Cannabis seeds are small, about the size of a BB, often with distinctive “tiger stripes.”
Growing from Seeds vs. Clones
Plants grown from seeds tend to be heartier in their early stages compared to clones, due to a stronger taproot. Seeds can be planted directly in an outdoor garden in early spring, even in cooler climates. However, some growers prefer to germinate seeds indoors to protect them during their delicate early stages, providing supplemental light before transplanting them outdoors.
How cannabis seeds work
Cannabis can be either male or female—also called “dioecious”—but only females produce the buds we all know and love. For reproduction, males have pollen sacs and pollinate females, causing female flowers to produce seeds.
Once cannabis seeds are mature, the female plant begins to die, and seeds are either dropped to the ground where they grow into new cannabis plants next spring, or the seeds are harvested for processing into seed oil or food products, or stored so they can be sown in the ground later and become the next generation of plants.
Cannabis plants are dioecious, meaning they can be male or female. Only female plants produce the buds commonly consumed. Male plants have pollen sacs that pollinate females, causing them to produce seeds. Once seeds are mature, the female plant dies, and the seeds either drop to the ground to grow the following spring, are processed into products, or are stored for future planting.
Feminized Cannabis Seeds
Feminized seeds produce only female plants, eliminating the need to remove males or worry about pollination. These seeds are created by inducing a monoecious condition in a female plant, making them nearly identical to the self-pollinated female parent. This is often done using colloidal silver or through rodelization. While feminized seeds are popular among beginners, experienced growers may avoid them for breeding purposes due to their single genetic set.
Popular Feminized Strains
Many classic strains are available in feminized form, such as:
Auto-flowering seeds are ideal for beginners since they don’t depend on light cycles to flower. These plants flower based on age, not light exposure, allowing for multiple harvests in one season. Auto-flowering plants are small, making them suitable for limited spaces or discreet outdoor grows. However, they tend to be less potent and produce smaller yields compared to other types.
Germinating Cannabis Seeds
Germination is the process where a seed sprouts and begins to grow. Here’s a simple method:
Step 1: Soak four paper towels with distilled water. They should be wet but not dripping.
Step 2: Place two of the soaked towels on a plate, lay the seeds on them about an inch apart, and cover with the remaining towels.
Step 3: Cover the seeds with another plate to create a dark, protected environment.
Step 4: Keep the area warm (21-29°C).
Check the towels daily to maintain moisture. Seeds typically germinate in 3-10 days, with some taking up to two weeks. A seed is considered germinated once the taproot appears.
Transplanting Germinated Seeds
Once the taproot is visible, transplant the seed into its growing medium:
Fill a 3.5L pot with loose, airy potting soil.
Moisten the soil before planting.
Make a hole twice as deep as the seed’s width.
Using tweezers, place the seed in the hole with the taproot facing down.
Cover lightly with soil and monitor the temperature and moisture.
Within a week, a seedling should emerge. Germination success varies, but strong genetics often become evident early, guiding future cloning or breeding decisions.
Cannabis seeds 101: How to grow Cannabis from seed
How to Grow Cannabis from Seed
Stages of Cannabis Growth
Cannabis undergoes four primary stages of growth:
Read more about the 4 stages of cannabis plant growth.
What Do Cannabis Seeds Look Like?
Cannabis seeds are small, about the size of a BB, often with distinctive “tiger stripes.”
Growing from Seeds vs. Clones
Plants grown from seeds tend to be heartier in their early stages compared to clones, due to a stronger taproot. Seeds can be planted directly in an outdoor garden in early spring, even in cooler climates. However, some growers prefer to germinate seeds indoors to protect them during their delicate early stages, providing supplemental light before transplanting them outdoors.
How cannabis seeds work
Cannabis can be either male or female—also called “dioecious”—but only females produce the buds we all know and love. For reproduction, males have pollen sacs and pollinate females, causing female flowers to produce seeds.
Once cannabis seeds are mature, the female plant begins to die, and seeds are either dropped to the ground where they grow into new cannabis plants next spring, or the seeds are harvested for processing into seed oil or food products, or stored so they can be sown in the ground later and become the next generation of plants.
Find seeds on groenseeds.com
Cannabis Seed Biology
Cannabis plants are dioecious, meaning they can be male or female. Only female plants produce the buds commonly consumed. Male plants have pollen sacs that pollinate females, causing them to produce seeds. Once seeds are mature, the female plant dies, and the seeds either drop to the ground to grow the following spring, are processed into products, or are stored for future planting.
Feminized Cannabis Seeds
Feminized seeds produce only female plants, eliminating the need to remove males or worry about pollination. These seeds are created by inducing a monoecious condition in a female plant, making them nearly identical to the self-pollinated female parent. This is often done using colloidal silver or through rodelization. While feminized seeds are popular among beginners, experienced growers may avoid them for breeding purposes due to their single genetic set.
Popular Feminized Strains
Many classic strains are available in feminized form, such as:
Auto-flowering Cannabis Seeds
Auto-flowering seeds are ideal for beginners since they don’t depend on light cycles to flower. These plants flower based on age, not light exposure, allowing for multiple harvests in one season. Auto-flowering plants are small, making them suitable for limited spaces or discreet outdoor grows. However, they tend to be less potent and produce smaller yields compared to other types.
Germinating Cannabis Seeds
Germination is the process where a seed sprouts and begins to grow. Here’s a simple method:
Step 1: Soak four paper towels with distilled water. They should be wet but not dripping.
Step 2: Place two of the soaked towels on a plate, lay the seeds on them about an inch apart, and cover with the remaining towels.
Step 3: Cover the seeds with another plate to create a dark, protected environment.
Step 4: Keep the area warm (21-29°C).
Check the towels daily to maintain moisture. Seeds typically germinate in 3-10 days, with some taking up to two weeks. A seed is considered germinated once the taproot appears.
Transplanting Germinated Seeds
Once the taproot is visible, transplant the seed into its growing medium:
Within a week, a seedling should emerge. Germination success varies, but strong genetics often become evident early, guiding future cloning or breeding decisions.
For more information, visit groenseeds.com.
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