Cannabis Seeds 101

Any budding cannabis grower needs to learn all about marijuana seeds. 

Naturally, planting low-quality seeds leads to a weak harvest or a failed crop. You also need to be familiar with the federal or provincial cultivation laws that apply based on where you live. 

Read this handy guide to access a helpful intro to cannabis seeds and how to germinate and grow them!

 

Cannabis Plant and Seed Basics 

Most cannabis plants are dioecious. That’s a fancy way to say that their male and female reproductive organs appear on separate plants. Female plants must be placed far from male plants in order to grow. Otherwise, the male plant pollinates the female and stops it from producing potent marijuana.

The potent weed sold at your local dispensary comes from seedless female flowers.

If a male plant pollinates a female, the female flower produces seeds. Hermaphrodite plants contain both male and female reproductive organs; they produce pollen and self-pollinate their flowers.

Any pollination process creates seeds. Once they reach maturity, they fall from the plant and may go on to produce new marijuana plants. Some marijuana seeds are harvested for hemp oil or food.

The sole way to differentiate between male and female plants is to let them grow for about six weeks. To identify females, look for a small bud between the new branch and the main stem and for white pistil hairs that grow where the bud forms.

Male cannabis plants create pollen sacs, bulbs that are shaped like tulips. If you spot a male plant in your garden, remove it right away. 

Learn more about cannabis plants!

 

Autoflowering Cannabis Seeds

Autoflowering cannabis seeds come from the Cannabis ruderalis species. 

Regardless of light exposure, this type of plant will flower when it reaches a certain age. You can cross a more potent strain with a lower-THC ruderalis strain to produce an autoflowering strain.

This type of seed is perfect for growers who live in a climate with short and chilly summers and a long rainy season that starts in early autumn. If you plant autoflowering seeds in early spring, they’ll flower in the summer.

Make sure your plants receive consistent sunlight (or artificial light, if growing indoors) to produce the best yields. 

 

Cannabis Clones

A cannabis clone is marijuana plant cutting. Plant it in soil so that it will grows roots. It’s the genetic equivalent of the plant from which you cut it!

Most experienced producers plant many seeds and choose the best plants from those that sprout. They take cuttings from these preferred plants in order to grow the ideal flowering marijuana plants.

 

Buying Cannabis Seeds

There are online seed banks located around the world, including in Canada. In places where it’s legal to consume recreational cannabis, it’s a cinch to buy cannabis seeds. You can purchase cannabis seeds directly from grand Cannabis!

 

Qualities of Effective Cannabis Seeds

Review these three key qualities of cannabis seeds to get the best results from your growing efforts.

Maturity

Be sure the seeds have matured fully before you plant them

Storage

Store cannabis seeds in a cool, dark place. Freeze them or use them within a year to avoid exposing them to damaging pathogens.

Genetics

The ideal seeds to use are inbred lines.

 

Choose Which Seeds to Germinate and Plant

Germination is the process of a plant growing from a seed. When choosing which seeds to germinate, go for those that are dark brown and firm. White and green seeds have little to no hope of growing.

Marijuana seeds start sprouting thanks to water and heat. Soak hard seeds for 24 to 32 hours max. Keep in mind that soaking them excessively damages them. 

If all goes well, the taproot will begin to burrow through the seed’s shell.

These seedlings are delicate, so handle them with care when you check the taproot. Avoid touching the white taproot directly so that it won’t break off.

As the plant grows, its tiny leaves develop blades. A mature cannabis plant has at least 5 to 7 blades per leaf. A seedling needs approximately 16 hours of light per day. Cannabis seedlings are prone to overwatering, so go light on the water.

The seedling stage normally lasts two to three weeks. Plant your beautiful germinated seeds about an inch below the surface of the soil or other growing medium. Point the root downward into the earth to oriented the seedling for optimal growth and stability.

Voila! Watch them grow and give them love, light and water. Remember to learn or review ​​How To Harvest Home Grown Cannabis when the time comes.