What Should Cannabis Seeds Look Like?
The look of cannabis seeds is a question that raises many questions amongst growers. We regularly get asked about how cannabis seeds should look, with regards to their size, shape and color, as these factors are believed to be directly related to seed quality. In this guide we take a thorough look at the key physical characteristics of cannabis seeds in order to clarify any questions that you may have.
This article has been created to answer all the key questions that we frequently get asked by clients and growers regarding the physical features of our core product: top-grade cannabis seeds.
Our decade and a half in the field have given us solid knowledge as well as a wide perspective on this topic, so it is a privilege for us to be capable to share our knowledge with all of you in the cannabis community.
The size of cannabis seeds
As most of the cannabis varieties that are presently on the marketplace are polyhybrids, the size 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 standard feature of this variety: we’ve seen millions of Critical + seeds and we can confirm that they are inherently smaller than others. It is therefore incorrect to think that this is a sign of poor quality.
If, on the other hand, the seeds seem too big, this may be caused by a deficiency of macronutrients during the plant’s growth cycle. As any cultivator with some experience will realize, calcium deficiencies are corrected by adding calcium and magnesium, https://nativesusa.com/ (https://nativesusa.com/) a combination that helps reestablishing the perfect nutritional balance of plants.
So in this instance, an increase in size could be a direct indicator of this supplementation of calcium and magnesium, which is performed in order to address that macronutrient shortage during growth. This has no impact on the plant’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 openly say that this difference is simply cosmetic. If we take the case of a Moby Dick seed, its size will most probably 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 form of cannabis seeds
Cannabis seeds can also exhibit slight changes at structural level. It’s perfectly normal to discover minor differences in the elliptical shape of seeds from the same batch.
In some situations their shape is more linear; 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 differences in the profile of the seeds are simply visual and have nothing to do with quality.
Related post: The most typical mistakes when sprouting cannabis seeds
The color of cannabis seeds
Although it is correct that ripe cannabis seeds tend to have a dark shell that can range from brown to black, with markings that look like tiger stripes, this cannot be considered as a reliable quality indicator by itself.
Yet again, this is a deceptive physical attribute that does not guarantee the germination potential or overall qualities of a seed. A premium strain can also be light or dark gray in colour.
Let’s take the example of Critical + once more, one of our well-known bestsellers that has had resounding success across the world thanks to its outstanding scent, flavour, effect, and yielding capacity.
Critical + is a good example that colour, contrary to what many cultivators believe, is not necessarily a quality marker: these undeniably high-quality seeds display a distinctly pale grey, almost whitish grey, to a mid-tone grey colour.
However, a green-tinted colour is a clear sign of immaturity, which means that the seed has not developed fully or it hasn’t received all the required resources to attain full maturity. In this specific case, if you buy seeds with this colour you need to contact your supplier immediately and try to have them substituted.
If this occurs to you with one of our seeds, don’t delay to contact us immediately. Send us a few of pictures so we can check them out, and our customer service team will exchange them as quickly as possible.
Another factor that can be misleading is the fact that a mature, freshly-harvested cannabis seed has a more vibrant and darker colour than after it’s been stored for 1 to 2 months.
This could be compared to a newborn whose physical look quickly evolves during their first few days of life in order to adapt to the completely new outside environment.
The same thing happens with cannabis seeds: the storage and the various stages before they’re sold can entail lighting and humidity changes, as well as a bit of oxidation, which may slightly affect the color of the shell but certainly has no effect on the end product. Once again, this is simply an aesthetic effect.
We hope that this post has provided you with some valuable information about the physical traits of your cannabis seeds to help you interpret them more objectively before starting their germination and cultivation.
