When it comes to growing your own cannabis at home, one of the first things to always keep in mind is whether you want to grow sativa or an indica strain, or a hybrid, which is a mix between the two. The reality is that there are many different cannabis types out there, and knowing what makes them different isn’t only important in terms of consumption, but for growing as well.
Today, we want to take a closer look at what the three main or most popular marijuana strains are, what they’re characterized by, and what you need to know about them, both in terms of consuming and growing them. Different cannabis strains have different effects, flavors, needs, and may need to be grown differently as well.
Every marijuana strain will usually fall under one of three main categories, including indica, sativa, and hybrid, with all three being fairly distinct, yet also sharing similarities.
For those of you who already looked further below, you might notice that there is technically a fourth type of cannabis plant out there, the cannabis ruderalis plant, although for most people, this simply isn’t important, so we won’t focus too much on that.
For all intents and purposes, when you are choosing a cannabis strain, you’re choosing from an indica, sativa, or a hybrid strain, and today we’re here to help you make that choice. Remember, the best cannabis strain is the one that is the easiest for you to grow and produces the desired results.
The Three Main Strains of Weed – (Plus Another!)
First, there are three different strains of cannabis that you need to be familiar with, and another, although this is one that you probably won’t be growing at home, so we will focus too much on this.
Cannabis Indica
First, we have cannabis indica, which is often associated with producing sedating and calming effects, and for being ideal for night time use. This type of cannabis usually has a relatively short flowering period, usually no more than 12 weeks. This plant also tends to be fairly bushy and short.
Many people use indica strains of cannabis for pain management, as a sleep aid, and to help them calm down. Generally speaking, indica strains usually have higher levels of CBD relative to THC, especially when compared to sativa strains. Furthermore, most people generally associate indica strains with a body high, although there is also a bit of a head high involved.
Cannabis Sativa
We then have cannabis sativa, which is known for having more of an uplifting and creative effect. People often use a sativa strains for their energizing effects, which is why they are most often considered daytime strains.
Furthermore, sativa strains usually have relatively tall and thin builds, along with longer flowering times, usually up to 16 weeks.
In terms of the cannabinoid content, sativa strains are known for having relatively high THC levels when compared to CBD levels, and they’re usually associated more with a cerebral or head high, as opposed to a body high.
Hybrid Strains
We then have hybrid cannabis strains, which are very interesting, because as you might be able to tell, they are a mix of indica and sativa strains. Due to this, it is very hard to describe exactly what characterizes a hybrid strain.
This is because one strain may be 90% indica and 10% sativa, whereas another might be 70% sativa and 30% indica, whereas others might be perfectly balanced. Exactly what characteristics, appearance, flavor, and shape the plant in question will have depends on the ratio of indica to sativa within any given cannabis strain.
Cannabis Ruderalis
Although this one generally is not important for cannabis growers at home, there is technically another type known as cannabis ruderalis. This is a type of cannabis that is native to areas of the world that have short growing seasons, such as Eastern Europe and Russia.
This type is usually much less potent and smaller than both indica and sativa strains, and usually has a very low THC content. They do generally have some CBD, but not all that much either.
More often than not, they’re often used for their genetic contribution to other hybrid strains, particularly auto flowering strains, as ruderalis plants often start flowering based on their age rather than due to changes in light cycles.
Understanding Cannabis Strains Effects – Indica vs Sativa vs Hybrids
If you are growing anyone specific cannabis strain for its effects, then it’s probably good for you to know what those effects are. As you can probably tell, sativa strains have some fairly different effects when compared to indica strains, so let’s figure out what these are right now.
Sativa Strains
First, we have cannabis sativa strains, which are more often associated with a daytime use. The reason for this is because sativa strains tend to produce more of an energizing high. Sativa strains can be characterized by feeling energized, creative, uplifted, talkative, giggly, social, hungry, as well as mentally calm and relaxed.
For the most part, sativa strains are cerebral centric, or in other words, they produce a head high more than a body high. That being said, if you have a very strong sativa strain, it may still produce a bit of a body buzz. However, in the grand scheme of things, sativa strains are often regarded as great daytime strains, because they usually don’t sedate you, or at least, they don’t make you as tired as indica strains.
Sativa strains often make you feel like you’re floating in a cloud, like you’re a little kid at a candy store. What you also need to be aware of however is that sativa strains tend to have higher THC levels than indica strains. Therefore, if you want something that is very high in THC, something that is going to get to the moon and back due to its potency, then it’s usually a sativa strain that you want to go for.
However, what you also need to be aware of here is that because of their great potency and their cerebral effects, the combination often produces feelings of paranoia or anxiety in people, especially in those who have a low tolerance or don’t have much experience with cannabis. Therefore, if you plan on smoking or ingesting a sativa, if it’s your first time, a good deal of caution is recommended.
Indica Strains
We then have indica strains, which are usually considered to be better for night time use. As opposed to sativa strains, indica strains tend to be much more sedating in nature. Indica strains can be characterized by feeling sedated, tired, heavy, relaxed, euphoric, happy, and giggly. Furthermore, indica strains usually produce much more of a body high, as opposed to sativa strains which produce more of a head high.
With indica strains, you should feel like your body is sinking into your couch, like you are very heavy, and maybe even like your limbs are tingling. Yes, there is also a bit of a cerebral high involved here, especially as far as feeling happy, euphoric, and relaxed go, but indica strains really shouldn’t make you feel very energized or creative.
Therefore, indica is best for nighttime use whereas sativa is best for daytime use. What you also need to consider here is that indica strains usually have a slightly lower THC level than sativa strains, but also have a bit more CBD than sativa strains. Many people say that this is why indica strains are more sedating in nature. Therefore, a light indica strain might be better for beginners than a sativa.
Hybrid
We aren’t going to spend much time talking about the effects that a hybrid strain might have on you. The reason for this is because a hybrid strain will exhibit the effects of its parent strains, so it really depends on the percentage of indica versus sativa that a hybrid contains. As mentioned above, one can lean heavily in One Direction or another, or be well balanced between the two as well.
Indica & Sativa – Marijuana Strains Benefits
If you plan on growing your own cannabis at home, then you also need to realize what the biggest benefits of both indica and sativa strains are.
First, if we are talking about indica strains, these are most often used for benefits such as muscle relaxation, pain relief, relaxation and sedation, appetite stimulation, stress reduction, anxiety reduction, and as a sleep aid.
However, if we are talking about sativa strains of cannabis, these are generally best for cerebral stimulation, creativity, mood elevation, cognitive enhancement, for feeling energized and uplifted, and are usually best for daytime use.
Growing Cannabis – The Difference Between Sativa and Indica for Cultivation
Since we are talking about growing different cannabis strains, you therefore need to know what the main difference is between indica and cannabis constrains are in terms of cultivation.
Yes, the biggest differences between the two strains tends to be their effects, which is especially the case for the consumer. However, for you, the cannabis cultivator, knowing what the differences between these types of cannabis are can also be important to know.
So, what makes growing an indica strain different from growing sativa strain?
Plant Shape
If you are very pressed for horizontal space, then an indica strain might not be the best one to grow. This is because indica strains tend to be extremely broad, wide, and short. They usually don’t grow over 6 feet in height, but can grow quite wide they usually look like little Christmas trees.
We then have sativa plants, which are usually quite tall, open, and slender. They also have much thinner and lighter leaves, as opposed to indica plants, which have broader and darker leads. Sativa strains can easily grow to seven feet high, if not higher, so you’ll need a good bit of vertical clearance to grow sativas.
Rate of Growth
Something else worth considering here is that indica strains are usually ready for harvest much sooner than sativa strains. Indica strains usually have a flowering period of between 8 and 12 weeks, whereas sativa strains have a flowering period of between 12 and 16 weeks.
Furthermore, the vegetative phase for a sativa plant is also a bit longer than for an indica plant. Therefore, if you want your plant grown as quickly as possible, then it is an indica that you want.
Yield
Also worth considering is that sativa strains usually produce lighter and airier buds with more foliage, which means that their yields aren’t always huge.
On the other hand, when it comes to indica strains, these usually have a lot of dense and compact buds, and usually have a much higher bud to foliage ratio as well. If you’re looking to maximize your overall yield, then it is an indica plant you want to go for.
Lighting Needs
Next on the list of considerations here is that sativa strains generally need a lot of long light cycles with a focus on allowing them to retain their vertical height.
However, indica strains tend to be much more tolerant of lighting conditions, therefore making them easier for beginners to grow.
Environmental Needs
Also worth noting is the fact that sativa strains of cannabis tend to be a little more sensitive to their surrounding conditions. Sativa strains tend to do much better in warmer climates. If we are talking about indica strains, these can usually adapt to many different types of climates, challenging growing conditions, and cooler temperatures.
Harvest Time
If you are thinking of growing your cannabis outdoors, keep in mind that sativa strains are usually ready to harvest later on in the fall, whereas indica strains are usually ready early fall or late summer.
Conclusion
Now that you know what all of the major differences between indica, sativa, and hybrid plants are, you can make an informed decision as to which type of strain you would like to grow. Remember, there are significant differences in terms of both growing and consuming indica and sativa strains, and they’re all important to know before you make your final choice.
