If you've come this far you've probably wondered what feminized seeds are . When deciding to purchase collectible cannabis seeds , there are many different expressions and terminologies you may come across.

Among these, you can find terms such as " feminized cannabis seeds ", " regular seeds " or " Autoflowering ", which indicate the sex and type of plant that will be generated from the seeds if you want to plant them.

This only creates confusion, especially for those who are new to the game, leading you to choose something different from what you wanted to collect. And there are many growers who ask us for clarification on the difference between feminized, regular and autoflowering .

Let's make a brief introduction. If you didn't already know, cannabis plants have a sex , which can be male , female , or, in some cases, hermaphrodite . The genus of the plant cannot be recognized from the seed, but manifests itself in the very early stages of flowering.

The male plant, in fact, develops small bunches containing pollen, while the female plants develop flowers (also called calyxes) with pistils predisposed to then receive the pollen from the males.

In addition to this male-female distinction, there is another that is based on the life cycle of the plant. In fact, there are photoperiodic seasonal plants (Indica and Sativa genetics), which grow and flower based on the hours of light provided, and the so-called Autoflowering plants (crossed with Ruderalis genetics). These varieties, however, grow and flower independently of the photoperiod and have - both indoors and outdoors - a much shorter life cycle than seasonal ones.

Now, the choice between these different seeds can influence the quality and yield of the plant that would be generated. This is why we thought of creating this article, in which we will try to clarify any doubts, so that each collector can choose based on his preferences.

Here is in detail what you will find in this guide:

Continue reading if you want to know more.

Read also : “ F1 hybrid autoflowering seeds from Royal Queen Seeds: let's see clearly ”.

Feminized seeds: what they are and what characteristics they have

Until 30 years ago, those who grew cannabis starting from a seed had at least a 50% chance of obtaining a male specimen. And if we consider that only female plants produce dense buds rich in resin and cannabinoids, this was a problem.

Then in the 90s there was a real revolution: feminized cannabis seeds were placed on the market for the first time. Considered almost everywhere as the "Gold Standard" and now used by over 90% of growers, these seeds are genetically treated to become 99.9% female specimens .

Feminized varieties are basically produced by crossing two female species. One of the two genetics is forced by breeders to produce pollen, with which the other female will be fertilized from whose flowers a new generation of feminized seeds will be born.

In summary, feminized cannabis has these characteristics:

  1. It produces inflorescences with a higher concentration of cannabinoids (THC and CBD) and with more intense aromas than male specimens;
  2. It lives on photoperiod, that is, it flowers based on how much light/darkness it is exposed to;
  3. It does not require sex control during growth, nor does it require the elimination of any male specimens.

Let's see in the next paragraph what advantages you could hypothetically obtain by choosing this variety of seeds.

Why choose feminized cannabis seeds: pros and cons

To help you make the most informed choice possible, in this table we have summarized all the advantages and disadvantages linked to the choice of feminized seeds. Let's analyze them one by one:

Advantages:

  • 99.9% certainty of obtaining female plants;
  • Not suitable for reproductive purposes, breeding and seed production;
  • No sex selection or control, nor demangling operations (i.e. elimination of male specimens);
  • If of poor quality, they could generate hermaphroditic plants;
  • Growing cannabis is simpler and cheaper;
  • More complex to grow than autoflowering seeds, because they require control of light/dark cycles;
  • Optimization of the cultivation space and zero waste of time, water and nutrients, because male specimens will not be eliminated;
  • Only quality buds rich in cannabinoids are obtained;
  • Higher yields than autoflowering varieties;
  • Valid alternative to clones, for less experienced growers;
  • Wide variety of seeds available on the market.

Disadvantages:

  • Not suitable for reproductive purposes, breeding and seed production;
  • If of poor quality, they could generate hermaphroditic plants;
  • More complex to grow than autoflowering seeds, because they require control of light/dark cycles;

As you can see for yourself, the pros are very few compared to the cons. Now that you know what feminized seeds are and what characteristics they have, let's focus better on the differences with regular and autoflowering seeds.

What are the differences between regular and feminized seeds?

The first and substantial difference is that with regular seeds there will be at least a 50% chance of generating male or female plants.

These seeds are completely natural (they do not undergo any genetic treatment like feminized ones) and are essentially produced using the process adopted by the plant in nature: that is, pollinating a female cannabis plant with pollen generated by a male plant.

They are marketed in very different forms. In fact, it is possible to find both indica-dominant and sativa-dominant varieties on the market, with variable THC and CBD contents.

These seeds are highly sought after and appreciated by expert and professional growers because:

  • They produce female species with stable genetics and can become mother plants to be cloned;
  • They can be used for hybridization and the creation of new unique and particular genetics;
  • They allow you to create a pollen bank using male specimens.

Of course, it's not all rosy. Unlike growing feminized seeds, growing regular seeds can be much more expensive and risky.

First of all because you have to wait at least 6 weeks after germination to understand the sex of the plant. In fact, when the plant begins to flower, at the height of the nodes, where the branches meet the stem, growths will begin to form, i.e. the sexual organs of the plant.

Which, as mentioned, can be pistils (white growths similar to hairs) in the case of female species, or pollen sacs (growths that resemble small balls) for male plants. After this long wait, it will be necessary to act promptly, creating well-separated greenhouses or cultivation areas for male and female plants.

If male specimens remain close to female specimens long enough, the risk of pollination is high. And this could greatly reduce the production of inflorescences.

What changes between autoflowering and feminized seeds?

Autoflowering cannabis strains , as you can already guess from their name, have the ability to flower without photoperiod , that is, without requiring a certain variation in the light/dark cycle, but within a certain genetically predetermined period, no matter what.

And this is already a substantial difference compared to feminized seeds which mainly generate photoperiodic plants. Autoflowering species are undoubtedly among the simplest to grow for beginners, however they generate much lower yields than feminized ones, also due to their smaller and more compact shape.

They are rich in CBD, but autoflowering buds produce significantly less THC, and not as potent in effects, compared to photoperiod strains, including feminized ones.

You are probably now wondering whether autoflowering marijuana seeds are feminized or regular ? Both, although the majority are sold as feminized. Let's try to better understand the differences.

Regular autoflowering seeds (AutoReg) are seeds that can generate male and female plants, which grow and flower regardless of the photoperiod in a time ranging from 2 to 3 months. There are also autoflowering feminized seeds on the market (AutoFem) from which only female and autoflowering plants will be born, independent of the photoperiod.

Furthermore, there are photo-dependent fast flowering varieties on the market, such as the Sweet Seeds Fast Version seeds. Cannabis species dependent on the photo period, but with a very short flowering period.

What are the advantages of feminized autoflowering seeds

Feminized autoflowering light cannabis seeds combine the best characteristics of both varieties. Until some time ago, there was an urban legend that autoflowering seeds gave rise to plants with low-quality buds.

The continuous research of breeders all over the world has allowed the creation of autoflowering genetics that give rise to powerful female specimens, rich in cannabinoids and pleasant in taste, with the plus of not being photoperiodic.

In terms of benefits for growers, therefore, those of feminized autoflowering seeds include:

  1. Rapid flowering and maturation : autoflowering plants are born, grow and reach flowering in approximately 60 days from germination;
  2. Greater yields : the reduction of conventional timing also allows you to carry out more crops, without necessarily following seasonal cycles;
  3. More resistance to diseases and adverse climatic conditions : the reason lies in the genetic heritage and in the crossing with Cannabis Ruderalis which is a wild plant very resistant to difficult climates.

Feminized autoflowering strains are a very popular choice for inexperienced growers who want plants that are easy to manage, resistant and guarantee a quick and abundant harvest of buds with a high THC content.

Find out which are the best automatic varieties, read our ranking of the best autoflowering seeds you can find on the market today.

Regular seeds, autoflowering or feminized: here is the CBD variety

The CBD seed variety, as you might guess, produces buds with high concentrations of cannabidiol , which offers a whole series of therapeutic benefits , thanks to the calming effects that relax the body and mind, keeping the latter clear and focused. The plants generated from these seeds therefore do not produce strong psychoactive effects. However, some strains may contain minimal traces of THC, while others may contain equal quantities in a THC:CBD ratio of 1:1.

Autoflowering, feminized or regular seeds: which ones to choose?

The answer to this question can only be “It depends”. The choice should always be made hypothetically based on cultivation needs.

As mentioned, both male and female plants can grow from regular seeds . Male cannabis plants produce exclusively pollen sacs and not resinous flowers rich in aromatic terpenes and cannabinoids (such as THC and CBD), which are instead produced by female specimens.

These flowers are used, for example, to produce many popular cannabis products, such as CBD oils .

With feminized ones , therefore, you will have the absolute certainty of obtaining only female specimens and therefore a high production of resinous buds. However, as we have already explained to you, these seeds are not suitable for reproductive purposes.

Therefore, now that you know what feminized seeds are and how they behave, if your aim is the continuation of a species or hybridization, in order to improve the genetics and create new varieties, you will need male plants that only seeds regular can generate.

On the other hand, for simple, quick and abundant cultivation, feminized seeds are the best option. By choosing a variety produced by reliable breeders, such as those you find on Grow Shop Italia , you will be sure of obtaining a large number of high-quality plants with predictable behavior.

We remind you that this article does not intend to encourage in any way the cultivation of cannabis, which is not legal in Italy. We have only collected a series of useful information to broaden collectors' knowledge of the different varieties of seeds on the market.

If you want to buy collectible feminized marijuana, discover all the feminized, autoflowering and regular cannabis seeds on offer from Grow Shop Italia .