How to Choose the Best Cannabis Seed
Selecting the best cannabis seed isn’t that easy. There are various seeds with different characteristics one can choose from. There are also established seed company such as auto flower seeds and many seed banks that offer high quality cannabis seeds you can opt for. When selecting the best cannabis seed for your garden, there are several factors you should consider:
- Seed Appearance
The appearance of the cannabis seed is a good way of determining the quality. When choosing the seed, go for dark or seeds with a darker outer shell; these seeds tend to be more genetically superior to other seeds. Healthy seeds also tend to have a waxy coating on their surface and can be felt when touched. Inferior seeds also tend to crumble when squeezed and also have a green and white appearance. Seeds that are dark or black tend to be very old. To avoid purchasing immature seeds, do not purchase recently harvested seeds or seeds stored for a long time.
- Float Test
If you are looking for mature planting cannabis seed, you can use the float test. Fill the container with distilled water and place your seed on the surface. Leave them for one to two hours; the seed that sinks to the bottom is likely to be the healthy ones who are ready to germinate. Those that float are unhealthy and unsuitable for germination. Carry out this test before planting since cannabis seeds require to be kept dry
- Male or Female
Weed seeds can either be male or female, but many people prefer growing female seeds over male seeds. The reason is female plants produce buds. Some company sell regular, which is a combination of both male and female seeds. However, they also provide feminized seeds. There is a big difference in the two’s price, but it’s worth spending more to get pure feminized seeds. Most male plants do not produce good results.
Although people have different myths on distinguishing between male and female seeds by appearance, the only way of determining the sex of the seed is to see how they grow. You will notice the first size of the cannabis plant at its pre-flowering stage when it is around six weeks old. At this stage, the buds are more visible and start to branch from the main stock. Female plants have white epistle hair, which grows at the bud; this hair will develop into orange or red flowers when they mature. A male plant can be identified by the pollen sack that develops. It appears as a tulip-shaped bulb and does not have pistil hair. It looks like a penis and balls. Once you identify the male plant, you can remove it immediately to prevent it from pollinating with the female plants. Male plants are preferred since they do not have any effect when consumed.
- Hybrids, Indica or Sativa
Cannabis sativa grows into a tall and thin plant; they take longer to mature than Indica plants. The Sativa plant has a higher yield, yet they are shorter and bushy, but they produce fewer buds than Sativa. People have to choose between the benefits of Indica or Sativa.
You can also grow hybrid cannabis which has a blend of Sativa and Indica qualities in one plant. Hybrids are generally dominant one way or the other, which is Sativa or Indica but produces both. Indica takes less time to mature than Sativa and is harder since it can withstand more stress making them ideal for new growers who make a few mistakes.
- Growth Difficulty
How experienced you are at growing marijuana will determine the type of seeds you will require. Different cannabis strain has a different level of tolerance for an imperfect condition.
- Germination Rate
Some cannabis growers feel that large seeds are difficult to germinate because they contain an extra shell, but the shell material gets weak in the presence of water. When water penetrates the seed through the shell, it swells and weakens, allowing the roots to emerge. The size of the seeds should not be an obstacle to their germination rate. Poor germination rates of cannabis seeds can result from old seeds, poor production practices and poor seed quality. Old cannabis seed is weak and breaks even when they are gently squeezed. Another factor that contributes to poor germination rate are seeds that are harvested prematurely. These seeds are tiny in size and may struggle to germinate or not germinate at all. Cannabis seed production requires professional experience and highs skills.
- Origin of the Seed
When buying weed seeds, you need to consider where they came from. There is a big difference between cannabis seeds from the reputable seed bank such as Homegrown cannabis Co and those from mediocre market places. Professional seed banks take a lot of time and spend a lot of resources breeding high-quality cannabis seeds. These banks’ seeds have high germination rates and deliver exceptional terpenes and cannabinoid profiles and high yield. If you obtain seeds from your local dealer, they will likely be of low quality since you may not know how old the buds are. Always stick to reputable seeds buds for high quality genetically seeds. You can check their reviews to understand the different strains that they have to offer.
- Indoors or Outdoors Cultivation
Not all species of cannabis are suitable for indoor or outdoor cultivation; you need to determine where to plant your cannabis seeds. Plant height is one of the major factors to consider when choosing where to grow your plant. Some species tend to grow very high while others remain smaller in size. Indoor growers may not have enough space to grow very tall plants. They, therefore, should choose cannabis seeds that develop short plants. The species characteristic determines the plant height, That is, Indica or Sativa. Indica species are short and tend to spread wide, while Sativa is tall and narrow.
- Flowering Time
This is a crucial factor to consider when choosing cannabis seed. If you are looking for a fast result, then you should choose a fast flowering strain. Some strains take 49-56 days to be ready for harvest.
Just like any other crop, cannabis harvest is determined by the seed quality; if you are growing cannabis for personal or commercial use, getting high-quality seeds is a necessity. Ensure that you buy your seeds from reputable sellers to ensure that you get the best.