Picking the right seeds to grow doesn’t have to be a headache.

Growing cannabis isn’t complicated. After all, cannabis a weed and it grows in all kinds of places and climates. There’s plenty of information online about growing. And it’s even easier to grow if you use a complete cannabis grow kit. They come with everything the beginner needs to home grow cannabis including grow pots, nutrients and tools like a bud trimmer and curing bag.  

But while growing cannabis is easy, buying cannabis seeds can be an overwhelming experience for first-time growers.

Finding the right type of seed can be a hassle for beginners. There are many different types of seeds. You’ll see terms like autoflowers cannabis seed, photoperiods, indica, sativa, rudderalls and there are hundreds of different strains with funky names like Blue Dream and OG Kush. And, how do you know where to buy your seeds? There are so many different seed companies and seed banks online. Many are overseas in places like Spain and the Netherlands and involve shipping seeds across international borders and through customs. How do you know which seed bank to use and whether they breed quality seeds? 

It’s enough to give you a headache.

It all starts with you and what you want to grow:

The perfect seed for you is the one that fits best with your circumstances and what you enjoy. Here are some key things to consider when shopping for seeds:

Are you growing indoor or outdoor? If growing indoor you can control the environment and the light. But, if you’re growing outdoors you need to consider the season and the climate. Some seeds are heartier than others and thrive in more challenging outdoor environments. Different strains originated in different places with different climates. Some strains are from cool mountainous areas like India and Pakistan and thrive in cool climates. Others are from warm climates in South America and Thailand. Think about what’s best for your grow environment.

How much room do you have to grow? Plants come in all shapes and sizes?  They can range from 3 to 10 feet. Shapes can vary greatly, depending on the type of  plant. Some are short and stout while others grow straight and tall like a Christmas tree. So, you need to think about where you’re growing, how much room you have and what’s best for you.

How much time do you have for your grow?   Are you in a hurry to do your grow because you’re running low on supply?  Are you starting your grow in the early spring with the full growing season ahead of you? Or are you starting late in the summer growing season and have less time. Different types of cannabis grow at different speeds. Some can go from seed to harvest in as little as 90 days. Others can grow for 5-6 months or even grow indefinitely if you control the light. You need to choose the seed that fits with your grow cycle and how much time you have ahead of you.

How much experience do you have as a grower? Some types of plants are easier to grow then others. If you’re a first-time grower you probably want to prioritize simplicity over yield to make sure your first grow experience is a success. You should look for seeds that are hardy and mold resistant, so you don’t have problems with your grow. And, you’ll want to buy seeds don’t require complicated feed schedules that can be tough to follow.

What kind of effect do you want from your cannabis? Different cannabis strains will produce very different effects because the type, level and ratio of active compounds varies. Some plants mainly produce THC. Others produce mainly CBD. And still others produce both CBD and THC and the ratio can vary depending on the strain. There are 120 other chemical compounds in cannabis that can affect the feeling you get when you consume the plant. There are also things called terpenes, which are essential oils that impact the taste, smell, and effect you get from cannabis. Some terpenes have a citrus flavor and scent. Others are more piney or spicy.   

Seeds Made Simple for First Time Growers

Here’s a beginner’s guide to choosing seeds and the various options you have:

Autoflower vs Photoperiod

The seed world can be divided into two different groups: autoflowers vs photoperiods. Autos are almost automatic and grow like tomatoes. This makes them perfect for first time growers. They grow fast and produce buds in about 3 months regardless of the amount of light they get. Autos tend to be small…about 2-3 feet tall too. So, they’re great for someone who’s growing in a small place like a patio or a closet.

Photoperiod plants grow and flower very differently than autos. They can grow to 5-6 feet or even taller depending on the strain. As result, the yield can be significantly bigger than autos. They also don’t automatically produce flowers on their own. That’s because with photoperiod plants, flowering is triggered by the amount of light the plant gets a day. Photos grow like crazy when the days (or light cycles) are long. And they start producing flowers and buds when the days get shorter and autumn approaches, as the plant starts the process of producing seeds for next season. So, if you’re growing a photoperiod outdoors, then you’ll want to start your grow in the spring, so the plant has plenty of time to grow before flowering starts. If you’re growing indoors you have more flexibility with photos since you can control the amount of light the plant gets each day.

Male vs. Female: Does it Matter?

Seeds can be either male or female, but you’ll want to grow females unless you’re breeding seeds. Why? Because female plants are the plants that produce flowers and flowers become buds. Many seed companies sell “regulars,” which can have both male and female seeds. These seeds are less expensive than other types but you’ll need to identify and remove any males. Otherwise they males will pollinate the females and will produce seeds and not buds. 

Feminized Seeds: You have the option to buy seeds that are guaranteed to produce female plants only. They’re called feminized seeds.  You’ll pay a premium for feminized seeds, but it’s worth the extra money to make sure that you are working with females and not males that could ruin your grow. 

Sativa vs. Indica

You’ve probably heard these terms before at your local dispensary or when talking to a friend. People tend to divide cannabis strains into these two categories. There are some definite physical differences between these two types of plants.

• Sativas originated in South Asia in places like Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. The plant tends to be stout and bushy and leaves are wide and compact.
• Indicas are from South America and Thailand where the climates tend to be warmer. The plants are tall and have been know to grow as high as 15 to 20 feet. The leaves are thin and spread apart.

You may have heard that Sativas and Indicas produce different highs. Sativas tend to produce a “head high,” an invigorating, energizing effect that can help reduce stress or anxiety and increase creativity and focus. Indicas are typically associated with full-body effects, such as increasing deep relaxation and reducing insomnia. But the truth is that these generalizations aren’t always accurate. The impact can vary greatly across different kinds of sativa or indicas. That’s why most people in the know no longer use the terms when growing or even purchasing cannabis. Instead, they think in terms of different “chemovars” which are different strains of cannabis.

What’s a hybrid seed?

A hybrid seed is a cross between a sativa and an indica plant which produces off spring that are a blend of the two. That said, one type of parent plant tends to be the dominant one as the offspring matures. So, you can buy seeds that are sativa or indica dominant. But again, these terms don’t often predict how the plant will grow and what type of effect it will produce. That’s why you need to dig deeper and look at the particular strain/chemovar in deciding what to buy. 

Chemovars/Strains Experiences

Cannabis is a beautiful plant and fun to grow. But in the end, you’re growing it to use it and you need to think about what kind of an experience you want to have when you’re done. And when it comes to the experience, there are three things you should consider when choosing your seeds: taste, smell and effect.  

• Taste has a large impact on how much pleasure you get from the buds you grow. Cannabis flowers are full of things called terpenes, which are essential oils that impact taste and smell. These aromatic compounds are abundant in nature and are responsible for the taste of oranges and the unique flavors of various herbs and spices. You need consider the terpene profile of each chemovar when buying seeds. If you like a pepper-like more savoury taste, look for high levels of caryophyllene. Do you like fresh, piney notes? If so, look out for pinene and myrcene. Many smokers like fruity and sweet strains, which are rich in terpenes such as linalool and limonene.
• Smell is the second characteristic to consider when buying seeds. Terpenes also effect how a cultivar smells. It’s important to love the smell of the weed you grow – not only because you’ll be growing it for the next couple of months, but because your grow room or garden will quickly fill up with smelly terpenes during the flowering stage. So you should also consider scent when you’re growing. If you are growing in the middle of nowhere, or in a legal country or state, then the smell may not matter. But you may want to choose a strain with a lighter smell if you’re worried about neighbors. 
• The last thing to consider in strain selection and the most important one for many smokers is the effect you want from your cannabis. In the same way that aroma and taste can vary across strains, there can also be a huge difference in terms of effect. The type of plant and the amount of THC or CBD can produce plants that have very different sensations when consumed. The cannabis plant has over 120 different chemical compounds and other active chemicals like CBN or CBG that can affect the way the plant hits you. In addition, terpenes will affect the high you get as well. For example, the terpene myrcene has a stoning sensation while limonene creates a cerebral and energizing high. So it’s important to look beyond terms like sativa and indica, and instead consider the type of high the plant will produce. Most quality seed breeder will list the level of THC and CBD the seeds will produce along with terpene content. Many also provide an impact profile so you know what type of effect the plant will produce.

How to spot a healthy seed

Healthy cannabis seeds are dark brown, black, or some combination of both. You should stay away from using green seeds. Green seeds usually aren’t mature enough to sprout. Seed size is less important as both large and small seeds will work equally well.

Look for a trusted breeder

Seed quality is one of the most important factors when growing cannabis. The quality of your seeds directly impacts the quality of your plants. So, choosing quality seeds is one of the most important decisions you’ll need to make when growing cannabis. For many years quality seed breeders and seed banks were located outside of the United States in places like Spain, Canada or the Netherlands. Which meant you had to worry about buying and shipping across borders with the risk of customs intervention. The good news is that things have changed. Now there are a plethora of US seed banks that sell high quality seeds from outstanding US seed breeders like Gnome Automatics, Mosca Seeds and others. Some seed breeders like Mephisto Genetics specialize in growing award winning autoflowers. You want to buy from a seed bank or breeder that provides you with the critical information you need about THC and CBD levels, terpene content and consumption effect. Even better look for seeds that provide test data on content and effect. And, look for seeds that come with some sort of germination guarantee because seeds are expensive.

BudClub™ takes the stress, time, and frustration out of buying seeds. That’s because we have done the heavy lifting for you. We have done a tremendous amount of research and testing to make it easy to buy the quality seeds that will work brilliantly with the kit. It’s the first complete cannabis grow kit that lets you buy seeds with your kit. The award-winning seed companies we partner with breed hearty seeds backed by scientific testing for quality, safety, and strength. You get to choose between 3 seed strains with their own profiles and attributes. Plus, you get free bonus seeds with every kit purchase with seeds. And, as always, we stand behind a "no seed left behind" seed germination guarantee!!

And believe me, it was never our intent to create and sell the least expensive grow kit. It has been and will always be to provide the best product and experience.