Frequently asked questions

How is the library curated?

Every strain entry is built by a human editor who walks the strain through a three-step check: documented breeder of record, parent strains cross-referenced against an independent registry, and at least one matching grow report. Anything that fails one of those steps either stays out of the library or sits on an editorial bench until the gap can be closed. Catalogues are not bulk-imported from third-party feeds.

Where do strain data figures come from?

Flowering windows, yields, and THC ranges are triangulated between two sources that pull in opposite directions. Breeder figures lean optimistic because they reflect the best phenotype and ideal grow conditions, while grower reports lean realistic because they include first-time growers and constrained tents. The published number is what a careful home grower can actually hit, not the absolute ceiling.

How often are strain entries updated?

Entries are reviewed on a rolling schedule, with high-traffic strains revisited every two to three months and the long tail checked at least once a year. The date at the bottom of each strain page reflects the last full editorial review. Smaller corrections triggered by reader messages or breeder catalogue changes are applied as they arrive.

Why is some data marked as a range?

A single number lies about a plant. A real cannabis cultivar varies across phenotypes, light setups, training regimes, and grower experience, so the honest answer is almost always a range rather than a point. Where the breeder claim and the grower report median disagree by more than twenty percent, the page calls that out explicitly instead of averaging the gap away.

Is Lockbox Seeds an actual seed bank?

No. Lockbox does not sell seeds, does not warehouse genetics, and does not handle payments for any cannabis product. It is an editorial reference site. When a reader wants to actually buy a strain covered in the library, the page points them to a vetted seed bank that ships the genetics under the breeder of record.

Why does the site link to ILGM?

I Love Growing Marijuana ships to all fifty US states without a workaround, carries a germination guarantee on its catalogue, and accepts the payment methods US home growers actually have access to. Its catalogue is also deep enough to match most of the entries in the Lockbox library to a real product. The affiliate disclosure page explains the full reasoning and the conditions under which the relationship would end.

Do you make money on every click?

Lockbox earns a commission only when a reader actually purchases seeds through an ILGM affiliate link, not on clicks. Commissions do not change what goes into the library, which breeder of record is named, or how a strain is described. Editorial picks are decided before the affiliate match is checked, not after.

Is Lockbox Seeds legal in my state?

Reading the site is legal everywhere in the United States. Buying cannabis seeds, possessing them, and germinating them is governed by state and sometimes municipal law, and the rules vary widely. Lockbox does not publish legal guidance because the patchwork changes too quickly to keep current. Check the law in your state before placing any order.

Can Lockbox advise me on growing?

The grow guides and tools cover general home-grow practice for hobby growers — light, nutrients, harvest timing, drying, and curing. The site does not provide dosing advice, medical recommendations, or one-on-one consulting. For questions specific to a single garden or a single plant, dated grower forum threads with photos remain the most useful resource.

Why is the writing so formal?

Most cannabis catalogue copy is either breeder marketing or scraped paraphrase, and both age badly. Lockbox is written in a neutral editorial register so the same page reads cleanly to a first-time grower, a working journalist, and a researcher pulling lineage data. It is also a deliberate signal that the site is not trying to be your friend on the way to a checkout button.

Where can I learn more about growing in my area?

Local growers clubs, state-licensed cultivator associations, and county-level horticulture extension offices are the best regional resources. The grow guides on Lockbox describe general principles that apply almost anywhere, but light timing, outdoor harvest windows, and pest pressure are local problems that benefit from local knowledge.

How does the strain finder work?

The strain finder is a short questionnaire that narrows the library by intent — desired effect, preferred terpene profile, indoor or outdoor environment, and grow difficulty. It returns a ranked list with the editorial rationale shown on each result, not just a score. Filters can be reset and re-run without losing context.

What is the breeder of record?

The breeder of record is the working seed program that maintains the canonical cross of a strain — the same lineage, naming, and selection criteria the breeder originally registered. When clones, knockoffs, or repackaged crosses circulate under the same name, Lockbox still names the original breeder on the entry. The where-to-buy module only links to the genuine line.

How do I cite Lockbox in an article?

Cite the specific page URL along with the review date shown at the bottom of that page. The editorial team prefers attribution by page rather than by site, because individual entries are updated independently and the underlying figures may shift between review cycles. Researchers can request the source list behind any entry via the editorial desk.

Why is there an RSS feed?

The RSS feed broadcasts new and substantially revised entries so readers, librarians, and aggregators can follow the library without depending on social channels. It is also useful for growers tracking specific breeders, since breeder profile updates push to the same feed. Subscribe to it the same way you would any other editorial feed.