The Importance of Genetics and Identifying Healthy Cannabis Seeds

[0:05] What's up you amazing home growers? I'm Chronic from the Cannabis Chronicles on Instagram and YouTube, and I'm back with an all-new episode of the "Homegrown" podcast, brought to us by Homegrown Cannabis Co. Be sure to check out their wonderful deals they have going on their top-notch cannabis seeds over at www.homegrowncannabisco.com. In this episode of the "Homegrown" podcast, we'll be going over the importance of seed
 

[0:29] genetics and how to identify good, healthy seeds. So be sure to pack that bowl, grab a nice dab for yourself, and let's get stoned together as we blaze through some fiery information on cannabis seeds. Let's begin. To start off, we'll begin this first segment with the importance of cannabis seeds. Now, if you're a frequent listener of the podcast, then you know almost every
 

[0:52] episode I talk about how quality genetics are one of the most important parts of cannabis cultivation. No matter what else you have, you need to start off with solid genetics. Now, that's not to say some random bag seed won't get you some good smoke for a free seed. However, if you're seeking to really get off the dispensary bill,
 

[1:10] lower your cost of medicine, or completely swap your life over to a healthy homeopathic lifestyle of cultivating cannabis for your various ailments or maladies, well, genetics are vitally important. Dispensaries, commercial growers, caregivers, and most importantly, the true OG breeders and home growers that have created strains that withstand the test of time all have one thing in common.
 

[1:32] They use quality genetics. Now, some may get gifted various seeds, clones, random freebies that turn into crazy genetics. However, many of these modern-day breeders, caregivers, commercial suppliers, and most mom-and-pop shop dispensaries want to supply their user the absolute best medicine they can. This means quality plants which comes from stable genetics. Now, this episode may sound repetitive, but I promise each point is different and
 

[1:59] this episode is aimed for us to help those who pollen chuck don't understand the importance of genetics or think any seed will do for their commercial op to think otherwise. I want cultivators who wish to breed, or those cultivators even just seeking to grow their own medicine to not waste their time, energy, money, and frustration on poor-quality
 

[2:18] genetics. One massive reason to always grow quality genetics like Homegrown Cannabis Co. is that unstable or poorly bred genetics have a higher chance to hermaphrodite. This means unwanted pollination in your garden, which to some of those, that might sound like a bunch of free seeds, but generally, those seeds will now carry that hermaphroditism gene. Along with that, your plant will no longer be putting useful energy into creating
 

[2:40] compounds like CBG, CBC, CBD, or any of those juicy medical benefits. Instead, it will be putting energy into seed creation. This means you lose medicinal benefits potentially on your plant, as well as the THCA potentials will be affected. It varies from plant to plant, as some plants actually have shown hermaphrodited sister plants testing higher in THCA content than their counterparts, but lower to almost no CBD or
 

[3:07] medical compounds versus the non-hermaphrodited sisters. On top of that headache and no longer having quality medical-grade cannabis, you now have the headache of paying four to six months' worth of nutrients, water, grow medium, and utility costs for plants that aren't giving you what you need. This is why growing stable, quality genetics from the start is best, especially to alleviate all those various headaches you may run into
 

[3:29] otherwise. Now, quality genetics do cost more than the most F1 testers or random tester genetics you'll find, as they should. You have to understand that a breeder spends years honing in a strain for commercial stability to make sure that the offspring of that mother plant they're using for seeds will all be 100% or 95% grow damn near identical, with the few
 

[3:52] random ones that might show more father or mother traits versus the others. Even in quality commercially stabilized strains, out of 1,000 plants, 10 might be slightly different. There is no perfect science to genetics, as genetics of a plant are as complex as genetics of a human DNA and RNA. So this is why starting your breeding project, cultivation season, or
 

[4:14] small indoor grow with quality, stable genetics that are already stabilized is way more beneficial in the long run versus choosing unstable genetics and random bag seeds. Now, that's not to say that you shouldn't grow those random bag seeds, but maybe you have a random bag seed tent instead, so you aren't disappointed if that bag seed sucks. All in all, the point is do your homework on your
 

[4:37] genetics. Do not overpay for untested genetics. I see way too many Facebook group members or page members buying seeds from these fake breeders who aren't that known and have these so-called exotic strains they've bred to perfection, but it's obvious they've stolen photos of other breeders' bud and sell pollen chuck seeds. I hear of this time and time
 

[4:58] again, so don't get scammed. This is also why at www.homegrowncannabisco.com I feel good knowing I'm buying stable genetics from quality breeders as they have breeders such as Kyle Kushman, Steve DeAngelo, and Nikki Lastreto and Swami Chaitanya from Swami Select that you can choose strains from their cultivars with character selection on their site. You can literally purchase strains that these breeders created.
 

[5:24] I mean, that's pretty amazing. I've personally grown strains from each cultivar and they are absolutely phenomenal and some of the heartiest and most resilient strains I've ever had in my garden. I recently just took down Kyle Kushman's Sweet Island feminized and my fiancée and I are so very excited to dry, cure, and be able to test this sweet, skunky, and frosty
 

[5:47] bud. Now, that brings me to my last point on the importance of good genetics, which is potency. I said it You want potency, you need good genetics. It doesn't matter how much high-end equipment and nutrients you have, if your genetics are not capable of producing resin at high amounts, it won't happen. This is where stable, quality genetics come into play.
 

[6:09] For those resin seekers, there's plants from Homegrown Cannabis Co. like Bruce Banner Fast Version that test at 30% on average, and the Bruce Banner feminized at 28% on average. With stable genetics, you should expect every seed you pop to average out around the exact percentage you buy. Always give or take 2% up or down, though, from those numbers,
 

[6:30] as that's an average they give. Depending on UVB, UVA, nutrients, and stress testing or training, you could increase or cause a decrease in your potency as the grower. However, your test results should almost always be accurate or on par with their average. Now with unstable genetics, you won't generally have an average, as pollen chuck plants have not
 

[6:53] been stabilized, so one female may test at 25%, while the other comes in at 18% or less. However, that's not bad, but imagine if that first plant was 18% originally, and the second one only tested at 12%. That goes from a mid to top-shelf strain to low shelf or pre-rolls only. This drastically reduces revenue gained from sales, medical
 

[7:19] benefits, and quality of bud entering the market for that season, as you won't have a consistent strain if you were a dispensary. As if you were a dispensary planting from seed instead of running clones, someone could come by that runs their Super Silver Haze, and you had one plant give you 25%, or multiple plants give you 25% testing at, yet they come back a few weeks later
 

[7:42] and those same strains are only testing at 15% to 18%, and it definitely will not affect them the same as well. Now, this creates inconsistencies, and this causes med patients to have to waste more money testing bud again for the meds that work for them. As well as this, it will potentially cost the dispensary clients, as they may seek product elsewhere.
 

[8:03] Now if you're growing yourself and you're cultivating in your own garden, this also creates inconsistencies. If one plant does everything you need, yet the next four give you paranoia, that's a problem. So it's important for anyone selling seeds to be truly selling stabilized seeds if that's what they advertise. Seed genetics are vitally important on so many fronts
 

[8:25] and can cost a company millions or a home grower their summer or winter supply of meds. It can cost hundreds to even thousands, depending on what you're needing to consume for your medical ailment. Now before I ramble on and begin to chastise those pollen chuckers who sell their fake stable seeds, I will digress as we take an amazing break with @NateHammer420 from
 

[8:48] Instagram, who will be telling us the latest Homegrown Cannabis Co. information. Stay tuned for the next segment. With the greatest selection of premium quality cannabis strains anywhere in the world, Homegrown Cannabis Co. is America's favorite seed bank. Homegrown stocks over 500 cannabis strains, including autos, fems, regs, high CBD, THC, and CBG. Indicas, sativas, hybrids, fast versions. There is no finer weed than Homegrown weed.
 

[9:17] Every last one of our seeds contain super stable genetics, lovingly crafted by the best breeders in the game. All of our seeds come with delivery and germination guarantees. And yes, that includes any free or promotional seeds too. We are the Homegrown Cannabis Co., and we are for you. And we're back from that amazing break with @NateHammer420 from Instagram, who takes absolutely amazing
 

[9:45] photographs and videos of behind-the-scenes content with Homegrown Cannabis Co. Definitely check out his page. In this next segment, which really won't be too long as we broke into all the juicy information at the start, we're going to talk about how to identify a good seed or quality genetics. So sit back and pack that bowl, ready that dab, and
 

[10:06] sail away as I give you all the know-how how to be like Hawkeye with bad seeds or good ones. Let's begin. So I know you all expect some phenomenal how to spot guide in some crazy way like you need to purchase a magnifying lens that lets you see the hair on a fly's a*s from six miles away.
 

[10:25] But no, you don't need that fancy stuff. It's actually pretty simple. Now, I swear I'm going to say that it's simple and watch, half of you are going to email Homegrown like, "Chronic told me to crush my seeds, and I crushed them. Now look." Well, let me specify, do not crush your seeds, okay? Don't crush your seeds. However, there is a test that breeders
 

[10:46] use called the pressure test. It's where you lightly press, like literally just enough force between your fingers to put the slightest bit of pressure on the seed, and if it pops or breaks, generally it's a dud. If it's sturdy and it feels like a normal seed does, strong seed pod, then you're good. Now for your dark tiger stripe seeds or your very heavily tan and
 

[11:07] stripe seeds, you don't really need to do this pressure test method. Generally, the rule of thumb with seeds is if it's striped, you're good. If it's light, it may be a dud. So the pressure test is the second test a breeder does. If it's light with slight striping and passes the pressure test, then it might actually slightly be immature, but matured enough to
 

[11:29] pop. So you should always test it by germinating, but generally, these lighter, almost white seed pods don't germinate, as they're usually signs of an unmatured seed. You're aiming for dark coloration with whatever tone it is from almost black-brown to light tan colors, but the whole seed needs to be the same color with striping, or otherwise known as tiger stripes. Striping on cannabis seeds is a pretty big
 

[11:55] staple for many strains. However, I do have strains and I have seen strains that are mutant strains or just various landrace ones that do not have striping, but instead are a more flat color with very, very, very vague hints of striping. The seeds do pop, however. It just may be due to a genetic trait that striping doesn't really occur
 

[12:17] on some of those offspring. Now when looking or talking to someone about seeds and potentially buying, this is generally where most people get scammed, as you can't do any of those tests prior to purchase. So how do you know if this pack is actually legit? Well, you need to ask for a background of who the breeder is.
 

[12:34] Generally, a Google search will tell you who bred certain strains, as some strains are even patented, as they are genetically their own variation of cannabis so different enough that they were cataloged as a new strain. So you can find who bred the true strain. From there, you need to see how many hands it's been in and who did what with
 

[12:54] the strain. For instance, a breeder might get an original F1 of skunk from the '70s. However, they take it and hone it in into an F3 or F4 generation of their preferred skunky profiles, leaf structure, and all of that fun stuff. Generally, as long as that breeder has a quality reputation They'll let you see the filial chain of an offspring, or basically the
 

[13:17] genetic web, or you could call it the family tree. If they can't produce a lineage or ancestry tree for that strain, then I would stay away. Not to say that you can't trade and find some cool seeds that way, it's just anyone I've traded with has detailed lineage of their strains, as it's very important to those who collect quality genetics to keep that information.
 

[13:40] If someone's trying to get them to you for cheap and sell whatever they can and make that deal, it's probably pollen chucked and never been grown or tested. You're about to probably get taken for most likely all your money. So that's my little spew on how to identify good genetics. Basically, buy from known breeders who have legitimate growers growing their
 

[14:01] seeds. Most commercially stabilized strains are going to be in the fourth through eighth generation and even into the 10th generation of filial seeds. And what that means is it's not going to be an F1 or F2 pack. Generally, commercialized strains are going to be F4s through F9s or even F12s. This is why I back Homegrown Cannabis Co. so heavily. Their strains have been commercially
 

[14:28] stabilized to the utmost extent. I have personally tested their photo periods and autoflowers to the absolute max, and they are stable. If you want to see those tests and results and various photos or videos of these amazing genetics, you can see them on my Instagram or YouTube. Just search The Cannabis Chronicles, and that's K-R-O-N-I-C-L-E-S for Chronicles. Now, that is the end of this wonderful
 

[14:57] episode. I do hope you amazing listeners enjoyed this episode of the "Homegrown" podcast, brought to us by Homegrown Cannabis Co. Do yourself a favor and start your grow with phenomenal genetics that are stable from www.homegrowncannabisco.com, where you also find various deals to help you save some money on your purchase, as well as potential double-up deals to double up your cart without any extra charge.
 

[15:19] Be sure to follow along on whichever platform you're tuned in from so you never miss out on these groundbreaking episodes. If you'd like to chat with me or ask me questions about cannabis, you can head over to www.homegrowncannabisco.community and sign up for free today. All you have to do is tag Kronik, that's K-R-O-N-I-C, to chat with me or ask me any questions.
 

[15:41] If you need an easy way to document your garden, check out www.homegrowndiary.com, where you can sign up for free as well and document your garden with complete ease. Be sure to search Hera the Giant or Garden Full of Runtz on the Homegrown Diaries to check out the grows that I've grown or am currently growing. If you like free seeds, Homegrown Cannabis Co.
 

[16:04] does free seed giveaways along with amazing livestream events with Kyle Kushman and Nate Hammer on their Facebook page, so be sure to like Homegrown Cannabis Co. on Facebook. If you want to stay up to date daily, be sure to follow @homegrownworld on Instagram. And I am your host, Kronik, from The Cannabis Chronicles on Instagram and YouTube. I hope you all have an amazing day. Much love, happy growing,
 

[16:27] and peace, you wonderful listeners. If you enjoyed this video and want to learn more about growing your own cannabis at home, hit that like button, subscribe, and turn those notifications on to keep up to date with the amazing marijuana content Homegrown Cannabis Co. has to offer. See you next time.