Cannabis Seeds: Regular vs Feminized vs Autoflowering vs CBD

Cannabis Seeds: Regular vs Feminized vs Autoflowering vs CBD

Learn the difference between cannabis seed types.

Contents:

Use the guide below to learn what makes each type of cannabis different. By the end, you'll know which type flowers the fastest, which makes the best clones, and which variety to use for breeding.

CANNABIS: A DIVERSE SPECIES

Cannabis seeds are available in four primary categories: regular, feminized, autoflowering, and CBD. Each type features its own unique advantages and disadvantages and appeals to different cultivators depending on their goals.

If you’re looking to enter the world of breeding—or perhaps you want genetically sturdy clones—then regular seeds are the way to go.

You’ll want to start off with feminized seeds if your only aim is a canopy full of colas. These seeds minimise the chances of a male turning up in the growing room.

Many growers value speed above all else. If you want to harvest in as little time as possible, autoflower seeds fit the bill.

CBD strains offer a wide range of benefits and provide a clear-headed effect without a high.

Let’s take a dive into each of these four types of cannabis seeds. We’ll explore the pros and cons of each variety, whether they’re right for you, and the best strains in each category.

REGULAR

Regular cannabis seeds have a 50% chance of emerging as either males or females—just as nature intended.

Because they produce males, regular seeds are popular among breeders creating new strains. Males produce pollen that breeders use to fertilise female flowers, creating the next generation of seeds.

Regular seeds are available in many different forms. You’ll find indica-dominant, sativa-dominant, high-THC, and high-CBD varieties.

PROS CONS
Required for breeding and creating new strains Can be unpredictable; germinating seeds is a gamble regarding sex
Even chance of producing male and female plants Growers might misidentify males and females
Produce vigorous cuttings ideal for making healthy clones Accidental males in the grow room can lead to the fertilisation of flowers
Breeders can create a pollen bank using male plants Requires growers to set up separate grow tents or greenhouses for male and female plants
Wide variety of different strains available—both classic and modern genetics -

HOW ARE REGULAR GENETICS MADE?

Regular genetics are completely natural. They are the result of how cannabis emerged in nature. There’s no tampering or tweaking involved.

Purebred regular genetics stem all the way back to landrace ancestors found all over the world, from the mountains of India to the beaches of Jamaica.

Breeders have also created regular hybrids by combining the genetics of two different subspecies. This results in a progeny that expresses the traits of both parent strains.

ARE REGULAR GENETICS FOR YOU?

If you want an even mix of male and female plants, then regular cannabis seeds are for you. Having both sexes at your disposal will enable you to create your own strains.

You'll be able to select plants with the traits you like and use them to create your own customised varieties. You can modify anything—the terpene profile, cannabinoid content, productivity, and size.

You’ll also want to grow out regular seeds if you plan on taking cuttings. Cloning will allow you to skip the germination phase and create an exact genetic copy of a selected plant. Only regular plants produce fully viable and vigorous clones.

Cannabis regular

FEMINIZED

Feminized seeds were created to maximise the chances of germinating female plants. To be precise, the chances of a female emerging are around 99.9%. The odds are in your favor if you’re seeking flowers over pollen sacs!

PROS CONS
Almost guaranteed to produce female plants Aren’t suitable for breeding purposes
Eliminate the 50:1.8 ozenetic gamble Produce less viable clones; growers need to start from seed in most cases
Ideal for growers looking for nothing but dank buds Can sometimes turn into hermaphrodites due to bad genetics or environmental stress
Streamline the growing process and are cost-effective -

HOW ARE FEMINIZED GENETICS MADE?

Feminized genetics are made by essentially crossing one female with another. Breeders use two techniques to force female plants to produce pollen. They then fertilise another female, whose flowers produce a generation of feminized seeds.

We know what you’re thinking; how on Earth can a female suddenly grow balls?! Well, there are two different ways to achieve this.

By stopping the production of ethylene levels in plant tissues, breeders can force female plants to produce pollen sacs. Various chemical agents can be used to catalyse this process—colloidal silver being the safest option.

The second method involves relying on nature's deep desire to procreate. If female cannabis plants are left unfertilised, they sometimes take matters into their own hands.

Occasionally, they’ll flip sexes in an attempt to fertilise themselves. They produce oddly shaped pollen-producing structures known descriptively as “bananas”.

Breeders collect this “female pollen” and use it to fertilise female flowers to produce feminized seeds.

ARE FEMINIZED GENETICS FOR YOU?

If you want nothing but resinous flowers from your grow, then feminized seeds are for you.

You’ll save a tremendous amount of time not having to sift males out of your growing space. You can rest easy knowing that your grow tent or garden will remain pollen-free.

Feminized

TOP THREE FEMINIZED STRAINS

Do feminized strains tickle your fancy? If so, check out these three top-quality specimens below.

Royal Gorilla produces outrageous levels of THC.

Royal Gorilla
Sour Dubb x Chem Sis x Chocolate Diesel
18 to 19 oz/m²
3 to 5 feet
8 - 10 weeks
THC: 27%
Sativa 50% Indica 50%
19 to 21 oz/plant
4 to 6 feet
Middle of October
Calming, Clear

Buy Royal Gorilla

Sweet ZZ will pump out a rewarding indoor yield.

Sweet ZZ
Grape Ape x Grapefruit
19 to 21 oz/m²
3 to 5 feet
7 - 9 weeks
THC: 22%
Sativa 20% Indica 80%
18 to 19 oz/plant
5 to 7 feet
Late September
Calming, Stoned

Buy Sweet ZZ

Fruit Spirit will set your taste buds on fire.

Fruit Spirit
Blueberry x White Widow
13 to 15 oz/m²
3 to 4 feet
9 - 10 weeks
THC: 18%
Sativa 30% Indica 70%
17 to 18 oz/plant
6 to 7 feet
Early October
Clear

Buy Fruit Spirit

AUTOFLOWERING

Autoflower strains get their name from their ability to flower without a change in the light cycle. They are easy to grow, fast to flower, and maintain stealthy sizes.

PROS CONS
No need to change the light cycle Lower yield
Small and compacte Typically less THC; not as potent as most photoperiod strains
Usually higher in CBD Difficult to clone
Rapid flowering times -
Hardy genetics make them easy to grow and beginner-friendly -
Ideal for guerrilla growing -

HOW ARE AUTOFLOWERING GENETICS MADE?

Breeders create autoflowering seeds by using Cannabis ruderalis genetics—the subspecies that contains the autoflowering trait.

Cannabis ruderalis adapted to the shorter growing seasons and colder climates of Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia. The shorter summer in these regions forced the subspecies to begin flowering on its own accord.

Ruderalis doesn’t have time to mess around. These plants need to reproduce before the short summer comes to an end and the freezing temperatures of fall grip the landscape.

They developed the ability to flower based on time and age, instead of a change in light exposure.

In contrast, indica and sativa subspecies are photoperiod varieties. They require shorter light cycles to trigger flowering—an environmental cue that signals the imminence of fall and colder days ahead.

Growers rarely cultivate pure ruderalis plants. They are shrubby, small, low in THC, and produce low yields.

However, they are like gold for breeders. They use these plants to infuse well-known photoperiod strains with the autoflowering trait.

ARE AUTOFLOWERING GENETICS FOR YOU?

You’ll benefit from autoflowering seeds if you want a harvest as soon as physically possible. Maybe you want to boost turnover, or set up and take down your growing operation within a small window of time.

They’re also ideal if you have limited space. You can still achieve a good yield in a small tent by growing several plants and utilising the sea of green (SOG) method.

Autoflowering strains are well-suited to discreet growers. You can grow these small plants in modified buckets and boxes, and even conceal them among companion plants outdoors.

Autoflowering

TOP THREE AUTOFLOWERING STRAINS

Autoflower growers enjoy a variety of options. The RQS catalog features many different tastes, potencies, and varieties. Here are the top three.

Green Gelato Automatic provides incredible levels of THC.

Green Gelato Auto
Green Gelato x Cookies Auto
13 to 16 oz/m²
2 to 4 feet
7 - 8 weeks
THC: 24%
Sativa 55% Indica 40% Ruderalis 5%
3 to 6 oz/plant
3 to 4 feet
9 - 10 weeks after sprouting
Clear, Physically Relaxing

Buy Green Gelato Auto