The Cannabis Breeder's Bible (3 page)

A better way to ship clones is to root the clone first in rockwool (
CGB,
p. 167). After a few weeks the clone will take root in the rockwool. The grower then cuts the piece of rockwool down to a smaller size which can easily be inserted into a tube as mentioned above and the same packaging process is repeated. If the sender believes that no moisture will spill from the cloning medium they can choose to leave the tube open and create air pockets in the envelope with a pin to allow the cutting to breathe. This is less secure because of possible smell problems and contamination but should improve the cutting’s survival rate. Rooted clones tend to survive transport better than just cuttings.

These are not just cuttings. These are clones. Note the developed roots on the clone lying down. Hard video boxes can be used to pack more than 1 clone.

Lying the clones down in opposite arrangement prevents overcrowding.

Seal the container with tape to prevent it from opening.

Wrap the container in a plastic zip lock bag and seal it to keep any smells or leakage contained. Procedure and photos by
www.Newlines.nl

Obviously clones are not the best option available for breeders to pass on their work. Also finding a good clone mother plant does not revolve so much around breeding techniques as it does just having good growing experience and an eye for spotting worthy plants in large populations, i.e., sizeable selections to choose from. The other option breeders have of making their work available is through seeds. This is a much more feasible process for getting the product to the consumer undamaged and in good condition. Because of these factors seeds have become the standard method of shipping cannabis genetics around the world.

Top breeders and Cannabis Cup winners like Paradise Seeds use large populations for that all-important mother plant selection.

What are the pros and cons of these propagation sources? Let’s look at a few important differences between clones and seeds.

Clones

1. Growers must know how to clone if they want to generate more plants from this strain. Most new growers do not know how to clone.

2. Non-hybrid seeds of the clone cannot be made from a female clone without obtaining a male clone of the same strain.
¹
A hybrid can be created by finding any male donor.

3. Clones do not have any diversity. If the clone is from a great mother plant then the clones will also be great female plants. This follows through with our next point.

4. Clones will always carry the same traits through continued cuttings from the original clone.

5. Clones require little to no breeding procedures in order to replicate the mother plant’s characteristics. If you find a mother plant that is good then all you need to do is take cuttings from her.

6. Clones can be easily stolen from a breeder and labeled as someone else’s produce.

7. If a disease kills a single clone in a grow room, then all the other clones will probably fail too. Clones share the same flaws.

Exceptions to the above statements can occur if a clone suffers some form of mutation. Mutations will be discussed in detail further in this text.

Seeds

1. Growers do not need to know how to clone if they want to generate more plants.

2. Non-hybrid seeds can be made by breeding male and female plants of the same strain during flowering although—

3. Seeds will have variations, losing some traits and gaining some new ones, unless they are
true breeding
(see chapter 2).

4. Seeds require a lot of work if you want the strain to have little or no variations in their offspring.

5. Seeds can be bred in such a way that it is hard to reproduce the mother plant that the seeds came from. This makes the work harder to steal.

6. Most seeds do contain some variations and some might be able to deal with cultivation problems better than others.

These points will give you an idea as a breeder and a consumer of what the market is like and what people prefer. As a breeder, you should not be interested too much in the clone business except for more immediate and viable avenues. You will probably want as many people to get your strain as possible. This means you should go the seed route.

WHAT IS A BREEDER?

By definition, a breeder is a person who rears animals and plants. To be more precise, it is a person who breeds a stock of animals or plants of a particular species and who develops that stock by deliberate selection.

What separates the good breeders from the bad breeders? In the world of cannabis breeding the points can easily be listed.

A Good Breeder

1. Does not produce hermaphrodite strains.

2. Only sells viable seed produce.

3. Does not replicate other people’s work without their permission.

4. Always selects for traits that he or she likes.

5. Listens to what the market wants if he is breeding for the market.

6. Listens to negative critical comments about his work.

7. Listens to legitimate concerns about his products.

As you can see the overall quality of the final produce does not have much to do with being a good breeder or a bad breeder. Creating a superpotent plant or a high-yield performing plant does not necessarily make you a good breeder.

A good breeder is able to practice breeding in a way that allows him to develop and improve his art. A bad breeder always blows his way around the market, stroking his own ego, telling lies about his produce and generally making other people feel uncomfortable about his presence. The first and most important standards to keep are honesty, sportsmanship and good communication skills.

If you can do this, people will be willing to help you learn more, offer their services, give positive feedback and more than likely BUY YOUR WORK.

I have seen breeders develop fantastic strains only to have their work simply sit on the shelf and not sell because of their social problems, business problems, lack of honesty and overall integrity. If you cannot overcome these personal shortcomings, then hire someone who can. Poor communication skills and lack of social standards will only pull your long-term work down the gutter. Normally reliable seed banks who carry your stock will engage the client on your behalf.The market would rather respond to an honest businessman with average strains than a dishonest businessman with elite strains. This is a reality in the cannabis breeding world. You’ve got to keep your cool and focus on your work. Find out what you are good at and try to do it the best you can.

Never think you are the best because you have developed something fantastic. Let others do the praising for you. The greatest pleasure you will have as a breeder is seeing other people enjoy your results.

THE MARKET

The market revolves around advertising, and advertising is only really recognized through reputable seed resellers and reputable growing organizations. The people you choose to sell your seeds for you are very important. If they have a bad reputation then they will not be able to sell your work. Seed resellers do not generally breed their own seeds. They simply act as a point of sale for getting your seed produce to the consumer. Seed resellers are also known as seed banks. They are the very same people from whom growers buy their seed stock.

Seeds Of Passion in Maastricht, Holland.

Seedbanks

http://www.geocities.com/stonedas72/AussieSPC.html
—Australian Seeds
http://www.africanseeds.com
—African Seeds Canada and Europe (Breeders)
http://www.hempdepot.ca
—Hemp Depot Canada
http://www.hempqc.com
—Heaven’s Stairway Canada
http://www.eurohemp.com
—Heaven’s Stairway UK
http://www.hemcy.com
—Hemcy Seeds Holland
http://www.legendsseeds.com
—Legends Canada
http://www.emeryseeds.com
—Marc Emery Direct Marijuana Seeds Canada
http://www.peakseeds.com
—Peak Seeds Canada
http://www.seedsdirect.to
—Seeds Direct UK
http://www.worldwideseeds.com
—World Wide Seeds Switzerland
http://www.sensiseeds.com
—Sensi Seed Bank (Breeders)
http://www.cannabisworld.com/cgi000/auction.cgi
—Seed Auction Worldwide
http://www.greenhouse.org
—Green House Seeds Amsterdam (Breeders)
http://www.dutch-passion.nl
—Dutch Passion Seeds Amsterdam (Breeders)
http://www.seriousseeds.com
—Serious Seeds Amsterdam (Breeders)
http://www.flyingdutchmen.com
—The Flying Dutchmen Seeds (Breeders)
http://www.homegrownfantasy.com
—Homegrown Fantasy (Breeders)
http://www.kcbrains.com
—KC Brains Amsterdam (Breeders)