This is what I’m talking about - having a strain everyone loves. And it always come from seed - ECSD, Sour Diesel, etc. - they all started life from seed. Yes, I agree a cut is nice to have when mono-cropping, and running a garden for profit. But this is just a hobby of mine now, enjoying a pheno hunt, and finding a really nice strain.
The magic happens from seeds: and as long as the genetics are quality, the offspring will be quality.
I get what you’re saying @Jutachi - you have “the clone only” strain; and it fulfills your growing objective. And agree with what you’re saying here:
…I previously posted about “Alderpoint Sour Diesel” (it was BUNK), and it’s no where close to a Sour Diesel strain - I have NO idea what the genetics are. There’s a lot of people cashing in on strain’s good name to make seed sales. It happened with Skunk #1 - everything that came out from “Sam Skunkman” is a fraud on growers. Sadly, he flooded the market with millions of seed - so the damage is done. It spread like a cancer, and it is what it is.
Back in the late 80’s and early 90’s, skunk smelled like real skunk - it had a funk to it. And when I popped my 1st beans back in 89’, it put me on a journey with the plant. My prime growing years were 1990-2010 - basically a lifetime of growing (20 years, and 15+ years was Massachusetts Super Skunk, just that one strain); then took a 10 year break, and got back into hobby growing around 2020.
When I got back in, the 1st thing I did was grow out some “current hype” strains - and they were good, just not what I grew up with. And so I wanted to grow out Skunk, like what I grew up with. I knew it wasn’t going to be exactly the same, but was totally let dow when it turned out to be sweet, juicy fruity, bubblegum (just like you said - they took advantage of skunk name, just to sell seeds). However, I was also growing out some Chem, Diesel, Sour Diesel, OG Kush type strains too - they were the ones with the pungent aromas I was looking for.
You can take a look at all the strains I went through in my Skunk Hunt:
Skunk City, Elite Skunk Genetics
And so with the “skunky” strains being in the Sour Diesel, Chem, Kush family - it put me on a new adventure:
Going back to Sour Diesel, and Classic Genetics
And all along this new journey - because of all the bunk out there, and scammers - I joined the online forums (to meet breeders, growers and learn more about strains). I learned a lot about the cannabis scene over the past 5 years.
Here, we can freely talk about the strains, and all the bullshit that comes along with some of them. And also - talk about the good things we find. I’m not out to create or destroy anyone’s reputations - I call it like I see it, and if something’s good - I give it praise, and if it’s BUNK, it’s BUNK.
The most important thing I learned - the best strains & genetics come from breeders & growers - I can actually talk with, or who have personally vouched for someone’s genetics. And because I grow from seed - there’s going to be winners and losers. Even then, there’s no guarantees. I’m sure the same applies to the “clone only scene” too.