If you’re an avid smoker, you’ve probably considered growing your own cannabis at one point. Not only is growing weed rewarding, but it can save you money too. There are thousands of different types of marijuana seeds to choose from. And if you’re a beginner grower, choosing seeds can be a mammoth task. But don’t worry, here at Root’d 510, we’ll tell you exactly how to buy marijuana seeds.

What are Cannabis Seeds?

Marijuana seeds come from a pollinated female marijuana plant. The marijuana buds we love to smoke come from unpollinated female plants. Thus, you can’t have seeds and buds on the same plant. Most of us grow marijuana for buds, which means we need to buy new seeds for each grow.

What are the Benefits of Buying Your Own Marijuana Seeds?

Sometimes, you might find a seed among your buds, or maybe a friend has offered you a few to grow. But if you’re serious about growing marijuana, you need to invest in some high quality seeds. If you don’t know anything about the seed, you don’t know what you’re going to get, it could be a dud or male.

To grow quality marijuana, you must invest in quality marijuana seeds from a seed bank. A seed bank will tell you exactly what to expect from the seeds, and they also have a range of different strains to choose from.H

Is it Legal to Buy Cannabis Seeds?

In the USA, marijuana and marijuana products are illegal under federal law, and seeds are cannabis products. However, in some states, such as California, marijuana is legal for adult users. In other states, such as Arkansas, marijuana is only legal for medical reasons, and you need a permit to buy medical marijuana.

If you live in a state where marijuana is legal, you can buy seeds within the state legally, but seeds shouldn’t cross state borders. Customs can potentially seize seeds shipped in from elsewhere. However, few cases result in prosecution.

For decades, marijuana laws in Europe have been more relaxed than in the USA. Hence, most of the best seed banks are in European countries, such as the Netherlands and Spain. European seed banks avoid tricky marijuana laws by sending seeds in discreet, stealth packaging.

How to Buy Marijuana Seeds Online

When you’re buying marijuana seeds online, if you want the best cannabis seeds, always choose a well established, reputable seed bank. Do a Google search of the company first, and check customer reviews to ensure the online seed bank is genuine. We’ve taken the liberty of doing a little research ourselves to bring you a list of 5 of the most reputable online marijuana seed banks.

#1 – Marijuana Seeds NL (MSNL)

Based in Amsterdam over in the Netherlands, Marijuana Seeds NL is one of the top-rated cannabis seed banks for quality and customer service. They’ve been selling seeds since 1999, and they have an extensive range of autoflowering, feminized, and standard seeds, as well as mixed value packs for beginners. Before shipping, the experienced staff at MSNL hand check each seed.

 Pros

• 15 percent discount with Bitcoin
• Helpful quiz to help you find the best strain
• One of the most trusted brands in the industry
• Over 100 strains of recreational and medical marijuana

 Cons

• No free shipping unless you buy in bulk
• Delivery to the USA is expensive and slow

#2 – I Love Growing Marijuana (ILGM)

I Love Growing Marijuana By Robert Bergman is one of the USA’s most trusted seed banks. Robert Bergman is a homegrown marijuana expert with over 25 years of industry experience. ILGM seeds are economical, high quality, and have a high germination guarantee. Furthermore, they have a supportive online community of marijuana lovers and fantastic customer service which is useful for first time growers.

 Pros

• Huge catalogue of cannabis strains
• Best in the USA for trust, quality, and customer support
• Fast, free, and reliable shipping within the USA

 Cons

• $25 charge for tracked delivery
• Some reports of spamming you if you sign up to their mailing list

#3 – Seedsman

Seedsman has been selling third party seeds since 2003, and they have a massive catalogue of over 1,500 popular strains that come from over 65 seed banks. They have a reputation for selling healthy, high-quality seeds, and are a trusted brand in the marijuana industry. Seedsman offers discreet packaging and global shipping, in addition to free seeds with most orders. Furthermore, they donate some of their profits to global cannabis legalization campaigns.

 Pros

• Superior quality seeds with specialist strains
• They sell individual seeds
• Lots of promo offers

 Cons

• Average customer support
• No free shipping

#4 – Quebec Cannabis Seeds

Over in Vancouver, Canada, Quebec Cannabis Seeds sell some potent, unique strains. Hence, they’re a fantastic choice for experienced growers. Established in 2003, this is a much-loved seed bank with many happy customer reviews. They ship worldwide, but shipping to North America can take two weeks. Quebec Cannabis Seeds are partners with Canada growing supplies, and you get a 20 percent discount if you pay with bitcoin instead of credit card.

 Pros

• Rare Seeds
• You can request strains
• World wide shipping

 Cons

• Rare seeds sell out fast
• No free shipping

#5 – Crop King Seeds

Crop King Seeds started selling seeds in 2005, and since then, they’ve grown to over 200 stores in Canada, and they’re a trusted cannabis dispensary supplier. Crop King Seeds ship worldwide and offer discreet stealth shipping at no extra cost. Furthermore, they have lots of online growing advice, so they’re a good choice for first time breeders. Crop King Seeds accepts Bitcoin payments on top of credit cards, and they even have telephone support.

 Pros

• High germination rate
• Sample packs
• Quick shipping – 7 days to North America

 Cons

• Customer support can be slow and unresponsive

How to Buy Quality Cannabis Seeds at a Dispensary

If marijuana is legal in your state and you’re over 21 years old, you may be able to buy seeds from your local dispensary. At a dispensary, you can talk to someone directly for advice about buying the best marijuana seeds. However, usually, a dispensary won’t have as many strains to choose from like a seed bank.

A dispensary will usually focus on medical marijuana, oils, and edibles, but some will cater to growers. Call the dispensary before you visit or check their website to see if they have a good range of seeds on offer. Some dispensaries sell marijuana grow equipment too.

What are the Different Seed Strains When you Buy Cannabis Seeds Online

There are hundreds of different types of marijuana seeds, which stem from a few strains. Choose a strain depending on the type of weed you like to smoke. If you don’t know which one you like, look at our quick guide below.

CBD Seeds

CBD, also known as Hemp, contains less than 0.003% TCH, the psychoactive compound in marijuana that gets you high. Plants with high CBD content affect your body more than your mind. Hence, CBD weed is a natural remedy for many health conditions.

Sativa Seeds

Sativa marijuana plants are from tropical areas, so prefer warmer climates and can be tricky to grow. Sativa plants grow tall and have slim, narrow leaves. Sativa weed gives you a heady, uplifting high, and it’s the choice smoke among creatives.

Indica Seeds

Indica marijuana plants have a shorter flowering cycle than Sativa plants, and they grow better in cooler climates. They’re short and bushy with broad leaves, and they’re more resilient than Sativa plants. Indica weed has high THC levels, so it has a sedating effect on your mind and body, which means it helps you relax.

Hybrid Seeds

Hybrid seeds are a mixture of both Indica and Sativa marijuana strains. Some hybrids are Sativa dominant, and these are known as Haze. Indica dominant strains are known as Kush and come from plants typically found in the mountainous regions of India and Pakistan.

Indoor vs Outdoor – What’s the difference?

Before you buy a type of seed, you need to decide if you will grow inside, under lights, or outside in nature. Each method has its benefits, and you should choose one depending on your circumstances.

Growing Weed Indoors

When you grow indoors, you have complete environmental control over your plants. However, you have to invest in specialist lighting equipment, prepare a grow room and learn about light cycles. Growing weed indoors is a good option if you don’t have outside space or if you want to grow weed out of season.

Growing Weed Indoors – The Pros

• You can do it in a small space
• Indoor weed is generally more potent
• You can grow a larger variety of strains indoors

Growing Weed Indoors – The Cons

• Expensive to set up
• Needs a constant power supply
• Plants are at risk if you interrupt their light cycle

Growing Weed Outdoors

If you live in a rural area with a good climate, growing weed outside might be your best option. Outdoor weed will benefit from the sun’s natural rays and light cycles, which are reflected in its taste. As well as this, you don’t have to invest in specialist equipment to grow weed outdoors.

Growing Weed Outdoors – The Pros

• Easier to set up and less start-up investment
• High yield

 Growing Outdoors – The Cons

• Has to be away from public view
• Weed is not as potent
• You can only grow between March and November
• Plants are more vulnerable to pests, illnesses, and natural disasters

Different Seed Options: Autoflowering Seeds vs Feminized seeds

When you’re online seed shopping, often you’ll see autoflowering cannabis seeds and feminized seeds as well as regular seeds for sale. But what exactly are autoflowering and feminized seeds?

Feminized

If you grow a male plant among your females, it will fertilize the females with pollen. Consequently, instead of producing big, green buds, your plant will go to seed. Thus, most growers opt for feminized seeds. These are modified so that they will only produce female plants.

With feminized seeds, you don’t risk pollinating your female plants with a male. Furthermore, you need less feminized seeds because you won’t have to account for some of them being male.

Autoflowering

The life cycle of cannabis plants depends on light cycles. When they get less than 12 hours of light, this is their cue to flower. Autoflowering seeds, on the other hand, don’t need this cue and will flower regardless of how much light they get. Additionally, auto-flowering plants are ready to harvest in as little as 6 to 8 weeks.

Autoflowering plants are smaller than standard plants and generally have a lower yield. Many growers find them appealing because they take up less space, and you can have a crop in a short amount of time.

Conclusion

Growing your own weed has never been easier. But if you want to grow some seriously good marijuana, you have to invest in some high-quality seeds from a trusted seed bank. To get the best from your growing experience, choose a seed to suit your growing conditions and a strain you like to smoke.