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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

[email protected]


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

  • First and last name
  • Home and billing address
  • Telephone number
  • Gender
  • IP address
  • Email address
  • Date of birth

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

  • First & last name
  • Gender

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

  • Email address

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: [email protected].

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to [email protected].

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO:

  • Revoke the consent you have granted;
  • Access personal data;
  • Rectify personal data;
  • Delete personal data;
  • File a complaint or a writ for the protection of your rights before the Spanish Data Protection Agency;
  • Be notified of any security incident that may affect your rights;
  • Limitation of processing;
  • Portability.
By Luke Sumpter


Cannabis users are a diverse bunch. They have a range of different preferences and tastes when it comes to the strains they choose to smoke and grow. However, cannabis cultivators share more in common than you might think. For one, they all possess a near-identical tool kit when it comes to growing the plant they love, which includes containers, lights, key nutrients, and training equipment. Some take things a step further with digital hygrometers, pH testers, and brix metres. A handful of growers also use microscopes during the growing cycle.

It might sound odd, but more and more growers are dipping their toes into the realm of microscopy for the betterment of their weed plants. Why? Because it gives them a deeper understanding of the health of their crop, the ripeness of their buds, and even the status of their soil. Below, you’re going to find out why you should consider adding a microscope to your growing arsenal, and exactly what you can achieve by using one.

Smartphone Microscope

Why is it Important to Have a Microscope for Growing Cannabis?

Microscopes are used in a wide range of professions. Biological scientists use them to assess blood samples, geologists use them to identify rocks, and jewellers use them to observe the quality of potential purchases. But what function do microscopes have when it comes to growing good cannabis? In truth, weed microscopes have a host of functions that make them a compulsory piece of kit for an increasing number of keen cultivators.

Most commonly, cannabis growers will harness microscopes during the tail end of the flowering stage. At this time, they’re exceptionally helpful when it comes to harvesting at the correct time. By determining the maturity of buds by assessing the visual characteristics of anatomical components such as trichomes and pistils, growers are able to harvest a crop at the perfect time.

But microscopes have additional uses outside of harvest time. They help cultivators scout out and identify pests and diseases, allowing them to quickly develop and execute an integrated pest management solution to solve their biological problem.

Swathes of cannabis growers are also starting to realise the critical role that soil microbes play when cultivating weed. Using a microscope allows growers to take a peek into the rhizosphere and get an idea of the status of their soil—knowledge that results in increased fertility and plant health further down the line.

How Can Using a Microscope Improve the Quality and Potency of Cannabis Buds?

The human eye is a masterpiece of engineering, but it can only see so much. With limited magnification, most growers are taking lucky guesses when it comes to harvesting their crop at the right time—a decision that can greatly impact both the quality and potency of the subsequent yield.

Genetics and environmental factors are the two most important variables when it comes to THC content and aromatic terpene profiles. However, accurately timed harvesting helps to catch buds at the peak of their calibre. Using a microscope won’t miraculously enhance the quality of your flowers, but it’ll help you pinpoint the period where THC and terpene production are at their peak. Ultimately, you’ll make the effort of growing your own all the more worthwhile by using a cannabis microscope.

What are the Benefits of Using a Microscope?

You’re already aware of some of the key benefits of using a cannabis microscope. But the story goes much deeper! Below, we’re going to dive into more detail about the advantages of using magnification to grow magnificent marijuana.

You Can Take a Detailed Look at Trichomes

For the vast majority of cannabis cultivators, trichomes are the sole reason for growing the plant. Researchers refer to these small glandular structures as cellular metabolite factories[1]. There are several different types of trichomes that occur on cannabis flowers, but the stalked variety, which features a large globular head, produces most of the good stuff. These mushroom-shaped trichomes contain specialised enzymes and chemistry that enable them to constantly produce cannabinoids and terpenes, which they exude in the form of a sticky viscous resin.

Trichomes Microscope

But trichomes aren’t static structures. They drastically change in appearance throughout the flowering phase. In chronological order, they take on the following looks:

  • Translucent: Younger trichomes are translucent in appearance. At this point, they are much lower in cannabinoids and terpenes, making them less potent and aromatic.
  • Milky: As they mature, trichomes become milky and opaque. This indicates the increased production of cannabinoids, including THC, and aromatic terpenes. Concentrations peak when around 70% of observed trichomes take on this appearance.
  • Amber: Eventually, plants mature to the degree that their chemical components start to degrade. For example, THC degrades into the more stoning cannabinoid CBN. This causes trichomes to take on an amber appearance.

Using a microscope around harvest time will allow you to pinpoint the ideal time to harvest your buds. For increased terpene and THC content, take them when trichomes are most cloudy. If you prefer the effect of CBN, wait for shades of amber to show up.

Supports Pest Management

Microscopes are a valuable tool as part of an integrated pest management strategy when it comes to prevention and treatment. They make for great scouting tools and can allow growers to identify eggs and small pest populations before they become a big deal. They also allow growers to identify the culprit once problems arise and tailor the appropriate response based on the pest in question. Magnification will allow the growers to observe key identifiable characteristics of flies, mites, gnats, and aphids.

Helps Diagnose Plant-Based Problems

Weed microscopes can help to diagnose more than relatively large insect pests. At high levels of magnification, they can also help spot diseases and help growers take the right course of action in response. Using a microscope allows cultivators to catch the likes of powdery mildew and bud rot in their early stages. They’re also helpful for analysing root samples for signs of rot and the presence of plant-parasitic nematodes.

Bud Rot Microscope View

Assess Soil Health

Soil microbes play a vital role when growing cannabis. Just like us humans, each cannabis plant has a unique microbiome. When composted optimally, this community of microorganisms can help plants to thrive and reach their full potential. Healthy soil features a wealth of living organisms, and more diversity reduces the chances of diseases and enhances nutrient cycling down in the rhizosphere. Using a good microscope will give you a good idea of the concentration of bacteria, fungi, nematodes, protozoa, and arthropods within your soil.

Weed Under the Microscope: Visual Examples

Microscopes offer weed growers a bunch of advantages. But what exactly can you expect to see when you peer into an eyepiece for the first time? Keep scrolling to take a visit to the world of microscopic weed.

Trichomes Under the Microscope

Here, we have images of the three main types of trichomes found in cannabis flowers, at varying levels of maturity.

  • Bulbous trichomes are spherical in shape and lack a stalk.
  • Capitate-sessile trichomes possess a globular head on top of a short talk.
  • Capitate-stalked trichomes feature a large head on a long stalk. These are the productive powerhouses that produce most of the terpenes and cannabinoids.
  • Cystolithic trichomes are hair-like structures. They are non-glandular but possess important defensive functions.

Here, we have a much more detailed view of capitate-stalked trichomes under a scanning electron microscope. You can clearly make out the secretary disks, on the underside of the head, where cannabinoids and terpenes are released from.

Pistils Under The Microscope

Pistils, known by their correct botanical name of stigmas, are hair-like protrusions designed to catch airborne male pollen for fertilisation. Much like trichomes, their colour reflects plant maturity and they serve as another visual cue for harvest timing.

Here, you can see what young and immature pistils look like. They are often brilliant white with a filled and fresh appearance.

Eventually, pistils become darker orange and brown and comparatively shrivelled. This indicates maturity and serves as a prompt to harvest.

Not all mature pistils turn brown or orange. Below, you can see red pistils—the result of high anthocyanin concentrations.

Pistils Microscope

Pests Under the Microscope

Many pests are identifiable with the naked eye. However, the smaller the pest, the harder it is to get an accurate identification. Magnification will help you not only know what you're up against but will allow you to get a fascinating look into the anatomical details.

Here, you’re looking at aphids. These soft-bodied insects pierce cannabis tissue and extract the precious sap within. They’re often found on the underside of leaves. They’re usually green, yellow, or brown in appearance, and possess six legs.

These are aphid eggs. Knowing what they look like will help you to act early and prevent too much damage.

These are mealybugs. They’re sometimes confused with aphids. However, a microscopic view clearly distinguishes them based on their white fluffy appearance.

Hemp russet mites are the bane of many cannabis growers. You can identify them based on their tiny yellow-white bodies and maggot-like shape. Curled leaves are another surefire sign of their presence.

Check out these caterpillar eggs. You’ll sometimes come across them while pest scouting with a microscope. Catch them early, and you’ll prevent your plants from getting munched to pieces.

What Types of Microscopes Are Available?

You’re now aware of the many benefits of cannabis microscopes and their myriad uses. If you’re tempted to add one to your toolkit, it’ll help to get to know all of the different types available. Check out the options below to discover the right model for you.

Handheld Magnifying glass/jeweller’s loupe

Magnifying glasses and jeweller’s loupes are cheap but effective options for hobbyist growers. You won’t get a detailed look at soil life with these tools, but you’ll get a much better look at trichomes, pistils, and some pests.

Headband Magnifiers

These are essentially magnifying glasses that are strapped to the head. Again, they lack the superior magnification of microscopes. However, they allow for easy hand-free scouting and trichome/pistils analysis.

Handheld Digital Microscopes

These hand tools are cheaper than laboratory-grade microscopes. They’re small enough to carry on the go and can link up to a smartphone to remove the need to constantly stare down an eyepiece. Many models also come with a stand which makes them ideal for analysing leaf samples. With magnification up to around 200×, you’ll get an in-depth look at pests, trichomes, and pistils.

Video id: 711943564

Compound Light Microscope

These microscopes are the gold standard in soil science and plant diagnostics. They feature many moving parts, including stage controls, condensers, and coarse and fine focus adjusters, that allow users to get crystal-clear images of pests, diseases, and microbes. They're excellent for serious hobbyists and commercial growers when it comes to soil analysis. You’ll suddenly find yourself gazing at bacterial cells, fungi threads, and protozoa and nematodes. This will provide detailed information on the biological makeup of your soil.

Scanning Electron Microscopes

Scanning electron microscopes use electrons instead of light to generate an image. This technology creates an extremely detailed image of tiny objects using magnification of up to 500,000×. Because they’re extremely expensive, they’re restricted to high-end laboratories and are outside of the reach of hobbyist cannabis growers.

Which Microscope Works Best for Home Growing?

The type of microscopy you choose to use depends on your budget and how passionate you are about growing weed. Most cultivars will get by using a magnifying glass or handheld digital microscope. These devices will help you to harvest at the perfect time, and enable you to identify larger pests. Those with a bit more cash to splash, and more of an interest in soil biology, can grab a compound light microscope for several hundred pounds/euros. Once purchased, you’ll suddenly find yourself able to engineer your soil, diagnose diseases, and view plant cells in your own living room.

Get Up Close and Personal With Your Cannabis Plants

Nope—microscopes aren’t just for geologists and biological scientists! As you’ve seen, they make a handy addition to any cannabis growers toolkit. Much like other pieces of cultivation equipment, there are many different options available. Cheaper magnifying glasses and handheld digital microscopes will help you scout pests and identify the best time to terminate your grow. However, if you want to take things a step further, get yourself a compound light microscope to dive into the rhizosphere, perfect your soil, and diagnose diseases.

External Resources:
  1. Frontiers | Cannabis Glandular Trichomes: A Cellular Metabolite Factory https://www.frontiersin.org
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.
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