In the last two decades, the cannabis industry has evolved more than it has in the last century. This is primarily due to cannabis gaining great importance because of its source of therapeutic compounds since growth restrictions have gradually reduced globally.
Society is ever-evolving, and the latest data has proven that more individuals are accepting the use of this drug for healthcare conditions and recreational use. As more people are using it, there are more and more cannabis varieties popping up each year alongside hash, dabbing, and consumables.
This seemingly sudden acceptance has prompted many to grow their own cannabis to reap its benefits. Almost anyone can grow cannabis if they have the knowledge and equipment. Large-scale cannabis growth is still available only for commercial producers with appropriate licensing, but in some states it’s now legal for individuals to grow their own small-scale crops.
One thing that can help to grow high quality cannabis crops is the seed feminization. Our article will tell you more about seed feminization, including how to make feminized seeds using silver thiosulfate solution (STS).
What Are Feminized Seeds
In simple terms, a feminized cannabis seed is a seed that has been specifically bred to only produce female plants. The process involves the forced production of pollen by female plants that is in turn used to pollinate other female cannabis plants, producing only seeds generating female plants with no risk of further pollination and male cannabis plants production.
With feminized seeds used in cannabis crop cultivation, growers don’t have to worry about accidental pollination from male plants that could have been undetected.
One well known method to force females to produce male stamen and viable pollen is applying an STS mixture to cannabis plants.
Why Should You Make STS Feminized Cannabis Seeds?
Since male cannabis plants can be challenging to identify and remove from the crop, feminized seeds have become the only real solution to ensuring most plants are female.
If you utilize feminized seeds, you have a greater chance of guaranteeing that the majority (if not all) of your crop is female. Below you can find a list including a few of the benefits associated with using feminized seeds and you will learn why using these is an excellent idea for beginner and expert growers.
- It is cost-effective: Feminized seeds produce female plants meaning growers can use more of their crop to produce buds, and less will go to waste, saving time and money.
- There will be higher yields: All female cannabis plants produce larger yields so growers can experience more viable crops and profits in the long run.
- Less chance of disease and pests: Male cannabis plants attract pets and spread disease easier than female plants. This means that by using feminized seeds, there are only female plants and thus less chance of disease and pests.
- Improved yield quality: Female plants produce high quality buds unlike male plants which produce only pollen sacs.
- Flexible harvests: all female crops allow growers to have a flexible harvest schedule. Since there are no male plants, female cannabis plants are ready for harvesting at anytime.
How To Make Feminized Seeds With STS
Now that you’re aware of the benefits of using feminized seeds, you’re likely curious about how to make them with the STS method. According to growers, the STS method is the most commonly used chemical mix when it comes to feminizing seeds and creating stable feminized pollen.
Although there are other methods, the STS method tends to be the most reliable because it suppresses ethylene production in plants, a crucial hormone for their growth and development. Let’s have a look at how to make STS and how to apply it to produce feminized seeds.
Start By Making STS
The process of making STS to produce feminized seeds is fairly simple. You only need three ingredients, and it takes about 15 to 20 minutes to make a small batch of STS solution.
You will need sodium thiosulphate, distilled water, and silver nitrate, which can be readily sourced from a local pharmacy and specialized stores.
To make the ST’s mixture, you mustn’t use any metal instruments, and you need to follow the following steps:
- In a plastic cup, add about 20 ml of distilled water. After pouring the water into the cup, you need to add 0.35g of silver nitrate; (Solution A)
- Add 30 ml of distilled water and 1.3g of sodium thiosulfate in another plastic cup. You must mix this solution until the sodium thiosulfate will completely dissolve; (Solution B)
- After mixing both solutions, you need to add the contents of both glasses together and mix slowly using a plastic spoon.
After this process, you’ll have made 50 ml of pure silver thiosulfate, which is too potent to use on your cannabis plants.
To dilute this solution and make it safe to use, you need to dilute it with 400 ml of distilled water and mix before taking 100 ml of STS mixture you made and mixing it with another 400 ml of water. Following this process will leave you with 500 ml of ready-to-use STS mixture. This mixture has a short lifespan of about 1 month and requires a cool and dark place as a storage.
The Successful Feminization Process
To induce a female plant to produce pollen and in turn produce feminized seeds, you need to spray the STS solution approximately one week before the pre-flower formation. You can spray the whole cannabis plant or also only locally.
Most recommend spraying your plants four to five days after you’ve switched the growing lights off to ensure the leaves don’t burn. After ten days, you can spray them again and leave them in the dark.
In time the plants will grow male pollen sacs with pollen that you can use to pollinate any cannabis plants you want. These pollinated plants will create seeds that have no male genes. You should also note that you cannot use the plants you have sprayed to make consumables, as the solution could cause health issues.
Wrap-Up On Feminized Seeds (STS Method)
Evidently, it is not difficult to make feminized seeds using the STS method. If you use the information we have shared, you’ll be well on your way to producing pollen that you can use to feminize seeds and create female plants with zero male genes.
