Choosing the right cannabis seeds can often be a real pain. The internet offers a seemingly endless selection of seed banks, a wide variety of seed varieties, and promises of 100% germination rates and absurd THC levels. Legal aspects can be confusing, too. Whether you're growing indoors or outdoors, using autoflowering seeds or feminized seeds, this article will give you an overview of what to look for when buying cannabis seeds.
The different types of cannabis seeds
To make a purchasing decision, you should first understand the different types of seeds available. You've probably already heard of female or feminized cannabis seeds. You may also have heard of the term autoflowering seeds. But what exactly is the difference between the different types of seeds?
Essentially, cannabis seeds can be divided into three categories: regular, feminized and autoflowering seeds.
Regular seeds:
These seeds produce both male and female cannabis plants. The female cannabis seeds you'll probably be most interested in are the ones. These produce the beautiful, juicy, and fragrant cannabis flowers that ultimately end up in your rolling papers, vaporizers, or bongs. However, regular seeds are the right choice for seed breeding. Just like with human fertilization, male and female companions are needed. The male plant produces pollen, which is then transferred to the female plant. After this pollination/fertilization, new seeds develop in the flower of the female plant. This process continues until stable genetics have developed. However, seed breeding is an extremely complex topic that presents challenges even for the most experienced grower and would exceed the scope of this article.
Feminized seeds:
Probably the most sought-after cannabis seeds are female cannabis seeds, also known as feminized seeds. These seeds have been bred to contain no male chromosomes. This means that only female cannabis plants will develop from the seedlings. Be careful, though: Unstable genetics can also lead to male plants. Therefore, choosing professional seed banks is crucial.
Last but not least: Autoflowering seeds (also called automatic seeds or autos):
While feminized cannabis plants rely on a change in the light cycle to enter the flowering phase (outdoors: days become shorter in autumn, indoors: the light cycle in a tent is reduced from the usual 18-20 hours of light to 12 hours), autoflowering seeds, as the name suggests, automatically flower after a certain period of time. This was created by crossing the Cannabis Ruderalis plant (which originates in colder regions such as Russia, Siberia, and Canada) with traditional sativa and indica strains. Autoflowering strains are particularly suitable for beginners and outdoor cultivation in cooler climates.
Good to know: The first autoflowering cannabis strains were bred in the early 1990s. The first commercial strain, "Lowryder," by Joint Doctor, was created in Canada in 2003.
While you've already gained a good overview of the different types of seeds, there's still so much more to consider that should influence your purchasing decision.
Other aspects that play an important role are the growing environment (indoor or outdoor cultivation), the THC/CBD value, as well as the preferred mode of action (sativa or indica).
Indoor vs. Outdoor
Whether you're growing indoors, on your balcony, or in your garden should also play a role in your seed selection. There are certain genetics that thrive only in warmer climates, but there are also some that are specifically suited to our climate.
In principle, any variety can be grown indoors, as the optimal environment can be created artificially. However, caution is advised here, as certain varieties don't thrive together. Different flowering times, growth heights, and humidity requirements can lead to undesirable results. Therefore, when growing indoors, it's best to find out in advance whether the selected plants will truly thrive in the tent.
When growing outdoors, the situation is quite different. Here, choosing cannabis seeds shouldn't be taken lightly. Whether the seed variety is suited to your local climate will significantly contribute to your grow success, or even failure. Fortunately, most seed banks now have filtering options that help you find the right strains for your climate.
We're on the right track. You're just a few steps away from finding your personal favorite.
High THC, Sativa, Indica?
Finally, the question arises: What are your personal preferences and goals?
Whether Haze, Kush, Cheese, Skunk or even the more modern Cookies or Gorilla genetics, ultimately all cannabis genetics known today have been created through various crosses.
In general, the cannabis strains available today are divided into sativa-dominant, indica-dominant and hybrids.
- Sativa-dominant: energetic, uplifting, creative
- Indica-dominant: relaxing, calming, drowsy
- Hybrid: balanced effects from both worlds
Where can I buy my cannabis seeds?
Choosing a seed bank is a crucial factor when purchasing your cannabis seeds. A well-curated selection and review options often simplify your selection.
Legal information on cannabis cultivation:
- From 18 years: maximum 3 female, flowering plants
- No access for minors
- Possession: maximum 50g at home, 25g on the go
- Sale and distribution prohibited
With these basics, you'll be perfectly equipped for your first steps as a grower. And remember: practice makes perfect!
