strain hype

Total newbie here.... and I don't smoke that much

I know there are Cannabis Cups and people win awards for new and fantastic cultivars, but...

Seems to me that marijuana plants can produce LOTS and LOTS of seeds and that at $10 a bean.... someone can make a lot of money off seeds from one single plant...

Seems to me that everybody and his brother have strains that have names that sound like other strains that supposedly came from or they possibly just want their seeds to sound like the latest and greatest strain that is all the rage currently for sales purposes without any genetic connection to the strain they are including in their name....

Seems to me that even if some companies may not be regarded as "pollen chuckers" that there is such an incentive to come up with something new and exciting to sell; and that to do that takes a fair bit of time to stabilize ....

And people collect seeds which seems strange to me as seeds are only viable for so long ....

In other words, I'm rather cynical when it comes the latest and greatest cultivars....

SO, I'm just wondering what the overall consensus is regarding strain "hype" ...

Probably I just am too new to all of this or maybe, like when I tried to develop a palate for wine, I just don't have the nose or taste buds to be a discerning connoisseur.

How many of you who are personal growers are always looking for something new and how many of you have a cultivar that you just like and grow and "stick with" with an occasional oddball seed or clone you got from a friend to grow "just for fun" or for a little variety.

Just curious

I collect beans because I have the extra funding and they'll stay viable for over 20yrs + in the fridge.
Its nice to collect some while growing others out . Plan ahead.
They won't be available forever.
Seems to me you could stand to smoke more herb.

It’s an eye of the beholder thing i think. Some people love old landraces, some love the newest runtz cross. Hype sells in the commercial world. Bag appeal and yield mean a lot more to those guys since it means paying the bills and putting food on the table. Grow what you want to grow!

Some people breed for flavor, some for purity/preservation, some for effect, and some breed solely for the $. Research the breeder and strain you’re interested in, because the genetics matter. Get multiple opinions from multiple people, and read about what other breeders have to say about the breeder’s standing in the community and breeding practices. Do people want to do collaborations with them and share genetics, or is this person blackballed in the community for having shady practices? Is this person known for being honest and trustworthy with their genetics, or are they pushing white label seeds?

I like the analogy of comparing weed to music. Some people appreciate the classics, some people like remixes, some people like the new evolving styles, some people want to try and re-invent the wheel. The same goes with breeding. There is also a certain element of exclusivity to collecting strains/seeds, pheno hunting, and finding something special that you and only you have. Some people take a lot of pride in that DIY aspect, and enjoy the process.

I like to find old strains that have been proven over time, and then try to find the breeder that has the best examples of those strains/crosses. The idea that “modern weed is so much better now” is only partially true, and only in some cases. Over time, you’ll find what you like and start seeking it out, but until you have a wide variety of experiences, you won’t really know what you lIke.

MtRainDog said:

It’s an eye of the beholder thing i think. Some people love old landraces, some love the newest runtz cross. Hype sells in the commercial world. Bag appeal and yield mean a lot more to those guys since it means paying the bills and putting food on the table. Grow what you want to grow!

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Yes, I'm still trying to figure it all out.

Since I am old and probably will not grow for many years or get a grower's license or grow illegally, there's not a lot of room for experimentation. I mean since I can only legally grow 8 plants and only 4 can be in flower at a time, I will likely never be able to enjoy the benefits and joys of developing my own cultivars etc, etc.

I was just reading in another thread about some people's experiences with well known European seed banks providing seeds of questionable lineage.... seems like the only REAL way to know what you have is to grow it yourself... and to go on the reputation of the seed bank as mentioned by others.

Thanks for your reply.

MissinThe90’sStrains said:

Some people breed for flavor, some for purity/preservation, some for effect, and some breed solely for the $. Research the breeder and strain you’re interested in, because the genetics matter. Get multiple opinions from multiple people, and read about what other breeders have to say about the breeder’s standing in the community and breeding practices. Do people want to do collaborations with them and share genetics, or is this person blackballed in the community for having shady practices? Is this person known for being honest and trustworthy with their genetics, or are they pushing white label seeds?

I like the analogy of comparing weed to music. Some people appreciate the classics, some people like remixes, some people like the new evolving styles, some people want to try and re-invent the wheel. The same goes with breeding. There is also a certain element of exclusivity to collecting strains/seeds, pheno hunting, and finding something special that you and only you have. Some people take a lot of pride in that DIY aspect, and enjoy the process.

I like to find old strains that have been proven over time, and then try to find the breeder that has the best examples of those strains/crosses. The idea that “modern weed is so much better now” is only partially true, and only in some cases. Over time, you’ll find what you like and start seeking it out, but until you have a wide variety of experiences, you won’t really know what you lIke.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice.

Makes perfect sense about the breeders. Something I would get into more if I anticipated production at a higher level, needed optimal yields, etc.

For now, I'm on grow #2 (not including growing once in my basement about 30 years ago). I'm cloning a couple of low and medium level THC cultivars and probably those 8 plants will produce enough weed until I die. OK-- a little optimistic-- I'm figuring a (one gram) joint per week for the next twenty years --- so maybe 16 plants .... but who wants to smoke 20 year old weed, so I suppose I will be giving a fair bit of weed away over the years .... if only I knew enough people to give it all away to.

Definitely need to smoke a greater variety of weed.

Paul-n-Chukka said:

I collect beans because I have the extra funding and they'll stay viable for over 20yrs + in the fridge.
Its nice to collect some while growing others out . Plan ahead.
They won't be available forever.
Seems to me you could stand to smoke more herb.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply.

I saw a video or article on seed viability under various conditions... some freezer, some fluctuating etc. and they seemed to indicate a much shorter viability.... but then you hear once in a while of that thousand year old grain of wheat found in an unearthed jar that sprouts.

I definitely need to smoke more .... I'm such a lightweight that a toke or two in the morning keeps me high most of the day. I'm sure this will change as I use more. (I recently gave up alcohol and "switched" to weed for the most part; but I vape and eat decarboxylated pills).

With so many strains available, I'll be dead before I sample one new variety every time I partake.

It kind of depends on what your end goal is. Learn the turps and choose the bud by that. Then do you want a head high or a body high. That would be more or less energizing or couch lock. Sativa or indica in general.

One easy way to find the strain you want is to buy mixed packs. I don't like ILGM.com but they have mix packs of thee different kinds. If you grow autos so as not to have to change the lights. You could start a one or two seed grow about every 35 to 40 days. That would be about half a grow between plantings and a harvest about every 70 to 80 days. Judging from what I've read here there is no way you could use as much as you could grow this way and you would have the variety to chose from. A different strain every month. And you could stay within your limit.

Just on the side, within the last few days someone showed a grow tent made from a U-Hual packing crate. It looked like it would be ok.

Paul-n-Chukka said:

I collect beans because I have the extra funding and they'll stay viable for over 20yrs + in the fridge.

Click to expand...

Talk is cheap…have you you ever germinated seeds that are 20 + years old?

Minnesotan?

Seeds can stay viable almost indefinitely is stored properly, different strains have different flavors, ascetics and most importantly effects. It takes a long time to grow pheno hunt and create stable plants. Buying seeds that are forgiving to extream conditions or inconsistent feedings/waters is worth the cost if you want to grow outdoors. Yeah hype is the name of the game in capitalist markets I won't pay more then $10 per seed now. If you know what your looking for seek it out and be willing to pay a little more. If you just want to smoke grow out your bag seeds and be happy with what you get

Mason Jar 92705 said:

Talk is cheap…have you you ever germinated seeds that are 20 + years old?

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There are a shit load of threads on this site of people growing 20-40 year old seeds its the RUI version of a time capsule

The real money's in the seeds. Not only can they be legally shipped practically anywhere unlike flower, but if a plant produces 600 seeds at $10 average a seed, that's a nice amount of change for one plant without having to worry about curing and trimming buds. Some seeds go for well over $10 if you're not buying in bulk.

LeoRavus said:

The real money's in the seeds. Not only can they be legally shipped practically anywhere unlike flower, but if a plant produces 600 seeds at $10 average a seed, that's a nice amount of change for one plant without having to worry about curing and trimming buds. Some seeds go for well over $10 if you're not buying in bulk.

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Good point. I wouldn't count on getting an average of $10/seed if you're wholesaling, though. It is possible if you have something highly desirable that people are clamoring for, but there's a lot of competition these days. You can get a lot of good packs from lesser known breeders on Strainly and elsewhere for $40-$60.

Talk is cheap…have you you ever germinated seeds that are 20 + years old?
[/QUOTE]

I have, i got some in the fridge right now. Got some older than 20. The oldest ive got right now is from 97. Iv only got afew left of those, i did germinate some in the last two years of those and some were coming out all weird and with viruses. But managed to find a couple of good plants still out of those.

CaliWorthington said:

Good point. I wouldn't count on getting an average of $10/seed if you're wholesaling, though. It is possible if you have something highly desirable that people are clamoring for, but there's a lot of competition these days. You can get a lot of good packs from lesser known breeders on Strainly and elsewhere for $40-$60.

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Yeah, the more well known breeders or dealers are pretty steep. Seedsman, RQS, Fastbuds, etc. For those only buying a few seeds at a time they're making out pretty good. Like me, being really limited on what I can grow without worrying, it wouldn't be worth while to buy anything larger than 3 packs.

Mason Jar 92705 said:

I really hate that word “breeder” when everyone are “seed makers”. Or people spraying plants with a chemical making fem seeds calling themselves ‘breeders’. Hilarious!

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Yeah I know, but it's what we call them. I agree about the fem trash seeds. The funniest one was where they used the word "selections" in the company name. There is no selection, you're taking two clones and crossing them. At least people making regular seeds are actually going through the process of selecting a male, unless they only have one, that is.

Seeds Here Now even says that feminized seeds are not suitable for making a mother plant. I think that a plant with no male DNA has to be less disease resistant, not to mention how it pollutes the gene pool.

But yeah, as to the title of this thread, I've tried Runtz and Gary Payton, and so far I don't get why they are a thing at all. Soon I'll have some that I flowered myself, then I'll really be able to tell. But from what I've tried so far, I've found a lot better tasting cuts pheno hunting seed packs myself.

deej2 said:

Minnesotan?

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I am a Minnesotan, if you’re asking me….

VaSmile said:

Seeds can stay viable almost indefinitely is stored properly, different strains have different flavors, ascetics and most importantly effects. It takes a long time to grow pheno hunt and create stable plants. Buying seeds that are forgiving to extream conditions or inconsistent feedings/waters is worth the cost if you want to grow outdoors. Yeah hype is the name of the game in capitalist markets I won't pay more then $10 per seed now. If you know what your looking for seek it out and be willing to pay a little more. If you just want to smoke grow out your bag seeds and be happy with what you get

Click to expand...

You know, I definitely have plenty of seeds to work with for the time being. I’ll finish the photos I have going now (keep some clones fir next winter), grow out some Auto seeds I have in the fridge this summer, and switch back to clones of the photos next fall when I don’t have to wrestle with humidity like I do in the summer.

I’ll microgrow a plant on the windowsill just for fun and seek out some locals to swap clones with eventually I think.

I decarbed some CBD flower this last week in the oven and ….. even if this stuff didn’t get you high, I’d grow it just for the aromatherapy from the decarb. The whole house smelled FANTASTIC!

So far I am VERY happy with “what I [got]” and very pleased to have stumbled upon this forum which has been enormously helpful!

Thanks to you all.

DancesWithWeeds said:

It kind of depends on what your end goal is. Learn the turps and choose the bud by that. Then do you want a head high or a body high. That would be more or less energizing or couch lock. Sativa or indica in general.

One easy way to find the strain you want is to buy mixed packs. I don't like ILGM.com but they have mix packs of thee different kinds. If you grow autos so as not to have to change the lights. You could start a one or two seed grow about every 35 to 40 days. That would be about half a grow between plantings and a harvest about every 70 to 80 days. Judging from what I've read here there is no way you could use as much as you could grow this way and you would have the variety to chose from. A different strain every month. And you could stay within your limit.

Just on the side, within the last few days someone showed a grow tent made from a U-Hual packing crate. It looked like it would be ok.

Click to expand...

I was initially “worried” that the eight plant limit would be disappointingly limiting, but now I think just a couple of plants at a time might be the best way to go anyway.

Less work (?) and if something goes wrong, you only lose a plant or two… less of a heartbreak if mold or other problems occur.

Thanks