Can you trust the strain details and pictures from a breeder?

[growingisfun]

Random question because my plants didn't grow exactly as expected.

So in my first grow, I picked strains in part based on how the buds looked in the pictures. But after harvest, none of my buds really looked like the pictures. I grew two "purple" strains but they both had green buds. One claimed to be 27% THC but the buds seem average potency, or even weakish, while another strain claimed 20% THC and buds actually seem stronger. The seeds were all supposed to be 8-10 week strains, and some followed that but some didn't seem done even by 10 weeks.

Did my buds come out different from the description because of how I grew them? I did run into problems. Is it natural variation that happens with every breeder? Or are there actually breeders where the buds you grow come out like they describe?

What's been your experience with accuracy in breeder descriptions? Are some breeders more accurate than others?

 

[golfnrl]

"Did my buds come out different from the description because of how I grew them?"

Perhaps. The best genetics cannot overcome a poor grow environment. Everyone has problems when they grow. That doesn't mean that you are providing a poor grow environment. Breeders grow in the best conditions. I would imagine they photog the best looking buds.

A breeder's grow information should be taken as a guide. That's it. IMHO, no seed supplier can say with a straight face that their seeds will grow at a certain rate or be ready to harvest after a certain time. Because the growth is dependent upon conditions and lighting. The trichomes tell the tale of when it's time to harvest. GWE has a wealth of info about that. You need a loupe, magnifying glass, or microscope to properly monitor the trichomes and judge when they get to the point that you the grower want to harvest. I use the grow guides to get any particular pointers about the plant in question. IDK if I have ever grown a bud that looks like the picture in the breeders catalog. There is def some growers on this forum though that are excellent at their craft and grow picture perfect marijuana. My weed is a little more raggedy looking but when it's harvested no one can tell.

If your temps, RH, lighting, EC, PH are in range and you are using a quality grow medium you can def grow weed that is comparable or better than dispensary weed and will rival the breeders information.

 

[Ckbrew]

Did my buds come out different from the description because of how I grew them? I did run into problems. Is it natural variation that happens with every breeder? Or are there actually breeders where the buds you grow come out like they describe?

Yes to all questions. Like many endeavors growing can be broken down into 3 basic "components", ingredients, equipment, process. The same can be said for making beer, wine, baked goods, vegetables, livestock etc. Change any one of the 3 and the results will be different. This illustrates the concept of a craft being part science and part art. For growing the ingredients are the genetics, equipment is things like media, lights, fans, water, nutrients, and the process is how YOU coordinate all those things. In addition there is always the wild card, individual variation in the genetics. All these factors contribute to the outcome of your grow. As far as breeder's claims there is always going to be a component of advertising, so they tend to "puff" their claims. Generally you can select things like indica or sativa, size, fast or slow, things like purple color are subject to interpretation. Breeder's claims should be used as a guide but not a guarantee. As you gain experience the process that you run will get more reliable. Study the science, learn from your grows, and things will fall into place. I get my beans from north atlantic seed co. There are others with a good reputation. That will be the best bet for getting the genetics you want but it is not a sure thing. Sometimes beans get mixed up. The GWE site has recommendations for other breeders. In time you will be able to make you own beans with the characteristics you want, or you could clone or keep a mother plant. Imo you should concentrate on becoming a skilled grower first. After that everything falls into place.

CBD purple auto
Breeder's pix

What grew from the beans

Both plants came from the same package, same breed, there are variations and similarities from the breeder's pix.

 

[golfnrl]

Yes to all questions. Like many endeavors growing can be broken down into 3 basic "components", ingredients, equipment, process. The same can be said for making beer, wine, baked goods, vegetables, livestock etc. Change any one of the 3 and the results will be different. This illustrates the concept of a craft being part science and part art. For growing the ingredients are the genetics, equipment is things like media, lights, fans, water, nutrients, and the process is how YOU coordinate all those things. In addition there is always the wild card, individual variation in the genetics. All these factors contribute to the outcome of your grow. As far as breeder's claims there is always going to be a component of advertising, so they tend to "puff" their claims. Generally you can select things like indica or sativa, size, fast or slow, things like purple color are subject to interpretation. Breeder's claims should be used as a guide but not a guarantee. As you gain experience the process that you run will get more reliable. Study the science, learn from your grows, and things will fall into place. I get my beans from north atlantic seed co. There are others with a good reputation. That will be the best bet for getting the genetics you want but it is not a sure thing. Sometimes beans get mixed up. The GWE site has recommendations for other breeders. In time you will be able to make you own beans with the characteristics you want, or you could clone or keep a mother plant. Imo you should concentrate on becoming a skilled grower first. After that everything falls into place.

CBD purple auto
Breeder's pix
View attachment 668735

What grew from the beans
View attachment 668736View attachment 668737

Both plants came from the same package, same breed, there are variations and similarities from the breeder's pix.

Well said.

 

[growingisfun]

Yes to all questions. Like many endeavors growing can be broken down into 3 basic "components", ingredients, equipment, process. The same can be said for making beer, wine, baked goods, vegetables, livestock etc. Change any one of the 3 and the results will be different. This illustrates the concept of a craft being part science and part art. For growing the ingredients are the genetics, equipment is things like media, lights, fans, water, nutrients, and the process is how YOU coordinate all those things. In addition there is always the wild card, individual variation in the genetics. All these factors contribute to the outcome of your grow. As far as breeder's claims there is always going to be a component of advertising, so they tend to "puff" their claims. Generally you can select things like indica or sativa, size, fast or slow, things like purple color are subject to interpretation. Breeder's claims should be used as a guide but not a guarantee. As you gain experience the process that you run will get more reliable. Study the science, learn from your grows, and things will fall into place. I get my beans from north atlantic seed co. There are others with a good reputation. That will be the best bet for getting the genetics you want but it is not a sure thing. Sometimes beans get mixed up. The GWE site has recommendations for other breeders. In time you will be able to make you own beans with the characteristics you want, or you could clone or keep a mother plant. Imo you should concentrate on becoming a skilled grower first. After that everything falls into place.

CBD purple auto
Breeder's pix
View attachment 668735

What grew from the beans
View attachment 668736View attachment 668737

Both plants came from the same package, same breed, there are variations and similarities from the breeder's pix.

That's beautiful. I'm hoping to grow purple buds like that someday.

And thanks for sharing your experience. It actually helps a lot to break growing results down into three key parts like that.