Cannabis is a plant-derived natural substance that’s commonly known among people as marijuana or weed. It’s usually used as a recreational substance. But its importance as a medicinal product is now being considered as more research on the plant unfolds.
Let’s be realistic: buying cannabis isn’t cheap. Many cannabis users aren’t aware that it’s really easy to grow their own marijuana. If growing marijuana is legal in your state, then it’s no problem getting seeds to grow your own cannabis. There are many dispensaries and online seed banks in the United States and Canada that offer quality weed seeds.
In this article, we’ll discuss the different types of cannabis seeds that you can find online in Canada and the United States. We’ll also take a look at the different characteristics of these weed seeds and determine which is the best type.
Understanding the Basics: Types of Cannabis Plants
There are only a few crucial types of cannabis plants that are used commercially. These include the genus of Cannabis indica, Cannabis sativa, and Cannabis ruderalis. A combination of the first two types might also be used. These are called hybrids or hybrid cannabis strains.
Each type of strain has its own effect on the body. Ultimately, the amount of chemical compounds present in the plant determines how it’s going to affect you. These chemicals are called cannabinoids. They are sub-classified into tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The former is the more intoxicating substance.
Cannabis indica usually has a higher percentage of THC and is known to produce a “strong” effect on your body. The use of this type of marijuana is going to have a relaxing impact on your nervous system, leading to analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. It may also help with sleeplessness and anxiety. Morphologically, these plants are short and bushy.
Cannabis sativa, on the other hand, makes you feel euphoric. It’s known to have a higher level of CBD. It may help your mind focus better, think more creatively, and may stimulate some serotonin release. These plants appear to be tall, slim, and less bushy.
Cannabis ruderalis is a wild type of weed plant. It is more resistant to temperature changes, meaning it can grow anywhere. It isn’t light-dependent and can basically grow in all conditions. These qualities make this type of cannabis significant.
Hybrid cannabis strains are developed through human interference. These are developed artificially through specialized breeding techniques and cultivation methods. The advantage hybrids have over traditional ones is that we can get favourable traits in our plants. Hybrids may either be Indica-dominant or Sativa-dominant.
Becoming a Master Cultivator: Understanding the Fertilization Process
To choose the best type of weed seed, we should learn a bit more about the plant itself. Understand that weed is an annual plant. What does this mean?
The cannabis plant will grow, bloom, flower, and die within the same year. But now, specific types of seeds are available that don’t follow this autolysis process.
These plants have both male and female counterparts. This means they are dioecious. The male plants produce pollen, while the female plants bear flowers.
So, female plants are more significant for us as someone who aims to get a high yield.
Qualities of the Best Cannabis Seeds
The ideal weed seeds should have the following qualities:
1. Potency
Many cannabis users are likely to cultivate the plant for recreational use. There’s no point in going through the whole hassle of growing it if the plant doesn’t give off a strong effect.
2. Yield
The plant should give a sufficient yield. Imagine going through all the trouble of buying, planting, and growing the seeds just to get a small amount of product that you just could’ve bought.
If you select the right type of seed, it’s going to make the growing process much easier for you. Additionally, you will get the desired traits for your own strain and potentially save a lot of cash.
Types of Cannabis Seeds
1. Regular/ Photoperiod Seeds
These are the traditional male (pollen-producing) and female (ovule-bearing) plants. A bag of regular seeds usually consists of a 1:1 ratio of female and male counterparts.
The issue with regular seeds is that:
- Firstly, they need different periods of light exposure to grow from the vegetative state to the flowering stage.
- Secondly, the male plant won’t yield any buds.
Although these are cheaper seeds than other varieties, their yield is highly variable. They’re more challenging to maintain and not suitable for beginners.
2. Feminized Seeds
These types of seeds are self-pollinating, meaning they pollinate themselves when put under “harsh” conditions. This includes inadequate light and water requirements or a lack of pollen.
These seeds are more expensive than regular seeds. But they have a better yield and usually don’t require a lot of maintenance.
3. Autoflowering
These seeds are reinforced with the Cannabis ruderalis species’ genes. They can survive more in harsh conditions and don’t require light for their germination and flowering. However, they produce a lower yield.
Conclusion
This article discussed the different types of cannabis plants and seeds that are used to cultivate marijuana.
Cannabis plants are available as:
- Cannabis indica species;
- Cannabis sativa species;
- Cannabis ruderalis (wild type of weed used to produce auto-flowering seeds);
- Hybrid or hybrid cannabis strain.
The different types of cannabis seeds are:
- Regular Seeds/Photoperiod Seeds;
- Feminized Seeds;
- Autoflowering Seeds.