Exploring the Field Of Feminized Seeds For The Growing cannabis Industry
Regular cannabis seeds always contain both male and female seed in an ideal ratio of 50/treatment. To determine which is which, the seeds must be grown and germinate for at least two weeks before they “sprout” or start to show visible signs of being female (pre-flowering) or male (post-flowering). After the male plants flower, the female plants will begin to produce the resin that provides most of the marijuana’s medicinal properties. This resin can also be used as a culinary herb when infused into cooking.
There are many different types of cannabis strains. Some have high levels of THC, also known as tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC for short. Others are low in THC but high in other elements, such as cannabidiol, which is similar to THC but doesn’t have as much of a calming effect. And some are in between, somewhere in the middle, containing just a little bit of THC but lots of other important chemicals that work as medicine inside the body. All of these strains, and others, can be found in both indoor and outdoor growing mediums.
Most people use indoor growing mediums for growing their own cannabis plants. These are specifically designed for plants that don’t like the warmth of a traditional outdoor environment and are rather sensitive to the low temperatures brought on by light. Indoor growing containers usually contain trays that keep the male plants separate from the female plants as they grow. When the male plants start to mature, the trays are removed, and the plants are placed in individual pots or growing bags. Once the flowers bloom, the plastic is removed and the plant is ready to be harvested.
If you want to grow feminized seeds, you’ll need to purchase feminized seeds from another source. Many companies make feminized cannabis seeds, but you may have trouble finding them. Or perhaps you already have a supply but just choose to bypass the entire process. If you do decide to use feminized seeds, there are some things you should know before you purchase.
Just because a company advertises cannabis seeds that are used specifically for growing feminized plants, it doesn’t mean that the company actually has control over the selection of those genes. Genetics is largely controlled by the breeder, not the seed company. It’s the same reason why you buy a new bike: you want to get something with the best potential to outperform your own bike. The same is true when choosing your own genetics.
Some companies that sell cannabis seeds make their pollen by collecting pollen from male plants and then cross-breeding them to produce the desired result. This is the process used to create many popular flower varieties and many other plants as well. While cross-breeding can increase the likelihood that your plants will have the desirable characteristics you’re looking for, it also means that some characteristics won’t show up at all. Cross-breeding is also less efficient than the true genetics used by serious breeders.
When it comes to growing feminized cannabis seeds, you have two main options. You can buy a single variety and create your own feminized marijuana strains; or you can buy seeds that contain female plants only. If you want to go with the latter option, you’ll be better off starting with low-quality seeds. While you’re still learning the process, choose only plants that haven’t been exposed to herbicides or pesticides and haven’t had their natural environment tampered with. A low-quality plant will produce little or no feminized seeds, even if the pollen does survive the cross-pollination process.
There are some situations in which purchasing feminized marijuana seeds will make more sense. If you’re going to harvest large quantities of buds, it makes a lot of sense to start out with high-quality female genetics that have been created in a laboratory. The process is actually quite simple: female plants are taken from healthy plants and placed in a special tank containing male plants. Over several days, the feminized seeds will begin to form, then a piece of paper is taped onto the top of the bulb to ensure that only female genetics will form. The process works best with high quality female genetics; low quality genetics have a higher chance of developing male plants and seeds. Since high-quality cannabis is so highly valued, feminized cannabis seeds are becoming more popular with growers looking for consistent results.