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Marijuana seed catalogs offer buyers many options. A large section is often devoted to feminized seeds, which cost more than regular seeds. A buyer might be tempted to skim through the section and keep going, but they should know their differences to make the right purchase.
Feminized vs. Regular Seeds
Feminized seeds from a marijuana seed bank only produce female plants, while regular seeds produce both male and female plants. Growers looking to harvest a crop full of cannabinoids opt for feminized seeds, while those looking to breed strains opt for regular versions. Male plants produce the pollen sacs needed for breeding purposes.
Regular seeds may be used to grow cannabis, but the grower must remove the male plants so they cannot fertilize the females. Doing so will lead to flowers that don’t produce the resin that users want. This resin contains the cannabinoids marijuana is known for.
Autoflowering Seeds?
One question new growers often have is whether to get regular autoflowering seeds or feminized cannabis seeds when setting up their plantation. They are available in both versions. Nevertheless, most autoflowering seeds today are feminized. What makes the autoflowering seeds different is they don’t rely on changes in lighting to move to the next stage of development. They do so automatically.
Growers find they can harvest their crops more often when using regular or feminized autoflowering seeds because these plants have short life cycles. They also handle stress well and are resistant to pests. Beginner growers benefit greatly from autoflowering seeds because they are easy to care for.
Why Choose Feminized Seeds?
Feminized seeds eliminate the need to remove male plants from the growing area. Growers cannot tell what sex a plant is until it enters the pre-flowering stage. They must then look for the pollen sacs male plants have. When these sacs are spotted, the plant must be removed. Growers can easily miss one or two of these plants, or they may spread pollen as they are removed. These issues won’t arise when feminized seeds are used.
Beginner growers can plant autoflowering feminized seeds and hone their growing skills before moving on to regular or photoperiod seeds. Feminized seeds will only produce buds, and growers find they can choose from a range of stable genetics. They are also cost-effective because half the crop won’t be eliminated. All plants will be female, which explains the higher price of the seeds. Regular seeds come with a lower price tag, but half the crop is discarded. However, as a person’s skills advance, they may want to try regular seeds with distinct benefits.
Why Choose Regular Seeds?
Once a person has experience growing cannabis, they may want to move to regular seeds. Doing so allows them to experiment with breeding and creating new strains. The knowledge gained when using feminized seeds will enable the grower to determine whether the strengths and weaknesses observed in the latest strain result from environmental conditions or the plant’s genetic makeup. Regular seeds can also be used to create viable clones, and the grower might create a pollen bank with the help of the seeds. Growers may also choose from a wide range of genetics to experiment with.
Every grower must decide between feminized and regular seeds. Fortunately, they aren’t locked into this choice forever. The decision must be made every time they purchase seeds. Beginners should start with feminized seeds, however, to learn about cannabis growing before expanding their horizons. Those who do find they have an excellent experience cannot wait to produce their next crop.
