Breeding cannabis has served an important role in cannabis culture, and it has been a part of the horticulture industry for many, many years. The great thing about this is that more and more growers have become more passionate about creating their own cannabis strain.
If you are interested, keep on reading to check out whether breeding is something that is a good match for you.
Why Should You Breed Cannabis?
Producing new hybrid strains come with different amazing advantages that will make the users and growers enjoy something new all around. For many cannabis users, hybrid cannabis strains allow them to enjoy a good mixture of the best things that they like in their two most favorite strains and allowing them to get rid of the negative effects or the things that they dislike from the strains. As the cultivators are able to refine and improve cannabis genetics, you can enjoy better quality cannabis and will feel the overall experience for growing and using cannabis.
Breeding is also perfect for cannabis enthusiasts who feel that they need a little more THC if they are a recreational user, and more CBD, if they are a medicinal cannabis user. The higher the presence of each of these cannabinoids, the more your cannabis will become as potent as it can be. This highlights the effects of the cannabis strain, as well as proving the purpose of why it was developed in the first place
Another reason why you should breed and produce hybrid strains is the positive effects that it can provide to cannabis cultivation. Because these strains possess the great qualities of their parents, the plant has the ability to produce higher amounts of the yield – making the crop top quality. Breeding cannabis strains can also affect and improve different cannabis variables like the size of the buds, the length of the flowering period, resistance against pests and diseases, and the appearance of the plant.
The Steps In Breeding New Cannabis Strains Through The Use of Regular Cannabis Seeds
1. Decide on the strains that you will use.
The very first step in starting this endeavor is looking for the strains that you will use as the parent of your new strain. How can you decide on this? You have to do careful deliberation in making a final decision on the strains that you will select. Make sure that the strains that you will select possess the genetic potential that will meet the specific characteristics that you seek. Usually, breeding uses two strains of cannabis, but you can go as high as 4 strains if that’s what it takes to meet your ideal strain.
2. Identify each of the strains and separate them as needed.
The next part dictates the identification of a male variety of each strain as well as their female variation. Identify the sex of each plant is crucial in the breeding game. Not being able to do this correctly might result in problems with the cannabis grow and the entire breeding process. Remember, in breeding cannabis strains, all forms of pollination should be at the hands of the cultivator and not given to chance. If you are unable to monitor the pollination of the plants, you will never get to identify which plant pollinated another and you will not be able to replicate or present findings in your breeding activities.
3. Begin the pollination of your selected strains.
Once all of the partner cannabis plants are assigned into their designated places, it is time to begin the pollination process. This would entail collecting the pollen from your chosen male plant. This process is fairly easy to complete – you can place plastic bags surrounding the pollen sacs of your plants, wait for them to disperse the pollen, and making sure that you seal these pieces pollen into the plastic containers. Cannabis plant pollen can be stored in your freezer for a few weeks up to 30 days. But, the best practice to observe is to use the pollen upon collection as it would retain the highest quality and potency of the pollen.
How do you know the time to pollinate a female plant? Observe your female plant and wait for the presence of white pistils. Now, once your plant is ready, isolate your female plant in a place where they will be the only ones to receive the pollen of their male counterpart. If you want to ensure that the female plant will be able to get as many pieces of pollen as possible, you can disperse and deliver the pollen through your pollen collection plastic bag, leave it tied in the area of the pistils, and leave them for an hour or two. It would also help to switch of the fans in the grow area to avoid losing the pollen.
4. Observe the proper growing guidelines.
At this point, allow the plant to grow freely and make sure that it receives all the help that it can get. Just like the normal process of growing regular seeds, provide your cannabis hybrid with the proper nutrition, water, and air that it needs to thrive.
5. Harvest your seeds and plant them to check their quality.
Once the parent plants have produced new Cannabis Seeds, it is time to test your new strain development. The only way to do so is to plant these seeds and prepare them for growth. In the buds and seeds that they produce will you find whether or not your breeding attempt was effective.
6. Never underestimate the value of record keeping.
In the production of a brand new strain, records are the most important part. They are your proof on the breeding that you did and all the pertinent information that you have gathered will help you in analysing the cultivation, the things that need to be tested, and what you can improve on to make it the best cannabis strain that it can be.
Final Thoughts
Breeding new cannabis strains is just like growing seeds on your own. The main difference is that this process allows you to create something new through combining strains that you love, and it also asks observation and record-keeping kills from the aspiring cultivator.
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