Many growers ask themselves, what is the right strain for me? When answering this question, different things need to be considered, but most importantly, personal and medical needs. In the following, we will take a closer look at some factors that are important when it comes to deciding which cannabis strain to eventually grow.
It is not only important to find suitable varieties for oneself, but also to decide whether to grow the plants from clones or seeds. It must be kept in mind that the environment in which the plants are cultivated has a very strong influence on the extent to which genetics can show up in the physical characteristics of the plant. This means that only in an optimal cultivation environment will a variety be able to realise its full genetic potential. Different room conditions produce different results.
From cuttings or from seed?
In countries where cultivation is legalised for patients, it is usually easy to get cuttings. However, the choice of varieties is often limited and you should know the source very well in order not to get unwanted diseases in your growroom that are difficult to get rid of later.
Nevertheless, there are a number of advantages that speak for the use or even cultivation of cuttings if they are free from diseases and pests.
Zhe advantages of cuttings include:
- the sex is known
- they can be constantly replenished and are then available as scheduled when a grow is finished
- Mother plants are usually selected from many seeds in expert production to obtain a particularly outstanding mother plant, so you can be sure that their clones also have a particularly high genetic quality and very specific, desirable characteristics.
- Clones that come from the same mother all have the same growth habit and flowering time. This enables uniform growth, ideal illumination of the plants in the growroom and a perfect supply of nutrients.
- Germination of seeds takes some time. Cuttings can usually be sent into flower more quickly than plants grown from seed. Cuttings are genetically as old as their mothers, i.e. they are already sexually mature, whereas young plantlets have to become so first and also do not start flowering sooner.
Advantages Cultivation from Seeds:
- When cannabis plants are grown from seeds, an extra growing box is not needed for the mothers and cuttings as is the case when using cuttings. For the mothers and cuttings box, of course, a grow light and ventilation as well as fans must be running, this means additional electricity costs as well as additional purchase costs. This is not necessary if you grow plants from seeds. In this case, only one grow box is needed. It always depends on the number of plants needed and the size and frequency of the grows. While for the professional grower with a larger plant, cultivation with cuttings is indispensable or the experienced gardener has been achieving best results with it for years, it may make less sense for small grows or for growers who prefer to try out different strains. A large amount of marijuana growers simply do both.
- When using seeds, the choice of cannabis sorters with corresponding properties and effects is huge. The grower can choose exactly the strain that suits him and test different strains for their medicinal efficacy to finally find the most suitable or best combination for his own condition. New strains with different effect spectrums are constantly being added.
- With plants grown from seed, you know what you have. No insects or diseases can be brought into the grow room. Finally, the success of any grow depends on keeping the grow box as free of pathogens and insects as possible.
- Plants grown from high-quality seeds are often particularly vigorous and grow extremely thick stems with good care.
- Cannabis seeds can be stored for some time under appropriate conditions and then sown when needed.
- Feminised cannabis seeds now produce (almost) 100% healthy female plants and for many are more convenient and easier to use than regular seeds.
- Regular cannabis seeds produce the strongest and best female plants in my opinion, but the male plants have to be sorted out and it requires a lot of space because more (twice as many) seeds have to be sown and then grown up to get the same number of plants. Mothers should be selected from regular seeds. See also Mothers and cuttings - Cultivation in detail and Mother plants - selection and care
Choosing the right variety in consideration of the room conditions
Especially if you have limited space and height in the grow area, you should choose strains that tend to stay small and not grow too tall. Pure indica strains, such as Afghani landraces, tend to stay small and narrower in growth, while they produce mainly physical effects when consumed and find particular use in pain management, sleep problems, restlessness and muscle spams, to name but a few applications. See more:Indicas in medicine.
Pure Sativa strains are especially suited for greenhouse or outdoor cultivation. In many cases, they can reach tree size (4-5m) and are beyond the capacity of most indoor grow boxes. However, they deliver incredibly high yields and are interesting for patient associations/cannabis clubs, for example, where it is important that larger quantities are regularly available for the patients. These plants are then also the ones that can yield about 1kg per plant at full size around 4m. For many patients and pleasure smokers, the sativas are indispensable, they provide very typical psychoactive and medicinal effects for very specific symptoms and diseases. See also: Sativas in medicine. If you have some experience, patience and good growing equipment, you can dare to grow a sativa indoors. It's not that it can't be done, but it does require a little more knowledge and it can take a lot longer. However, some important points should be taken into account. First of all, the size growth of the plants must be kept under control. This is done by sending the plants into flower much earlier than one would do with indicas and also by limiting their height by tying them down and using nets. Beginners are not recommended to grow pure sativas indoors. You can find more information on growing sativas in the growroom under Successfully growing Sativas indoors
Hybrids, i.e. crosses of Indica and Sativa, can have the whole spectrum of Sativa and Indica genes and combine and mix the most diverse characteristics of both. Most hybrids are suitable for both outdoor and indoor cultivation. There are sativa-dominant hybrids that have predominantly sativa genetics but, thanks to the indica content, do not grow as large as pure sativas and also have a shorter flowering time. But there are also sativa-dominant hybrids that grow relatively tall and have to be limited accordingly. The best thing to do is to look at each variety to see how tall it gets and whether it is recommended as an indoor variety. We have largely written it down for all seed banks and strains, but if it is still not clear or you are unsure, you can always ask us and we will be happy to help. 🙂
Indica dominant hybrids usually remain moderate, rather smaller. The respective effects of the hybrids are manifold and can be quite different. In our cannabis strains we have listed the effects and recommended uses for each medicinal strain. In the section medicinal seedsyou will find the cannabis strains sorted by indications and effects.
Important questions when choosing the right cannabis strain
In order to find the suitable cannabis strain with the appropriate growth behaviour, medicinal or also psychoactive effects, which also otherwise corresponds to one's own ideas, it makes sense to ask oneself a few questions in advance and to take these into account when making one's selection:
- Where do I want to grow: Indoor or outdoor?
- What are my environmental conditions? Room conditions, grow equipment, climate?
- What medicinal effects is the cannabis strain supposed to have? (e.g. analgesic, sedative or uplifting and stimulating?)
- What psychoactive, physical effects, what spectrum of effects should the variety have?
- What expectations and wishes do I have in terms of: Flowering time, size growth, taste/aroma, colour, resin production?
- Do I prefer the sativa effect or more the typical indica effect or a balanced mixture of both?
- Do I want to use the cannabis strain therapeutically during the day? or at night?
- Which varieties can possibly be combined well and sensibly with each other in a growroom?
Choosing the right variety taking into account the spectrum of effects
Choosing the right medicinal cannabis strain can be confusing at first, given the now wide variety of different strains. Many strains have names that are not necessarily representative of the medicinal effects. As mentioned above, in our medical cannabis strains category you will find all strains sorted by indications and medical effects. This will help you find the cannabis strain you are looking for. The effects of marijuana strains can be roughly divided into two categories: physical effects (calming, sedating, relaxing, heavy) and mental effects (makes you creative, stimulates you, euphoric, clear high).
Cannabis strains can be divided into 7 categories in terms of their effects:
- Type 1: strong indica, long-lasting, intense effect, promotes sleep, has pain-relieving effects, strong physical relaxant, for use at night, e.g., ,. LA Confidential by DNA Genetics, Ortega Indica by Dutch Passion, Black Valley by Ripper Seeds, Sandstorm by Cannabiogen, Alpha Kush by Cannamed
- Type 2: clear Indica, long lasting, physically relaxing but with clear head parts. Suitable for daytime use, e.g.. Northern Lights by Sensi Seeds, Bubba Kush by Dinafem, Sensi Star by Paradise Seeds, Black Bomb by Philosopher Seeds, Vanilla by Cannamed
- Type 3: heavy indica dominant hybrid, balance of physical and mental effects with rather heavy parts. Recommended for patients seeking pain relief and relaxation without getting too tired and sleepy, e.g. ,. Blue Rhino by Positronics, Acid by Paradise Seeds, Double Dutch by Serious Seeds, Gokunk by Philosopher Seeds, Mendocino Purple Kush by Medical Seeds
- Type 4: 50/50 hybrid, balance of physical and mental effects. For patients who don't want to get too tired or too active and are looking for an evenly balanced effect. For use during the day. e.g.. BubbleGummer by Female Seeds, Liberty Haze by Barney's Farm, Channel + from Medical Seeds, Nebula by Paradise Seeds
- Type 5: clear hybrid, physical and mental parts, with the mental activating effect predominating. For patients who want the physical effects but still want to be primarily active and lucid. e.g. SweetLove by Philosopher Seeds, Iced Grapefruit by Female Seeds, Purple Trainwreck by Humboldt Seeds, Medical Cherry Soda by Cannamed, 1024 from Medical Seeds
- Type 6: heavy sativa dominant hybrid, uplifting body effect, physical and psychological medicinal effects, upbeat body feeling with a heavy heady effect. For daytime. e.g. Pineapple Sativa by Kera Seeds, Silver Haze #9 by Sensi Seeds, Y Griega by Medical Seeds
- Type 7: clear sativa, clear mental effect without physical effects, euphoric, stimulating. Recommended for patients who want to benefit from the medicinal effects of cannabis without getting tired. for daytime. ex. Libertad by Cannamed, Power Plant by Dutch Passion, 2046 by Medical Seeds, Early Maroc by Philosopher Seeds
By using several cannabis strains, 3 or 4, it is easier to keep the cannabinoid receptors of the body "fresh", a tolerance to individual strains is less likely to develop, and it can also help to achieve a maximum medicinal effect and to be able to use the individually correct balance of cannabinoids. Ultimately, the effect of the strains is always subjective and varies from person to person. That is why many patients first try out different strains to see which ones bring the most medical benefits for them.
