There are hundreds or even thousands of different cannabis strains, and all of these are divided into three types and. They are a way to understand the structure a specific strain grows and the type of effect. So let’s take a look at how these three different types (Sativa, Indica, and Hybrid) of cannabis plants differ from each other.

Cannabis Indica

Indica plants usually develop thick, strong stems, broader leaves and grow shorter due to growing a bit slower during the vegetative stage when compared to Sativa strains.

This species of cannabis plants have evolved in cold climates such as the Himalayas. Hence, most Indica-dominant strains are more resilient to colder temperatures, so scientists think they developed shorter and bushier.

Cannabis Indica Effects

Cannabis Indica flowers are usually sought after by consumers who prefer a more calm type of high. The high you experience after smoking an Indica strain is the classic “couch-lock” effect associated with CBD. It deeply relaxes your muscles and takes you to sleep in most cases.

Cannabis Sativa

Sativa plants grow much taller than Indicas but develop a thinner stem and skinny leaves due to growing faster during the vegetative stage. 

This species of cannabis plants evolved in tropical climates. So scientists think they develop larger internodal spaces and fewer leaves than Indica plants.

Cannabis Sativa Effects

Cannabis Sativa flowers are usually related to recreational cannabis consumers due to offering a more uplifting and energizing cerebral high. This head rush you experience after consuming Sativa flower occurs due to the higher THC levels this plant species has.

These were the only common types of cannabis you could find a couple of years ago. Still, home growers and breeders have been developing their strains for years now. Thanks to decriminalization and legalization in some parts of the world, we can now see the result of years and years of mixing Indica and Sativa genetics. This genetic mix (aka cross-breeding) resulted in strains that offer the best of both Indica and Sativa effects traits.

Hybrid Cannabis

Hybrid cannabis plants are strains bred by mixing both cannabis species, combining the effect and every other trait such as structure, smells, flavors, and colors. This type of cannabis plant is more often sought after by growers or breeders looking to grow more modern strains. 

But, it’s almost impossible to describe a hybrid strain’s growth pattern and effect due to a mix of different genetics. All hybrid strains contain a certain percentage of Indica and Sativa genetics. For example, a strain can have 30% Indica and 70% Sativa genetics. Or 80% and 20%, 50% and 50%, etc., possible when breeding hybrids.

You might be wondering….how do we breed hybrids? Making quality genetics takes time, but the basics are: grab a male and a female plant (one Indica and one Sativa). Let the male pollinate the female. You can observe the development of seeds and harvest them. That’s it; you’ve successfully created hybrid cannabis seeds.

If you’re looking to start a serious breeding project there’s much more you have to keep in min. Breeders actually select the traits they want their hybrid strains to have, such as aroma, flavor, effect, structure and color among others, and breed until they achieve their goals with that particular strain.

But why are hybrids important? Well, there aren’t many pure Sativa or pure Indica strains nowadays. As mentioned before, breeders and growers have cross-bred cannabis for years and years, so most strains you find are either Satva-dominant, Indica-dominant, or Hybrids (which usually means it’s a 50/50 strain). Knowing the differences between the different types of cannabis plants will help you see the kind of high a strain offers and help you understand what to expect before buying seeds, for example.

Hybrid Effects

Due to containing a mix of different genetics, hybrid strains provide a mixed effect. A mixed effect means that you’ll feel a combination of the effects the parent plants had. This is why, when dealing with hybrid strains, it’s also a good idea to check the THC and CBD percentage. In most countries where you can buy cannabis legally, you’ll probably see a label that gives you the THC and CBD percentage. Now you know that if a particular strain has a higher THC content, the effects are more Sativa-like. In comparison, a higher CBD content means the effect is more Indica-like.

Check out this Cannabis Strains / Seeds:

Grand Daddy Purple Seeds
Bubba Kush Seeds
Runtz Autoflower

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