How Do Cannabis Seeds Look Like?
The look of cannabis seeds is a topic that raises many questions amongst growers. We regularly get asked about the manner cannabis seeds should seem, with regards to their size, shape and colour, as these parameters are believed to be strongly related to seed quality. In this post we take a comprehensive 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 important questions that we often get asked by clients and growers regarding the physical characteristics of our core product: premium-quality cannabis seeds.
Our 15 years in the field have given us strong knowledge as well as a broad perspective on this matter, so it is an honour for us to be capable to share our knowledge with all of you in the cannabis community.
The dimensions of cannabis seeds
As the majority of the cannabis cultivars that are currently on the market are polyhybrids, the size of the seeds can differ depending on their genetic line.
Some clients, for instance, reach out to us to tell us that they have purchased Critical + seeds and they believe they look too small. But this is a standard feature of this strain: we’ve seen millions of Critical + seeds and we can confirm that they are inherently smaller than others. It is thus incorrect to assume that this is an indication of poor quality.
If, on the contrary, the seeds appear too big, this may be caused by a lack of macronutrients during the plant’s growth cycle. As any grower with some experience will know, calcium deficiencies are addressed by adding calcium and mg, a combination that assists in reestablishing the optimal nutritional balance of plants.
So in this situation, a rise in size could be a direct indicator of this supplementation of calcium and magnesium, which is done in order to remedy that macronutrient deficiency during growth. This has no effect on the plant’s potential for sprouting, growth, flowering, or yield, nor on the development of the organoleptic properties of the buds (aroma, flavour and effect).
So we can clearly say that this variation is simply visual. 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 find slight variations between seeds from the same strain. Don’t forget that, as with all biological beings, cannabis seeds are also biologically different amongst themselves.
The form of cannabis seeds
Cannabis seeds can also display slight changes at morphological level. It’s entirely normal to see minor differences in the elliptical shape of seeds from the identical batch.
In some situations their shape is more elongated; whereas in others one of the extremities can be rounded whilst the other is more sharp. But this is no reason for concern: as with dimensions, these slight variations in the profile of the seeds are simply visual and have nothing to do with quality.
Related post: The most typical mistakes when germinating cannabis seeds
The hue of cannabis seeds
Although it is true that ripe cannabis seeds usually to have a darker shell that can range from brown to black, with lines that look like tiger stripes, this cannot be considered as a reliable quality marker by itself.
Yet once more, this is a deceptive physical attribute that does not ensure the germination potential or overall characteristics of an individual seed. A premium strain can also be pale or dark grey in colour.
Let’s take the example of Critical + again, one of our well-known bestsellers that has had resounding success across the globe thanks to its remarkable scent, flavour, effect, and production capacity.
Critical + is a good example that colour, contrary to what many cultivators believe, is not necessarily a quality marker: these unquestionably high-quality seeds display a distinctly light grey, almost white-ish grey, to a medium grey colour.
However, a greenish colour is a definite sign of underdevelopment, which means that the seed has not developed fully or it has not received all the needed resources to attain full maturity. In this specific case, if you purchase seeds with this hue you need to reach out to your supplier right away and try to have them exchanged.
If this occurs 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 customer service team will replace them as quickly as possible.
Another factor that can be deceptive is the fact that a ripe, freshly-harvested cannabis seed has a more vibrant and darker colour than after it’s been stored 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 entirely new outside environment.
The same thing happens with cannabis seeds: the packaging and https://nativesusa.com/] the different stages before they’re commercialised 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 impact on the end product. Once more, this is simply a visual effect.
We trust that this guide has provided you with some useful information about the physical features of your cannabis seeds to assist you interpret them more objectively before starting their sprouting and cultivation.