What is a phenotype?
A phenotype is the specific appearance and behavior of a plant: its height, its shape, its smell, what it yields or how long it takes to flower. It's the result of its genes and the environment it grows in.
Think of brothers and sisters in a family: they have the same parents, but they aren't identical. One is taller, another has lighter eyes. The same thing happens with seeds.
Each seed comes from the union of a mother plant and a father plant, and in each one the genes combine in a slightly different way. That's why, within the same pack, each seed carries its own mix. When those differences show up in the plants, we say there are several phenotypes.
The environment also counts: the same seed will give a different plant on a sunny terrace than in a grow tent with little light. The phenotype is the sum of both things.
Why do two plants from the same pack turn out different?
- Because of the strain's genetics. If it comes from crossing very different parents, for example an indica with a sativa, it's normal for some plants to look more like one parent and others more like the other.
- Because of how stable it is. Strains that the seed bank has worked on for many generations give plants that are much more alike.
- Because of the growing conditions. A plant with more light or a bigger pot will grow more, even if its genes are very similar to those of its neighbor.
What it means on a product page
The height, flowering time or yield you see on a product page describe what is typical for that strain, according to the seed bank. If one of your plants strays a little from what is stated, it isn't necessarily a problem: it may simply be a different phenotype.
Some growers take advantage of these differences: they sow several seeds, pick the plant they like best and keep it by taking cuttings, which are exact copies of it. This is called "pheno hunting".
Related terms
Before you grow, check the laws in your country: growing cannabis is not allowed everywhere.
