When I first started growing cannabis, I was bombarded with terms like feminized seeds and autoflowering seeds. It's easy to overlook the humble regular cannabis seeds in all the hype. However, growing with regular seeds taught me more about the plant's natural genetics and life cycle than I ever expected. In this guide, I'll walk you through what regular seeds are, why they're special, and how to grow them. By the end, you'll see why many old-school and modern growers (myself included) still love using regular seeds for cannabis breeding, genetic stability, and the pure fun of growing cannabis from seed.
In a relaxed, first-person tone - because I've been there - I'll explain everything in beginner-friendly terms. We'll cover the differences between regular and feminized seeds, the unique advantages of regular seeds (like male and female plants for breeding), some challenges to be aware of, and step-by-step tips on growing cannabis from seed to harvest. Let's dive in!
What Are Regular Cannabis Seeds?
Regular cannabis seeds are basically the original form of cannabis seeds - the way nature intended. They are produced by the natural pollination process: a male cannabis plant releases pollen that fertilizes a female plant's flowers, resulting in seeds containing genetic material from both parents. Each regular seed carries the full spectrum of cannabis genetics, meaning it can grow into either a male or a female plant (roughly a 50/50 chance of each). In other words, regular seeds have not been altered to "pre-select" the sex of the plant.
If you're wondering how this differs from other seed types: feminized seeds are bred to produce only female plants, and autoflowering seeds are bred to flower based on age, not light cycles. Feminized seeds are created by inducing female plants to produce pollen (usually by stressing or using chemicals) and pollinating other females - thus no male chromosomes are present. As a result, feminized seeds come out about 99% female (The difference between regular and feminized cannabis seeds - Which should you grow? - Sensi Seeds). Regular seeds, on the other hand, contain both male (XY) and female (XX) chromosomes, preserving the plant's natural genetic makeup. There's no way to tell by looking at a seed if it's male or female; you only find out once the plant grows and shows signs of sex. (Fun fact: even experienced growers have to wait for the plants to reveal themselves - it's like the plant version of a gender reveal party!)
Are regular seeds "worse" or outdated? Not at all. While feminized and autoflower seeds are popular for their convenience, regular seeds are the longtime staple of cannabis cultivation. In fact, up until the early 2000s, virtually everyone learned to grow with regular seeds - selecting females and males was just a normal part of the process (Growing regular cannabis seeds indoors- Alchimia Grow Shop). Regular seeds represent the natural genetics of cannabis. For beginners, it's a bit more work to manage male and female plants, but it's also a fantastic way to learn how cannabis reproduces and to potentially create your own strains.
To summarize the key differences between regular and feminized seeds, here's a quick comparison:
| Aspect |
Regular Cannabis Seeds |
Feminized Cannabis Seeds |
| Sex of Plants Produced |
~50% female, ~50% male (random mix) |
~99% female (almost all plants are female) |
| Genetic Makeup |
Natural XX/XY chromosomes (full genetic diversity of both sexes) |
Lacks male (Y) chromosome; engineered to be female-only |
| Breeding Potential |
Yes - can produce male pollen and female flowers for breeding |
Limited - cannot naturally produce male plants for breeding |
| Cloning & Mother Plants |
Excellent for selecting strong mother plants for clones |
Can also clone, but some growers prefer vigor of regular seed mothers |
| Genetic Stability |
Often very stable, less chance of hermaphrodites (natural vigor) |
Generally stable if high quality, but stress can cause hermies in some |
| Variety of Strains |
Many classic and landrace strains only available as regular seeds |
Huge commercial variety available; most modern strains come feminized |
| Cost of Seeds |
Typically cheaper per seed; budget-friendly for experiments |
Often more expensive due to extra breeding work for feminization |
| Ease of Growth |
Requires sexing and removing males; a bit more hands-on |
Plug-and-play (no males to remove); more straightforward for beginners |
As you can see, regular seeds come with the full package - both the males and females - which is a double-edged sword. It opens up possibilities for breeding and genetic exploration, but it also means you have to pay attention to your plants' sexes. Don't worry, I'll cover how to handle that. First, let's talk about why you might choose regular seeds in the first place.
Why Choose Regular Seeds?
If feminized seeds seem easier, why would a beginner (or anyone) choose regular cannabis seeds? As someone who has grown with all types of seeds, I can tell you there are some compelling reasons. Regular seeds offer unique benefits that you simply can't get with feminized or autoflower seeds. Here are the main advantages:
Breeding Potential: Create Your Own Strains
One of the biggest perks of regular seeds is the ability to breed your own cannabis plants. Because you'll get both male and female plants, you can collect pollen from the males and fertilize the females to produce your own fresh seeds. This is how new strains are born! For a hobby grower, breeding can be incredibly fun and rewarding - it's like being a kid in a genetic candy store.
When I first realized I could cross my favorite strains at home, I was thrilled. For example, I had a tasty female plant from one strain and a hardy male from another; using regular seeds allowed me to cross them and create seeds for a totally new hybrid. If you're curious about cannabis breeding, regular seeds are a must because feminized seeds won't give you males to work with. In fact, experts note that regular seeds let you "breed your own strains" and even build up a pollen bank over time - options not available if all your plants are female (Feminized vs regular cannabis: Pros and cons - CannaConnection) (Feminized vs regular cannabis: Pros and cons - CannaConnection). By keeping pollen from a good male, you can fertilize future crops or share genetics with fellow growers.
Breeding with regular seeds also means you can contribute to cannabis diversity. All the classic heirloom strains (and many modern hybrids) were developed using regular seeds. Who knows - by experimenting with crosses, you might create the next legendary strain! Even if you're a beginner, it's not too early to dream. I started breeding on a very small scale after just a couple of grows, simply dusting one lower branch of a female with pollen to get a handful of seeds, while still harvesting the rest of the plant for buds. It can be that simple. Plus, it gives you a deeper appreciation for the plant's lifecycle.
Genetic Stability and Diversity (Robust, Natural Genetics)
Another reason many growers (myself included) favor regular seeds is their genetic stability and diversity. Because regular seeds carry the full, unaltered genetics of the plant, they often produce very robust and vigorous plants. There's a common sentiment that plants from regular seed have a sort of "old school" hardiness - strong stems, resilience to stress, and hearty growth. In my experience, my regular-seed plants often handled fluctuations in the environment a bit better than some of my delicate feminized hybrids.
Why might this be? Regular seeds haven't undergone the chemical or light manipulation used to create feminized seeds. They come straight from natural pollination, so there's no genetic tinkering beyond traditional breeding. Some cultivators claim regular seeds demonstrate greater genetic stability - resulting in plants with strong immune systems and resistance to pests or stress. While feminized seeds from reputable breeders are typically very stable too, there's always a slight risk of hermaphroditism (a female plant producing some male flowers) if the feminization process wasn't perfect or the plant is stressed. Regular seeds are less prone to that because nothing in their development was forced - they're as natural as it gets.
Additionally, every regular seed is a unique combination of its parents' genes, which means even seeds from the same batch can exhibit a range of phenotypes (traits like flavor, potency, color, etc.). For a phenotype hunter or anyone who enjoys seeing variation, this is exciting. With regular seeds, you have the opportunity to find a truly special plant among the bunch - maybe a phenotype with extra fruity aroma or higher yield. That genetic diversity is valuable for breeders and growers who want to select the best of the best. It's like mining for gold in your garden. With feminized seeds, especially if they're self-crosses, the offspring might be more uniform, which is convenient but less adventurous. I personally love comparing sisters from regular seed stock; each plant has its own "personality."
Lastly, if you want to preserve a strain long-term, regular seeds allow you to create new seeds to save. For instance, I keep a line of a favorite heirloom strain going by periodically breeding a pair of plants and storing the seeds. This way, I maintain that genetic line in my collection without relying on seed companies to keep producing it.
Cloning and Mother Plants: Long-Term Production
If your goal is to grow a consistent supply of bud, you might be interested in cloning - taking cuttings from a "mother" plant to produce genetically identical copies. Regular seeds shine here as well. Many growers believe that female plants grown from regular seed make the best mother plants for cloning. They tend to be very stable over time, so they can live for years and continuously produce healthy clones. I've had a mother plant from a regular seed that produced dozens of clones over a few years with no drop in vigor.
Of course, you can clone plants from feminized seeds too (and I have), but there's anecdotal evidence that clones from regular stock sometimes have stronger root systems and less chance of any weird genetic hiccups. It likely ties back to that natural vigor. Also, if you're picking a mother from regular seeds, you usually have more phenotypes to choose from, allowing you to select a truly standout female as your perennial mom.
Another aspect: creating a "mother room" and a "clone army" is a classic cultivation strategy that started with regular seeds. You grow a batch of regular seeds, find the best female (potency, yield, flavor - whatever you like), and keep her as a mother. Because regular seeds give you males too, you could also keep a male or two in the wings if you plan to breed or want a supply of pollen. Feminized seeds simplified things for many growers (since every seed is a potential mother), but when it comes to the art of selecting and maintaining genetics, regular seeds are the traditional route.
In summary, if you want to harvest clones or keep a genetic library, regular seeds are ideal. You'll often hear seasoned growers say their prized keeper plants came from regular seeds.
Cost and Availability Advantages
On a practical note, regular cannabis seeds tend to be more budget-friendly than feminized seeds. Seed banks often price regular seeds lower because they don't have to put in the extra work to feminize them. For a beginner, this means you can get more seeds for your money. I appreciated this when I was starting out - I could buy a 10-pack of regular seeds for the price of maybe 5 or 6 feminized seeds. More seeds = more chances to find a great plant (and more leeway if I made mistakes).
Since you do have to germinate extra seeds to account for the males, the lower cost of regular seeds is a big plus. For example, if you ultimately want 4 female plants to flower, you might start 8 regular seeds expecting about half to be male. If those seeds are cheaper, it doesn't hurt the wallet as much to plant double the number. Regular seeds are typically less expensive and thus accessible for growers on a limited budget, allowing you to experiment with larger numbers of plants or do pheno hunts without breaking the bank.
Availability-wise, nearly every seed breeder offers some regular seeds, and certain genetics are only found in regular form. Some niche breeders release new crosses as regular seeds first. Also, many classic strains (especially landrace or old-school strains) are preserved in regular seeds. If you're searching for a particular vintage strain or something exotic, you might have no choice but to grow regular seeds. I've often grabbed a pack of regular seeds because the strain I wanted wasn't available feminized. There's a certain authenticity to it - like collecting original first-edition genetics.
Bottom line: Regular seeds give you more bang for your buck and access to the full spectrum of cannabis genetics out there. For a beginner, they can be an economical way to start if you're willing to put in a little extra effort during the grow. Now, what are those extra efforts? Let's talk about the challenges of regular seeds so you know exactly what to expect.
Challenges to Be Aware Of
Regular cannabis seeds are awesome, but I'll be honest - they aren't "plant-and-forget." As a new grower using regular seeds, you'll face a few unique challenges that you wouldn't with feminized seeds. Forewarned is forearmed! The good news is that with some basic know-how (which I'll share), these challenges are absolutely manageable, even for a beginner. Let's break down the main things to be aware of:
Identifying Male vs. Female Plants
(The difference between regular and feminized cannabis seeds - Which should you grow? - Sensi Seeds) Male (left) vs. female (right) cannabis plants. Males form clusters of round pollen sacs, while females develop wispy white hairs (pistils).
The number one task with regular seeds is sexing your plants - that is, figuring out which ones are male and which are female. Only female plants produce the resinous buds that we harvest and consume, whereas male plants produce pollen sacs and do not yield usable bud (at least not in significant quantity or potency). If a male plant's pollen fertilizes a female, the female will put energy into making seeds in her buds, which significantly reduces the quality of the smokable harvest (seedy buds are less potent and not as enjoyable). Therefore, unless you want to make seeds, you'll need to remove males before they can pollinate your females.
For a beginner, the idea of identifying and removing males might sound tricky, but it's actually pretty straightforward with a bit of observation. Cannabis plants show their sex in the pre-flowering stage. As your plants mature (usually a few weeks into growth or about 1-2 weeks after you switch to a 12/12 light cycle for flowering), look closely at the nodes of the plant (where branches meet the main stem). Here's what to watch for:
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Female signs: The females will start to show tiny white, wispy hairs (pistils) emerging from a small calyx or pod. It often looks like a tiny pair of white strings coming out of a green tear-shaped bract. This is a young flower forming - congratulations, it's a girl!
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Male signs: Males will develop small round balls or clusters of balls at the nodes. Initially, they look like little green pea-shaped buds (without any white hairs). These are pollen sacs. A male might show just one or two at first, then a cluster. If left to mature, they'll form grape-like bunches and eventually open to release yellowish pollen.
In my early grows, I remember anxiously checking each plant every day once they hit that pre-flower phase. It's a bit suspenseful - "Will this one be female? Or do I see the start of a pollen sac?" But after you've seen a couple, it becomes easy to tell apart. As a rule of thumb, pistils = female, balls = male. And don't worry, you usually have a window of several days to identify and remove males before any pollen is released. It's not like they burst open overnight (typically it takes a couple of weeks of development on the male for pollen to actually drop). Just be vigilant once flowering starts.
As soon as I confidently identify a plant as male, I remove it from the grow area. Some growers will carefully relocate it to another space if they want to collect pollen, but if you're not breeding, it's best to completely discard male plants to avoid any accidental pollination. Even a small amount of pollen can seed your entire crop if it drifts onto females. I usually bag the male plant (to catch any stray pollen), chop it, and compost it far away from the grow room.
Learning to sex plants is a rite of passage for growing regular seeds. It might seem daunting, but trust me, it becomes second nature. And there's a silver lining: you gain a deeper understanding of cannabis botany. The first time you successfully identify and separate males from females, you'll feel like a real cultivator. Plus, it's kind of exciting not knowing exactly how many ladies you'll end up with - growing regular seeds has a bit of mystery to it.
Planning for Space and Plant Numbers
Because roughly half of regular seeds will be male (on average), growing regular seeds requires a bit of planning in terms of space and the number of plants you start with. If you want a certain number of female plants to flower, you should germinate more seeds than that number, anticipating that some will be male and removed.
For example, let's say you hope to have 4 female plants to put into your flowering tent. With regular seeds, you might start 8 seeds. If luck is on your side and you get 5 or 6 females, you could choose the best 4 and cull the rest, or flower a couple more if you have room. If you only got 4 females out of 8, then you're right on target. Getting only 3 females out of 8 seeds is also possible (though in my experience, it averages out over multiple grows). The randomness means you need to allow some wiggle room.
This has a few implications:
-
You need space to veg more young plants initially. In the above scenario, you'd veg 8 plants for a few weeks even though you'll only have 4 later. So make sure your nursery or veg area can handle that many plants for the short term.
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It's less efficient in terms of soil/pots and nutrients for those "extra" plants. Some of the resources you give to male plants will ultimately be for naught (if you discard them). Consider it part of the cost of using regular seeds. The upside, as mentioned, is the seeds themselves often cost less, somewhat balancing this out.
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Two separate areas can be beneficial. If you plan to keep a male for breeding, you'll need a separate space (and ideally separate ventilation) to avoid pollinating the females. Even if not, many regular seed growers use a two-stage approach: a veg area for starting lots of plants and a flowering area for the females. This is pretty standard in general, but with feminized seeds one might grow fewer plants and fill the same space.
I learned to stagger my expectations. If I had a small closet, I wouldn't germinate 10 regular seeds at once because come sexing time, I might not have room for all the females. Instead, I'd germinate maybe 4 or 6, knowing I might end up with 2-3 females, which fit nicely. Experienced growers often recommend germinating about twice the number of plants you ultimately want. As the saying goes, "hope for the best, plan for the worst" - you might even get lucky and find more females than expected!
Also, consider time: identifying sexes usually means you have to start flowering (12/12 light) to induce those signs, unless you're skilled at spotting pre-flowers in veg (which can happen if plants get old enough). This means you might flip your light schedule a bit earlier than you would if you knew all plants were female, just so you can sex them and cull males sooner. Alternatively, some growers take a clone of each plant and flower the clones to determine sex while keeping the originals in veg - but that's an advanced technique and probably overkill for beginners. I typically just switch to flowering when my plants are mature enough, then remove males and let the remaining females continue flowering.
Lastly, be prepared emotionally to part with nearly half your plants. It can be a little sad to chop down a healthy male plant you've tended from seed. I always remind myself: "This guy is going to make great compost, and he served his purpose by identifying himself." If it's a really superb male (structure, smell, vigor), I might save some pollen or keep him away from the ladies to possibly use for breeding. But if not, off he goes. It's just part of the regular seed journey.
Learning Curve and Patience
Growing regular cannabis seeds will likely teach you patience and attention to detail. There is a bit of a learning curve compared to feminized seeds, but it's one that will ultimately make you a better grower. Here are a few considerations on the learning aspect:
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Identifying sex is a new skill - as discussed above. The first grow, you might be unsure and constantly checking online photos to confirm what a male pre-flower looks like. (I sure did!) It's okay to feel uncertain at first. There are great guides with pictures - for example, Grow Weed Easy and other blogs have side-by-side images of male vs female pre-flowers. Over time, you'll get it.
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Timing your grow - With regular seeds, your schedule may adjust because you might flower a bit earlier to reveal sex, or you might have an uneven canopy if some plants are removed. This taught me to become adaptable and to use plant training techniques (like topping or LST) to keep the remaining females spread out nicely after males were removed.
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Dealing with pollination (if it happens) - Mistakes can occur: you might miss a male one grow and end up with some seeds in your buds. Don't panic! I've smoked many homegrown buds that had a few seeds and they were still decent. It's a bummer if a whole crop gets seeded, but consider it a learning experience (and now you have more seeds to play with). Next time, you'll catch the male in time. The key is to learn from each grow and refine your process.
Overall, I'd say the main "challenge" of regular seeds is that they require a grower who's attentive. If you're the set-and-forget type or you only want to water your plants once a week and not look at them, then regular seeds might not be for you (at least not until you're more engaged). But if you're passionate about growing and eager to learn, the extra tasks with regular seeds are actually enjoyable. There's something deeply satisfying about guiding the plants through their natural reproductive cycle. It made me feel more connected to the biology of cannabis.
One more thing to be aware of: regular seeds can introduce more variation in the grow. You might find that out of a batch of, say, 5 female plants, one grows taller, one stays short, one has a different aroma. Managing an uneven canopy or different nutrient needs for different phenotypes is another small challenge. With feminized seeds from a stable strain, plants tend to be more uniform. This isn't a big deal if you're growing a few plants, but it's good to anticipate. I usually identify the taller vs shorter phenos early and use training (tie down the taller one, etc.) to keep things even.
In summary, the challenges of regular seeds boil down to identification, planning, and attention. None of these are insurmountable, and personally, I think the knowledge and skills you gain are well worth it. Now that you know the pros and cons, let's get into the practical side: how do you actually grow regular cannabis seeds successfully?
How to Grow Regular Cannabis Seeds
Growing regular cannabis seeds is very similar to growing any cannabis, with just a couple of additional steps (mostly around sexing the plants). I'll outline the general process from germination to harvest, with tips tailored to regular seeds. By following these guidelines, you'll be well on your way to a successful grow. Let's break it down stage by stage:
Germination and Seedling Stage
Germinating regular seeds is no different than germinating feminized or autoflower seeds - a seed is a seed. You want to provide moisture, warmth, and darkness to encourage the seed to sprout a taproot. My go-to method (and a popular one among growers) is the paper towel method. It's simple and effective:
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Moisten a paper towel (not dripping, just damp), place your seeds on it, and fold the towel over them.
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Put the paper towel with seeds in a shallow dish or ziplock bag (not sealed airtight, let it breathe a bit).
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Keep it in a warm, dark spot. Ideal temperature is around 70-85°F (21-29°C) - for example, on top of a fridge or in a cupboard.
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Check the paper towel daily to make sure it stays damp. Within about 24 to 72 hours, many seeds will crack open and show a tiny white root. Some can take up to 5 days, so be patient (Understanding Regular Cannabis Seeds_ Genetics, Be.pdf) (Understanding Regular Cannabis Seeds_ Genetics, Be.pdf).
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Once you see a ~1/4 inch taproot, carefully transfer the seed into your growing medium (root down). I usually plant it about a half-inch deep in soil or starter plug.
For a detailed guide on germination techniques, you can refer to Royal Queen Seeds' germination guide which covers the paper towel method and others. They illustrate how to handle seeds and what to expect when sprouting.
After planting the germinated seed, it typically takes a few days for the seedling to emerge from the soil with its first tiny leaves (cotyledons). Under optimal conditions, you'll see seedlings pop up within a week of starting germination. (If you're curious about the timeline: most cannabis seeds will sprout in about 1-5 days, and fully break soil in 7-10 days. This can vary a bit, but if a seed hasn't sprouted by the 10-day mark, it might be a dud.) There's a useful reference on how long it takes for cannabis seeds to sprout which notes that patience is key, as some seeds just take longer.
During the seedling stage, treat regular seedlings just as you would any cannabis seedling. Give them gentle light (fluorescent or LED on a low setting is great), not too much water (keep soil lightly moist, not soaked), and a warm environment. Seedlings are delicate - overwatering is a common mistake. Let them establish a root system. They'll first grow their single-finger leaves, then three-finger leaves, and so on. Once my seedlings have a couple sets of true leaves, I consider them to be in the vegetative stage.
Tip: If you started multiple seeds, label them! Especially with regular seeds, I like to number or name each plant so I can track any differences and later, the sexes. For example, I'll have Plant A, B, C… I note their growth characteristics, and later I'll note which were male/female. This helps if I want to remember a particularly good female (to possibly keep a clone) or even a male with great traits.
Vegetative Growth and Pre-Flowering (Sexing Time)
The vegetative stage is when your cannabis plants focus on growing leaves, stems, and roots - all the infrastructure to eventually support flowering. For regular seeds, veg stage is business as usual: provide ample light (18-24 hours of light per day is standard for vegging photoperiod plants), nutrients (start with a gentle veg nutrient regimen after the first couple weeks), and adequate water. I usually veg my plants in moderate-sized pots and then transplant to bigger pots before flowering, but you can choose your method (some start in final pots).
During veg, your regular seed plants will not show sex immediately (unless they get quite mature or preflower under long veg, which sometimes happens if they veg for many weeks). Typically, you determine sex by initiating flowering. However, keep an eye out for pre-flowers as your plants get around 4-6 weeks old. Occasionally, a plant might reveal a pistil or a pollen sac at a node even under 18/6 light. This can be a heads-up about sex before you officially flip to 12/12. It doesn't always happen, but it's worth a look.
Most growers will decide when to switch the lights to 12/12 (12 hours light, 12 dark) to induce flowering based on plant size or age. With regular seeds, I often flip slightly earlier than I would with feminized seeds, just because I'm eager to find out the sexes and make space. For example, maybe I'd normally veg feminized plants for 6 weeks to get a certain size, but with regulars I might flip at 4-5 weeks knowing I'll be removing some plants anyway. It's up to you - if you have plenty of space, you can veg as long as you like and just remove males when they show. Just remember that every extra week of veg on a plant that turns out male is extra time you invested in a plant you won't get buds from. It's a balance between giving the females a good start and not wasting too much on the males.
Now comes the exciting part: sexing the plants. Within 1-2 weeks of 12/12, you should start to see the telltale signs of male or female on each plant (as described in the Challenges section). This phase is called "pre-flowering." I typically separate plants by suspected sex as I identify them - females stay in the main tent, males get moved out. If I'm unsure about one, I give it a couple more days. It's better to be 100% certain before chopping a plant. (I admit, early on I once mistook a stubby female calyx for a male pollen sac and almost killed a perfectly good female - oops! When in doubt, wait a bit.)
Once confirmed, remove the males. If you plan to breed intentionally, you have some options at this point:
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You could keep a male in another area and collect pollen. This involves letting him grow a couple more weeks until pollen sacs are ripe (they'll swell and start to open). Then you carefully collect pollen by tapping it onto foil or into a bag. Pollen can be stored in a freezer if dried properly.
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You could also do a controlled pollination in the grow room by isolating one male or even just taking one branch of a male and shaking it onto a chosen female branch, then immediately removing the male. This is risky if you don't have tight control, because pollen can spread. Many folks prefer to remove the male entirely and just dust a female with stored pollen later.
If you are not breeding and only want seedless buds (sensimilla), then once males are out, your job is simply to prevent any stray pollen. After removing males, I like to gently mist the females with water (water can neutralize pollen) just in case any particles were floating around. Usually if you remove males early enough, you won't get any pollen release at all.
During late veg and the transition to flowering, I also recommend taking clones of each plant before you know the sex, if you have interest in preserving any plant. Label the clones correspondingly. After sexing, you'll know which clones came from females. This way, if one female turns out to be phenomenal in bloom, you still have a copy of her to grow again (even after the original is harvested). This is optional and a bit more work, but worth thinking about if you want to save genetics without having to re-veg a flowering plant later.
So at the end of this stage, you have your female plants set to flower. They've likely grown quite a bit in veg and might stretch more as flowering begins (some strains double in height). Arrange your remaining plants to best fill the space - you might repot them into larger containers if you started them in smaller ones and removed others. Now it's all about flowering those ladies for buds (or buds and seeds, if breeding).
Flowering Stage and Late-Flower Care
Flowering with regular seeds is effectively the same as with feminized seeds now - you have only female plants in the flowering area (assuming you removed or separated the males). The plants will focus on producing buds, and your job is to give them the right light cycle (12/12 for photoperiod strains), proper nutrients (bloom formula), and an environment conducive to flowering (good airflow, correct humidity, etc.).
One thing to note: flowering time can vary by strain and phenotype. Regular seeds don't inherently take longer or shorter to flower than feminized seeds of the same strain. It all depends on the genetics (indica-leaning plants usually flower faster than sativa-leaning ones, for instance). Many regular strains have flowering times around 8-10 weeks, but some sativas can go 12 weeks or more. Always check the breeder's info if available. In my garden of mixed phenotypes from regular seeds, I've sometimes had one plant finish in 7 weeks and another take 10 weeks. Just be prepared to harvest each plant when it's ready rather than all at once, if they differ.
For a sense of typical flowering durations, here's a quick reference table of average flowering times by type of strain/seed:
| Strain/Seed Type |
Typical Flowering Duration |
| Indica-Dominant (Photoperiod) |
~7-9 weeks of 12/12 (e.g., Northern Lights ~8 weeks) |
| Sativa-Dominant (Photoperiod) |
~10-12 weeks of 12/12 (e.g., Amnesia Haze ~11 weeks) |
| Balanced Hybrid (Photoperiod) |
~8-10 weeks (varies by genetics) |
| Autoflowering Strains (Auto Seeds) |
~5-7 weeks of bloom (around 8-10 weeks total from germination) |
| Regular vs. Feminized Seeds |
No inherent difference in bloom time - depends on strain |
(Note: "Photoperiod" means the plant needs a 12-hour dark cycle to induce flowering, which applies to regular and feminized traditional strains. Autoflowers don't follow the 12/12 rule, they flower on their own timeline.)
As your female plants flower, continue to take care of them - water when they're thirsty, feed them appropriately, and watch for any issues (pests, deficiencies). With regular seed females, you generally won't see hermaphrodites unless they're severely stressed (same as any female plant). I've found my regular-seed females to be quite reliable. If you do spot the odd pollen sac or "banana" (male stamen) on a female late in bloom, just remove it gently. Sometimes a plant will do that as a last-ditch effort to reproduce if it senses the season ending, but it's usually minimal.
If you decided to breed and have pollinated some buds intentionally, those buds will develop seeds by harvest time. Make sure to let seeded buds mature a bit longer (seeds need time to fully form and harden). The calyxes will swell and you'll see seeds poking out when they're ready. I often harvest seeded branches a week or two after the seedless ones, to give seeds maximum time. Also, handle seeded buds gently during drying to avoid seeds dropping everywhere.
Speaking of harvest - you'll harvest your plants when the buds are ripe (pistils mostly amber/brown, trichomes milky/amber depending on preference). Harvesting regular plants is the same process as any cannabis: chop, trim, dry, and cure the buds. If you did get seeds (whether by accident or design), you can collect them during trimming. I store viable seeds in a cool, dark place in a small container with some rice (as a desiccant). I label them with the parent info. They can remain usable for years if stored properly!
Growing regular seeds through to harvest is truly satisfying. You started from a basic seed that could've been male or female, you managed the plant, and ended up with glittering buds - and perhaps a stash of new seeds for the future. It's a full-circle experience.
One piece of advice for new growers: keep notes throughout the grow. Jot down when you flipped to 12/12, which plants turned male/female, any issues that came up, and how long each female took to finish. This record will help you in subsequent grows, especially if you grow the same strain again or use seeds you made. I still look back on old grow journals to compare and it's immensely helpful.
Conclusion
Growing cannabis with regular seeds has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my journey as a cultivator. It might seem a bit old-school or daunting at first, but once you dive in, you gain a profound appreciation for the natural genetics of the plant. Through regular seeds, I learned how to identify males and females, how to be patient and observant, and even how to create my own crosses. It's like getting a backstage pass to how cannabis really reproduces and evolves.
For beginners, trying regular seeds can feel like a step up in responsibility, but don't let that scare you. As we discussed, the process isn't much more difficult - it's just about paying attention and enjoying the ride. Remember, every legendary strain out there started with someone pheno-hunting through regular seeds or making a creative cross. By growing regular seeds, you're participating in that same tradition of cannabis cultivation and breeding.
If you're curious about breeding or want to ensure strong, genetically stable plants, regular seeds are the way to go. Plus, there's a simple joy in seeing that 50/50 lottery play out and maybe finding that one special female you'll want to keep around for clones or future seeds. Many growers, myself included, often mix it up - for example, grow a few feminized seeds for a sure harvest and a few regular seeds on the side for exploration. You can do the same to ease into it.
So, here's my call to action for you: on your next grow, consider giving regular cannabis seeds a try. Start with a small batch; treat it as a fun experiment. Maybe even get a friend involved and compare notes. You'll not only end up with some great bud, but you might also discover a new passion for cannabis breeding and genetics. Who knows - you might create a strain that blows everyone away, or you might become the go-to "seed maker" among your circle.
At the very least, you'll have gained experience and confidence as a grower. Regular seeds encourage you to engage with your plants more fully, and that experience is priceless. So go ahead - pick up that pack of regular seeds that caught your eye, sprout them, and enjoy the process of natural cannabis cultivation. I'm willing to bet you'll find it as rewarding as I do. Happy growing, and may your gardens be green and bountiful! 🌱✨
