Frequently Asked Questions
Explore our extensive database of frequently asked questions (FAQs) that cover an array of topics, such as payments, shipping, and our online ordering system. And if you don't see the answer you need, don't hesitate to contact us for further assistance.
Shipping
We ship seeds packs to all European countries, Vietnam and Thailand.
We offer worldwide stealth shipping for bulk seed orders to farmers, resellers or other seed banks.
While Alice Seeds takes pride in its worldwide shipping service, please note that there are certain countries where shipping is not possible such as countries currently at war or political tension, as well as Singapore and North Korea. If you have any doubts about whether your country is eligible, please don't hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to assist you.
It depends on where you are. Orders processed here will take 2-6 business days to arrive. Overseas deliveries can take anywhere from 7-21 days. Delivery details will be provided in your confirmation email.
The delivery of your order is guaranteed by a tracking number you'll receive by email (check your spam folder). By entering this number on the carrier's website, you'll be able to know the exact location of your order:
UPS: https://www.ups.com/track
DPD: https://www.dpd.com/nl/en/receiving/track/
Czech Post: https://www.postaonline.cz/en/trackandtrace
The delivery costs are calculated at the time of placing your order. The cost of delivery depends on the total value of your order and the destination country where the order is being shipped to.
We ensure that all our packages are shipped discreetly, with only the customer's name and address and a return address on or in the parcel. The package may be shipped in various ways to maintain its confidentiality. Additionally, a mandatory signed customs form may be required in certain cases. We also provide alternative stealth shipping options. If you have any questions regarding the packaging of your order, please feel free to contact us for assistance.
If your order doesn't reach its destination before the due date, you'll have to contact us by sending a mail to support@aliceseeds.com, indicating your order number. We'll inform you about your order status and help you if any problems arise.
Although we take measures to ensure that our shipping is as discreet as possible, there is always the possibility that Customs may inspect your order, regardless of the shipping option you choose. Please note that while Alice Seeds can ship to your country, we cannot provide any information on the legal status of our products in that country. We advise you to research your local laws and regulations before making a purchase, as Alice Seeds cannot be held liable for any orders retained by your national customs officials.
While it is rare, there may be instances where your shipment is damaged during transit. If any part of your order is delivered in an unsatisfactory condition, please contact us within a week of receiving your order. We will require a written description of the damage, along with a photo, to rectify the issue.
Please be aware that all returns and damaged order returns must be approved by the Alice Seeds team. Orders returned without prior consent will not be rectified. Once we receive your description and photo of the damage, we will contact you to address the issue and find a resolution.
Please note that we are only able to ship orders to the address provided at the time of delivery. Once your order has been shipped, we are unable to change the delivery address. Therefore, it is important to ensure that all details, including the shipping address, are accurate and correct at the time of order completion.
Alice Seeds cannot be held responsible for any additional delivery fees or non-delivery caused by an incorrect shipping address. Please double-check and verify that the shipping address provided is correct before completing your order.
At Alice Seeds, we are committed to providing fast and efficient support to our customers. If you wish to request a refund, you have 14 days from the date of receipt to do so. Please contact support@aliceseeds.com for instructions on how to proceed with the refund process.
When returning the product, please be sure to provide the order number to help expedite the process. We appreciate your business and strive to ensure your satisfaction with our products and services.
Payment
Yes. We accept bank transfer. You can order online and choose payment method "Bank Transfer" upon checkout, an email with bank transfer details will be sent to you. We accept bank transfers within Europe and internationally. However, this option is not available for all the countries.
If you have any questions about how to make a bank transfer, please contact us for assistance.
Yes, we do accept payment in various cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, BNB Coin (Mainnet), BNB Coin (BSC Chain), BNB Coin (ERC-20), Dogecoin, Ether, Ethereum (BC Chain), Ethereum Token (BSC Chain), Tether USD (BC Chain), Tether USD (BSC Chain), and Tether USD (ERC20).
To pay with cryptocurrency, simply select the "Cryptocurrency" payment method at checkout when placing your order. You will be provided with online payment details for the chosen cryptocurrency.
If you would like to use a currency that is not available online, please contact us and we will check if we can accept that currency and invoice you accordingly.
Credit card
- At the moment, we do not accept credit card payments, but we are working to add this form of payment in the future.
Paypal
- Unfortunately, due to Paypal's terms and conditions, we are unable to add this form of payment to our website.
Western Union
- This payment method is not available on our website.
Payment on delivery (COD)
- We do not accept cash on delivery (COD).
Cash in envelope
- We do not accept cash in envelope payments.
Products
At Alice Seeds, we conduct a thorough selection, storage, and packaging process to ensure the highest quality of our seeds:
Selection: We only choose seeds with the best organoleptic qualities that can be preserved after undergoing cleaning, drying, and removal of impurities.
Packaging: The selected seeds are then carefully placed inside eppendorf tubes, which are standard laboratory items used for preserving liquid samples and the very same containers we use to deliver our seeds to customers.
The legality of cannabis seeds varies by country, and it is important to check the laws in your specific location before making a purchase. For instance, possessing cannabis seeds is not considered a crime in the Czech Republic due to the Vienna Convention 1961, but penalties may still apply for growing cannabis. Laws can differ from one country to another, so it is essential to research and understand the applicable regulations in your area before buying.
Certainly, you can make a complaint. As former growers ourselves, we understand the disappointment of seeds not germinating as expected. We offer a 3-month replacement warranty (from the date of receipt) for non-germinated seeds, excluding free seeds.
To initiate a claim, please contact our customer support via email at support@aliceseeds.com, providing your order number and explaining which germination method you have used. If you have used an appropriate germination method, you may be asked to send us some pictures of the seeds to see if the problem clearly lies in them. If so, we will replace them as quickly as possible. In case of doubt, do not hesitate to contact for assistance.
Unfortunately we cannot reserve any stock unless a payment has been made. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but we are unable to guarantee stock availability due to the high volume of orders that are placed but remain unpaid.
- No, the size, color, and appearance of the seed do not determine the health or genetic source of a seed.
- The germination rate of carefully selected and stored seeds is typically around 90-98%, with an average of 95% (950 seeds out of every 1000 sown will germinate).
- Curling of cotyledons is not necessarily an indication of genetic defects, unless the leaves of the 2nd and 3rd canopies are also affected. Only then can it be confirmed that the seeds have a genetic defect.
If properly preserved, cannabis seeds can be stored for 2-3 years, with no negative effects on their properties. For the best results, keep them in a cool place such as in a refrigerator (in the crisper drawer) or in a room where the temperature is low and constant around 4-8°C. In order to avoid humidity problems, they must be stored in airtight containers like in the eppendorf tubes we use.
Technique
THC or tetrahydrocannabinol is the cannabinoid responsible for the psychoactive effect of cannabis. It boosts our sensory functions (vision, hearing, colour perception...) and increases creativity. However, it provokes many side effects such as dry mouth, tachycardia, altered perception of time… THC can be used for therapeutic purposes as well. It's a great analgesic, antiemetic (prevents nausea), stress reliever, appetite booster, sleep inducer... and it can help fight asthma and glaucoma ...
CBD or cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid present in some cannabis strains. It counteracts the effects of THC, reducing its psychoactive levels and other negative effects such as the cotton mouth sensation, the tachycardia and the altered perception of time. Thanks to this substance, the adverse consequences of THC are moderated and so recreational users with lower tolerance to THC have a wider range of possibilities ahead of them.
Besides, it showcases many interesting therapeutic properties, among which its anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxant, antioxidant, antipsychotic and anticonvulsant properties stand out most. The latter has been recognised by the World Health Organization with a communication released in 2017 that encouraged the scientific community to keep on investigating the many possibilities offered by this cannabinoid.
CBG is cannabigerol. It is a cannabinoid compound usually found in low concentrations in most cannabis varieties. However, CBG rich varieties are gradually becoming available on the market.
More than 100 cannabinoids can be found in a cannabis plant. The most popular are: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Although CBG is not so popular, it is also one of the main cannabinoids and represents an important role in the plant.
Thanks to the recent legalization of medical marijuana in many European countries and USA, Canada, scientists can now thoroughly explore the benefits of cannabinoids. Even though CBG was overlooked in the past – predominantly because of its low concentration – the recent research shows that it has a potential to help a person with many diseases and also helps dealing with more complicated health conditions.
PH (potential of hydrogen) is a measure used to determine the acidity or alkalinity of the nutrients we give to our cannabis plants. It plays a vital role in the absorption and metabolism of nutrients, ultimately affecting the growth and overall health of the plants. As it is responsible for the optimal distribution of nutrients, maintaining the correct pH levels directly impacts the health of the plants. By watering them with the appropriate pH levels, we can produce sturdy, strong plants that are less susceptible to pests."
Electrical conductivity, or EC, is a crucial parameter that must be measured when cultivating cannabis. This parameter expresses the concentration of mineral salts of the nutrient solution and is closely linked to the nutrition of our plants. Complementary to pH (potential of hydrogen), EC is an essential value that allows us to measure the concentration of the nutrients necessary for our plants' development at every stage of growing, directly affecting health and vigour.
Terpenes are the natural, oily and aromatic compounds produced by the cannabis plant, and many other types of plant. Often these chemicals give distinctive smells and aroma to your cannabis and may also help modulate the type of high.
Unlike most plants, cannabis is a dioecious plant, that is to say, it features specimens of separate sexes (female and male). Female plants are best for producing buds while males are in charge of pollination. Unless you're a highly experienced grower capable of recognizing growth patterns during the vegetative phase, it isn't until the flowering that you'll be able to discern your plant's sex.
Female plants develop a small pear-shaped bag from which protrude two hair-like stigmata, usually white in colour. Later on, these little bags will start to form resin-coated clusters that will grow and turn into buds.
Male plants also feature a tiny sack, but without any protruding stigmata. You can even see that the flower is made up of five sepals, which are an essential part of the formation of the flower's calyx, sustaining the petals. Afterwards, male plants begin to display sacs of pollen, forming a cluster that hangs down. When they develop enough, about one or two centimetres, they will open up and drop the small granules of pollen.
The vegetative phase of a cannabis plant is also known as the growth phase. It starts as soon as the plant stops being a seedling and its length will vary if we're growing indoors or outdoors. In the open air, the vegetative phase often coincides with the spring-summer months, right when the sunlight is more intense. During this stage, the plant will grow and develop a strong stem and vigorous branches for the forthcoming flowering phase that will start when the days shorten and the hours of sunlight lessen.
If you're growing indoors instead, you control the length of the vegetative phase. For example, you can keep your plant into a vegetative stage as much as you wish by using an 18/6 light cycle until she's big enough. Once you switch it to a 12/12 cycle, the plant will think the time to flower has finally come. Some people actually keep their plants into a vegetative state for years in order to get cuttings out of them. These are called mother plants. This is only possible with photoperiod marijuana plants. Autoflowering genetics, as the name suggests, don't depend on the light cycle but flowers automatically once they're mature enough.
The vegetative phase of a cannabis plant is also known as the growth phase. It starts as soon as the plant stops being a seedling and its length will vary if we're growing indoors or outdoors. In the open air, the vegetative phase often coincides with the spring-summer months, right when the sunlight is more intense. During this stage, the plant will grow and develop a strong stem and vigorous branches for the forthcoming flowering phase that will start when the days shorten and the hours of sunlight lessen.
If you're growing indoors instead, you control the length of the vegetative phase. For example, you can keep your plant into a vegetative stage as much as you wish by using an 18/6 light cycle until she's big enough. Once you switch it to a 12/12 cycle, the plant will think the time to flower has finally come. Some people actually keep their plants into a vegetative state for years in order to get cuttings out of them. These are called mother plants. This is only possible with photoperiod marijuana plants. Autoflowering genetics, as the name suggests, don't depend on the light cycle but flowers automatically once they're mature enough.
If your seed has developed into a male flower, it means the plant is hermaphroditic. Your problem is very rare and it is not usually caused by the seed.
The seeds from Alice Seed are 99.99% feminized and they are also hermie-free (as long as the plants are not put under stress).
Feminized seeds can hermie if the light schedule is not good, if the temperatures are extreme and irregular, if the feeding is intoxicating them, and if any stress factor interrupts the normal flowering cycle. Since it is a survival mechanism we believe that most females have the ability to become hermies. Simply introducing light during the dark periods of the bud cycle can often induce it. It's known as light poisoning.
By buying feminized seeds the chances of a hermaphrodite being caused by genetics are even lower than if you bought normal, non-feminized seeds. The reason is that the female seeds are created by the seeds produced by the pollination of their own flowers contains only female DNA.
Another thing to consider is that different strains have varying stress thresholds, meaning that some strains are easier to stress into becoming a hermaphrodite than others. You may have selected strains that have a low stress threshold and were affected by mild stress that might not have impacted other, more hearty strains.
If you provide us with detailed information about your growing conditions, such as the type of soil or coir you're using, the light cycle, temperature, humidity, and fertilizer, we can help identify the problem and provide guidance on how to correct it. Additionally, if you can provide detailed pictures, it will greatly assist in our analysis.
The sole reason for cannabis plants not to flower is that they might be photoperiod plants and the light cycle may not have been properly changed or changed at all. When growing indoors, remember that marijuana plants are to be exposed to a light cycle of 18 hours of light / 6 hours of darkness during the vegetative phase, that is, during the growth phase. That cycle must be switched to 12/12 once we decide the time to flower has come. Unless you change the light cycle, the plant will not flower and will remain in a vegetative stage ad eternum.
Outdoors, the flowering phase begins when days start to become shorter, by the end of summer-early autumn. If your plant hasn't flowered by the time that moment arrives, it might be due to the light pollution of the night sky caused maybe by a nearby lamppost. In that case, we recommend covering the plant at night, with a dark mesh or plastic –always letting the plant breathe- that prevents direct sunlight from reaching her.
Despite there being thousands of cannabis hybrids, as many as breeders can create, all of them can be classified in three large groups: Sativa, Indica and Ruderalis. Each one of these strains has its own growth pattern, as well as distinct aromatic and aesthetic features. Hybrids result from crossing them.
All cannabis seeds, whether they're THC-rich or CBD-rich or rich in any other cannabinoid, could be therapeutic. The therapeutic potential of cannabis lies in the ability of its cannabinoids to interact with our endocannabinoid system, playing major roles in pain control or in our cardiovascular health, among others. Since every cannabinoid has a very specific effect on our endocannabinoid system, each ailment may require different cannabinoids in different percentages. For example, while CBD could be perfect for the treatment of mental illnesses, THC would be contraindicated. However, THC is far more suitable than CBD if what we want is to stimulate the appetite or ease the nausea in chemo patients.
Feminized photoperiod seeds are different from autoflowering genetics in that, while the latter flowers automatically without having to change the light cycle, the former will only flower if the light cycle is changed. Autoflowering seeds have a life cycle of slightly more than two months. Photoperiod seeds require 4 months instead. Autoflowering seeds owe their amazing speed and autoflowering nature to the Ruderalis genotype, a kind of marijuana created in Siberia. There, plants had to adapt to the harsh weather conditions and the short summer of the area, a fact that explains their fast growth.
In spite of the many seed germinating methods available, we recommend using two most popular method:
WET KITCHEN TOWEL METHOD
The kitchen towel method comes in several iterations. Some growers use cotton wool pads or absorbent pieces of paper. For this guide, we will be using a kitchen towel as it is readily available and holds moisture relatively well. Place one sheet of damp kitchen towel on a flat surface. Space your seeds a few centimetres apart before placing the second piece of kitchen towel over the top. You need to ensure both pieces are damp, not wet.
After 24-72h, the seeds will start to open, and you should see tiny white tips appear. Once these roots reach 2–3mm in length, use extreme care to transfer them from the water to pre-prepared soil pots. We recommend using jiffy pellets:
- Dampen the jiffy pellet
- Place the seed in it at a depth of 0.5 cm, making sure the roots are looking down.
- Place the jiffy pellets on a tray under the lights on an 18/6 cycle if the seeds are subject to the photoperiod and on a 20/4 light cycle if they're autoflowering. Keep a steady temperature of 25 ºC and a relative humidity of 70-80 %.
- In a couple of days, the first sprouts will appear. That's when you'll have to transplant the jiffy into a pot.
GLASS OF WATER APPROACH
Incredibly simple to facilitate, beginner growers may opt to germinate their seeds in a glass of water. Half-fill a glass or bowl with water that is approximately 22°C (71°F).
Once again, when the white root tips reach 2–3mm, move the seeds (carefully) to jiffy pellets. Use the same guidance found above for planting techniques.
Thanks to pruning, our marijuana plants will grow happier and produce better results. This technique allows us to control the growth of our plants, whether we want to make them grow sideways and develop more branches or make the most out of the available light. There are several methods, such as the 'super-cropping', 'FIMing' or 'topping', but to name just a few. They are all perfect for indoors and outdoors. However, some are only suited to the vegetative stage (growth stage) while others can be used in any phase, even during the flowering.
The best way to know whether your marijuana plants are ready for harvest is by observing the development of the trichomes on the buds. Trichomes are small semi-transparent lollipop-shaped sticks that appear all over the flowers. In other words, the so-called resin is formed by trichomes and it's there that the plant's cannabinoids are. When 30 % of them turn amber, it means your buds are ready to be harvested. Other telltale signs that could also help you are these:
- The resin production has reached its peak
- The buds have stopped growing
- The secondary leaves have started to discolour and most main leaves have fallen
Because the plant's been pollinated. At Alice Seeds, we guarantee 99.99% feminised plants. However, if you don't act with caution, particularly when growing outdoors, they can be pollinated by male plants and end up producing seeds. Pollen particles float through the air and can pollinate female plants located kilometers away. This is not a common thing but it can happen.
The secret of a successful drying of cannabis buds is in the selection of a good place to store them during the 15-30 days the process lasts. Buds have to be kept in a dark but well-ventilated place with a temperature not exceeding 27ºC and low humidity levels, to avoid the development of mould and fungi. We recommend cutting off the branches and hanging them upside down, exactly as if it were your laundry, and keeping a watchful eye on the buds so as to make sure fungi don't grow in them. If you can easily break the stem with your fingers, this is normally an indicator that the process is over. Then, it'll be time to cut off the buds with scissors and to start the curing process.
Proper curing, which generally takes some 4-8 weeks, enhances the flavour and aroma of the buds. We recommend storing the buds in airtight glass jars. Don't overstuff the jar because the buds need some air to breath. Place the jar in a cool and dark place, and open it once a day to check for mould growth.
Growing cannabis indoors consists in recreating the optimal natural conditions for your cannabis plants' development. The basic elements you'll need are the following:
- An adequate growing space: it could be a grow tent or a grow room. It's very important for it to be discreet, easy to ventilate and big enough for the plants to grow comfortably. Installing a good lighting system is also paramount.
- A lighting system to recreate the most suitable lighting conditions for your cannabis plants. For this, you'll need lamps, ballasts and reflectors.
- A good ventilation system that will allow you to keep a steady temperature in the grow room.
- Top-quality filters and odour control systems that guarantee your crop's discretion.
The best time to germinate your cannabis seeds outdoors will vary depending on the region you live in. Broadly speaking, you should do it when there's no risk of frosts, and winter has long ended. Having said this, we could give you some approximate dates depending on your region:
Northern hemisphere:
- Temperate climates with long summers: the temperatures are milder and, in general, the germination period goes from 1 April to 30 May, though the best moment is usually in early May.
- Colder and more humid climates with short summers: in these types of climates, germination can take place, in general, from 1 May to 30 June. The most recommended moment is usually early June.
Southern hemisphere:
- Temperate climates with long summers: the temperatures are milder and, in general, the germination period goes from 1 September to 30 October, though the best moment is usually in early October.
- Colder and more humid climates with short summers: in these types of climates, germination can take place, in general, from 1 November to 30 December. The most recommended moment is usually early December.
Other questions
Hemp and cannabis are two different species of the very same family: Cannabis Sativa. They are different in that they're used differently. These differences have grown wider over hundreds of years of selection and domestication, as while hemp has been traditionally grown and shaped with a view to obtaining raw materials (seeds, oil, fibres, cellulose…), in the case of marijuana the focus has been on its psychoactive effect, with all growing and selection efforts concentrated on increasing THC levels.
Anyone can have a bad trip on cannabis, no matter how used to THC they are. Ingesting cannabis instead of smoking it, using strains with very high THC levels and almost no CBD, consuming marijuana contaminated with traces of fertilisers or other substances, or simply being somewhere that makes us feel uncomfortable are some of the factors that could trigger a bad trip. If you happen to experience any of those, we recommend consuming pure CBD weed since this cannabinoid counteracts the negative effects of THC such as the tachycardia or dizziness. Should you not have any high-CBD strains near, try to calm down, breathe, walk a bit and eat something sugary to get the pressure up.
Although cannabis is a great ally in the battle against the symptoms of a number of diseases, it might interact with some medications and have negative effects. That's why, even though the side effects are rather limited, THC-high strains can negatively affect patients taking medication to control their blood pressure. Both THC and CBD can increase the effect of anticoagulants, sedatives or contraceptive pills as well.
The answer is yes, but with some nuances. Different scientific studies seem to indicate that, at optimal doses, cannabis can lead to better sex because it inhibits anxiety, relaxes the body and mind, heightens the senses and sparks an increase in libido. However, abusive and prolonged use over time can have the opposite effect, reducing libido and sometimes even making it more difficult to satisfactorily finish the sex session.
Cannabis consumers can indeed donate blood. There's no problem with it, as long as you're not under the influence of cannabis while doing so. In fact, 24 hours must have passed from the last time you consumed. This general rule, which also applies to alcohol and other substances, is just to make sure the donor is fully aware and consents to the donation.