Homegrow has grown in the last several years due to people working from home and wanting to take up a new hobby and understand where their flower was coming from and also having a deeper relationship with the plant with personal care and dedication that can’t be found elsewhere. We speak with Royal Queen Seeds, a leading seedbank from Europe that has been taking over the globe with their top tier seeds and genetics creating some of the most beloved strains that our community love so much.
Royal Queen Seeds has been a leading European cannabis seedbank with over a decade in the industry and a brand name that has reached the far corners of the globe. Last year on 4/20/23, RQS debuted a massive digital ad in Time Square, New York – how excited is RQS to branch out into the United States?
We are truly excited about the reception Royal Queen Seeds has received in the U.S.. Our expansion into The States was more of a natural move than a new market, since we already enjoyed significant brand awareness thanks to our blog, and the demand for our products was growing every day.
The reception was fantastic, particularly because we entered a more mature market. People in the United States are several steps ahead when it comes to destigmatizing cannabis. We found a niche where cannabis is part of its mainstream realm, which, together with the approval of home-growing laws, gives us the possibility to open new opportunity windows every day. While we still have a long journey ahead in spreading awareness about the benefits of home-growing, our progress is moving in the right direction.
What strains have garnered RQS the reputation that it has today?
Our seeds play a crucial role in our social impact, but the real merit stems from our commitment to continuous research and development in the cannabis industry. We conduct multiple quality tests to ensure the production of high-end products that meet our consumers’ needs.
Another essential aspect is our active engagement with the community. We prioritize listening to the needs of our community growers, recognizing their requirements, and providing solutions. This approach keeps us at the forefront of their minds.
This dedication has also made us pioneers in the industry, notably through our ownership of globally recognized F1 Hybrids. These strains combine the best traits of high-quality plants, resulting in powerful, balanced seeds.
What demands in seeds and strains are you seeing come from U.S. consumers and what they are craving in plant characteristics?
Our biggest demand at the moment is the new RQSxTyson2.0 collection we’ve just launched. It has made a huge impact among our consumers, and we expect it to be one of our bestsellers this year.
When it comes to choosing a strain, every grower has their own priorities, but we do encounter some common requests. The number of people looking for seeds suitable for indoor growing is increasing every day due to legalization. That’s why autoflowering plants are especially in demand. This variety allows for easy cultivation of small and compact plants with fast flowering times, making them perfect for both expert and novice growers.
Another significant request we often receive is for varieties with higher THC ratios. Whether for recreational or medical purposes, people tend to seek strains that offer maximum benefits.
What strains across the globe are outshining U.S. strains out of the water – and why U.S. brands should consider growing them?
As is well-known, U.S. genetics are globally recognized for their incredible quality and rich heritage. We ourselves admire them, which is why we offer a wide range of them on our website. However, there’s always room to explore something new, and we firmly believe that European genetics are something to highlight. That’s why we highly encourage U.S. brands to consider trying some of our genetics, such as Cookies Gelato, Orion F1, and Purple Queen. We truly believe that these strains are game-changers for the industry, and you’ll be amazed by their results.
2024 just began but what is RQS seeing as the top seeds in demand for the year?
As mentioned earlier, our Tyson line has caught the eye of many growers around the world, creating anticipation for this new collection. We believe there will be significant demand for it this year, especially for the Gelato 44 and Punch Pie varieties.
Indoor home grow is on the rise with more and more states across the U.S. allowing several plants to be grown per household, what important tips can you share with new beginners?
When embarking on the journey of growing your own plants, there are many factors to consider. For instance, you must decide whether to cultivate indoors or outdoors, determine which seeds best suit your needs, and choose which training techniques to employ. However, amidst these details, there are other crucial elements to home growing. Engaging with the growers’ community, learning from shared experiences, embracing experimentation, and exercising patience throughout the process are equally significant.
Ultimately, the cornerstone of starting home-growing lies in comprehending the benefits of cultivating your own plants. Once you reach this understanding, you’ll find genuine enjoyment in the process and develop a profound connection with the plants, enriching the entire experience.
What makes RQS F1 strains top tier and worthy of being added to growers collection?
F1 hybrid cannabis seeds ensure superior performance overall. There are five significant traits that make a substantial difference when cultivating your own cannabis plants. Unparalleled uniformity and stability, means you can rest easy knowing that every seed you pop will develop into almost identical phenotypes that share the same size, structure, quality, resistance, and phytochemical profile.
These varieties also offer exceptional yields and demonstrate higher levels of THC, making them a top-notch in the industry. Another distinguishing feature of F1 cannabis hybrids is their resilience to stress, diseases, and pests. Lastly, being autoflowering, they exhibit rapid flowering times suitable for both indoor and outdoor cultivation.
Combining all of these traits allows growers to secure high-quality harvests in a matter of weeks.
What can fans of RQS expect for the rest of 2024?
Our 2024 calendar is shaping up to be quite busy. We kicked off the year with the Tyson campaign and intend to maintain that We have exciting plans lined up for 4/20, particularly in New York City, where we’ll be hosting a masterclass with one of our expert growers, along with numerous other surprises for the occasion.
We encourage everyone to stay tuned because in 2024, you’ll be seeing a lot more of us!
