Some growers prefer the rate of development of cuttings, while others prefer to get from the seeds to the end. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced grower, it is key to learn both techniques so that you can experiment and maximise your results later.
Both seeds and cuttings have unique advantages and disadvantages. If you consider the properties of both, you can decide which way to go.
BENEFITS OF SEED-GROWING CANNABIS
Some growers see the seed route as the “clean” way to go. True or not, you will surely feel deep satisfaction when it comes time to harvest.
Most home growers around the world start their project using seeds. This is largely because seeds are more accessible and legal in most countries, but that is not the only reason.
EASE OF ACCESS
The Internet has made it much easier, including the purchase of cannabis seeds.
Nowadays, you can easily order seeds online from a long list of seed banks. Discreetly delivered packages are placed directly in your mailbox so you don’t even have to leave the house.
Even in countries where cannabis itself is illegal, un-germinated cannabis seeds can often be ordered, possessed and collected completely legally. If you start with seeds, you will remain law-abiding until you plant them.
POTENTIAL TO CREATE YOUR OWN STRAIN
Once you have mastered the art of growing cannabis from seed, you can begin to create your own strains. Cross breed your favourite female with your chosen male, and at the end of the growing season you can have hundreds - if not thousands - of your own unique seeds.
Seeds not only provide an arguably more satisfactory end result, but also allow growers to start growing with new genetic material. These small DNA packages contain code that has not been exposed to a poor growing environment or disease. As will be discussed later, the same cannot be said of cuttings.
FEMINISED SEEDS
Although the seeds are the same in both sexes, high-quality feminised seeds guarantee a 99% guarantee of femininity.
This is important because female cannabis plants are the ones that produce the sticky and cannabinoid-rich buds that most growers are looking for. In contrast, males produce pollen bags, which, although necessary for breeding, are detrimental to the yield of female plants.
DISADVANTAGES OF SEED - GROWING CANNABIS
After reading the above, getting started with seeds may seem perfect. However, as with everything, even the best things in life can have their drawbacks. With this in mind, we also consider less advantageous aspects of the use of seeds.
THEY DO NOT ALWAYS SPROUT
Although reputable seed banks offer higher germination rates, not every single seed sprouts. Unfortunately, whatever you do, some are simply unviable. Therefore, we recommend that you plant more seeds, even if you plan to grow only one plant.
GENOTYPES VS PHENOTYPES
Each seed of the same plant shows a slightly different genotype - a unique genetic code. There will always be a genetic difference between parents and offspring, and even siblings.
This means that plants developed from seeds will not be exact replicas of that parent, and you will even see differences between siblings. If you plant ten identical seeds, you may still notice differences in yield, taste, height and colour.
Cannabis plants also develop specific traits under the influence of the external environment - this factor influences their phenotype. Temperature, humidity, light, nutrients, and water all affect phenotypic expression. In this way, achieving a uniform yield is more difficult than in the case of cuttings.
THE BEGINNING IS SLOWER
Finally, in the case of seeds, as opposed to cuttings, it takes longer to reach harvest. It can take from a few days to a week for the first signs of life to appear on the surface of the soil. It will take another week or two for the plant to become a mature seedling. It may not seem too long, but there is a good reason why fast-flowering strains are so popular.
BENEFITS OF GROWING CANNABIS FROM CLONES
For those unfamiliar with them, clones are cuttings from mother plants that are in the vegetative stage. Growers root them after weaning and plant them in soil or hydroponic medium.
As the name suggests, the clone provides an exact genetic copy of the mother plant. It can be a blessing or a curse, as will be seen below.
FEMALE CLONES WILL BECOME FEMALE
Because clones are exact replicas, cuttings taken from a female mother plant result in another female plant. This allows growers to avoid the 50/50 chance associated with growing from normal seeds. It also reduces the risk of male mixing between feminised seeds.
CLONES SAVE TIME
Using cuttings, you do not have to wait for a seed to germinate and grow into a properly sized seedling. In fact, you are completely skipping this part of the process. You simply need to take root and get a plant that is immediately ready to grow.
YOU WILL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT
Whatever you liked about the mother plant, clones will deliver exactly the same. They transfer all the traits of the mother, including size, taste, morphology, and productivity, as exact genetic copies. In contrast, the seeds differ slightly from the plants from which they are derived due to genetic and environmental factors.
DISADVANTAGES OF CANNABIS CULTIVATION FROM CLONES
Clones go far beyond seeds in some areas, but are not perfect. Here are some questions you may run into if you decide to work with cuttings.
GOOD LUCK FINDING THEM
Do you want seeds? Simply search for an online seed bank. Do you want cuttings? Good luck! Because they need to be pruned from an active plant, it is difficult to find suitable cuttings as a home grower. Plus, if you live in an area where cannabis is still illegal, then you will be breaking the law simply by purchasing them, and even before they are in your possession; thus, shipping them is quite risky.
The best way to find clones in such countries is find growers whom you can physically visit, and take home a cutting or two like that.
YOU MUST BE CAREFUL
The seeds are hard. They can be thrown straight into the ground. Cuttings are sensitive and should be treated this way. If you treat the cuttings aggressively or fail to start them well, they will die before they take root.
Fragile cuttings require a separate customised environment with unique parameters to give them the best start. Optimal humidity, well-adjusted and constant temperatures are required. For these reasons, you will need to create additional space wherever you are growing them, in order to meet their needs, especially if you are otherwise growing from seed.
YOU GET THE GOOD, BUT YOU WILL ALSO GET THE BAD
Mother plants pass everything on to their clones, including the bad traits. The mother plant, whether the grower knows about it or not, can have a genetic problem or defect. It may not become apparent until you grow some cuttings, but by then they will be damaged.
FINAL SAY: CLONES OR SEEDS? WHICH IS BETTER FOR GROWING CANNABIS?
Honestly, the answer is completely subjective. It’s all a matter of the grower’s personal preferences and expertise. Beginners will have a much easier time - and get better results - using seeds. Clones are more complex and more suitable for the slightly more experienced. However, veteran growers might also choose seeds for breeding purposes to monitor the life cycle of plants from start to finish.
Like everything in the world of cultivation, experimentation allows you to develop your own ideas. If possible, it is worth trying both and seeing what works best for you and your cultivation style.
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