We get asked A LOT of questions about cannabis seeds. To answer most of them, we have created this dedicated cannabis seeds FAQ to give you some info and update your knowledge about cannabis seeds. Please sit down, roll up and attach your eyeballs to this article, because we will answer some questions you didn't even knew you had!
Are cannabis seeds male or female?
Short answer: Both and neither.
Explanation:
A cannabis seed can produce both male and female plants, but it is not possible to tell which cannabis seed will produce what sex plant. You can usually determine the sex of a plant once the seedling has been in flowering for 3 – 6 weeks. The male plants will produce pollen sacs and the female plants will produce flowers. The flowers is what can be smoked to make you high.
Can cannabis seeds go bad?
Short answer: Yes.
Explanation:
Cannabis seeds are live plant matter, and if they are not correctly stored, they will go bad. The most common way to store cannabis seeds is to keep them in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight. That's why quality breeders and seed-banks keep cannabis seeds refrigerated.
How long will cannabis seeds last?
Short answer: a very long time, depending on conditions!
Explanation:
If stored in optimal conditions, a cannabis seed will last a very long time. Estimates vary, but if kept dry, dark and refrigerated, you can expect a cannabis seed to last between 3 and 10 years.
Can cannabis seeds germinate in light?
Short answer: No.
Explanation:
A cannabis seed needs warmth and darkness to germinate, so exposing a germinating cannabis seed to light, will kill it. If the germinating cannabis seeds are exposed to light or a dramatic change in environment before planting, they will use up their stored nutrients before they are given a chance to root in soil properly. Result = death.
Can cannabis seeds be defected?
Short answer: Yes.
Explanation:
Like any other plant matter, cannabis seeds can degrade and defect. However, it is much less likely to happen if the cannabis seeds are from a reputable breeder or a quality seed bank. You can expect only the best premium cannabis seeds from Amsterdam Seed Center; all seeds have been quality checked and approved.
Can cannabis seeds survive freezing?
Short answer: Yes
Explanation:
Yes, cannabis seeds can be frozen; However, freezing cannabis seeds can lead to them rupturing due to excess moisture, so you have to maintain a consistent temperature and low humidity. The lower the temperature of the freeze, the longer your cannabis seeds should last, but unless you aim to preserve cannabis seeds for the year 2100 and beyond, a cold, dark and dry corner in your fridge will keep your seeds fresh for long enough.
Can cannabis seeds be sexed?
Short answer: No
Explanation:
There is a heated debate around this subject. The consensus is that you can not determine the sex of cannabis seeds. Some growers will claim that they can determine the sex of cannabis seed. Others will dismiss the claim outright, but cannabis seeds are practically identical, and if you could determine the sex of cannabis seed, feminized seeds would not be as in demand as they are.
What cannabis seeds should I buy and grow?
Short answer: the seeds that fit your needs.
Explanation:
As long as it's coming from a quality seed bank, it doesn't matter what cannabis seed you choose to grow. But of course you have some preferences.. Do you want a sativa, indica or hybrid? Do you want a short/tall plant? Do you want to grow fast? Do you want to grow indoor/outdoor? Do you want to grow the biggest possible yield? Do you want to grow that special unique flavour? It all depends on what you what to gain from growing a cannabis plant, there are over 1000 strains, so it's not an easy decision to make. Sure, some plants will be more forgiving for beginners than others, but you should try something you either already know or something with particular traits that you find appealing.
When to germinate cannabis seeds (outdoor) ?
Short answer: In spring, when temperatures are minimum 10c+ and rising
Explanation:
Each packet of cannabis seeds will usually provide a germination schedule, but as a rule of thumb, you can sow your cannabis seeds outside at the beginning of spring or after the last frost has happened. We often advise germinating cannabis seeds indoor before planting a healthy seedling outside for the vegetation period.
Which cannabis seeds are female?
Short answer: All feminised cannabis seeds are female (99,9%)
Explanation:
As there is no way to tell which cannabis seeds are female, ordering feminised seeds is the only way of guaranteeing that you will get female cannabis plants. We have lots of feminised cannabis seeds available.
How to check if cannabis seeds are still good?
Short answer: If it looks good, it probably is good.
Explanation:
You can do a couple of physical checks to make sure your cannabis seeds are still good:
Check if they haven't ruptured or cracked
Are they still firm?
Is the colour of the seed a nice dark brown/greenish with stripes?
If all the above checks out, your seed is ready to go! But the best way to check if a cannabis seed is still good is by germinating it.
How to germinate cannabis seeds?
Short answer: it’s easier than you think
Explanation:
- Soak in water
- Watch for the taproot
- Plant in soil
- Happy growing!
Check out our full germination guide here!
Why cannabis seeds don't germinate?
Short answer: Probably poor storage and wrong germination method.
Explanation:
Cannabis seeds don't germinate for several reasons. Poor storage and implementing the germination method incorrectly are the main reasons why cannabis seeds don't germinate. If a cannabis seed is exposed to fluctuating temperatures, humidity-levels and light, then the chances of germination go down drastically. Sometimes bad quality or a bad batch can be the cause for seeds not germinating. If you think this is the case, then contact us and we will see what we can do for you!
How long before I can smoke cannabis grown from my seed?
Short answer: 3-6 months
Explanation:
If you're expecting to be getting high of your own supply in a hurry, you might be disappointed. Considering the time it will take to germinate your seed for the vegetation and flowering, followed by cutting, drying and curing, you could be looking at almost five months to six months. There are faster options available such as autoflowering strains that will take up to half of the time a photoperiodic strain would do.
Why are cannabis seeds so expensive?
Short answer: Quality ain’t cheap!
Explanation:
You get what you pay for and when you buy cannabis seeds, and if you buy them from the right place, you get top quality cannabis genetics. It takes years and years to develop and produce top quality cannabis seeds . This requires a developed skill to complete the job properly. Cannabis seeds might seem expensive but in most cases, they provide extraordinary value for money.
Are cannabis seeds legal?
Short answer: Yes, mostly…
Explanation:
The laws are different everywhere. In many country's cannabis seeds are legal until they are sowed and have germinated. The next time you're checking out a quality seed bank, you might notice that it states that the cannabis seeds are as souvenirs.
Why are there so many different cannabis strains?
Short answer: Dedication…
Explanation:
There are so many cannabis strains for a couple of reasons. One is that cannabis many breeders have dedicated decades of their lives in the pursuit of creating new cannabis strains or improving old ones. The second is that anyone with dedication can become a cannabis breeder and create a new cannabis strain. With an increase in worldwide knowledge and understanding of the cannabis plant, it is likely that the number of different cannabis strains will keep growing.
What are feminised cannabis seeds?
Short answer: They only produce plants that grow flowers!!!
Explanation:
Feminised seeds are cannabis seeds that have been through a feminisation process to ensure that the cannabis plants grown from these seeds are female and produce the female flowers we want to harvest.!
What are autoflowering cannabis seeds?
Short answer: They produce cannabis plants that will flower no matter what you do.
Explanation:
Autoflowering cannabis seeds produce hybid cannabis plants. They are partly indica/sativa and they are crossed with a type of cannabis called Ruderalis. Ruderalis enables the plant to flower automatically regardless of the hours of light it has received. Unlike photoperiodic(light sensitive) cannabis plants, autoflowering cannabis plants do not need you to stick to a strict light schedule in order to start flowering and deliver good yields. Autoflowering cannabis plants are popular in cold, darker climates such as Scandinavia, Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands and the U.K.
What are regular cannabis seeds?
Short answer: Cannabis seeds that can produce either male or female plants.
Explanation:
Male and female cannabis plants are found naturally in nature. That’s how they reproduce in the wild! These landraces and can produce both male and female plants, regular cannabis seeds; they are used for breeding purposes and usually only used by experienced growers.
Will white cannabis seeds germinate?
Short answer: Don’t expect them to…
Explanation:
White or pale cannabis seeds are usually a sign that they are immature. The only way to know if they will germinate or not is to try. If you buy your seeds with a quality seed bank, you won't have to worry about these things, as it is unlikely you will receive immature cannabis seeds. And if you ever did, your seed bank would replace them ASAP.
Should I give my cannabis seeds fertilised water?
Short answer: NO!!
Explanation:
Adding nutrients at this stage will likely overdose and kill your fragile seedling. A cannabis seed will be it’s own the energy source for the seedling in the first 14 days. After this period, the seedling should have produced 3 or 4 sets of proper leaves; it is at this stage nutrient can be added in low quantities.
I found a cannabis seed in my bag of weed, can I grow it?
Short answer: Yes, you can but…
Explanation:
Bag seed can be hit or miss. When you find cannabis seeds in your flower, it is usually a sign that the plant has been under stress or exposed to an irregular light pattern when growing. You never know though, some growers report great results from a bag seed.
Are your free promo seeds old/unwanted seeds?
Short answer: No, absolutely not!
Explanation:
The free promo seeds we give out with orders are often the latest strain a breeder has created, and they are eager to get it on the market. This means they are as fresh as can be! Free promo seeds are a reason to get excited because you’re getting the newest and latest strains available!