From the word Female, it can already be implied that the seed in question is purely girl power, one whose relevance has taken the cannabis industry by storm. Since its 3 decades of permeation into the cannabis market, this female trailblazer has gradually replaced regular seeds among cannabis farmers.
Generally, cannabis seeds can either culminate into the growth of male or female plants thus connoting that cannabis plants are dioecious by natural construct. However, as a result of genetic modification or engineering botanists, genetic scientists and engineers have modified these seeds in a way that they are capable of producing all female plants.
One notable feature of this all-female lineup is the elimination of uncertainty and the sense of relief they give the farmer. And this is because the farmer does not have to worry about unwanted male plants rearing their heads to sabotage their harvest.
For female weed seeds, one thing is sure. You are always going to get what you give. No doubts. No surprises.
Cultivating Feminized Cannabis Seeds
Feminized seeds can be grown both outdoors and indoors depending on the farmer’s peculiar circumstances, technical know-how, financial capabilities, and preference. However, according to Highway420, outdoor cultivation is less demanding technique-wise than indoor cultivation. And this is because the farmer does not have to transplant, re-pot young plants, or worry about light schedules which demand a great deal of attention.
Indoor cultivation on the other hand requires a lot of financial investment and technique application.
Indoor cultivation
It is no news that indoor cannabis cultivation requires a solid knowledge of light schedules and their timely alteration to initiate the flowering phase (the second cycle of a cannabis plant lifestyle). A light schedule of 12/12 i.e. 12-hour exposure to light and 12-hour exposure to darkness is needed to create an atmospheric state or climatic condition similar to that of Autumn.
Outdoor Cultivation
For outdoor cultivation, you must be highly calculative and proactive which means you must plant in a favorable climate. Experts recommend that cultivation should commence during spring (when there is no frost) so you would be to reap your harvest during fall.
Growth rate
The growth rate of your female plants depends on the particular species as they all have different flowering times. Some Indica feminized varieties have a flowering time of 6-7 weeks while some varieties may take double the time. If you want to harvest your cannabis plants in record time, you should research varieties that flourish in your area. A good recommendation is to plant feminized auto flowers as they take only 8 weeks after germination to be ready for harvesting.
Optimal temperatures
Temperature is an important variable in any plant’s life cycle and the cannabis plant is no exception. For healthy growth and an aesthetic look, a temperature around 21°C is professionally suggested. Any extreme temperature like excessive heat can cause wilting, leaves curling at the tips, and inhibit the production of trichrome. Trichrome production is necessary to ward off pests and strong winds which are needed if you are going to be cultivating in an open space.
Excessive cold, moisture, or humidity also stunts the growth and defaces the outlook of the plant. How this occurs is that dampness above the requisite threshold is a breeding ground for fungi and other molds to spread their reach. And where there is a fungal infestation, bud rot, and change in taste of the plant will occur.
The only time when a decent amount of moisture is needed is when the plant is in its vegetative phase as it needs it for the growth of healthy leaves.
Suitable Soil type/ requirements
Feminized cannabis seeds thrive in well-aerated and nutrient-rich soil. A well-aerated and well-draining soil would allow essential nutrients to reach the requisite places. It also prevents incidences of water logging.
Nutrient needs
As food is important for the optimal functioning of the human body so are plant nutrients as they are responsible for the optimal growth of the plant. The plant must not be deficient in these three essential macronutrients namely: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. Other micronutrients like Iron, Calcium, and copper are also necessary to prevent malformation and deformity.
Water/PH level
For feminized cannabis seeds, the water or nutrient solution must have a minimum pH of 6 and a maximum of 7 anything above or below this benchmark would make your plants unable to draw nutrients. If you notice your pH level is above or below the requisite level, you can adjust the pH by buying pH-up and down products.
Pros of Feminized Cannabis Seeds
- Certainty: One relief to every cannabis farmer is certainty and the ability to predict outcomes successfully. With feminized seeds, you can put all your eggs in one basket as there is a 99.9% chance of getting an all-female field.
2. Cost-effectiveness: Growing cannabis comes with a decent level of periodic financial investment. Feminized seeds albeit more expensive than regular seed varieties are cheaper in the long run. And this is because, for regular seeds, you would have to buy more units to increase your chances and stakes of getting female plants. However, with female seeds, 5 feminized viable seeds would give you five plants with smokable buds.
3. No need for sexing: Sexing can be described as the process of determining the sex of your cannabis plants whether they are male or female. For feminized seeds, you do not have to remove any male plants before they pollinate your female plants with their pollen.
Cons of Feminized Seeds
- They are unsuitable for persons who want to breed cannabis or those who want to derive new varieties or hybrids and this is because the process needs both male and female plants.
Conclusion
You can plant feminized seeds for commercial purposes or personal consumption. As a commercial grower, since healthy cannabis buds are the delight of cannabis aficionados, your profits would be off the roof because you have a large market to satisfy. The only thing to note is that all grooming practices must be observed to see a healthy and satisfactory outcome.
