The Basics
Let’s start with the basics. There are two Cannabis species and one subs species.
They were classified a long time ago by botanists based on region and growth characteristics and effects. There are disagreements about this type of classification, but for the most part, it’s generally accepted . Let’s take a close look at each one and their characteristics.
Cannabis indica: these plants are believed to originate from the Hindu Kush region of the Indian subcontinent. Indica usually grows shorter than sativa , has fatter leaves, denser flowers, and completes their life cycle in a shorter period of time. The effects of Indica strains are described as being relaxing and sedating with a couch lock full body high. Indica dominant strains are used medicinally to help with anxiety, pain management and can also be used as a sleep aid and appetite stimulant..
Cannabis Sativa: this species is believed to have originated from regions near the equator, probably in Central Asia and also parts of Africa. Cannabis sativa plants are usually taller, with narrow leaves and have longer flowering cycles compared to indica strains. The effects of sativa strains are uplifting, energetic, and cerebral. Some sativa strains are even known to be psychedelic. Sativa strains are associated with increased focus, creativity, and sociability.They're used medicinally to help with depression, fatigue, chronic pain, and certain mood disorders.
Cannabis Ruderalis: this is a lesser known and used subspecies. Cannabis Ruderalis, is believed to have originated in regions of Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in Russia and surrounding areas. When compared to cannabis sativa and indica, Ruderalis plants are generally shorter, with fatter leaves and a lower THC content. One of the unique characteristics of Ruderalis is that it transitions from the vegetative stage to the flowering stage based on age rather than light cycles. The effects of Ruderalis are mild and less pronounced compared to sativa and indica strains. Ruderalis is not commonly used for recreational purposes due to its lower THC levels. It has however found a use in breeding programs to create hybrid strains that inherit the auto-flowering characteristic.
It’s important to know that ideas on the effects of each of these species and visual characteristics are sometimes disputed. The argument is that the effects and visual characteristics are mostly true but strain (cultivar) plays a bigger role over species. I’m not a botanist so I don’t have a dog in this fight but I can tell you from experience, Indicas dominant strains are shorter and fatter leaves and produce a heavy narcotic high..
It’s also important to know that most strains in the market nowadays are hybrids. It is very difficult to find a 100% indica or sativa strain. You can definitely find mostly indica or mostly sativa strains though. The only way to actually grow 100% indica or sativa is to get your hands on some landraces.
Landraces: These are strains that have grown uninterrupted in a specific place for a long period of time. So long that the plants have become stable and express mostly the same traits.
Life cycles
Cannabis plants have evolved over thousands of years to be photosensitive. This means that their life cycles are directly affected by the amount of light they receive. Long hours of light like in the summertime, keep the plant in a vegetative stage. Short hours of light, like fall and winter, trigger the plant into the flowering stage.
Seedling stage: This is the stage when the plant breaks through the soil and first baby leaves (cotyledon) open. The seedling concentrates its energy on establishing a root system and producing its first set of true leaves.
Vegetative Stage: In this stage, plants concentrate their energy into growing by producing leaves and stems.
Flowering Stage: Short hours like you normally get in the fall and winter, triggers the plant to produce flowers. During this stage, stem and leaf reproduction stops and all of the energy is used to develop the plant's flowers.
Commonly used light cycles:
Seedling & Vegetative
16/8 - 18/6 - 24-7
Flowering:
12/12
Indoor growers have total control of the plant's life cycle. A simple change of the light timer will trigger your plant into the flowering stage.
Sex:
Cannabis plants are dioecious which means there are male and females. The males produce pollen and the females produce flowers. Male plants do not produce much THC, if any at all. For this reason they’re not commonly grown unless they are being used for breeding. Female plants On the other hand produce flowers and large amounts of psychoactive chemicals. The main purpose of the female flower is to reproduce seeds. The female can only reproduce Seeds if it is pollinated by the male. If the female is left unpollinated, the flowers will swell and it will develop large amounts Of trichomes filled with Psychoactive chemicals. This is what we want as growers. You must not allow your plant to get pollinated if you’re looking to get the best quality and heaviest Harvest.
Trichomes:
Trichomes are microscopic globe-like structures on stalks, growing on your plants flowers and sometimes leaves. The globes are filled with psychoactive chemicals and aromatic terpenes. Trichomes are what give your flowers that sugar, frosty appearance. Male plants produce very little if any trichomes. They are mostly produced in Female flowers or in close proximity .
Let’s start with the basics. There are two Cannabis species and one subs species.
- Cannabis Indica
- Cannabis sativa
- Cannabis Ruderallis
They were classified a long time ago by botanists based on region and growth characteristics and effects. There are disagreements about this type of classification, but for the most part, it’s generally accepted . Let’s take a close look at each one and their characteristics.
Cannabis indica: these plants are believed to originate from the Hindu Kush region of the Indian subcontinent. Indica usually grows shorter than sativa , has fatter leaves, denser flowers, and completes their life cycle in a shorter period of time. The effects of Indica strains are described as being relaxing and sedating with a couch lock full body high. Indica dominant strains are used medicinally to help with anxiety, pain management and can also be used as a sleep aid and appetite stimulant..
Cannabis Sativa: this species is believed to have originated from regions near the equator, probably in Central Asia and also parts of Africa. Cannabis sativa plants are usually taller, with narrow leaves and have longer flowering cycles compared to indica strains. The effects of sativa strains are uplifting, energetic, and cerebral. Some sativa strains are even known to be psychedelic. Sativa strains are associated with increased focus, creativity, and sociability.They're used medicinally to help with depression, fatigue, chronic pain, and certain mood disorders.
Cannabis Ruderalis: this is a lesser known and used subspecies. Cannabis Ruderalis, is believed to have originated in regions of Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in Russia and surrounding areas. When compared to cannabis sativa and indica, Ruderalis plants are generally shorter, with fatter leaves and a lower THC content. One of the unique characteristics of Ruderalis is that it transitions from the vegetative stage to the flowering stage based on age rather than light cycles. The effects of Ruderalis are mild and less pronounced compared to sativa and indica strains. Ruderalis is not commonly used for recreational purposes due to its lower THC levels. It has however found a use in breeding programs to create hybrid strains that inherit the auto-flowering characteristic.
It’s important to know that ideas on the effects of each of these species and visual characteristics are sometimes disputed. The argument is that the effects and visual characteristics are mostly true but strain (cultivar) plays a bigger role over species. I’m not a botanist so I don’t have a dog in this fight but I can tell you from experience, Indicas dominant strains are shorter and fatter leaves and produce a heavy narcotic high..
It’s also important to know that most strains in the market nowadays are hybrids. It is very difficult to find a 100% indica or sativa strain. You can definitely find mostly indica or mostly sativa strains though. The only way to actually grow 100% indica or sativa is to get your hands on some landraces.
Landraces: These are strains that have grown uninterrupted in a specific place for a long period of time. So long that the plants have become stable and express mostly the same traits.
Life cycles
Cannabis plants have evolved over thousands of years to be photosensitive. This means that their life cycles are directly affected by the amount of light they receive. Long hours of light like in the summertime, keep the plant in a vegetative stage. Short hours of light, like fall and winter, trigger the plant into the flowering stage.
Seedling stage: This is the stage when the plant breaks through the soil and first baby leaves (cotyledon) open. The seedling concentrates its energy on establishing a root system and producing its first set of true leaves.
Vegetative Stage: In this stage, plants concentrate their energy into growing by producing leaves and stems.
Flowering Stage: Short hours like you normally get in the fall and winter, triggers the plant to produce flowers. During this stage, stem and leaf reproduction stops and all of the energy is used to develop the plant's flowers.
Commonly used light cycles:
Seedling & Vegetative
16/8 - 18/6 - 24-7
Flowering:
12/12
Indoor growers have total control of the plant's life cycle. A simple change of the light timer will trigger your plant into the flowering stage.
Sex:
Cannabis plants are dioecious which means there are male and females. The males produce pollen and the females produce flowers. Male plants do not produce much THC, if any at all. For this reason they’re not commonly grown unless they are being used for breeding. Female plants On the other hand produce flowers and large amounts of psychoactive chemicals. The main purpose of the female flower is to reproduce seeds. The female can only reproduce Seeds if it is pollinated by the male. If the female is left unpollinated, the flowers will swell and it will develop large amounts Of trichomes filled with Psychoactive chemicals. This is what we want as growers. You must not allow your plant to get pollinated if you’re looking to get the best quality and heaviest Harvest.
Trichomes:
Trichomes are microscopic globe-like structures on stalks, growing on your plants flowers and sometimes leaves. The globes are filled with psychoactive chemicals and aromatic terpenes. Trichomes are what give your flowers that sugar, frosty appearance. Male plants produce very little if any trichomes. They are mostly produced in Female flowers or in close proximity .