Read further for advice about strain selection for your outdoor garden, including the new NASC Commercial Cultivars line.
Considerations For Outdoor Strain Selection
Flowering Time: A cannabis plant will likely not last through multiple frosts, so keep the flowering time in mind if you live somewhere that starts to experience colder temperatures in October. Late September-early October is a sweet spot for Northern and New England climates.
Resistance: Considering a strain's resistance could narrow down your options. Keep an eye out for strains that are resistant to common outdoor problems such as mold, mildew, septoria, and pests.
Seed Type: For the beginner grower, I would caution against putting regular seeds in your garden without sex testing. A burst pollen sack outside is infinitely more detrimental to other plants in stages of flower than a similar situation inside, simply due to natural winds and air movement. Check the sex sites of feminized plants as well.
For more details On preparing your outdoor garden, check out this post!
The genetics you will find in NASC’s Commercial Cultivars line have been carefully selected by industry veterans for their overall commercial crop viability. This includes outdoor resilience and resistances, early finishing times, complex terpene profiles, high performing test results, extract performance, overall bag appeal, overall plant and flower morphology, dependability and stability. These are genetics that have been bred and tested in large commercial settings with the utmost integrity, and these are genetics that you can trust, at a price point that is reasonable.
Click the images below to learn more about each of these strains!
Cannabis plants are dioecious which means they can be male or female. The bud/flower and extracts people consume comes from female cannabis plants which produce cannabinoid rich trichomes. These trichomes house THCA (the precursor to THC) and other cannabinoids that have physical and mental effects when ingested.
While male plants can produce THC, they are much less potent than females and are not desirable for consumption. Male plants also produce pollen that can cause female plants to create seeds. This is usually not desirable for most growers who are looking to maximize flower yield and potency. Once a female plant is pollinated, it will focus more of its energy and resources to creating those seeds rather than focusing on floral growth and trichome production which will end up affecting your final yield and lowering the potency of your crop.
If you’ve seen some seeds being advertised as “Reg” or “Regular” and others being advertised as “Fem” or “Feminized seeds” then you’ve probably wondered what the distinction is. (Get Fem seeds here)
A regular (reg) seed is made by a natural female cannabis plant being pollinated by a natural male cannabis plant. There is a 50/50 chance for each seed to be female or male from a batch of reg seeds. (Get Reg seeds here)
Feminized seeds are made by forcing a female cannabis plant to produce anthers through chemical means or through rodelization. Once a female plant produces anthers it is only capable of passing along X sex chromosomes so almost all the seeds from a batch of “fem” seed will be females.
There is still an approximate 1% chance of chemically feminized seeds producing a male or producing plants with hermaphrodite traits (i.e. having both male and female parts on the same plant). This is because of evolutionary drives in the plant to reproduce which can sometimes overcome the feminization process.
This same concept applies to non-feminized plants as well since hermaphroditism is possible in any cannabis plant. Appropriate horticultural practices and careful breeding to lock in genetic material that produces desirable traits are required to greatly reduce your chances of finding male flowers (anthers) in your female plant.
FEMALES
Female cannabis flowers produce pistils. A pistil is the female reproductive organ of the plant and contains the stigma, style, and ovary. The stigmas are the small white hairs that come out of a female flower and are used by the plant to catch pollen and then transfer it down the style into the ovary where seeds are created.
The presence of these emerging hairs indicate that your plant is a female and, when grown appropriately and depending on genetics, will produce dense, cannabinoid rich flowers. These stigmas will start to form out of bracts that are located at the axils or nodes of the plant. These are the areas where a leaf or new branch is growing out from the main (or apical) stalk of the plant.
A female cannabis plant showing its slender, white stigmas growing from the bracts.
Another female cannabis plant with developing stigmas. The extra-long white hairs are hard to miss!
This is a female cannabis plant. Note the long, slender white hairs (stigmas) growing from the green bracts at the node (where the branch diverges from the main stalk).
MALES
Male cannabis plants produce stamens which are composed of an anther and a filament. The filament is a cylindrical tube that holds the bulbous, ovoid anther up. The anther is the part of the male cannabis plant that produces pollen. Anthers will grow in the same spots as pistils would on a female cannabis plant but look much different. When first forming, male anthers look like a ball on a stick and then will elongate over time into a banana-like shape. If you see anthers on your plant and no stigmas you can be sure it is a male. If you are growing for flower yield and potency, you will want to remove and discard any males before they pollinate your females.
Anthers forming at the bud sites on this male cannabis plant. These banana or pod-like growths will eventually open and release pollen.
A close up of male anthers. These are also still young but will release pollen if not removed from the room. Unless of course you’re breeding, in which case let them grow!
A male cannabis plant showing mature anthers. (the banana or pod-like appendages). These are getting close to opening and releasing pollen.
Male plants aren’t useless and for some people, they are very important. Some growers keep their males to purposefully produce seed. The creation of many new strains is done this way. Many breeders “hunt” their males to select traits they believe will be beneficial to the next generation just like they would “hunt” (grow out many and select the best from that crop) female plants. They then remove the undesired males from their grow space and allow the chosen male(s) to pollinate a portion of or all their space. Some growers also wish to make seed to save for next year’s crop.
Methods of Identifying Males and Females
The oldest way of checking to see if your ‘reg’ plants are male or female is to “sex them.” This refers to changing the light they receive to 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness to prompt the plant to begin making reproductive organs (i.e. pistils and stamens).
Some people will make this light change occur early in the growth process to see what characteristics the plant will express and then will take any females they want to grow and “re-vegging” them or placing them back into a more light-heavy schedule (18hrs Light/6hrs dark, 20 hours light/ 4 hours darkness, etc.) to cease the promotion of flowering.
This allows the grower to see what sex their plants are and discard any males before continuing to veg out and then bloom the females to get the potent buds at final harvest.
This method has some drawbacks to it, namely the need to re-veg an entire plant or to take cuttings from all the plants you want to flower out, cloning them, and then sexing out the clones. This can be labor intensive and can also stress any female plants out with the switches in light schedule.
The stress endured by the females can translate, in some instances, into those females producing male and female parts when blooming out again for the second time.
This is also not always the most feasible method for outdoor growers who will have much more difficulty in precisely manipulating daily light schedules.
For many people who grow reg seed, they will flower out their entire crop and watch closely to identify and remove any males before any pollen is dropped. This avoids adding stress to all of your plants but also is time intensive and requires vigilance to ensure your crop is not seeded.
Fortunately, with advances in technology there is a fast and simple way to identify plant sex way before they get anywhere near large or old enough for their flowering stage.
Many commercial labs across the U.S. are now offering sex ID testing for as little as $20 per plant. Around 3 weeks after being planted, young plants are able to be tested. All that is usually required is a couple of small hole-punch sized pieces of leaf that is placed in a plastic bag, sealed, and then mailed to a lab for testing. Some labs require an entire fan leaf to determine sex but even this is a small amount of material to gather.
This option allows growers to very quickly determine male from female plants and saves a lot of time and resources from being wasted on any unwanted males.
We hope this guide has been helpful in identifying male and female cannabis plants. Remember to always check in on your grow to ensure any unwanted anthers don’t appear or are removed immediately. Happy harvest!
We are very excited for to share our thoughts on this limited drop by Dirty Bird Genetics. If you were lucky enough to get a pack of Black Goliath Auto, this is what you can expect after you grow her. Black Goliath Auto is (Anvil F7 X Sour Gorilla (Sour Apple X Strawberry Gorilla)). Read on to learn about our experiences.
The first thing I noticed was the bag appeal. These were chunky and dense nugs with an overall tint of purple. The orange hairs were extremely prominent. The nose on this one was a combination of sweet florals and a muskiness. The sweetness comes across more than the musk on the exhale, making it smooth and pleasant overall. It comes with a pretty balanced effect. I felt uplifted and like I could function, but not with anything requiring deep concentration or thought. It is so calming and without that side of sleepiness. She can help me tackle Sunday chores, but she definitely deserves to be smoked in nature or around fun people. - Crystal
This strain is a treat! The first ever autoflower by Dirty Bird Genetics does not disappoint. Black Goliath's buds are super dark purple and when I ground it up it looked like black crystals in the bowl. It smells sweet and peppery. I love a good indica, and this strain (Anvil F7 x Sour Gorilla) is definitely a favorite. It made me feel totally calm, my brain and body were super relaxed without being too sleepy. I'm really lucky I got to try this one as it is super exclusive and sold out already. If you missed it l am truly sorry! Better luck next time! - Mariah
Read more about the differences between Alpha Series, Limited Series, & Tester packs.
Elev8 Seeds shares 3 tips for new growers and their top recommendations! Don't miss out on all the great deals from Elev8 Seeds for Breeder of the Week!
3 TIPS FOR NEW GROWERS
Don't plant anything until you have your room completely dialed in. That means, Temp/RH/ 100% light tight, i.e., no light leaks/ fans/ light timer/exhaust, dehumidifier or humidifier depending on your climate. After all this is right its time to plant.
Patience. Your plants wont grow faster by feeding stronger, in fact, if you over feed you can damage them.
Never interrupt the plants night cycle. In flowering stage this can cause hermaphrodites or even switching back to the veg cycle.
Story From The Garden - Protect Your Eyes! I like to use plant stakes instead of trellis netting, once I bent over to observe a plant closely and the stake hit right next to my eye, hard to believe, but I didn't see it coming! so from then on I put a cup, can, something on the top of the stake.
All About The Terps: Magnolia Motel Magnolia Motel, back from testing, soon to be released along with 3 other GG4 crosses. the Terps in the Magnolia Motel are soooooo tasty! We’re talking about tangerine and vanilla, and lots of it. The flavor lasts and lasts. If you are looking for something so tasty you want to take a bite, I highly recommend the Magnolia Motel from our newest series the “Glues Brothers”
Washers If you are looking for some “washers” and you don't mind growing some non feminized seeds I would recommend any of the regular seeds we offer. they were specifically bred to be outstanding washers. And if you want to get a quick heads up on which are male, which are female you can use this really simple , accurate sex testing facility--https://farmerfreeman.com/ I use them, saves so much time, cull the males, grow the girls!!
P: Parent Plants when beginning a cross. This is more of an arbitrary designation when beginning to breed a line to identify the two plants you started your project with. This will rarely be shown in this form on most commercial seed product. Many products that do include parentage will often cite “Mother” and “Father” for parent plants.
F1: The first Filial generation. A cross of two unlike parent plants. Term used for regular breeding of a natural female and a natural male plant.
PFemale x PMale = F1
F2: The second Filial generation cross of two F1 progeny (offspring).
F1 (Female) x F1 (Male) = F2
F3: The third Filial generation cross of two F2progeny.
F2 (Female) x F2 (Male) = F3 and so on for successive generations.
IBL: Highly stable cross, typically F5 or greater, with very little genetic diversity in progeny.
R1: First generation cross of two unlike parents (same as F1) but indicates the pollen donor was female (feminized).
PFemale x PFemale Pollen Donor = R1
S1: “Selfed” Generation 1. Ultimate form of inbreeding. A feminized cross of a single plant bred into itself. This could be done with a single source plant that has some of its nodes feminized with the rest left to develop female organs naturally. The feminized branches will grow anthers and pollinate the remaining natural female organs (ovules within the pistils) producing seed that inherits its genome from a single genetic source instead of from two different genetic sources. Selfing can also be done via cloning the source plant and making either the clone or the source plant the pollen donor and the other the pollen receiver or by doing the same procedure with two clones from the exact same source plant.
P Source x P Source / P Source x P Clone / P Clone x P Clone = S1
Bx: Back cross. Label used when progeny is crossed back into one of its parents.
F1 (Female) x PMale or PFemale x F1 (Male) = Bx1 (Backcross 1)
RBx: Reverse Back cross. Same as backcross but with a female pollen donor instead of a natural male pollen donor.
F1 (Female x PFemale PollenDonor or PFemale x F1 (Female Pollen Donor) = RBx1(Reverse Backcross 1)
With 20+ years of cultivation experience and over 250 unique varieties created SinCity Seeds is among the worlds most respected cannabis breeders. They stand behind their work and always offer a full satisfaction guarantee on all their products.
The NASC Cast Crew had the pleasure of sitting down with Don of Sin City Seeds. Listen to what he has to say below, and follow us on Vimeo for even more content!
Sticky Finger Seeds is a Cannabis genetic collective that specializes (takes pride) in growing and breeding heirloom and landrace cannabis genetics. Now closing in on five decades of cannabis farming and breeding cannabis enthusiast Will Grinnell has been seeking, trading, purchasing and collecting a variety of the best cannabis genetics possible, along with the Sticky Finger Seeds collective of heritage craft farmers and their seed collections.
The NASC Cast Crew had the pleasure of sitting down with Will of Sticky Finger Seeds. Listen to what he has to say below, and follow us on Vimeo for even more content!
Reg or regular seed is seed produced with a natural male pollen donor and a natural female cannabis plant. Fem or Feminized seed is produced with a female pollen donor and a natural female cannabis plant.
Regular seed can produce male (XY) and female (XX) plants. Either laboratory testing or growing some seeds out and sexing them can help you identify if they are male or female. Males obviously make pollen which, when hitting a stigma, traveling through the style then into the ovary on a female plant, will cause the females to create seed. This can easily ruin a crop if a grower is going for seedless flower which makes identifying plant sex very important early in the growing process.
There is nothing wrong with regular seeds. They can still produce amazing plants as long as they’re tended to appropriately just like with plants from feminized seeds. The main difference is knowing you’ll have to pop more seeds to account for any males you may have to get rid of if you’re going for seedless flower. Many people prefer regular seeds over feminized seeds for many reasons. One such reason is to breed their own strains and to create their own seed for next year’s grow.
Feminized seeds produce 99.9% female seeds due to the pollen donor being female (XX). Since a female in these instances is made to create pollen there is no ‘Y’ chromosome to pass along thus no natural males should be able to form from the seeds produced. This results in almost all the seeds from a feminized pollen donor (XX) and a natural female cannabis plant (XX) being female. This can save much time by cutting out the need to sex plants when planning for your particular grow space and harvest goals. Feminized seeds are preferred by many people as well for many reasons. One big reason being the time and money saved on growing out many possible males and sexing or testing them before discarding them.
Both regular and feminized seed can lead to plants that show hermaphroditism (male and female sex organs/ anthers and pistils on the same plant) if not cared for properly or if poor parental choices were made by the breeder during seed creation. It is important to regularly check on your plants to monitor for unwanted anthers and remove them or the entire plant before they pollinate the other females in the grow space.
Regular Seed
Feminized Seed
50% chance of male or female plant
Can exhibit hermaphroditism
Can produce amazing plants with high yields
99.9% Chance of female plant
Can exhibit hermaphroditism
Can produce amazing plants with high yields
Photoperiod vs AutoFlower (Photo vs Auto)
Photoperiod plants, or “Photos,” are cannabis plants that require a change in the amount of light they receive to trigger flowering. Generally 12 hours of light followed by 12 hours of darkness will prompt photoperiod plants to create their sex organs (pistils/buds for female plants and anthers for male plants) and grow their flowers. This is often called “12/12” or “12/12 lighting.”
Auto-flowering plants do not require a change in light schedule to begin flowering and will do so after a certain number of days after being potted. This is due to the underlying genetics in auto-flower varieties that allow them to trigger flowering without any change in light schedule required. Auto-flower plants are not good candidates for cloning as they have a short window of time in vegetative growth before they start flowering out. This means any cuts taken from the ‘mother’ will still flower around the same time the mother would, making them poor choices for mother plants.
Some breeders have labeled particular strains as “Fast” or ‘Fast Flower.” This generally means the plant is still a photoperiod plant and will require a change in the amount of light/darkness it received to trigger flowering but that it will complete its flowering period much sooner than the average photoperiod plant.
Photoperiod
Auto-Flower
Requires change in light schedule to trigger flowering
Can be feminized or regular seed
Handles appropriate transplanting well.
Tolerance varies by strain
Good for cloning
Flowering triggered after a certain number of days regardless of light schedule
Can be feminized or regular seed
Does not handle transplanting very well
Bad for cloning
Regular and Feminized seeds can be either photoperiod or auto-flowering varieties
Examples:
A plant grown from a regular auto-flower seed would have a 50% chance of being male or female and would start flowering at a certain time after planting regardless of the amount of light it received.
A plant grown from a feminized auto-flower seed would have a 99.9% chance of being female and would start flowering at a certain time after planting regardless of the amount of light it received.
A plant grown from a regular photoperiod seed would have a 50% chance of being male or female and would require a change in the amount of light it receives to trigger flowering. (12 hrs light/12 hrs dark)
A plant grown from a feminized photoperiod seed would have a 99.9% chance of being female and would require a change in the amount of light it receives to trigger flowering (12 hrs light/12 hrs dark)
Mold and mildew negatively affect many kinds of wild and cultivated plants. Powdery mildew (PM) and Botrytis (Bud rot) are two of the most common fungi that damage and, sometimes, destroy cultivated crops.
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew is the collective term for several species of fungi that have similar presentation and cause similar negative health effects in plants. It usually presents as distinctive white, fuzzy or ‘powdery’ patches on any above ground part of the plant (stems, leaves, stalks, petioles, buds, etc.). Sometimes it can appear like little spots of “flour” on leaves or any other above-ground parts of the plant.
New shoots and lower/central leaves are commonly the initial sites of PM infection. Old leaves also have a high probability of getting initial PM infection due to their age and, most often, their position within the plant’s branches and other leaves.
Plants with a thick layer of leaf cover are also high risk for PM due to the density of plant material in a given volume which can cause a lack of proper air flow and create breeding grounds for powdery mildew deeper within the plant’s leaves and branches.
Often PM begins as a circular or oval patch that spreads quickly if not dealt with. If left untreated, PM will spread all over the plant and render the crop unfit for human consumption. PM can cause leaves to yellow and fall prematurely which negatively impacts the plant’s ability to photosynthesize the sugars it needs to live. If not dealt with quickly, PM can ruin whole crops as it spreads from plant to plant in your field, greenhouse, indoor facility/grow room, etc. which can take a serious emotional and financial toll on growers.
Powdery Mildew sites beginning near the center of a fan leaf. Note their circular shape and almost powdery appearance.
Another fan leaf showing powdery mildew sites, this time near the blade tips.
Botrytis/Bud Rot
Botrytis is another common pathogenic fungus found virtually everywhere plants are grown. Like Powdery mildew, Botrytis first appears as a white growth but quickly becomes brown or gray and can make buds and leaves appear “crispy” or over-dried. It can also sometimes make buds look webbed and slimy depending on the stage of infection. Botrytis is dangerous for humans and plant product containing this fungus should be considered toxic and unusable.
Botrytis can affect ANY part of the plant including the roots which makes it a very pervasive and difficult issue to treat. Botrytis will often affect new shoots as well as areas of the plant that do not get proper aeration such as dense buds or areas of high leaf coverage. Thick leaf layers and high relative humidities combined can make breeding grounds for this fungus just like they can for powdery mildew. Damaged plant stalks and leaves are also highly susceptible to PM and Botrytis infection. It is recommended to remove any petioles (leaf stems) still attached to stalks when defoliating plants during normal pruning. Petioles left over are highly susceptible to fungal infection and should be removed entirely from the plant if the leaf it was attached to is pruned.
Photo: Pong Pong/Shutterstock
White bud rot taking hold within the bud. Note the spider web-like texture.
Photo: Pong Pong/Shutterstock
A severely infected bud. Note the webbed texture and brown color of the bud rot. This bud will have to be removed before the infection spreads too far.
Photo: Pong Pong/Shutterstock
More exposed botrytis working its way up the young bud.
Photo: KilnKam/Shutterstock
Sometimes botrytis will make the bud look caky and dry. This bud will need to be removed from the area to prevent further spread of the mold to other plants.
Botrytis
Powdery Mildew
Dry or webbed texture
Begins white but quickly turns brown or gray
Affects ALL parts of plant (above and below ground)
Geometric pattern not similar across plants
Powdery or ‘flour’ like texture
White
Affects above ground parts of plant
Generally circular or ovoid (oval) patterning that spreads outward from center
Prevention & Treatment
It may sound obvious but the best way to protect your crop is to prevent mold outbreaks before they happen. Below are some tips on preventing powdery mildew and Botrytis in your grow space.
Discard all affected plant material outside of grow space ASAP
Destroy/Remove entire plant if mold infection is too wide spread
Change gloves or wash hands after removing affected plant material
Keep Plants Healthy
Avoid over or under feeding your plants as nutrient imbalances can cause serious stress which diminishes the plant’s ability to naturally fight off pests and fungal infections. When a plant is taking up the appropriate amount of nutrients and water, and when it produces healthy levels of sugars within itself, it is able to resist disease and infestation to a much higher degree, if not entirely. The healthier your plant is, the less work you have to do for a better yield.
Appropriate Light Penetration
Make sure your plants are getting good light penetration to decrease mold’s ability to infect lower bud sites, branches, and leaves. Mold does well in wet, dark conditions so increasing the light coverage on your plant will decrease mold’s ability to harm your crop. Be careful not to place your lights too close to the top of your plants or leaves as this can cause light burn which can stress the plant out.
There are various heights above the plant canopy that are optimal depending on type of light used (e.g. LED, MH, HPS, T5, etc.) and the technical specifications of any individual light. Keeping lights approximately 18 – 24 inches above your plant canopy is usually a safe bet but again consult the manual or manufacturer website for the unique specifications and any recommendations that may be found for the specific light(s) you’re using.
Air Flow:
It is critical to have proper air flow in your grow to prevent pockets of stale air and humidity from building up within the foliage or on stems or soil. In indoor grow spaces, wall and floor fans can be used to create air flow. Be cautious with the power setting and how close the fans are to the plants. The air movement is critical to preventing mold but too much force from air on the leaves will damage their structure and can lead to deformation and eventual premature death of the leaves.
Some indoor grow rooms and many commercial facilities also use HVAC systems to help recycle air in their grow space. These systems help to prevent accumulation of stale air, pathogens, mold spores, and excess humidity as well as introduce fresh air and CO2. If you can keep your grow area’s relative humidity below 60% (45% – 55% RH is optimal for flowering) you will greatly decrease the chances of mold outbreak. Many detrimental fungi and bacteria have a harder time establishing in an area that has less than 60% RH. Mold outbreaks can still occur at below 60% RH if grow area cleanliness is not maintained but will be less severe and will grow more slowly than at higher RH levels. Keeping a lower RH can help growers have more time to spot and treat any fungal infections that occur.
In grow tents, intake and outtake fans are usually employed to help keep fresh air recycling into the tent and stale air/excess moisture out of the tent. Small, clip-on fans can often be placed on tent poles to help with air motion if you find the air in the tent is still too thick, humid, or stationary. Again, be cautious at what setting you put the fan(s) at and how close it is to the foliage. Again a relative humidity of less than 60% is preferable to reduce the potential of fungal infection
If growing outdoors, make sure your crop is planted in an area that gets good wind flowing through it. Check on the foliage, stems, buds (if in flower) and surrounding soil daily, or as often as you can, to monitor those areas of your plants for white, gray, or brown spots forming. It’s also helpful to monitor for any pest damage/infestations and treat these appropriately as soon as possible.
Targeted Defoliation
Defoliation can improve air flow around your plant and can reduce the chance of mold outbreaks. It can also help the plant increase yields and potency by re-allocating energy from leaves that are older and/or may be shading out flower sites to flowers and newer leaves that are more efficient in photosynthesis (greener, more chlorophyll).
Defoliation requires some experience to get the hang of and must be approached with caution. Too much leaf removal can cause your plants stress which can harm yields and potency as well as lower the plant’s ability to fight off pests and fungal infections.
Defoliation is much more common in indoor grow spaces as leaves may not be receiving light evenly and thus some leaves may not contribute their maximum potential for photosynthesis. It still can sometimes be helpful when growing outdoors if your plant has a high leaf density that’s preventing good air flow but isn’t as big of a concern usually as it may be for the indoor grower.
Many small leaves on the underside of the plant and within the plant structure on lower branches can be removed to improve air flow while removing less efficient leaves. Be cautious not to defoliate too many leaves at once or in one day. It can be helpful to remove some leaves every 3-7 days during later stages of vegetative growth and/or within the first 3 weeks of the flowering phase. Try to not remove more than a total of 10-20% of a single plant’s foliage to avoid stressing it out.
ALWAYS USE CLEAN/STERILIZED TOOLS WHEN REMOVING LEAVES!
This fact cannot be stressed enough as dirty cutting tools (scissors, razor, scalpel,) can lead to greater chances of infection from bacteria, mold, and plant viruses/viroids. 70% isopropyl alcohol is recommended for sterilizing cutting tools against bacteria, but a 10% solution of bleach is recommended for sterilizing cutting tools against mold spores, plant viruses and viroids as isopropyl will not kill viroids.
Try to fully remove petioles (leaf stem) when defoliating to avoid creating sites that are optimal for fungal infection. We recommend removing the leaf, cut at the base of the petiole where it connects to the plant stalk. Try not to twist, rip, pull, or otherwise tear at the leaves as this can cause wounds in the stem and leave behind pieces of leaf and petiole debris that act as sites for initial fungal infection.
Check out our defoliation guide for more precise information regarding defoliation techniques.
Plan Healthy Crop Density
It is important not to plant or place individual plants too close to one another. Appropriate spacing in your tent, grow room, facility, or outdoor field improves air flow and decreases the chances of fungal infection. It also helps to avoid moisture/humidity build up within and between plants.
Before stocking your grow area, plan ahead to choose the number of plants and the desired size of those plants appropriate for the space you’ll be growing in. This will help prevent overcrowding and allow better air flow and light penetration to all of your plants.
Clean Grow Spaces in Between Harvests
Keeping your grow space clean and as plant debris free as you can is immensely helpful in preventing fungal infections. Clean floors, walls, and ceilings as well as any objects in the room in between harvests to eliminate any mold spores growing and keep new ones from gaining a foothold. There are many products that can be used to eliminate mold spores. A solution of 10% household bleach and 90% water is very effective in removing most mold spores. Distilled white or cleaning vinegar is also another easily obtainable option for cleaning grow spaces as it has a high acetic acid content which has antifungal properties. Vinegar is effective against many but not all types of mold spores.
If You Have PM or Bud Rot
Prune the affected parts of the plant if possible. If there is mold growth on leaves, remove the entire leaf and petiole (leaf stem) and put these gently into a plastic bag or other container. If removed with too much force you may inadvertently knock spores into the air which will travel to other parts of your plant or to other plants in the grow area. After you’re done removing affected leaves, quickly remove moldy leaf debris and throw away outside of the grow area, and outside of your home or facility if possible.
If mold is growing throughout a stalk or bud, removal of infected areas is necessary. A good rule of thumb is to prune a few inches below the infected site and remove all affected plant material.
There are some products available that are advertised as being able to clean finished bud from mold with little to no residual chemicals left in your flower after treatment. Due diligence to do your research on specific products that claim this is vital to ensure effective and non-toxic methods of cleaning bud if this is a strategy you wish to employ.
There are also many fungicides available commercially that work for vegging plants but many have potentially long lasting health effects so once again, do your research before introducing any new chemicals to your grow.
Neem Oil
A natural fungicide that has been used for many years is neem oil. Neem oil is a naturally occurring oil that comes from the seeds of the neem tree. Neem has been proven to have antifungal as well as anti-insecticidal properties and is not harmful to humans or pets. However, if you grow outdoors, be sure to not spray neem oil on plants bees may visit (flowers, vegetables, other pollen sources, etc.) as it can be harmful to them.
Copper Based Fungicides
Copper based fungicides are another non-systemic option for mold prevention and treatment. They are non-harmful to pets and humans and can be applied (if mixed in the appropriate ratio) without burning your cannabis plants. Copper based fungicides have shown great efficacy in killing mold spores and preventing their growth if applied correctly.
We do not recommend using any copper based fungicidal sprays outdoors as this can be harmful to earthworms and beneficial bacteria which are vital to soil health. However, if growing indoors without using living soil then copper fungicides can be a very effective treatment and preventative option for PM and botrytis. Copper fungicides are non-systemic and won’t harm your cannabis plants if applied in the appropriate ratios which can be found in the product manual that comes with the fungicide.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is another way to organically deal with powdery mildew and mold. Mix half a teaspoon of baking soda per quarter of a gallon of water, put this solution into a sprayer and spray the affected leaves and stems of your plant. Baking soda is another non-systemic fungicide which means it will potentially need to be re-applied if the issue reoccurs but it also means your plant won’t take it up within itself which is a very good thing when it comes time to enjoy your dried flower.
Do Your Research
No one wants to ingest fungicide when enjoying their bud so avoid using synthetic chemicals that are systemic and stay within the plant. Some fungicides won’t flush out after the normal flushing period at the end of flower so be careful not to employ these chemicals as they are largely for ornamental crops and lawns that are not intended for ingestion by humans or animals. Always read the labels and warnings with any new product you introduce to your grow to keep yourself, others, and the environment safe.
Fungicide/Defoliation Not Working
We do recommend removing and destroying heavily affected plants in situations where defoliation and/or pruning are unable to appropriately remove fungal infection sites. Sometimes the spread of mold and mildew is so vast over the plant’s surface that it is safer to remove the plant entirely before the issue spreads to the rest of the room. Be sure to wear gloves while removing infected areas of plants or while removing whole plants and throw those gloves away before touching clean surfaces or other plants. This practice will limit the spread of mold spores which can destroy your crop quickly. If gloves aren’t available, wash your hands thoroughly as soon as possible to avoid further spread of any fungi.
Make sure to increase the ventilation to the grow space to keep mold from coming back and establishing a foothold.
Fungus and mildew are huge concerns for any grower whether they are a home or commercial grower. If left untreated it can destroy whole crops by negatively affecting plant health, diminishing yields, and rendering infected, untreated plant material hazardous for human consumption. With proper environmental conditions and adherence to best growing practices you can avoid the catastrophe of diminished yields and the loss of an entire crop. Always be cautious if utilizing any fungicidal treatment. Always read the labels and warnings on the product and do your research before applying anything new to your grow room or garden. We hope this introductory guide has been helpful and that you enjoy many great, mold-free harvests in the seasons to come!
Do you want to grow cannabis in a simple and convenient way? The Annaboto growing system will provide you with an experience that is fun and fairly hands-off. Crystal discusses her second harvest with the Annaboto.
Back in November of 2025, I started my second grow journey with the Annaboto grow system. I still heavily recommend the Annaboto as an option for new growers or anyone that feels like they are too busy to grow. You can learn more about my experience with the process of setting up and using this machine here.
The strain I chose for this grow was Alchemist's Apprentice by Night Owl Seeds. She is made up of a cross between Wizard’s Apprentice *Foxy Purps* x Chem 91 F4 Auto. From germination to harvest, she grew like a champ. The process was smooth and nothing challenging arose during her lifespan.
Below, there are three pictures that show the first three weeks of growth. She started out as a healthy seedling and seemed to grow fairly rapidly into vegetation.
The next three images below are showing where she stands at week 5 and week 6. Some of her leaves have gotten really big. During week 6, I topped the plant in hopes that she would grow a little more outward and produce more flower. I cut the stem between the fifth and sixth nodes. At this point, she was a luscious green color and very healthy.
The first sign of the flowering stage occurred during week 8. She really opened up and topping definitely created more bud sites. I started to defoliate here and there to create more open space for the light to hit the buds, especially the ones toward the bottom of the plant.
Harvest happened during week 14. I was very pleased with the results as the buds looked extremely chunky and coated in white. She had decent internodal spacing and was somewhat compact, only being about a foot and a half tall. She just finished drying and I will be trimming her soon, followed by letting her cure for a few weeks. I am very excited to smoke this one!
This concludes my second grow journey with the Annaboto. It's reputation for being convenient and easy to use definitely remains.
Let's agree: the Dirty Bird Genetics family are nerds (in the most endearing way...obviously), so of course we would overthink things like pricing when it comes to assigning value to our genetics. Because we recently threw a new menu at you with the launch of our Alpha Series, we wanted to take a moment to explain where our heads are at when we are deciding which of the menu tiers a strain gets released into:
ALL STRAINS ARE:
Highly promising and exciting on multiple levels.
Tested by a lab for cannabinoids and terpenes
Grown out and tested indoors by yours truly.
Herm-free unless specifically noted in the profile (which would be tremendously rare).
VOLUME SERIES: Volume releases are reserved for the best of the best. What that means is very personal and it evolves with time as we learn and grow, and as our genetics become more and more refined. If a cultivar is released in the Volume series, then you know that strain is some of our best work to-date. We have a very high level of confidence in these genetics, and that standard only grows month-to-month and year-over-year. At present, a strain released into the Volume series meets the following criteria:
Test results for cannabinoids + terpenes came back very favorably.
Morphologically stable and vigorous - We are looking for homogeneity here and will always speak to phenotypic variation within the strain descriptions.
Expressed desirable traits such as well-proportioned internodal spacing and high calyx to leaf ratio.
Terpene profile is ON POINT - complex, pungent, in your face. We are big fans of unique terpene profiles.
Quality observed is consistently high-level in all of the seeds we tested.
Yield is moderate-to-high
Overall bag appeal and trichome coverage is high
ALPHA SERIES: The ALPHA Series is the newest addition to the Dirty Bird Genetics menu. As we’ve grown and evolved as breeders, our standards– like our genetics– have grown and evolved, too. We set a very high bar for our Volume series, and it’s a bar that is increasingly rising. Many of our favorite projects may miss that bar ever so slightly, for one silly reason or another, while still being truly phenomenal overall. The ALPHA Series is home to these genetics. It offers budget-friendly, high-end cultivars that go well above and beyond the genetics you can source at similar price points.
Alpha Series strains meet all of the same criteria as the Volume series, but one thing likely gave us pause. For example, the Apple Peelz (Sex Melon x Bad Apple) is one of our favorite boutique strains to-date, but 10 days into flowering we threw out two plants in the test run that had really serrated, arugula-like foliage (like the Brunch “arugula cut”) because we needed to save space. The project finished phenomenally, but because we weren’t able to see how that phenotype finished, we felt we couldn’t release it into the Volume series. This series will definitely be maximum bang for your buck!
TESTERS: Let me first say, it was probably unwise to name the Tester series, “Testers.” One might assume we haven’t grown these out when in fact we have. The Tester series is home to the projects that we see a lot of potential in and think people would enjoy, but that missed the mark in a meaningful-enough way that we cannot justify releasing it as an Alpha or a Volume release. This might include long internodal spacing, too much phenotypic variation, or foliage that is denser than we prefer. Many of these projects are good enough to continue breeding forward, or working into other projects. Testers are released at a price point that is super affordable for any grower, but the quality is good enough that we think even the connoisseurs would find loads of keepers here. Some of our favorite cuts ever have come from Tester series genetics.
Solfire Gardens, a Pacific Northwest seed company where passion meets biology, innovation intertwines with tradition, and selection creates the extraordinary. Their genesis dates back to 2015, when their founder, a dedicated University of Washington biology student from Seattle, decided to cultivate an institution out of his sheer fascination for pheno hunting and the world of seeds.
The NASC Cast Crew had the pleasure of sitting down with Sol of Solfire Gardens. Listen to what he has to say below, and follow us on Vimeo for even more content!
Twenty20 Mendocino has always taken the difficult path, the right path, the path less traveled. Their objective will never be to sell the most seeds, but to create the finest product. This is not a race and their goal isn’t to win; their goal is to stand the test of time and maintain pride and craftsmanship in everything they do. As sure as the sun will rise, they pledge to never release seeds to the public that have not been grown, tested, and approved by us. In a world of rapid-fire releases, social media hype and whimsical market demands, they promise to create our own path, march to the beat of their own drum, and always put quality over quantity.
The NASC Cast Crew had the pleasure of sitting down with Aaron of Twenty20 Mendocino. Listen to what he has to say below, and follow us on Vimeo for even more content!
At NASC, we take a lot of pride in being a Maine business and we are lucky enough to have a couple of Maine breeders on our menu, such as Seed & Soil. For this smoke session, we tried their Omaha Jazz, a strain with an interesting history and a very desirable effect. Read on to learn about our experiences!
When I got my baggy of Omaha Jazz, I immediately opened it to take a whiff. I was taken aback by this big, pungently sweet and citrus aroma. It reminded me of fruit, sunlight, and warmer days, which is the complete opposite of the current, frigid Maine-winter. In addition to a memorable aroma, I loved the way this one made me feel. It is balanced, functional, long-lasting, and a total mood-booster. I felt physically loose, mentally calm, alert, and happy. I can see this being a great strain for laid-back creative and social activities. Morning usage put a pep in my step while doing tasks and it pushed me out of a grumpy slump and into bliss. I am always in complete awe of strains that possess the magic to lift my mood like this and Omaha Jazz succeeded. - Crystal
Omaha Jazz has a sweet, smoky aroma that gives a powerful high. It burns slowly so you can really relax while you smoke and enjoy the ritual. It’s been said to have an “unmistakable perfume” which is absolutely true. This “Sweet Jazz” inspiration strain smells good as it burns. It’ll leave you feeling relaxed but still alert, so it’s great for chilling on the couch watching a show (and probably enjoying a few snacks, let’s be honest.) The effects last several hours so it’ll last you through a chill evening into a restful sleep! Definitely recommend! - Mariah
Check out the NASC Cast interview featuring Ben of Seed & Soil!
To test whether a seed’s size, color and/or shape influences its ability to germinate, we tested 50 seeds of various sizes, colors, and shapes. All seeds were placed in distilled water and separated into five solocup shot glasses based on their size, shape, and color. We germ-tested 10 seeds in each of the following five categories: Large-Dark, Small-Dark, Large-White, Small-White, and Dark-Odd Shaped (meaning not elliptic as most cannabis seeds are). All seeds were stored in their respective shot glasses, placed in a box together, and left in an environment with low to no light, minimal air flow, approximately 60% ambient relative humidity, and at a temperature of approximately 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The seeds were observed on day 3, day 5, and day 8 to determine germination rates and progress.
Disclaimer: As a disclaimer, I would like to state that this was a preliminary test of seed viability with a very small population size. For conclusions that are statistically significant, more testing will need to occur with larger population sizes. This is by no means a definitive test of seed viability but rather a preliminary inquiry into this issue. This test was mainly to show that seeds with lighter colored to white seed coats, as well as abnormally shaped seeds, and smaller seeds can still be viable.
Day 1:
The 10 seeds of each category are laid out before being placed in germinating cups.
From Left to Right: Odd Shaped, Small-White, Large-White, Small-Dark, Large-Dark.
The 10 seeds of each category in the germinating cups as seen from above.
Day 3 Germination Results:
After 3 days the seeds were laid out on a background for observation of germination progress. The images below show the results found. The white seeds from both the small and the large categories turned a darker color after 3 days in the water in the cups, but these are the same seeds of those categories as shown in the first image of all the seeds in this study.
The Large-Dark seeds showed 8/10 seeds with the radicle exposed after 3 days.
The Small-Dark seeds showed 10/10 seeds with the radicle exposed after 3 days. The lesser amount of seed coat on the Small-Dark seeds may have allowed faster imbibition (taking up of water by the seed).
The Large-White seeds showed 7/10 with exposed radicles after 3 days.
The Small-White seeds showed 2/10 with exposed radicles after 3 days.
The Odd-Shaped seeds showed all 10/10 radicles exposed after 3 days. One seed appears to have 2 radicles coming from a single seed coat. This is most likely due to 2 zygotes forming within the plant ovary very shortly after pollination or due to 2 seeds fusing as they formed.
Day 5 Germination Results:
After another few days in the dark and in the distilled water the seeds were again taken out and observed. Below are images of the results on day 5 of this experiment.
All 10/10 Large-Dark seeds are now showing exposed radicles after 5 days.
All 10/10 Small-Dark seeds continue to show exposed radicles after 5 days.
Large-White seeds are showing 7/10 exposed radicles after 5 days.
Although difficult to see, 3/10 Small-White seeds are now showing exposed radicles after 5 days.
After 5 days, 10/10 Odd-Shaped seeds are still showing exposed radicles. One of the “twin” radicles broke off of one of the Odd-Shaped seeds. The first seed all the way to the left of the image does have an exposed radicle but its slightly darker color makes it difficult to see. Once zoomed in, anyone can see that a small, discolored radicle is exposed.
Day 8 Germination Results:
After 8 days total the seeds were observed for a final time to see the results pictured below.
After 8 days, 10/10 Large-Dark seeds show exposed radicles.
After 8 days 10/10 Small-Dark seeds show exposed radicles and 3/10 even show cotyledon.
After 8 days 7/10 Large-White seeds showed exposed radicles.
After 8 days 3/10 Small-White seeds showed exposed radicles.
All 10/10 Odd-Shaped seeds are still showing exposed radicles after 8 days.
RESULTS:
Preliminary Conclusion:
Many shapes, colors and sizes of seeds can be viable.
Dark seeds have the best germination rates, regardless of whether they are small or large.
White seeds are significantly more viable if they are larger. Small white seeds performed poorly in this germination test.
Seed shape has no affect on viability.
Using our germination method, seed viability was determined and unchanged by Day 5.
Based on the limited results of this preliminary study, many shapes/colors/sizes of seeds can still be viable. They don’t all have to be large and dark colored although having a dark colored seed coat does seem to have a positive correlation with germination viability. It also seems that a larger seed may have a better chance of germinating as seen in the results between the Large-White and Small-White seeds with the Large-White having a 70% germination rate and the Small-White only having a 30% germination rate. From the limited results of this simple experiment, it appears that seed shape didn’t affect germination rates with the Odd-Shaped seeds having 100% germination just like the seeds in the Large-Dark and Small-Dark categories.
One parameter not reflected in these results is the pressure with which you can apply to a seed to test viability. Lightly (very lightly) pinching a seed between your thumb and pointer finger and seeing if the seed deflates or pops can be a relatively reliable method of determining germination viability. Just a light pressure should give the kinetic feedback to know that the seed is “solid” and probably will germinate or will deflate/pop the seed and thus that seed was not viable. One thing many people seem to do is apply too much pressure to seeds when they check in this way. Again, light pressure is all that is required. One does not need to squeeze as hard as they can as this can give false results since enough pressure can pop any seed regardless of viability.
For more info on how we germinate, please see our Germination Guidehere.
In House Genetics specializes in micro-breeding cannabis seeds, offering a variety of high-quality strains that cater to all types of growers, including those looking for outdoor cannabis seeds. With new strains released every month, In House Genetics consistently leads the way in innovative crossbreeds and exclusive limited runs. The team’s years of experience and in-depth knowledge of genetics have allowed them to produce some of the most potent and sought-after seeds in the industry. Passionate about their craft, they continue to push the boundaries of cannabis research and development, securing their position at the forefront of the cannabis seed industry.
In 2025, In House Genetics dropped some new strains like Electracane, Purple Rush, Dripzilla, Midnight Zushi, Jamz, and many more! They offered a variety of freebies and constant discounts as well! Below, you'll find the top five strains by In House Genetics at NASC.
JELLY BREATH S1
Jelly Breath S1 is a hybrid strain that is a producer of very dense frosty flowers ranging from grape to cookie flavors.
BANANACANE
Bananacane grows vigorous, resinous heavy buds. Her aroma and flavor profile include ripe banana, berry/sherbet, caramel and earth. This strong indica-leaner can cause sedation and is excellent for sleep. She is a great option for extracts, too!
SUGAR CANE
Sugar Cane is an absolute eye-stopper. She is a mood-booster that will help you focus. You can expect a flavor and aroma profile of sweetness with floral and grape notes.
SLURRICANE #7 S1
The buds of Slurricane #7 S1 become large and resinous. She brings on heavy, sedative effects. You can expect a profile of loud, grape gas with creamy undertones.
PLATINUM KUSH BREATH REMIX
Both of the parental strains of Platinum Kush Breath Remix are very heavy duty so this is not one for the inexperienced smokers out there. She has a lovely, pure-gassy flavour and aroma which will have all the Kush lovers out there going crazy.
Changing the ethos of cannabis, with commercial boutique innovations, game-changing genetics, mind-opening insights and the best possible products, Ethos uses science and data to apply the best practices, make the most effective combinations and produce winners time and again. Offering the most elite, most efficient cultivars – from F1s to IBLs and Alpha Fems to autoflowers – Ethos Genetics, founded by Colin Gordon, is based in Colorado, USA. Colin and his team work to produce quality in their products as well as their contributions to the greater community. ETHOS is raising expectations.
Mandarin Cookies V2 grows like a champion and can put out very colorful and flavorful flowers. The V2 version has added even more citrus along with the always-welcome gasoline by moving away from the Forum Cut into a much chunkier, OG-Kush-heavy version named Ethos Cookie #12.
PLANET OF THE GRAPES RBX
Planet of the Grapes is made to produce and is extremely high in both cannabinoid and terpene percentages. Heavy flower yields are easy to get on this low-maintenance, medium-height, strong, lateral plant. She tests and extracts huge in usable oils! Her aroma is only outdone by her flavor: sharp grapes, sweet citrus and the signature musky, greasy flavor of Chem D. Acrid aromas like propane and "hooch" accompany the more citrusy pheno. You can expect intense, heavy, classic “Indica” effects.
CHERRY GAR-SEE-YA R1
This is not your typical compact, leafy cherry variety. Cherry Gar-See-Ya R1 stacks chunky, baseball-sized nugs from top to bottom. She is easily trained, beginner friendly, and loves growing outdoors
10TH PLANET R1
10TH Planet R1 leans to the heavy side, with intense, classic “hybrid” effects. Journey into an otherworldly blend of grape, citrus, gasoline and thick, skunky spice. Chunky, large and dense flowers give phenomenal yields in any system or space.
CRESCENDO RBX1
Crescendo RBx1 is medium-tall with some stretch. Sour, gassy and citrus flowers are crushingly strong! She is beginner friendly and is a high yielder!
Before their seed bank was created in 2007, RQS had long-time knowledge and passion for cannabis breeding. Following enormous interest in their strains, they opened our first shop in Amsterdam, the Damstraat location, in 2010. In 2011, they launched the Royal Queen Seeds website. In 2016, they welcomed first clients to their shop at Carrer dels Tallers in Barcelona, Spain. In 2022, they opened their newest location in Bangkok, Thailand. In 2023, they started operating in the United States and launched the first true F1 Hybrid Cannabis seeds in the market! Today, RQS operates in the US and in 28 countries in Europe and offers 100+ high-quality strains, growing equipment, growing advice, knowledge, tips and more!
In 2025, Royal Queen Seeds dropped some new strains like Sticky Queen, Sticky Queen Auto, Mexican Rush, and Mexican Rush Auto. They offered freebies and BOGOS as well! Below, you'll find the top five strains by Royal Queen Seeds at NASC.
SPECIAL QUEEN #1 AUTO
Special Queen #1 Auto offers tantalising flavors and a deeply stoning experience. Perfect for quiet evenings, this cultivar will melt your body into the couch while keeping your mind alert and switched on. You can expect a bountiful yield in a matter of weeks.
NORTHERN LIGHT (F)
Northern Light has been the basis for many of the award-winning classics in the history of cannabis. It is simply one of those knockout smokes that guarantees a couchlock session for the next few minutes. The Afghan heritage really shines through in the smoke and anyone looking for that strong stone need seek no further than this beautiful strain.
SPECIAL KUSH #1 (F)
Special Kush #1 likes to grow wild as if in the mountains of Afghanistan; this means it will fill up any space it can. Indoors, care should be taken that it doesn’t overgrow its space, but given enough space, like outdoors, it can grow to over 3 meters tall. The smoke carries a very hash-like taste with a full body stone present from its Indica background.
NORTHERN LIGHT AUTO
Northern Light Auto is a versatile strain that is as perfect for discreet indoor growers as it is for high-volume, home-growers outdoors. After a brief vegetative phase, this strain begins producing an abundance of flowers, finishing its entire life cycle in 10–12 weeks after planting the seed. She provides a generous harvest and might be one of the highest-yielding autoflowering strains available.
SPECIAL QUEEN #1 (F)
Perfect for a first-time grower who doesn't want to invest too much in his experimental growing, this Special Queen is a classic skunk that grows with ease, doesn't stretch too much and can be harvested in 8-9 weeks. The smoke is that of a classic skunk stone. It is mostly mental and provides smokers with an uplifting high that will relax even the most anxious stoners.
With nearly 30 years of expertise, Barney’s Farm continues to innovate, offering high-quality outdoor cannabis seeds, as well as strains suited for indoor, greenhouse, and hydroponic cultivation. Their commitment to excellence and continuous development of new genetics ensures that growers of all types can find the perfect seeds for their needs.
Like the original namesake, the Acapulco Gold flowers with fat colas, flecked with beautiful reddish-brown calyx, each covered with beautiful crystals of THC. The smoke has an intense fruit-cocktail flavor that lingers for hours. This is a sativa dominant strain that offers a long-lasting high, balancing relaxing stress reduction with a real upbeat effect.
MIMOSA X ORANGE PUNCH
Mimosa x Orange Punch is a colourful Cali strain that everyone can succeed with! It is a dream to grow for a beginner, yet can produce extreme concentrations of THC. Once dried and cured, the buds have a delicious citrus, candy, and orange flavor. It gives a complete sense of euphoria and happiness to generate a truly uplifting sensation.
PINEAPPLE EXPRESS
Pineapple Express is a wonderfully flavorful and truly legendary 60% sativa-leaning hybrid, powered by a myrcene-dominant terpene profile with a genetic heritage pedigree that speaks for itself. It is naturally highly resistant to molds and diseases and does not require any special skills to grow. The taste and aromas of are distinctly tropical with fresh-cut pineapple, tropical fruit, and mango with undertones of cedar and spice. The smoky aromas are distinctively funky and skunky.
RUNTZ MUFFIN
Runtz Muffin features a sweet and fruity profile with citrus notes. This strain offers a relaxing and euphoric experience, accompanied by a gentle body high.
GORILLA Z
Gorilla Z is characterized by a sweet, fruity terpene profile with chocolate undertones. Provides relaxing and mood-enhancing effects.
Fast Buds is a leading cannabis seed bank that specializes in producing top-quality autoflowering cannabis strains. With over 12 years of experience, Fast Buds is a pioneer of autoflowering genetics. As the first major American autoflower breeder, Fast Buds quickly made a name for itself. Their latest innovations have been breaking worldwide THC level records for autoflowering strains, further solidifying their reputation for excellence.
In 2025, Fast Buds released new auto strains like Frostbanger, Z-up, and Purple Haze, as well as a line of feminized photoperiod options and a variety of freebies. Below, you'll find the top five strains by Fast Buds at NASC.
PURPLE LEMONADE AUTO
Purple Lemonade Auto provides a complex high made up of subtle Sativa kicks and light body-stoned sensations. Zestful flavors are sweetened by a strong sugary seasoning making it the ideal sweet-tooth strain.
GORILLA COOKIES AUTO
Gorilla Cookies Auto grows extremely big, chunky, and dense buds with a beautiful mix of dark and light shades of green with bright orange hairs giving her quite the bag appeal. It has a synergetic high, perfect for the end of the day, especially after a long day of work.
BLUE DREAM AUTO
Blue Dream Auto is one of our most stimulating strains that gives an intense head high before mellowing out into a relaxing body high -- perfect for afternoon tokes. You won't be crashed on the couch. With citrus notes that are combined with the berry and earth note, the final flavor is mouth-watering, with a hint of pine or cedar and a tart sweetness as the soothing, happy vibes take grip.
BANANA PURPLE PUNCH AUTO
With Banana Purple Punch Auto, you can expect a candy-like terpene profile with an overwhelming ripe banana taste, deliciously complemented by a fruity background that leaves your mouth tasting as if you’ve just eaten a bag of delicious gummy bears. After a couple of hits, the pleasant head high slowly turns into a powerful long-lasting sedative effect that feels like it's melting your whole body.
BLACKBERRY AUTO
Blackberry Auto seeds produce plants with a powerful bouquet of flavors, including spicy, sweet, fruity, wild berries, and pine. Expect lots of relaxation, but don't expect to get off the couch. The effects kick off with a buzzing cerebral stimulation followed by a smooth yet rapid period of relaxation.
Do you want to grow cannabis in a simple and convenient way? The Annaboto growing system will provide you with an experience that is fun and fairly hands-off. Crystal discusses her experience and first harvest with the Annaboto.
One of my recent harvests was the conclusion of my first time using the Annaboto, an autoflower growing system that pretty much does all of the work for you. Besides being a sweet Christmas gift, I felt that, as a very new and inexperienced grower, the Annaboto would serve a great purpose in my journey of learning and growing. Not to mention, it would keep the hope alive if my other growing attempts in soil were unsuccessful. The technology was impressive and the whole process went smoothly, allowing me ample time to observe my plant as it grew.
The strain I grew was Bubble Kush Auto by Royal Queen Seeds. I germinated the seed in a cup of water before planting it in the required pod. To start the process, I had to download the Annaboto phone application and connect the machine to WiFi. Once completed, the app will guide you through the setup of the machine.
I had to put the nutrient cartridge, which resembles an oversized video game cartridge from the early 90s, into the machine, along with filling one side of the machine’s base with water. The app also lets you choose the time frame of the 18hrs on/6hr s off light schedule. The machine has a button in the front that flashes different colors to indicate if it needs water or a cycle of nutrients. Overall, setting things up was fairly easy.
The beginning stages of this grow-journey were extremely fun to watch. The seedling responded very quickly to the light and it started growing rapidly. At one point, the leaves were too heavy for the stem, but it eventually balanced itself. At the end of week 5, I topped the plant by cutting the stem between the fifth and sixth nodes. Topping allows the plant to grow outward, which creates more bud sites and bigger yields.
Things got even more exciting once she started to flower around the end of week 6. Tiny bud sites morphed into small buds that turned into chunky, crystalized nuggets. The app gives you an estimated date range of when to harvest. I harvested at the end of week 13, a little over three months from when she started. The app will give you instructions on ending the grow with the machine, which includes draining water to the disposable bucket (part of the machine that you can detach) and disposing of the nutrient cartridge and seed pod. Once the nutrient cartridge and seed pod are replaced and you have a new seed, another grow journey can be started.
After drying, trimming, and curing for a couple of weeks, the Bubble Kush plant produced 3 ounces and 1 gram of flower. The ease of this machine is pretty amazing and I was really only responsible for making sure it had water and one nutrient cycle per week. Overall, the Annaboto is a great option if you’re new to it or if you don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to growing.
Our Wholesale Commercial Grower program offers licensed commercial growers a variety of cultivars available for bulk purchase from well known and trusted breeders. Our Team is proud to work with the best cannabis seed breeders in the industry to offer our customers sought after quality, reliable genetics suitable for commercial outdoor growing.
The following collection of recommendations was sourced straight from the minds (and gardens) of some of our most sought after US Breeders: Twenty20 Mendocino, Brothers Grimm Seeds, Dirty Bird Genetics, Humboldt Seed Company, and Sticky Finger Seeds.
Twenty20 Has a deep rooted connection to outdoor cultivation. Our origins date back to the prohibition era of cannabis in Northern California and have transcended through multiple iterations of the murky waters of legalization. We pride ourselves on our relentless support of R&D and our continual desire to never stop pushing the envelope as we evolve with the ever-changing demands of the cannabis industry. In 2024 we expanded to Michigan with a full time facility dedicated to R&D and breeding. This move, coupled with our pre-existing relationship with large farms in the state has bolstered our ability to selectively breed at a scale never seen before. We are proud to say that we have a multi year relationship as the sole genetics provider for one of the largest farms in the US, with over 300,000 plants and a canopy size of over 200 acres. As the fungal pathogen Septoria has been rampantly devastating outdoor cannabis farms throughout the country, our well established relationships with large farms has enabled us to quickly breed resistant cultivars while continuing to keep our sights on yield, potency, hardiness, and mold resistance. Our recent development of a new line of Hybridized Earlies has further fostered our relationship with outdoors farmers by providing them with a lineup of September ripening cultivars that enable farms to beat the cold, beat the fall and beat the odds. If there is one promise we can make, Twenty20 will never stop working at chasing the ever evolving needs of farms, home growers, and the cannabis community.
EXTREMELY uniform. full term but still harvests around October 1st, very outdoor worthy. The Snow-G is an F-3 that had been hunted in MI for multiple generations. It is a high yield, highly resistant variety that performs very well for concentrates (both solventless and solvent). Home run winner for almost every farm that grows them.
EXTREMELY uniform. harvests early October, extremely Septoria resistant strain that was grown and hunted in MIchigan in 2023 and 2024. Limonada is more of a Sativa and will likely yield more biomass than any other variety in the entire field but the potency is a bit less. Homerun winner for almost every farm that grows them.
(SnowG F3 Photoperiod x Honey Badger F7 Autoflower)
by Twenty20 Mendocino
Proven by a very large farm in Michigan last year and this farm plans to grow them again this year. Potency is high 20's and ready for harvest in mid September. Out of the earliers it is the most uniform and was the first to be harvested.
(Jack Herer female x STS-induced Cinderella 99 female)
by Brothers Grimm
Won top 10 strains in the world in high times 2018. Our highest yielding plant, our most medicinal strain, high in thcv 4.+, CBD and CBGA THC 25-30%, over 330 growers in the Australian grow off right now growing Rosetta
(Genius female x Cinderella 99 female pollen donor)
by Brothers Grimm
The Apollo strain is famous because of its potent and long-lasting uplifting effects, often described as creative and mentally stimulating, similar to the Greek god Apollo who is associated with inspiration and the arts; this makes it a popular choice for users seeking a focused and energetic high. It also highest thc 31%- 33%
Dirty Bird Genetics hails from the north-eastern climate of Maine, a climate characterized by one of the most challenging growing seasons in the US, and yet a climate that for decades has produced some of the best flower in the country. We take our Outdoor seriously here. If you don't know someone who reads bedtime books to their plants for eight nerve-wracking weeks a year, then you probably don't live in Maine. As a group of cannabis enthusiasts with deep roots in the clone industry, one of our initial goals when we first conceptualized Dirty Bird was to breed genetics that would thrive in our finicky and unpredictable climate. We saw the demand; and if they could thrive here, they could thrive anywhere in the US, we hypothesized. One thing that really set us apart at Dirty Bird is the insane genetics catalogue at our fingertips. With strong breeder relationships, we've pheno-hunted genetic lines for 15 years, and we've gotten feedback on these genetics, both indoor and out, from thousands of growers in the community around us. While we still continue on this lifelong journey of developing cultivars that are supremely viable outdoors, both commercially and for home growers, we are tremendously proud of the work we have done thus far, and eager to share it. We come to the table with experience and an unrelenting dedication to quality, transparency and integrity, and we are passionate about learning and growing with the community around us.
(Mimosa x The Brunch [Peanut Butter Breath x Mimosa])
by Dirty Bird Genetics
Siobhann says:
An absolute winner outdoors, as an early October finishing sativa strain. Super easy to grow and maintain, with lots of consistency across the seed population
Beth Says:
The Dirty Mimosa is my single best recommendation for outdoor grows, especially in Northern climates with a short growing season like we have in Maine. She is an incredibly early finisher, both indoors and out, and she is colorful and beautiful. It's one of the few cultivars we've grown that can achieve indoor-quality flowers in an outdoor environment.
Has already won 2 outdoor competitions that we know of! A NASC's Discord picture contest - Outdoor Category and the Ohio Farmer's Cup (outdoor indica). A combination of 2 powerful indicas - Bubba Whip and Grease Monkey - that have both excelled in Maine's short/cold grow season.
Beth says:
The Necromancer Kush is one of the strongest testers we have, and this year, she surpassed our expectations in outdoor gardens across the country, even winning 1st place in the Indica Outdoor category at a harvest cup in Ohio. This cultivar has that classic kush structure but with great stacking, intense sugar, and amazing pine/gas terpenes.
(Grape Jelly* x Platinum Kush Breath Remix) *Jelly Breath x Chocolate Pie
by Dirty Bird Genetics
Siobhann says:
A little more phenotypic variation than the other 2 strains, but very high quality. Very unique creamy lemon and gas/pine terps. About 50/50 purple to green ratio. Boutique quality with commercially viable yields. A stretchier plant in bloom, so while supports are needed outside, Pine Tree Kush has ideal growth for optimal airflow, especially in high humidity regions.
Beth says:
The Pine Tree Kush was one of our favorite cultivars of 2024. Her sharp and complex meyer lemon, pine, and berry terpene profile and her extremely dense, colorful bud structure make her stand out in any garden. It can handle a harsh environment and it produces high quality, colorful, terpy flowers.
Bred In Nature, Perfected By Science. For over two decades, Humboldt Seed Company has defined cannabis excellence from the heart of Northern California’s legendary growing region.At Humboldt Seed Company, quality isn’t just a priority—it’s a promise. Founded in 2001 by scientists in California, we began by breeding seeds for patients under Prop. 215 and have since expanded to serve both recreational and medical growers worldwide. With over 20 years of expertise, we are proud to be California’s largest licensed cannabis seed provider, offering a diverse selection of feminized, autoflower, triploid, and regular seeds. Our products undergo rigorous lab testing and extensive annual phenotype hunts, vetted by California’s top cannabis farmers, ensuring stable genetics, high germination rates, and exceptional performance.
(Jelly Donutz (#160 x #17) x Hella Jelly x White Runtz)
by Humboldt Seed Company
We specifically bred Jelly D for that candy gas terp that everyone's loving these days! It's made from the Emerald Cup winning cut that made Runtz go viral!
(Jelly Ranger Bx3 X Notorious T.H.C. X Very Cherry)
by Humboldt Seed Company
The Candy terp strain that tests in the thirties, finishes in mid Sep. and pretty much grows itself! Resilient to many pests and pathogens H. Jelly is both a farmer fav and a flavor fav!
When I created/discovered the Blueberry Muffin strain in 2009 on our NE Humboldt medicinal farm I knew it was special. A trimmer actually called out the name and it was like a light shone down upon the plant and a chorus of ganja angels sang her praises, so I grabbed some cuts lol. Anyways over the years since, we've engineered (naturally) Blueberry Muffin seeds that 100% breed true for that original unicorn (that's our thing) and in the 15 years since, it's become a beloved strain all over the planet known for it's flavor, growing ease, early finish, and its anti-anxiety effect!!!!
Sticky Finger Seeds is a collective of Maui’s Medical Marijuana growers that have joined to breed the best medical cannabis genetics possible. Creative founder, Will Grinnell has been collecting and breeding cannabis genetics for over 48 years locally here in Hawaii and around the globe. Sticky Finger Seeds is a Cannabis genetic collective that specializes (takes pride) in growing and breeding heirloom and landrace cannabis genetics. Now closing in on five decades of cannabis farming and breeding cannabis enthusiast Will Grinnell has been seeking, trading, purchasing and collecting a variety of the best cannabis genetics possible, along with the Sticky Finger Seeds collective of heritage craft farmers and their seed collections.
(Hawaiian Dream (50 yr Maui Hierloom x Blue Dream x Grandaddy Kush) x KY Jealousy (Ziplock Seeds 'Sinful' Cut Watermelon Mimosa X Jealousy))
by Sticky Finger Seeds
This plant has been pure magic since day one. I was lucky enough to be gifted this old Hawaiian heirloom cultivar in 2010. I still use it as one of my primary parent plants for breeding as well as for current flower production. Hawaiian Dream is a monster grower (see attached pic) For me it is easier to grow outdoors in the open because it needs the space. It's a very stable and robust plant. The name "Hawaiian Dream" has a double meaning. When I was gifted this plant in 2010 I was having serious issues with my personal garden and strains (Root Aphids!) I had to start all over and this was the plant I used. Its success eventually allowed me to live the "Hawaiian Dream" again.
Probably my most fun and robust entourage crosses I have made. The stability and simplicity of this cross is divine with only Hawaiian Dream and Royal Blood as the parents. These 2 cultivars created spectacular characteristics together with the Hawaiian Dream's vitality and the Royal Blood's vanilla terps with gas. The Maui True Blood plants will bleed a blood red sap when cut. This novelty is lots of fun and seems to add a unique brix to the plants.
Another fun one that is a monster grower. I was super lucky to get these old Hawaiian "sock drawer" seeds and have a few pop and live. Over the past 30 years here on Maui I have had many Hawaiian friends gift me old Maui Wowie seeds that were long lost in a sock drawer or somewhere but they would never germinate. I then finally I got just a few to pop and that was the new start to the Maui Wowie legacy that we now call Maui Wowie 2.0. The parent lineage of this plant going back 60 years was entirely outdoor guerilla grow in the jungle so it is always ready to produce in a big outdoor farm.
(Hawaiian Dream x Blueberry Muffin (Humboldt Seed Co.))
by Sticky Finger Seeds
A perfect combo cross with Hawaiian Dream and Blueberry Muffin by Humboldt Seed Co. This simple cross made some magic. A very robust and large producer in the sun. This strain makes the entire neighborhood smell like a granny's having a blueberry bake off.
Interested in our Commercial Grower Wholesale Program?
A thought provoking journey to a half baked moon and back, Mezzaluna is sure to test your limits - enjoy these insider insights from a high flying Crystal!
One of my favorite things about consuming cannabis is finding that strain that can be considered pure magic. Mezzaluna, a new strain by Dirty Bird Genetics, definitely checks all of my boxes.
I consume cannabis for various reasons, but my favorite place to get to is one of calmness and happiness. Mezzaluna made me feel relaxed and alert, but also happy, goofy, and kind of motivated with curiosity. The goofy part of the high was more like a cerebral trance and I could tell some of my senses were being impacted. I enjoyed listening to music with Mezzaluna because it allowed me to audibly highlight any instrument at any point in a song. The level of creative and thought-provoking energy that Mezzaluna brings could lead to some really fun activities. However, beware of the activity because I almost fell into a social media doom-scrolling black hole.
Besides that fun ride, Mezzaluna also has other charming qualities. After grinding the buds up, the aroma took me back to childhood and heavy consumption of sour candy. The taste on the exhale was a combo of fermented berries, earth, and gas.
I also found some potential symbolism with the name and my experience. Mezzaluna means half moon in Italian, which according to Google, a half moon represents balance and reflection. I think that falls in line with my experience of it being balanced and thought-provoking.
She is also an extremely beautiful plant. Whenever I see a plant that has frosted buds with some pops of that burgundy-wine color, I know I am about to be served a sweet terp-salad.
If you get the chance, you definitely want to go on a journey with Mezzaluna (Fem Photoperiod)!
Disclaimer: Cannabis seeds are sold as souvenirs, and collectibles only. They contain 0% THC. It is imperative that you check your state and local laws before attempting to purchase seeds, and we are not liable for what you do with seeds after receiving them. The statements on this website and its products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Consult your doctor before use. North Atlantic Seed Company assumes no legal responsibility for your actions once the product is in your possession and is not liable for any resulting issues, legal or otherwise, that may arise.
Are you 21 or older?
You must be 21+ to enter this site.
Sorry, you must be 21 or older to enter this site.
![Mezzaluna (F) [TESTER]](https://www.northatlanticseed.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/mezzaluna-cannabis-seeds-by-dirty-bird-genetics1-800x800.webp)