Growing cannabis is a process that is as rewarding as it is sometimes complicated. And one of the most important decisions to get off to a good start is choosing the right cannabis strain from the thousands that exist, which can be an overwhelming experience. If you’re thinking about growing for the first time, you may not know which one to choose. We’re here to help.
The best thing about growing cannabis is that you don’t need to be an expert to get started. Any cannabis enthusiast can grow at home with a little planning and research. But keep in mind one maxim: a great grow always starts with good cannabis seed, which means that genetics are the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end of the whole process.
There are cannabis strains that can be more difficult to grow than others. Some are delicate and need a lot of attention; others may be prone to disease or mold, while others are hardy and can better withstand lack of watering. Also, certain strains have adapted by evolution to specific climates, so it may not make sense to grow one for warm climates if you live in a cold place.
Choosing a cannabis strain is ultimately a matter of balancing your individual needs, experience and growing preferences.
To make things easier when making your choice, it is important that you know how to differentiate between the different types of seeds available. As a beginner, you may want to try feminized or autoflowering versions: feminized seeds, as the name suggests, do not need to be sexed to identify and get rid of the male plants, which can pollinate the females to produce seeds.
With autoflowering plants you don’t have to worry about males or the change of photoperiod, which is the amount of light the plants get per day. Usually, photoperiodic genetics are triggered to flower by a change in light. Autoflowering plants do it automatically regardless of the amount of hours of light received, allowing you to harvest plants 2-3 months after the seeds sprout. It is as if they are programmed to go through the different stages of development without you having to worry about directing them.
This makes them very attractive to beginner growers looking to get results quickly, without having to wait a long time for the plants to reach a specific level of maturity. In addition, with such a short life span, the chances that something could go wrong are also reduced. And being smaller and more discreet plants, they are ideal to introduce into the world of self-cultivation on a small balcony or in a small closet.
You can also try ‘Fast‘ genetics, a faster version resulting from the cross between a photodependent feminized and an autoflowering. These genetics reduce the flowering time by one or two weeks, which allows more advantages for outdoor growers who live in northern regions where summers are short, since they allow to harvest earlier and, thus, to avoid the rains and the autumn cold.
Then you can move on to feminized seeds, undoubtedly the protagonists of the current cannabis market. And finally, you can even try regular seeds (photodependent without feminization), to try all the cultivation experiences and discover which is the most pleasant for you.
Keep in mind that higher difficulty plants translate to more care, which may involve a more complex nutrient regimen, different cultivation configurations and more attention to environmental factors. Controlling all these parameters takes time, patience and research to master, especially if you don’t have much experience.
Over time you will discover that the best cannabis seeds are the ones that work best for you: it is important to select those that suit your needs and satisfy your desires. And above all that they come from a bank like Seedstockers, where we put great effort to ensure the highest quality of each of the varieties we sell, always working to anticipate the trends and needs of the market.
So here are three varieties for beginners very easy to grow: they are grateful, grow strong, yield a lot, can develop in many different climates and have a lenient margin of error, so they are perfect to start any crop with guarantees of success.
Undoubtedly, a legendary genetic that has been enchanting growers for decades. And one of the highest yielding automatic strains in Seedstockers’ catalogue, as it comes from the union of the holy trinity of the Critical family (Kritical Bilbo, Critical + and Critical Mass), adding a Ruderalis to give it its autoflowering character and to achieve a life cycle of only 75 days from seed to harvest.
Its flavour has a marked touch of lemon, which is combined with citrus aromas that give it a characteristic freshness. It has a high THC level of 22% that causes a happy and powerful effect on the brain, perfect to relax deeply or improve the quality of sleep and prevent stress.
Being a robust plant and resistant to pests and mold, it is suitable for all types of crops, both outdoors and indoors, as they can withstand changes in temperature and humidity. You will obtain a branched plant, with short internodal distances and bush shape in which the main tip stands out, but with great production also in secondary branches. In short, an easy to grow variety, that grows without special complications and very reliable in its conception.
This genetic is another old school variety, with a classic taste of cannabis which will delight the newcomers to the world of self-cultivation. The Skunk family is a historic hybrid that revolutionized the world by bringing together the best of the Indica and Sativa worlds to offer growers great stability. Its controlled stature, its potency and the fact that it matures early is a winning combination.
This autoflowering version combines the best qualities of Skunk #1 and a classic Afghani, but its ready in only 11 weeks with a high concentration of resinous buds of intense stench. It has a very mild flavour profile characterized by sweet and earthy, spicy notes.
It has THC levels of 22% giving it a potent psychoactive power, with a strong body stone that is both uplifting and relaxing, with effects that can be adapted to any time of day and any environment. This makes it a popular choice for medical users seeking relief from anxiety or insomnia.
Any type of grower, regardless of experience, will appreciate the ease of growth and predictability of highly stable genetics, marked by uniformity and consistency.
Blackberry Gum Auto is an auto variety with one of the most intense and sweet aromas of the Seedstockers’ catalog. Undoubtedly another essential genetic that will lead to success in your first crop; and very appreciated for its voluminous flowers and colourful leaves, often in purple or purple tones, which gives it a very attractive appearance.