The practice of purchasing and cultivating one’s own cannabis seeds has become the standard for many individuals who want to become self-sufficient in their medicinal and recreational cannabis supplies.
Growing your own cannabis is possible for a fraction of the cost of cannabis purchased on the street, at dispensaries, coffee shops, or social clubs after you have purchased a grow tent and the accompanying equipment.
Healthy plants and abundant harvests begin with high-quality seeds. While correct feeding/watering and adequate light quality have an effect on the health and production potential of your plants, beginning a grow with top-shelf genetics is just as, if not more, critical.
However, how can you identify the difference between high-quality cannabis seeds and the rest? We’ll teach you precisely how to identify high-quality cannabis seeds, avoid duds, and get your grow started correctly in this post.
1 – Appearance And Feel – Examining Your Seeds’ Color, Size, and Shape
In contrast to other agricultural crops (such as vegetables, fruit, or grain), cannabis has not been subjected to the rigorous breeding processes necessary to assure crop stability. This implies that you may sometimes sow a batch of seeds labeled as the same “strain,” yet end up with plants that appear very different. This also implies that the look of the individual seeds you purchase from a seed bank may vary.
Due to the variability in the appearance of cannabis seeds, some producers believe that the size, shape, or color of a seed determines its quality.
We do not advocate judging a seed’s quality by its size or form. Certain strains simply generate smaller seeds, and occasionally the same plant produces seeds of varying sizes and shapes. Never toss a seed just because it is smaller or has a different form.
On the other hand, the color and texture of a seed may provide additional information about its maturity and propensity to germinate or develop into a healthy seedling.
Cannabis seeds that have matured typically have a hard outer shell that varies in color from extremely dark (or almost black) to very light gray and may have tiger-like stripes. Without injuring the seeds, you should be able to firmly squeeze them between your fingers.
On the other hand, immature cannabis seeds are typically green in color and have a fragile outer shell that easily breaks under any amount of pressure.
2 – Carrying Out the Float Test
If you are uncertain about the quality of your home grown seeds after examining their look and hardness, it’s time to don your lab coat and goggles. Not exactly. This is a very simple exam with just two potential results. Fill a glass or jar halfway with water (ideally spring or distilled) and sprinkle your seeds on top.
This straightforward and cost-effective procedure is an excellent way to distinguish the good genetics in your home grown seeds from the poor; they will actually sink or swim. Seeds that float to the top are almost always of low quality and should be discarded. Seeds that sink to the bottom in the manner of a botanical cannonball are most likely healthy and should be germinated.
However, a certain amount of patience is necessary while doing the float test since the results are not immediately visible. You must wait roughly 1–2 hours before you can validate the findings. Certain high-quality seeds will need sufficient time to absorb enough water to sink.
It is critical to undertake this test only if you want to germinate the seeds shortly after that. The viable seeds that sank to the bottom of the glass will have absorbed water, penetrating the seed’s membrane and signaling that it is ready to germinate.
3 – Seed Propagation From A Bag (Bagseed)
Some smokers may be happy to find cannabis seeds in their bag and consider themselves fortunate. However, discovering seeds in a bag is undesirable for a variety of reasons. For one thing, this indicates that the grower made a mistake and enabled an invading male to fertilize their female plants.
After pollination, flowers cease releasing THC-containing resin and redirect their energy toward seed production. Second, the seeds will have increased the bag’s total weight, resulting in less cannabis for your buck.
4 – Seed Sourcing
A reliable method of obtaining high-quality seeds is to locate a reputed seed bank. These businesses take pride in their breeding abilities and ensure that their consumers get precisely what was stated. They have reputations to uphold, and anything less would only serve to tarnish their image.
The option is to take a chance on purchasing seeds from a hobbyist. This is not to argue that hobby gardeners cannot create exceptional genetics; nevertheless, until you know them and their abilities, there is no way to tell if your seeds will germinate.
If you are a regular cannabis gardener, you may use your home grown seeds. By enabling certain female plants to be pollinated by male plants, you may create your own seeds. After pollination, you’ll have enough seeds for your next grow.
5 – Successfully Germinating All of Your Seeds Regardless
Another reliable means of determining a seed’s genetic potential is to plant it in the soil and see what happens simply. It won’t be long until you get to see the results of your efforts.
A risky endeavor such as this is best suited to the home gardener who enjoys a pastime and has the necessary time and space. Growers that cultivate cannabis for business purposes are unlikely to have a lot of spare time on their hands.
Pay Attention to Cannabis Seed Quality
Quality seeds have a direct influence on the quality of your crop, so choose carefully. To keep this in mind, you should make certain that you examine the quality of any seeds you purchase using the methods outlined above. All of that being said, please remember that each marijuana strain is unique and, as a result, will generate seeds that are somewhat different from the others.
