Yo, what’s good? It’s Dan and I wanna talk about cannabis strains that straight up blow your mind. You know what I’m talking about – the kind that hits different and makes you want to keep coming back for more. But, have you ever wondered what makes a strain so unique? Well, my friend, it all comes down to genetics, environment, and evolution.
The way a plant grows and looks is determined by its genetic makeup and the environment in which it grows. The earliest cannabis plants, called Landraces, grew wild in the mountains of Pakistan and some tropical countries along the equator. Over time, they adapted to their surroundings and changed over thousands of years. As people started cultivating cannabis indoors during the 70s and 80s, genetic changes occurred due to things like soil type, amount of light, distance between plant and light source, and more.
Around the same time that indoor cultivation became popular, hybridization of Indica and Sativa strains began. This was a game-changer in the evolution of cannabis strain genetics, resulting in a massive variety of different strains with unique flavors, appearances, and effects.
There are two main types of cannabis strains: pure and hybrid. Pure strains include Sativa, Indica, and Ruderalis. Sativa originated in warm countries like Colombia, Mexico, Thailand, and South East Asia. When fully grown, Sativa plants can grow up to 4.5 meters tall with long internodes and branches. They have a long vegetation period which can take up to six months but result in a higher yield compared to Indica strains. Sativas are known for their uplifting effects on the mind and creative stimulus – making it a go-to for artists and musicians.
Indica originated in the Hindu Kush mountains of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Indicas are shorter with wider leaves than Sativas and have an average yield ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 ounces per plant with higher THC content than Sativas. They are known for their strong pain-relieving properties – making them a popular choice for medical use.
Ruderalis is an auto-flowering type of plant that can grow despite harsh environments due to the presence of humans or other naturally occurring disturbances in an area. It is not often talked about but can be used to create exotic auto-flowering hybrids.
Hybrid varieties contain varying ratios of these three types of strains. There is an infinite variety of hybrids available in the market today that are created by combining seed strains in labs with specific consumers in mind.
Inbred Line (IBL) hybrids are achieved by selectively inbreeding to preserve or stabilize certain features in a strain. F1 hybrids are the result of crossing two separate Inbred Lines and are usually fast growers with high yields but also have a greater degree of variation between seedlings. F2 hybrids are the result of crossing two separate F1 hybrids while F3 and F4 hybrids are a combination of F2 and F3 parents.
In conclusion, the next time you come across a cannabis strain that blows your mind – think about its genetics, environment, and evolution. Each strain has its own unique characteristics that make it stand out from the rest. Stay lit!
