s production of ethylene, a hormone that promotes female flowering. Without ethylene, female flower production is reduced or stopped. The actions of these chemicals are localized. If only one branch of a plant is sprayed, that branch will be the only one affected. The rest of the plant will continue growing female flowers, not males.
Because of market demand, almost all the seed companies offer most of their popular varieties as feminized seed. They are the best choice for most gardeners. The exception is gardeners interested in breeding.
If you plan to grow marijuana for fun or profit, you’ll need to know how to store your seeds. Those seeds are directly related to the quality of your plants. If they are not stored correctly, when you do get around to planting them, they will not germinate. On the other hand, if you store them the right way, they are good to go for years. There’s no reason why those extra seeds should go to waste, simply learn how to store them correctly. Want to learn a few other things that you could do to preserve your precious seeds? Keep reading to learn more.
When storing cannabis seeds, the first thing to think about is your container. Do not use just any random container that you come across. The ideal container should be made of one material. Avoid containers with a mixture of materials. An example of this would be a plastic container with a metal lid or a glass container with a plastic cover. Containers made from more than one material react differently to temperature and other changes, and this can create room for undesirable conditions to reach your stored cannabis seeds. For instance, the metal lid on a glass jar will expand at a different rate when the temperature rises, and this may allow some moisture to enter the container.
Many people suggest using plastic containers for long term storage when asked how to store marijuana seeds, but that isn’t the best idea either. Plastic has tiny (microscopic) pores that can let air infiltrate the container and damage your seeds over time. If you want your seeds to last, don’t store them in a plastic container. Glass is a much better solution.
This part is simple; germination needs light. If you do not want your seeds to sprout, keep the light out. That’s why the most immediate answer to “how to store cannabis seeds” is “keep the environment light free.” Try using an opaque container. If the glass jars you used aren’t opaque, then place your seeds in something opaque, such as black plastic wrap, then put that in the glass jar. Again, keep in mind, plastic is not the best for long term (years), but if you are purchasing at the end of one grow season in preparation for the next, it should work just fine. You can also place your cannabis seeds in a fridge that doesn’t get opened much or another dark location.
Another thing that you need to think about when storing cannabis seeds is to maintain a stable temperature. Try and keep the seeds around 4°- 6°C degrees. You can store your seeds in the fridge, this can greatly extend their lifespan if done properly. However, make sure you don’t freeze your seeds. The most critical thing is keeping that temperature constant. Your marijuana seeds can deteriorate when the temperature fluctuates.
Moisture is the other condition that is required for germination, so you’ll need to keep your seeds dry as well. Depending on how much moisture your marijuana seeds are exposed to, they could either germinate or even rot while in storage. For the best results, keep moisture levels between 5% and 9%. An airtight, sealed container is a great way to do this. You could also add something to help absorb any moisture, such as silica packets or even uncooked rice. If you decide to use one of these methods, make sure you use something food-grade. Remember, this material will be sitting in storage next to your seeds. It’s also a good idea to use some sort of barrier, such as some cotton wool, between your moisture-absorbing packs and the marijuana seeds. This will leave the seeds undisturbed while the moisture problems are addressed.
How to store marijuana seeds properly also means keeping the storage environment clean. If you’re not careful, pests can quickly destroy your cannabis seeds if they access the storage container and its contents. A clean environment also keeps other contaminants, such as microbes, from compromising the quality of your seeds. After all, you will eventually plant those seeds, and you don’t want to consume cannabis grown from contaminated seeds. Nature designed seeds to last until the ideal germination environment occurs. Therefore, if you follow these storage tips and prevent that environment from happening, you could store cannabis seeds pretty much indefinitely.
Does it need to be perfect? No. If you only need to store cannabis seeds for a few months, you don’t need to be that strict. However, if you’d like to keep your seeds for years, plan ahead and take the necessary precautions, and you’ll be delighted that you did.
Place cannabis seeds in water, if they sink, you have a winner. If they remain floating, chances are less, but they may still be good to go. It’s always worth keeping them in water for up to three days to see if they sprout a tail.
]]>When browsing cannabis strains, you may notice strains are commonly broken up into three distinct groups: indica, sativa, and hybrid. Most consumers have used two of these three cannabis types (indica and sativa) as a standard for predicting effects. This belief that indicas, sativas, and hybrids deliver distinct effects is so deeply rooted in mainstream cannabis culture that budtenders typically begin their strain recommendations by asking you which of these three types you prefer. But if you look at the chemical “ingredients” inside of indicas and sativas – that is, terpenes and cannabinoids (more on that below) – you’ll notice there aren’t clear patterns to explain why one type would be inherently sedating and the other uplifting. We know that indica and sativa cannabis strains can look differently, but this distinction is primarily only useful to cannabis growers.
The indica, sativa and hybrid system is no doubt convenient, especially when first entering the vast and overwhelming world of cannabis. With so many new strains and products to choose from, where else are we to begin? A more useful starting point when thinking about the effects of strains would be cannabinoids and terpenes, two words you should put into your back pocket if you haven’t already. Cannabis science (!) says this about the division of strains;
“The way that sativa and indica labels are utilized in commerce is nonsense. The clinical effects of the cannabis chemovar have nothing to do with whether the plant is tall and sparse vs short and bushy, or whether the leaflets are narrow or broad.”
What this means is not all sativas will energize you, and not all indicas will sedate you. You may notice a tendency for so-called sativas to be uplifting or indicas to be relaxing, especially when we expect to feel one way or the other. Just note that there is no hard-and-fast rule and chemical data doesn’t reflect a clear pattern.
The effects of different strains of weed depend on a number of different factors, including the product’s chemical profile, your unique biological tolerance, dosage and consumption method. It also depends on the cannabinoid profile and terpenes of the strain. If you understand how each of these factors change the experience, you’ll have the best chance of finding a strain that is perfect for you.
The cannabis plant is composed of hundreds of chemical compounds that create a unique harmony of effects, which is primarily led by cannabinoids and terpenes. Cannabinoids like THC and CBD (the two most common) are the main drivers of cannabis’ therapeutic and recreational effects. How much experience do you have with cannabis? If your tolerance is low, consider a low-THC strain in low doses. Are you susceptible to anxiety or other side effects of THC? If so, try a strain high in CBD. However, if you’re still searching for that ideal strain, these are important details to keep in mind.
Cannabis is a personal experience, and how you select it is, too. Understanding its nuances should help give you an alternative perspective on what qualities to look for in a strain. Some of you are happy to sit down with any strain, any time, and that’s okay. For others, this level of precision in strain selection is key to having a good experience—and feeling good is what cannabis is all about.
If you’ve ever used aromatherapy to relax or invigorate your mind and body, you understand the basics of terpenes. Terpenes are aromatic compounds commonly produced by plants and fruit. They can be found in lavender flowers, oranges, hops, pepper, and of course, cannabis. Secreted by the same glands that ooze THC and CBD, terpenes are what make cannabis smell like berries, citrus, pine, fuel, etc. One question yet to be answered by research is how terpenes- and different combinations of those terpenes – shape the effects of different cannabis strains. There are many types of terpenes found in cannabis, and it’s worth familiarizing yourself with the most common terpenes—especially myrcene, caryophyllene, limonene, and terpinolene, since they’re the most likely to occur in pronounced levels in cannabis.
What’s important to you as a cannabis consumer shopping for a specific mood has everything to do with potency, dose, and chemical profile (i.e., cannabinoids and terpenes). That’s the beauty of the new Super Strains Seed Guide we are currently working on – it allows you to easily identify which strains are chemically similar, so you have a better chance of finding (or avoiding) particular chemical profiles. Let’s say you’re prone to anxiety and looking to avoid an uncomfortable experience. If you discard sativas for that reason because they make you anxious, you may be lured into the trap of another THC powerhouse like Enemy of the state – because it’s not a sativa. Meanwhile, a “sativa” like Saga – with low levels of THC and high levels of CBD – might actually be a better fit.
Although it isn’t as simple as grouping strains into the indica-sativa-hybrid triumvirate that has long been our compass while navigating menus, try using potency to guide you. You may find that a strain packing 25% THC isn’t as enjoyable as that very fragrant strain tapping in at 16%. You might also find that you gravitate toward strains that express similar terpene profiles. For example, if you like the terpinolene-dominant Enemy of the state, you’ll likely enjoy La Jefe or La cucaracha, which are also terpinolene-dominant. Finding the right strain for you requires a bit of trial and error. Still, if you’re new to cannabis, there are no better places to start your search for that perfect experience.
Technically, cannabis is a blanket term that refers to three different varieties of the same plant: indica, sativa, and ruderalis. Why is this important? Each strain provides us with something unique and different. When it comes to consumption, we tend to stick with indica and sativa strains because of their content of THC and CBD (the chemicals responsible for affecting change within our bodies), while ruderalis is sought after for it’s physical characteristics. What you’d call ditch weed, ruderalis evolved to thrive in the inhospitable conditions native to the mountains regions of areas like Russia, which see near constant daylight year-round. Cannabis is a photoperiod plant and it needs the duration of daylight hours to change in order for it to naturally switch from the vegetative stage to the flowering stage.
Ruderalis is the little plant that could, and evolved to switch from one stage to the next when the plant reaches a certain point in development. When the time comes, the plants automatically switch to their flowering life-cycle stage. Nothing the grower does has any bearing on when this happens. You don’t need to alter the lighting cycle in any way. Everything takes care of itself, automatically – hence the name. As lighting has no impact on when flowering begins, autoflower seeds are great for growing where conditions are not ideal. Or where the grower has neither the experience nor the inclination to go the manual route! This characteristic has proven invaluable to breeders, who’ve been able to develop potent hybrids that take advantage of the auto-flowering property without taking on any other characteristics of the ruderalis plant.
The primary argument in favour of autoflowering cannabis is rapid results. During the course of a single standard season, auto flowering seeds have the potential to produce at least two outdoor crops. When growing indoors, auto flowering cannabis plants can mature fully in under 70 days. Meaning that the time between germination and harvest is significantly reduced. As such, growers looking to produce results quickly, are advised to consider the autoflowering option. In addition, autoflowering strains are far less labour-intensive and far more forgiving. Hence their suitability for both newcomers and those unable to give their crops intensive time and attention. With little to no knowledge and experience, even first-timers can produce outstanding results with autoflower strains.
***Light cycles do not need to be changed, allowing vegetative and flowering plants to be kept in the same grow space.
***By eliminating the need for careful lighting control, autoflowering marijuana is perfect for newcomers with minimal experience.
***Depending on the strain, it’s possible to go from seed to final harvest in as little as 55 days.
***If growing outdoors, it isn’t necessary to wait for flowering to begin and you can produce multiple harvests within the same season.
***Auto-flowering plants are considerably smaller and more compact than standard cannabis plants. This makes them great for smaller grow spaces.
***Autoflowering seeds can produce extremely resilient plants with strong resistance to cold. mould, disease and other common problems.
The only real downside of autoflower seeds is the potential for slightly reduced yields so this isn’t for you if you are looking for high yield strains. Which of course comes down to the fact that the plants themselves are considerably smaller. Nevertheless, these small plants have the potential to produce the highest-quality bud far quicker than normal. Meaning that pound-for-pound over a single season, you could potentially produce more cannabis with autoflowering strains. As always, the intense light of the highest quality will have a marked impact on the results you achieve. As will your provision of carefully balanced nutrients, the ideal environmental conditions at all times and so on. Auto flowering weed reduces labor intensity, but you’ll still need to play your part. And of course, yields vary significantly from one cannabis species/strain to the next. So it’s a good idea to take into account both potency and potential yields, before selecting your perfect auto seeds.
So, your favorite cannabis seeds have shown up in the mail but for whatever reason, you’re not quite ready to plant them yet. What the heck do you do now? No worries, your investment is safe. It’s easy to preserve weed seeds! Store seeds in an air-tight container – like our original packaging or a sealed mason jar – and place them in a cool, dark place, like a cupboard that doesn’t see a lot of use. You want to make sure that spot isn’t accessed often, and that the conditions remain as stable as possible for the duration of storage. In this way, your pot seeds can last upwards of three years.
Three simple things to remember when storing cannabis seeds
***Keep them in the dark: Light is a huge factor in the germination and growth of marijuana, so they need to be stored in a dark place.
***Keep them cool: humidity encourages growth and can cause mold on your delicate seeds.
***Keep them dry: your seeds will start to germinate when they come into contact with water.
Cultivation of cannabis has become immensely popular in recent years, particularly amongst the home growers. While there are different types of seeds for you to choose from, the most popular one is the feminized variety. Feminized seeds are specially bred cannabis seeds where the male chromosomes are eliminated to produce only female plants. It is not true that the plant should be considered to be genetically modified, as the seeds remain completely natural because they are produced naturally via pollination.
Feminised seeds are created by self pollination of a reversed female plant. As a result, the chromosomes of the S1 lineage (feminised form) will produce an exact genetic match of the parental line. Pheno hunting is still possible with feminised seeds, for those who are looking for the best characteristics and mostly desired traits of that cultivar. Regular seeds will throw out more mixed traits that can be worked on as a breeder, however for preserving a genetic match of a regular sexed predecessor, feminised seeds work incredibly well.
The debate on which type of Cannabis seeds to work with is never ending, with many saying regular and many arguing feminised. Granted that both serve a different purpose depending on who the end grower is, so below is better explained all of the advantages of growing with feminised seeds incomparron to using regulars.
The best thing about feminized seeds and what revolutionized indoor growing ever since, is the fact that grow space could be used to 100% spacing efficiency. Regular seeds require a sexing period where the grower will decide if they want to use the male or female plants. Generally speaking, most gardeners will grow to produce flowers over seeds and feminized seeds offer growers the best tool for the job. Feminised plants will grow uniformly, ensuring that your growing system can be utilized with an optimal plant count and spacing.
When working with regular seeds, growers can often be reluctant to train plants up as they normally would, in case the plant is male and not what they are looking for. With feminised seeds it is possible to apply all types of plant training to enhance the overall canopy and total harvest. There are also no feelings of wasted time, nutrients and labour when using feminised seeds, meaning there will be no point once flowering has begun, where a percentage of your garden needs to be removed due to male plants. Using a Sea of Green formation with feminised seeds can produce excellent results. Some varieties of Cannabis work better than others for Sea of Green, so make sure you research which strains are better suited for your requirements.
Beginner growers can often become filled with panic and anxiety, at the idea of a male plant being in the grow room. The thought of a pollinated crop is enough to stop their dream grow in its tracks, and the idea of patiently waiting to identify preflowers during the transition stage window sounds like an arduous task. Sexing plants is simple enough, yet feminised seeds eliminate that concern and allow a grower to relax and be away from their garden with little maintenance, without the threat of an unseen male.
The marketplace for feminised cannabis has grown over the years and contains an unbelievable choice of feminised seeds to choose from. Nowadays it is possible to have feminised seeds sent to your house, with a choice of autoflowering, CBD dominant or standard photoperiod varieties. Although regular seeds are becoming more popular amongst growers who are heavy into pheno hunting and breeding, 9 out of 10 growers will choose to happily work with feminised seeds.
One way to look at the benefit of feminised seeds is, how they can fill the space of clones. It may be that your clones have become contaminated, or infested with spider mites. Perhaps it is not as logistically easy to source reliable clones where you live, as opposed to having seeds discreetly arrive in the mail. If your objection is to find a keeper that can be cloned, then feminized seeds will again make this job simple and straightforward.
*There is no need to sex the plants and separate male from female.
*Every plant will be female allowing space to be fully utilised.
*The variety of feminised seeds outweigh that of regular cultivars.
*Feminised seeds are as effective as clones for an all female plant count
*Autoflowering, CBD and photoperiod strains all come as feminised seeds
*Plants from female seeds will grow uniform and provide you the best quality
*Plant training can be performed without wasting time on potential males.
In the past decade, autoflowering cannabis strains have become hugely popular in Europe, especially in countries with milder climates. What caused the widespread adoption, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of these “automatic” strains? Autoflowering cannabis strains differ from regular strains in one essential feature: They start to flower only weeks after germinating from seeds. Unlike regular outdoor-grown strains, which mature between September and October, autoflowering plants do not depend on light intervals and thus allow for early harvests as well as multiple harvests within one season.
In the early nineties, Dutch breeders from the renowned Sensi Seeds seedbank were playing with the idea of combining genes from potent Cannabis sativa strains with the more rugged Cannabis ruderalis, but they failed to recognize the full potential. Their Ruderalis Indica and Ruderalis Skunk were the very first commercial autoflowering strains. Neither of the strains was ever stabilized — meaning about half the seeds failed to autoflower — and growers didn’t pay either much attention.
Things changed in 2002 with the Lowryder strain, bred by The Joint Doctor, a breeder currently based in the United Kingdom. Lowryder was the first stabilized, autoflowering strain that was commercially successful. At the same time, it drew laughs from regular consumers and experienced growers alike; the odor was feeble, the taste was poor, and the effects were mild. Still, a number of cannabis enthusiasts in Central European countries with a milder climate, such as Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, were impressed by the possibility of growing a stabilized strain that could be ready for harvest between June and August.
Most growers, however, remained skeptical. They predicted that disappointed gardeners would swiftly return to good old sativa, indica, and hybrid strains that flower according to light intervals and tend to mature between September and late October. The yields and quality of the cannabis, they argued, were incomparable. As the years went by, two things began to change.
**First, more and more Dutch (and, later, also Spanish) seed banks started to experiment with the autoflower genetics. Along the way, the aroma, taste, and, most significantly, the effects of newly produced autoflowering strains began to improve. Eventually they began to approach the quality of the best traditional strains.
**The second change came courtesy of Mother Nature: The changing climate brought dynamic autumns with plenty of rain and humidity, especially to central and northern Europe. Suddenly, even relatively early flowering strains were going moldy in the middle of September. There are now tens of thousands of European growers sharing stories of similarly successful experiences with autoflowers. Especially outdoors.
Everyone’s so worried about genetically modified this and genetically modified that these days but we can safely and confidently say that even though we’re offering some pretty fantastic hybrid strains, our marijuana seeds are organic, and not in the least bit genetically modified. What you see is what you get – superior quality cannabis seeds for superior quality strains. Our expert breeders employ tried and true techniques to enhance your favorite strains with the auto-flowering capabilities of the ruderalis variety – same great results but with less work. And faster!
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that autoflowering cannabis seeds don’t need plenty of TLC when it comes to lighting. They may take care of switching to flowering, but their general lighting requirements are no different. If you want to produce results to be proud of, you are going to need the highest-quality lighting possible. Intense, consistent lighting to meet the needs of your cannabis plants, though without the need to control light/dark cycles. Many newcomers mistake autoflowering for a lack of reliance on quality lighting. In reality, this isn’t the case at all!
If you’re ready to go ahead and buy autoflower seeds, you have come to the right place. All Super Strain’s autoflowering cannabis seeds are feminized.