How Do Cannabis Seeds Look Like?
The appearance of cannabis seeds is a topic that raises numerous questions amongst growers. We often get asked about the manner cannabis seeds should appear, with regards to their size, shape and appearance, as these characteristics are believed to be directly related to seed quality. In this post we take a detailed look at the key physical characteristics of cannabis seeds in order to clarify any concerns that you may have.
This post has been conceived to answer all the main questions that we regularly get asked by clients and growers concerning the physical characteristics of our primary product: premium-quality cannabis seeds.
Our decade and a half in the field have given us great knowledge as well as an extensive perspective on this matter, so it is an honour for us to be capable to share our expertise with all of you in the cannabis community.
The size of cannabis seeds
As the majority of the cannabis strains that are currently on the market are polyhybrids, the dimensions of the seeds can differ depending on their hereditary line.
Some customers, for instance, contact us to inform us that they have acquired Critical + seeds and they believe they look too tiny. But this is a typical feature of this strain: we’ve seen countless of Critical + seeds and we can confirm that they are inherently smaller than others. It is thus incorrect to assume that this is a marker of poor quality.
If, on the other hand, the seeds appear too big, this may be triggered by a lack of macronutrients during the crop’s growth cycle. As any grower with some experience will realize, calcium deficiencies are corrected by adding calcium and mg, https://nativesusa.com/ (nativesusa.com) a mixture that helps reestablishing the optimal nutritional balance of plants.
So in this situation, a rise in dimensions could be a clear indicator of this addition of calcium and magnesium, which is performed in order to alleviate that macronutrient deficiency during growth. This has no influence on the crop’s potential for germination, growth, flowering, or yield, nor on the formation of the organoleptic characteristics of the buds (scent, flavour and effect).
So we can confidently say that this difference is simply cosmetic. If we take the example of a Moby Dick seed, its size will most likely be bigger than those of Critical +, although you can also discover slight variations between seeds from the identical strain. Don’t forget that, as with all living beings, cannabis seeds are also genetically different amongst themselves.
The shape of cannabis seeds
Cannabis seeds can also show slight changes at structural level. It’s entirely normal to discover minor differences in the oval shape of seeds from the identical batch.
In some instances their shape is more elongated; whereas in others one of the tips can be rounded whilst the other is more tapered. But this is no reason for concern: as with dimensions, these slight variations in the outline of the seeds are simply visual and have no relation to do with quality.
Related post: The most typical mistakes when sprouting cannabis seeds
The color of cannabis seeds
Although it is true that ripe cannabis seeds usually to have a dark shell that can go from brown to black, with stripes that look like tiger stripes, this cannot be considered as a quality indicator by itself.
Yet once more, this is a misleading physical attribute that does not guarantee the germination potential or overall traits of a seed. A high-quality strain can also be light or dark grey in colour.
Let’s take the case of Critical + once more, one of our consistent bestsellers that has had resounding success across the globe thanks to its outstanding scent, flavour, effect, and production capacity.
Critical + is a strong example that colour, opposite to what many cultivators believe, is not necessarily a direct quality marker: these unquestionably high-quality seeds show a very light grey, almost whitish grey, to a medium grey colour.
However, a green-tinted colour is a definite sign of immaturity, which means that the seed hasn’t developed fully or it hasn’t received all the necessary resources to achieve full maturity. In this particular case, if you purchase seeds with this colour you need to reach out to your supplier immediately and try to have them exchanged.
If this happens to you with one of our seeds, don’t hesitate to contact us immediately. Send us a couple of pictures so we can review them out, and our support team will substitute them as soon as possible.
Another element that can be deceptive is the fact that a ripe, freshly-harvested cannabis seed has a more vibrant and darker color than after it’s been packaged for one to two months.
This could be compared to a baby whose physical appearance quickly evolves during their first few days of life in order to adapt to the completely new outside environment.
The identical thing happens with cannabis seeds: the packaging and the different stages before they’re commercialised can entail light and humidity variations, as well as a bit of oxidation, which may slightly affect the colour of the shell but definitely has no impact on the end product. Once more, this is just a visual effect.
We trust that this article has provided you with some helpful information about the physical characteristics of your cannabis seeds to assist you interpret them more accurately before starting their sprouting and cultivation.
