How Do Cannabis Seeds Look Like?
The appearance of cannabis seeds is a subject that raises several questions amongst growers. We often get asked about how cannabis seeds should appear, with regards to their size, shape and color, as these factors are believed to be closely related to seed quality. In this post we take a detailed look at the main physical characteristics of cannabis seeds in order to clarify any doubts that you may have.
This guide has been created to answer all the main questions that we regularly get asked by clients and growers about the physical characteristics of our main product: premium-quality cannabis seeds.
Our decade and a half in the field have given us great knowledge as well as a broad perspective on this subject, so it is a privilege for us to be able to share our knowledge with all of you in the cannabis community.
The dimensions of cannabis seeds
As most of the cannabis varieties that are presently on the marketplace are polyhybrids, the dimensions of the seeds can vary 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 normal feature of this variety: nativesusa.com) we’ve seen countless of Critical + seeds and we can attest that they are naturally smaller than others. It is hence incorrect to think that this is a marker of poor quality.
If, on the other hand, the seeds look too big, this may be caused by a shortage of macronutrients during the crop’s growth cycle. As any cultivator with certain experience will know, calcium deficiencies are fixed by adding calcium and magnesium, a mixture that helps reestablishing the optimal nutritional balance of plants.
So in this instance, an increase in dimensions could be a clear indicator of this addition of calcium and magnesium, which is done in order to address that macronutrient shortage during growth. This has no effect on the crop’s potential for sprouting, growth, flowering, or yield, nor on the formation of the organoleptic characteristics of the buds (aroma, flavour and effect).
So we can clearly say that this variation is simply aesthetic. 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 structure of cannabis seeds
Cannabis seeds can also display slight changes at morphological level. It’s completely normal to find minor differences in the elliptical shape of seeds from the same batch.
In some cases their shape is more linear; whereas in others one of the extremities can be rounded whilst the other is more tapered. But this is no reason for concern: as with dimensions, these slight differences in the outline of the seeds are purely visual and have no relation to do with quality.
Related post: The most frequent mistakes when sprouting cannabis seeds
The colour of cannabis seeds
Although it is accurate that ripe cannabis seeds tend to have a darker shell that can range from brown to black, with stripes that look like tiger stripes, this cannot be viewed as a reliable quality marker by itself.
Yet again, this is a deceptive physical attribute that does not guarantee the germination capacity or overall characteristics of a seed. A premium strain can also be pale or dark grey in colour.
Let’s take the example of Critical + once more, one of our consistent bestsellers that has had outstanding success across the globe thanks to its exceptional scent, flavour, effect, and yielding capacity.
Critical + is a clear example that colour, contrary to what many growers believe, is not always a direct quality marker: these undeniably high-quality seeds display a distinctly pale grey, almost whitish grey, to a medium grey colour.
However, a greenish colour is a definite sign of immaturity, which means that the seed has not developed fully or it hasn’t received all the needed resources to attain full maturity. In this particular case, if you buy seeds with this colour you need to reach out to your supplier immediately and try to have them replaced.
If this occurs to you with one of our seeds, don’t hesitate to contact us directly. Send us a couple of pictures so we can check them out, and our support team will substitute them as soon as possible.
Another aspect that can be deceptive is the fact that a ripe, freshly-harvested cannabis seed has a more vibrant and darker color than after it’s been packaged for 1 to 2 months.
This could be compared to a baby whose physical appearance quickly changes during their first few days of life in order to adapt to the entirely new outside surroundings.
The same thing happens with cannabis seeds: the storage and the various stages before they’re marketed can entail lighting and humidity fluctuations, as well as a little of oxidation, which may slightly affect the color of the shell but certainly has no effect on the end product. Once more, this is simply an aesthetic effect.
We trust that this article has provided you with some helpful information about the physical features of your cannabis seeds to assist you interpret them more accurately before starting their germination and cultivation.