Seed types (fem/reg, autos/photos, sativa/indica).

When selecting cannabis seeds, one may be overwhelmed by the terms “regular” and “feminized.” Let’s break down their differences.

Regular Seeds:

These are standard seeds that all plants in the wild produce. They determine a 50/50 chance of producing a male or female plant. Experienced growers often prefer regular seeds or breeding processes for their genetic code. Regular seeds are best suited for large growing spaces, clones’ production, or new strains’ creation.

Feminized Seeds:

Feminized seeds are the most popular option for growers due to their simplicity and a 99% chance of producing female plants. This is achieved by pollinating female plants with pollen from other female plants and treating them with special chemicals to produce female-only seeds. These seeds are an exact replica of the mother plant, not offspring, meaning they have the same genotype. Because male plants do not produce buds and occupy valuable space in a grow room that could be used for growing female plants, choosing feminized seeds is the optimal choice for growers who want to ensure that their plants yield buds, not pollen.

Our seed shop works exclusively with exquisite quality feminized seeds. However, we might be able to organize a special order from our breeders if you would like to have hands-on experience with regular ones.

Cannabis plants can be divided into two types: photoperiod and auto-flowering.

Photoperiod plants:

Photoperiod plants are the natural type of cannabis, and they start blooming when daylight hours are shortened in summer. Indoor growers simulate this by changing the lighting from 18h of light / 6h of darkness to 12h of light / 12h of darkness. These plants are more productive because the grower can switch the plant to flowering whenever they want, and the plants can grow vegetatively as long as needed. Photoperiod plants’ life cycle takes about 11-15 weeks, which consists of a regular 4-6 weeks of vegetation and 7-10 weeks of flowering. That makes the whole production period longer than the auto-flowering one. Moreover, photoperiodic plants always grow bigger, which determines the strictness of the growing environment. These plants need more water, nutrients, larger pots, and, most importantly, a lot of light because their short days are limited to 12-13h during flowering time.

Opting for a photoperiodic plant is an excellent choice if you:

1. Seek the purest genetics without making any compromises.
2. Have the luxury of time and no constraints on your cultivation schedule.
3. Possess ample free space to accommodate the plant’s growth requirements.
4. Still determining the specific conditions in your growing space, including factors like humidity and temperature.
5. Intend to implement high-stress training techniques such as mainlining or supercropping.
6. Desire the ability to clone your plants.

Autoflowering plants:

Autoflowering cannabis was introduced in the 1990s by the Joint Doctor with his first stable autoflowering, “Lowrider.” Autoflowers finish the vegetation and start flowering independently without being affected by the light. This is due to the genes of ruderalis, a Siberian “wild hemp” that learned to bloom without depending on the light regime to complete its cycle before winter frost. Their unique genes allow growers to grow them with 20h of light / 4h of darkness photoperiod for the whole growing cycle.

Growers choose autoflowers for their simplicity and speed; they often grow faster than photoperiodic plants. The whole growing cycle (from seed to bud) of an autoflower can be done in just nine weeks.

Some growers are still hesitant about autoflowers because of their “wild genetics” However, genetically stable autoflowers give great quality buds and pack excellent benefits for a grower, making the cultivation process easier. They grow faster and require less light, soil, water, and space.

Choosing an autoflowering plant is highly advantageous if you:

1. Lack confidence in your growing abilities, making it suitable for beginners.
2. Seek a faster learning experience in cultivation.
3. Prefer to spend less time on the growth cycle.
4. Desire to achieve a satisfactory harvest within a short timeframe.
5. Enjoy growing as a hobby and prefer a low-maintenance crop.
6. Wish to avoid investing in expensive equipment.
7. Have limited space available for cultivation.
8. Plan to grow outdoors or on a balcony.

Sativa VS Indica

While it is common knowledge that all cannabis varieties originate from two primary types – cannabis sativa and cannabis indicia, finding pure sativa or indica strains is virtually impossible nowadays. Instead, all plants are hybrids, meaning they are a mixture of both species.

• Original sativa strains were renowned for their psychedelic effects, which produce a “mind-high” characterized by euphoria, creativity, laughter, and increased energy.
• Original Indica strains were known for their relaxing body buzz, producing a “stone effect” characterized by deep body relaxation, drowsiness, and euphoria.
• Hybrids are a combination of sativa and indica strains, and breeders typically indicate the approximate ratio of each in the plant’s description. Hybrid strains generally start with a Sativa-like mind-high, gradually shifting towards a mild indica stone, often producing a well-balanced effect perfect for consumption in every situation.

At West Seed Co, we understand that simplifying the complex morphology and effects of cannabis by dividing all plants into indica and sativa is unproductive. Instead, we describe each strain’s unique effects, flowering time, aroma, and yield, so read the strain description carefully to understand its specific effects.