Types of Regular cannabis Seeds and How They Can Benefit You
Regular cannabis seeds always have male and female plants in an optimal percentage of fifty/50. To determine which is which, the whole plant needs to be grown and germinate until they either appear as females (first flowers) or males (first pollen sacs) – whichever comes first. After that, the seeds are harvested and either thrown into a grinder (for females) or stored for later use (for males). A piece of paper with the name of each sex on it (usually starting with “female” or “male” spelled backwards) can then be put into an envelope, sealed with a plastic bag, and mailed off to a drug store.
But how do regular cannabis seeds get feminized? It seems reasonable to assume that the process involves some kind of natural DNA manipulation – but no one knows for sure how it happens. There are a few theories, but no one has actually found anything that shows any consistent way to achieve this goal.
Cultivators seem to think that the process does take place, but that the feminization occurs only after the seeds are stored for some time – and they are only then taken out of storage and allowed to germinate again, like they would in regular cannabis seeds. This may make sense if the autoflowering capability is the result of some simple genetic control over the ability to create buds. If that’s the case, then the ability to switch the gender of the plants could be controlled by altering the actual genes themselves. This seems plausible because it means that the researchers can go back and manipulate some of the simpler genetic mechanisms used to cause different colors in the buds.
If the idea is that the change in genetics is caused by the storage process during harvest, it means that some of the regular cannabis seeds that are produced will always be females. By removing the possibility of natural cross-breeding between different strains, breeders have a very strong advantage over anyone trying to create their own strains from seeds. They’ll also have a much easier time finding good conditions for breeding since they won’t have to compete with anyone else who is working on the same idea. Just imagine the advantage for farmers who have been cultivating the same seeds for hundreds of years – if they can figure out how to change the genetics of the plants to make them grow in different ways, they’ll be able to make hundreds of new varieties without spending years in research.
The process is similar to that of regular cannabis seeds used for cooking. Except for a few select species of cannabis that have recently become fashionable for cooking (including one of the most potent strains, Thai), all strains of cannabis usually come up as hybrids. There are many differences in the way that various genes are expressed, and the plants are recognized as a ‘hybrid’ when the expression of two distinct genes from two different locations results in the creation of a new plant. For example, there are currently seven different types of hybrid grapes. And while they’ve all been created through genetic duplication, there’s a good chance that future generations will be able to enjoy the benefits of improved taste or increased potency.
Of course, not all flowering plants are considered to be hybrids. Just because a plant has undergone extensive breeding does not necessarily mean that it is a regular seeds variety. Some examples of this include Conventional hybrids, which are created by crossing parent plant‘s with a mother plant that already exists. Mother plants are often chosen specifically because of their characteristics, rather than their ability to produce regular seeds. For example, Dioscorea is a rare flowering vine with red fruit, which was likely selected due to its excellent drought tolerance.
Other common types of regular cannabis seeds are autoflowering seeds, which are used to promote flowering. These seeds are normally placed into plugs but autoflowering seeds can also be directly sown into plants. Autoflowering seeds help plants to produce more pollen, which helps ensure that they produce more seeds. While this strategy is not completely foolproof, the sheer number of possible combinations make it a viable option for breeders. However, some breeders may still opt to cross the plants, making them regular cannabis seeds without any of the specific traits desired.
There are several other types of cannabis strains, including Indica and Arabica. Like autoflowering seeds, these plants have been bred for various desired characteristics through selective breeding. Because of the nature of breeding, however, only a few standard phenotypes have been identified for use as marijuana crops, leaving many breeders with a variety of options available. Some standard phenotypes have shown consistent, predictable results over the years, while others only show promising potential.