Medifreddie
New Member
While I havent been a member long at the 420 Mag site, Ive been a member on other sites and my growing experiences date back to still owning a copy of Ed Rosenthal's first book, Marijuana Growers Guide, first printing 1974. My how things have changed. 'Ol Ed is still around, bless his heart and I dont think even he could imagine how a simple weed could evolve into the industry it is these days.
That being said, I find it interesting how clones now play are very large part in the grow world while seeds, the only real grow method in the old days, has become "old school" and primarily only still practiced by those who are not in clone available areas.
In my neck of the woods, Humboldt County, Northern California, clones are the norm for starting your garden/grow. A thriving clone market exists with some growers who once grew the weed now specialize in just clones. At anywhere from $7.00 to $25.00 per clone and being able to ready a tray of a hundred or more on an average of every 3 weeks, being a clone vendor can be very profitable. Seeds, on the other hand, are fairly hard to come by and often times the seeds you do find are from a grower who accidently let his crop get pollinated. Go figure. There is a theory that floats around this area that many folks prefer clones because they never learned to grow from seed.
Myself, I believe starting with clones has distinct advantages. Over the long run, starting with clones will save electricity costs associated with seed germination, seedling growth etc. decrease mortality rates(in the plants) and you have no sexing issues to worry about. As a novice grower, you will find a 3 to 6 inch clone much more forgiving in regards to mistakes whereas a seedling can become a deadling in the blink of an eye. Also, if you subscribe to the long accepted formula that any given seed has a 50% chance of being a female & 50% chance of being a male, you are essentially losing half of your grow space, plus wasted time & energy spent on plants that will be of little use. In short growing season regions, clones are almost mandatory.
On the other hand, seeds can be a risky endeavor at best. To begin with you need fresh seeds. The seeds you have been saving that you found on the ground at Woodstock arent gonna get it. We here in the land of the free, home of the brave cannot legally purchase seeds. You can get it done, but it's a dicey proposition. Most transactions have to take place over the internet and it involves another country. We know the country exists but is the site legitimate? Is the site safe? If so, are the seeds you receive actually what you ordered? Will you complain very loudly if you do not receive your purchase? And of course, there is a distinct possibilty if the Flying Dutchman does happen to goof on your order, it will be a while before you discover you are growing something other than what you actually ordered. When seeds sprout, they dont exactly sprout an authenticity tag that indicates what strain it is and let's face it, most of us cant tell a White Widow seedling from a Hindu Kush seedling. The availability of femenized seeds is cool but for me that's a little too much progress for my taste.
Dont get me wrong, I'm not anti-seed. I prefer the seeds in an outdoor garden due to the fact plants started from seed tend to grow taller/larger with greater yields. Clones normally dont grow as large as the seed/mother plant which I might add also makes them poplular because the smaller plants are harder to detect. When marijuana was first legalized in terms of medicinal use here in California, everybody and their brother started growing and everybody and their brother began getting their grows ripped off. To combat the pot thieves, folks began growing smaller,less noticeable plants. Clones were ideal for these stealth gardens. But alas, I am also a seed fan simply because it's a connection to the old days. I'm sentimental that way and there is something about taking a seed, watching a plant be born and being part of it's journey. Now that's old school.
In these changing times, marijuana growing has changed along with most everything else. Better strains, faster production times and a billion dollar industry that has become woven tightly into the commercial portion of our society's fabric. The medicinal benefits alone have spawned amazing strides and will no doubt eventually lead to the marijuana plant being emancipated and finally recognized as a asset and not the current mythical threat as portrayed by the powers that think they be.
I suppose it doesnt really matter which you prefer, clones or seeds as long as we understand the symbol for which the plant stands. Freedom of choice and just how far we have come....MF
That being said, I find it interesting how clones now play are very large part in the grow world while seeds, the only real grow method in the old days, has become "old school" and primarily only still practiced by those who are not in clone available areas.
In my neck of the woods, Humboldt County, Northern California, clones are the norm for starting your garden/grow. A thriving clone market exists with some growers who once grew the weed now specialize in just clones. At anywhere from $7.00 to $25.00 per clone and being able to ready a tray of a hundred or more on an average of every 3 weeks, being a clone vendor can be very profitable. Seeds, on the other hand, are fairly hard to come by and often times the seeds you do find are from a grower who accidently let his crop get pollinated. Go figure. There is a theory that floats around this area that many folks prefer clones because they never learned to grow from seed.
Myself, I believe starting with clones has distinct advantages. Over the long run, starting with clones will save electricity costs associated with seed germination, seedling growth etc. decrease mortality rates(in the plants) and you have no sexing issues to worry about. As a novice grower, you will find a 3 to 6 inch clone much more forgiving in regards to mistakes whereas a seedling can become a deadling in the blink of an eye. Also, if you subscribe to the long accepted formula that any given seed has a 50% chance of being a female & 50% chance of being a male, you are essentially losing half of your grow space, plus wasted time & energy spent on plants that will be of little use. In short growing season regions, clones are almost mandatory.
On the other hand, seeds can be a risky endeavor at best. To begin with you need fresh seeds. The seeds you have been saving that you found on the ground at Woodstock arent gonna get it. We here in the land of the free, home of the brave cannot legally purchase seeds. You can get it done, but it's a dicey proposition. Most transactions have to take place over the internet and it involves another country. We know the country exists but is the site legitimate? Is the site safe? If so, are the seeds you receive actually what you ordered? Will you complain very loudly if you do not receive your purchase? And of course, there is a distinct possibilty if the Flying Dutchman does happen to goof on your order, it will be a while before you discover you are growing something other than what you actually ordered. When seeds sprout, they dont exactly sprout an authenticity tag that indicates what strain it is and let's face it, most of us cant tell a White Widow seedling from a Hindu Kush seedling. The availability of femenized seeds is cool but for me that's a little too much progress for my taste.
Dont get me wrong, I'm not anti-seed. I prefer the seeds in an outdoor garden due to the fact plants started from seed tend to grow taller/larger with greater yields. Clones normally dont grow as large as the seed/mother plant which I might add also makes them poplular because the smaller plants are harder to detect. When marijuana was first legalized in terms of medicinal use here in California, everybody and their brother started growing and everybody and their brother began getting their grows ripped off. To combat the pot thieves, folks began growing smaller,less noticeable plants. Clones were ideal for these stealth gardens. But alas, I am also a seed fan simply because it's a connection to the old days. I'm sentimental that way and there is something about taking a seed, watching a plant be born and being part of it's journey. Now that's old school.
In these changing times, marijuana growing has changed along with most everything else. Better strains, faster production times and a billion dollar industry that has become woven tightly into the commercial portion of our society's fabric. The medicinal benefits alone have spawned amazing strides and will no doubt eventually lead to the marijuana plant being emancipated and finally recognized as a asset and not the current mythical threat as portrayed by the powers that think they be.
I suppose it doesnt really matter which you prefer, clones or seeds as long as we understand the symbol for which the plant stands. Freedom of choice and just how far we have come....MF
peace n good luck MF
