4 advantages of growing cannabis plants from seeds compared to cuttings

Cannabis growers have two options when it comes to sourcing their plants; seeds or clones.

This debate divides many growers and both side have their respective supporters. However, there are clear advantages to growing cannabis plants from seeds. Here are 4 of the biggest advantages of growing weed from a seed.

1. STRONGER PLANTS

Cannabis seeds tend to produce stronger plants which are ultimately easier to grow. This is mainly because cannabis plants grown from a seed develop a tap root.

This root grows vertically down from the seed and serves as the center of the plant’s entire root system. A tap root helps to firmly anchor a plant in the ground and can extend deep into the ground or soil in order to better seek out nutrients. This naturally helps plants stay strong and healthy, and also makes them a little tougher when dealing with unfavorable conditions especially when grown outdoors.

Clones are unable to develop tap roots. Instead, they only develop a fibrous root system and tend to grow into noticeably weaker plants. Not only are they less firmly anchored in the ground, but outdoor clones will struggle to deal with harsh conditions because their root systems simply aren’t able to penetrate the ground as much in search of nutrients or water.

Plus, the process of creating a clone is actually quite stressful for a plant. Many cuttings taken from a mother tend to remain under this stress for some time, which can ultimately affect their development and their yields (which we’ll explore next).

2. BIGGER YIELDS

Yields are a big concern for cannabis growers. Regardless of your motif for growing, you’ll want to make sure your plants provide you with a decent-sized harvest.

Unfortunately, many growers find that clones tend to produce lighter harvests than plants grown from a seed. There are many factors that contribute to this, but it mainly boils down to the fact that clones, as we saw earlier, generally develop into weaker plants.

Some growers may find that by keeping their clones in a vegetative state for longer allows them to eventually produce plants of a similar strength to those grown from a seed. Doing so, however, depends heavily on your skill as a grower and ultimately takes a lot of time, effort, and patience.

3. NO BUGS/PESTS

Another major concern for cannabis growers (or any gardener for that matter) are pests and bugs. Just like other plants, cannabis can be susceptible to a wide variety of pests and diseases that can have a dramatic effect on the plant’s health and its harvest.

Unfortunately, pests and bugs can be passed on from mother plants to clones. While this may not be a problem for experienced growers making their own clones (as they should be aware of any pests/disease affecting their plants), it can be a big deal for growers who buy or inherit clones from someone else. Any pests or diseases that affect their clone may end up killing the plant as it recovers from the stress of cloning and can also go on to infect other plants in their garden.

Pests and diseases, however, are unable to attack and thrive in a seed. Hence, by growing your plants from a seed you can be 100% sure that your plants won’t introduce any disease or pests into your garden.

4. MORE CHOICE

One of the major advantages of growing cannabis from seeds is the amount of choice you get as a grower.

Browse the seed catalogue of a respected seed bank and you’ll find countless varieties and strains, each with their own unique traits. By choosing to grow from seeds, you’re able to peruse all the strains available and pick one that perfectly matches your skills as a grower and the setup you plan to work with.

By buying or inheriting a clone, however, you have very little control of what kind of plant you’ll be growing. Instead, you’ll be faced with a ton of guesswork about the morphology of the plant, how it will respond to your particular grow environment, and much more.