How to Choose the Best Marijuana Seeds

New laws make it easier than ever to get your hands on marijuana. Nowadays you can even buy marijuana online. But although there are plenty of convenient ways to get cannabis, some marijuana lovers like to go a step further and grow marijuana plants at home. It’s an interesting project and although you may have to invest a couple of months of your time, you can end up with some huge yields of marijuana if you commit to it.

However, it’s not as easy as planting a seed in the ground and waiting. Marijuana plants require a lot of special care, including the right temperatures, light levels, and nutrients. There’s also a lot of work when it comes to setting up your grow operation and harvesting your weed. But one of the most important factors when it comes to growing marijuana is picking the best marijuana seeds.

You’ll notice that there are many different kinds of marijuana seeds. Not only are there now tons of different strains you can grow, but seeds are also split into different types, and the type you choose will impact how fast your plants grow and what kind of plants you’ll grow. So what’s the difference between these types and which should you choose? Here’s a guide on how to choose the best marijuana seeds.

Canada Marijuana Growing Laws

Many marijuana users across the country are now free to grow marijuana. You’ll need to be of legal age and you’ll need to invest in some growing equipment, but once you’re all set up you can end up with plenty of homegrown marijuana. However, there are still certain restrictions, and you’ll need to pay special attention to provincial laws.

Growing marijuana is still illegal in two provinces- Quebec and Manitoba. Residents of these provinces must not try to grow marijuana either indoors or outdoors. Nunavut initially planned to ban home growing, but individual areas are now able to set their own restrictions on whether you’re able to grow.

Aside from that, everyone in Canada can grow marijuana at home providing that they’re 19 years of age or older (or 18 years of age in Alberta). You can grow up to four active plants at a time, and while it may not sound like a lot, each plant can yield a great deal of weed. 

It’s also worth noting that while public possession laws limit you to 30 grams of dried marijuana, you can keep as much of your harvested marijuana as you want at home. Just make sure you stash it away safely and keep it well out of the reach of any children.

Other than that, Canada marijuana growing laws are fairly straightforward. You can grow marijuana indoors or outdoors but must keep it out of public view. You should also keep your plants away from children and animals (in New Brunswick you’re required to put a 1.52m enclosure around any outdoor grows). Landlords are also able to restrict growing on their properties, both indoors and outdoors, so if you rent your place you may need to ask before growing.

What Kinds of Marijuana Seeds are There?

The first step to growing marijuana is buying the right seeds. You can find marijuana seeds in seed banks, buy them online or find them in various cannabis stores. However, when you go to buy marijuana seeds, you’ll quickly notice there are many different types.

You can grow all kinds of marijuana strains, and users may want to consider whether they want to grow indica, sativa or hybrid plants. Indica plants grow shorter than sativa plants and also grow faster, but sativa plants are often ideal for outdoor growers. Hybrid plants have a mix of indica and sativa genetics and their growing conditions can vary.

Different types of strains aside, the most important decision is whether to buy regular seeds or feminized seeds. Regular seeds can be either male or female. However, it’s the female plants that produce the marijuana flower which people harvest and smoke. Feminized seeds are altered to consistently produce female plants, making them much better for growers.

You’ll also notice that many seeds are labeled as autoflowering seeds. Autoflowering seeds grow much faster than usual seeds, often cutting down your growing time by weeks or even over a month. They might cost you more, but it’s often worth it for growers- especially beginner growers who want to grow their first plants quickly.

Regular Seeds

Regular seeds are generally the cheapest and most common kind of seed. These can grow either into male or female plants. Unfortunately for marijuana growers, male plants don’t produce the THC-packed marijuana buds most people want and as such aren’t much use if you’re trying to grow weed. So why even buy regular seeds? Despite their drawbacks, they do have their uses.

When you grow marijuana plants from regular seeds, you’ll often end up with a mix of both female and male plants. Breeders often find that regular seeds are better for creating strong parent plants, and as such take cuttings from female plants grown from regular seeds to create stronger female plants.

Regular seeds can also be interesting for marijuana growers who aren’t too concerned about ending up with high yields of psychoactive weed. However, if you’re a beginner grower and your goal is to grow marijuana, stay well away from regular seeds. Male plants can ruin the growing potential of your female plants by pollinating them and unless you’re trying to produce more seeds, you’ll want to avoid this.

Feminized Seeds

Feminized seeds will cost you more than regular seeds, but it’s worth it. Unlike regular seeds, feminized seeds are geared specifically to create female plants. As such, those looking to grow dense marijuana buds will want to buy feminized seeds of whichever strain they’re trying to grow.

Breeders create feminized seeds via a complex process of altering a female plant into a hermaphrodite, enabling it to pollinate itself and produce seeds which will grow specifically female plants. These seeds can then be used to create high yields of marijuana via feminized plants.

Naturally, both beginners and experienced growers will want to use feminized seeds. You’ll end up with plants that produce high levels of marijuana flower, which is the end goal for most growers. How much marijuana your plants will yield depends on the kind of strain you grow and its growing conditions. The length of time it’ll take to grow can also vary- but you may want to use autoflowering seeds to make for fast and successful grows.

Autoflowering Seeds

Autoflowering seeds are seeds which are enhanced to grow much faster. You can buy autoflowering regular seeds or autoflowering feminine seeds, and both of these will grow significantly faster than the usual seeds. 

Autoflowering seeds are said to be made by crossing seeds with cannabis ruderalis genetics. Cannabis ruderalis is a species of plant which doesn’t produce marijuana buds but can grow extremely fast. By crossing the genetics you can end up with indica, sativa or hybrid plants with an extra swift growing time.

When you grow regular seeds or feminized seeds, you usually have to wait around 3 months or more for them to fully grow and be ready to harvest. However, autoflowering seeds can be ready for harvest within as little as 10 weeks. The growing conditions of autoflowering seeds also matter much less, and they can be grown with much less effort than normal seeds.

They generally cost quite a bit more than average seeds, but they’re well worth it for growers who want results fast. Beginner growers will be well-served by autoflowering feminized seeds. Not only will you be able to grow your favorite strains of marijuana, but you’ll also be able to produce good yields very quickly.

Indica vs Sativa vs Hybrid Seeds

With the distinction between regular, feminized, and autoflowering seeds out of the way, there’s another important decision growers must make. Should you grow indica cannabis, sativa cannabis or hybrid cannabis?

Indica and sativa are the two main species of cannabis plants which produce high levels of marijuana. If you’re looking for the effects of THC, you’ll want to choose either an indica or sativa strain. There are many different types of strains, each with individual differences in their aroma, appearance, and effects. However, distinguishing between these two species makes things easier.

Indica plants grow faster as well as being shorter and bushier. Many growers who prefer to grow indoors prefer these. They can produce high yields of cannabis with plenty of THC and there are many popular indica strains to choose from.

Sativa plants generally require more space to grow as they’re longer and taller. They’re often preferred by outdoor growers. Sativa strains are less common as they can be trickier to grow, but they deliver some of the best effects of THC.

There’s also another option in hybrid plants. Hybrid strains have a mix of both indica and sativa genetics, and the plants often also have attributes of both. Growers have an interesting choice of whether to grow indica, sativa or hybrid strains, and the choice often comes down to the kind of effects they want.

Indica Seeds

Indica cannabis plants are preferred by growers who want faster flowering times and also by those looking for the relaxing and therapeutic effects of indica strains. Indica plants usually grow shorter and bushier than sativa plants. They have wider leaves and grow thick, dense buds packed with THC. They’re usually darker than sativa plants due to more chlorophyll intake.

The main benefit of growing indica seeds is that indica plants tend to grow much faster than sativa plants. Depending on the strain and type of seed you use, you could be looking at a flowering time of around 8-9 weeks, compared to 10-16 weeks for sativa plants. They’re also better for growing indoors due to their short stature, and you can control the light and temperature to induce the fastest growth possible.

Indica strains are known for delivering a more soothing and body-focused high than sativa strains. They’re ideal to use in the nighttime when you want to unwind and relax. They’re also useful for treating pain, migraines, muscle spasms, and insomnia. Popular indica strains include Death Bubba, Afghani, and Black Diamond.

Sativa Seeds

Sativa cannabis plants grow taller and thinner than indica plants. They tend to have narrower leaves and are lighter in color. Although they take longer to flower and require more care, some growers prefer these due to the sensational effects of sativa strains.

You can generally expect a flowering time of 10-16 weeks for sativa seeds, so you’ll need to be prepared to put a lot of time and effort into growing them. They require a lot of light and nutrients and are well-suited to outdoor growing.

Sativa strains are known for their energizing and stimulating effects. They’re often used first thing in the morning as a wake-and-bake or throughout the day as a motivation-booster. They make you feel happy, uplifted, creative, and mentally focused, making them good for counteracting stress, anxiety, depression, and fatigue. Popular sativa strains include Jack Herer, Strawberry Cough, and Super Lemon Haze.

Hybrid Seeds

Those who can’t decide between indica and sativa strains always have a third option in hybrid strains. Hybrid cannabis plants have a cross of both indica and sativa genetics. As such, they can be either tall or short and their appearance can vary depending on the specific strain.

The growing conditions can also vary. In some cases, you may end up with a taller plant which shares qualities of sativa plants but with the flowering time of indica or vice-versa. It’s best to research the specific hybrid strain you plan to grow to find out the ideal growing conditions.

Hybrid strains are also highly versatile. Many will give you both a relaxing indica body high and a stimulating sativa head high. As such, they’re great for day-round use and can also provide a whole gamut of medical benefits. Popular hybrid strains include Girl Scout Cookies, God’s Green Crack, and Gorilla Glue 5.

Conclusion

Growing marijuana at home is a great way to end up with plenty of homegrown weed, but it helps to know how to choose the best marijuana seeds. Always opt for feminized seeds or autoflowering feminized seeds over regular seeds. Whether you grow indica, sativa or hybrid strains is up to you, and you may even want to try out a few different strains. Stay aware of your local growing laws and have fun growing quality marijuana.