Pheno-hunting

Pheno-hunting is the process of selecting the best phenotype of a new cannabis strain to turn into a production crop. When first breeding strains from seed, a plant population will express many phenotypes with unique traits. Growers then cultivate and compare several phenotypes from the same batch over a trial period, assessing factors like smell, color, resin, yield, plant structure and more. This pheno-hunting can take months per new strain to analyze how each potential phenotype performs in a given environment. The chosen pheno is then used as a mother plant for generating consistent clones. An optimal phenotype exhibits traits aligned with the cultivator’s goals, like potency, aroma, or high yields. Meticulous pheno-hunters keep detailed records about each plant to make the most informed selection decision.