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Looking to grow your own cannabis? Check out this blog for everything you need to know about growing cannabis seeds! From soil and lighting tips to harvesting your crop, we’ve got you covered.
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Introduction
Cannabis seeds are easy to grow and give you a lot of control over your final product, but there are a few things you need to know before you get started. With a little planning, you can grow cannabis seeds into healthy plants that produce buds with the flavors, aromas, and effects that you want.
To get started, you’ll need to choose the right strain for your grow environment and make sure you have the space, equipment, and supplies that you’ll need. You’ll also need to create a schedule for watering, fertilizing, and checking on your plants. Once your plants are ready to harvest, you’ll need to dry and cure the buds so they’re ready to smoke or process into other products.
The Different Types of Cannabis Seeds
Cannabis seeds come in two different types, regular and feminized. Feminized seeds are bred to contain no male chromosomes, which means they can’t produce any male plants. This is the type of seed you’ll want to grow if you’re only interested in growing female plants. On the other hand, regular seeds will produce both male and female plants.
Regular Seeds
Regular Seeds are the most popular type of cannabis seed. They are also the easiest to grow, making them a great choice for first time growers. Regular Seeds will produce a mix of male and female plants, so if you are growing for buds you will need to remove the males before they can pollinate your females and ruin your crop.
Feminized Seeds
Feminized seeds are specially bred to ensure that they only produce female plants. This is achieved by reversing the sex of a hermaphrodite plant so that it produces pollen, which is then used to fertilize another female plant. The resulting offspring will only be female.
Feminized seeds are popular with growers who don’t want to have to deal with male plants, as they can take up space and resources without contributing to the yield. They also eliminate the risk of pollination, which can result in seedy buds.
Feminized seeds are available for most popular strains, including indica, sativa, and hybrid varieties.
Autoflowering Seeds
Autoflowering seeds are regular cannabis seeds that have been bred to flower automatically, regardless of the light cycle. This means they flower based on age, not light cycle like photoperiod strains. They are usually ready to harvest in around 10-12 weeks from seed.
One of the main advantages of autoflowering seeds is that they are very easy to grow, even for complete beginners. They are also smaller and more discreet than regular cannabis plants, making them ideal for growing in small spaces or places where you don’t want to draw attention to your plants.
Another advantage is that autoflowering seeds can be grown outdoors in a wide range of climates, including cold and northerly areas where photoperiod strains would not flower properly due to the shorter days and lower sunlight levels in Autumn and Winter.
The main downside of autoflowering seeds is that they tend to be less potent than regular photoperiod strains. This is because they have a shorter vegetative growth stage, which is when the plant develops its main structure and produces most of its cannabinoids (THC, CBD etc).
How to Choose the Right Cannabis Seeds
It is important to select the right cannabis seeds for your grow op. There are a few things you need to take into account when choosing cannabis seeds, such as the type of climate you’re growing in, the type of soil you’re using, and the amount of light your grow op receives. Once you have all of this information, you can start to narrow down your choices and find the best cannabis seeds for your grow op.
Consider the Strain
Cannabis strains are usually classified as indica, sativa, or hybrid. Indica strains are shorter and bushier, with wider leaves. They mature faster than sativas and have a higher yield. Sativas grow taller with narrower leaves and take longer to mature. Hybrids are a mix of both indica and sativa strains and offer the best of both worlds.
You’ll also want to consider the THC content of the strain. THC is the psychoactive compound in cannabis that gives users the feeling of being high. The higher the THC content, the more potent the strain will be. If you’re a first-time grower or user, you may want to start with a strain that has a lower THC content to avoid any adverse effects.
Consider Your Growing Environment
One of the first things you need to think about when choosing cannabis seeds is what kind of growing environment you will have. Are you planning on growing indoors or outdoors? If you’re growing indoors, you’ll need to consider things like artificial lighting and temperature control. If you’re growing outdoors, you’ll need to think about things like climate, rainfall, and wind.
Knowing what kind of environment you’ll be growing in will help you narrow down your choices and pick the right cannabis seeds for your grow operation.
Consider Your Experience Level
If you’re growing cannabis for the first time, you’ll want to stick with seeds that are classified as easy to grow. These include strains like Northern Lights, White Widow, and Afghan Kush. Not only are they relatively low-maintenance, but they’re also forgiving of minor mistakes.
On the other hand, if you have some experience growing cannabis and you’re looking for a challenge, you might want to try a more difficult strain. These include autoflowering seeds, which have a shorter flowering time and can be more temperamental when it comes to things like temperature and nutrition.
How to Grow Cannabis Seeds
Cannabis seeds need certain conditions to germinate and grow into healthy plants. The first and most important condition is a dark environment since light will prevent the formation of the taproot. Next, the seeds need a moist but not wet growing medium like soil, coco coir, or rockwool. To make sure your seeds have the best chance to germinate and grow, read this article for more tips.
Step One: Prepare Your Growing Environment
To ensure a bountiful harvest, it is important to create an ideal environment for your cannabis plants. These seeds will need a warm, humid, and well-lit space in which to germinate and grow. You can use grow lights to supplement the natural light in your chosen space.
You will also need to set up a way to ventilate your grow area to avoid mold and mildew problems. Good air circulation is essential for healthy cannabis plants. Finally, you will need to create a watering schedule that meets the needs of your particular seeds and soil type.
With these steps in mind, you are now ready to begin growing your own cannabis seeds!
Step Two: Plant Your Seeds
Now that you have your seeds, it’s time to plant them. If you’re growing indoors, you’ll need to start with soil or soilless mix and some pots. If you’re growing outdoors, find a spot in your yard that gets plenty of sun and has well-drained soil.
To plant your seeds, simply dig a small hole in the soil and drop one seed in. Make sure the seed is pointing down (the pointy end should be facing downwards). Gently cover the seed with soil and pat it down. Repeat this process for each seed.
Once all your seeds are planted, water them well. Outdoor seeds will need about an inch of water per week. If you’re growing indoors, keep the soil moist but not soggy—water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Step Three: Germinate Your Seeds
After you have selected your seeds and prepped your grow area, it is time to germinate your seeds. Germination is the process of getting the seeds to sprout so that they can be planted. There are several ways that you can germinate your cannabis seeds, but the most popular methods are using a paper towel method or using a germination pod.
If you are using the paper towel method, you will need to start by soaking your paper towels in water. Once they are soaked, wring them out so that they are damp but not dripping wet. Place your cannabis seeds on the damp paper towel and fold it over so that the seeds are completely covered. Place the folded paper towel on a plate and put it in a warm place like on top of a radiator or near a heating vent. Check on your seeds every day to make sure that the paper towels are still damp. You should see roots starting to sprout in 3-5 days.
If you are using a germination pod, fill it with water and place your cannabis seeds inside. Most germination pods have some type of mesh or screen bottom that will allow the roots to grow down into the water while keeping the seed floating on top. Place the germination pod in a warm place and check on it daily. You should see roots starting to sprout in 3-5 days.
Once your cannabis seeds have sprouted roots, they are ready to be planted!
Step Four: Grow Your Plants
Now that you’ve chosen your seeds, it’s time to grow your plants. While there are many ways to grow cannabis, there are a few basic steps that are essential for all successful growers.
1. Choose a growing method. There are several ways to grow cannabis, including hydroponics, soil-based methods, and aeroponics.
2. Start your plants from seedlings or clones. You can either purchase seedlings or clones from a dispensary or grow your own from seeds.
3. Keep your plants healthy and happy. Make sure to water and fertilize them regularly, and give them plenty of light (either artificial or natural).
4. Harvest your buds when they’re ready. Once your plants have flowered and the buds seem ripe, it’s time to harvest them!
Step Five: Harvest Your Plants
Once your plants have flowered and the trichomes have turned from clear to milky (or frosty white), it’s time to harvest. The biggest mistake growers make is harvesting too early. If you harvest too early, your buds will be smaller and less potent. If you wait too long, however, your buds could begin to degrade and become less potent as well.
The best way to determine when to harvest is to use a jeweler’s loupe or stereo microscope to look at the trichomes on your buds. When most of the trichomes have turned milky white, it’s time to harvest. You can also wait until the trichomes have turned amber, but this will result in a more sedative effect.
Once you’ve determined it’s time to harvest, cut down your plants and remove the large fan leaves. Hang your plants upside down in a cool, dark place with good air circulation to dry. It usually takes about two weeks for the drying process to be complete. Once dry, you can remove the smaller sugar leaves and trim off any excess stem. Your buds are now ready to be cured!
Conclusion
Now that you know how to grow cannabis seeds, it’s time to get started. Remember to start with just a few seeds, so that you can monitor their progress and ensure that they are healthy. Keep an eye on the size of your plants and the amount of light they are getting. When it comes time to harvest, be patient and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
