Cannabis is a plant that has many different variations. The differences between cannabis are peculiar to various locations. For example, in the Middle East and Central Asia, marijuana strains have large leaves that are long and wide. Their buds are also dense. On the other hand, there are parts of our planet where the climate is tropical and marijuana plants have narrower leaves.
The differences in the leaf sizes of cannabis plants show the variation in sunlight consistency and strength. Areas with weaker sunlight usually have cannabis plants with larger leaves. The leaves are larger so that they can absorb as much sunlight as possible. The larger the size of the leaf, the more sunlight that it can absorb. It is better for those that live in areas without much sunlight to go for strains that have larger leaves.
Understanding Broad Leaf Cannabis (Indica)
Indica plants are wider and shorter than sativa plants. Their color is light green and the shape of their leaves is more round with marble-like patterns. The effect from the indica plant is heavy and focused on the body. Indica plants originate from Asian countries. Experts say that the origin of Indica is Tibet and Afghanistan. These regions are very popular also for their high-quality production of hash and kief which are two byproducts of the cannabis plant, which are filled with THC. Indica plants are usually shorter as they grow no taller than 3 to 6 feet in height. They have a dense foliage, broad leaves and a dark bluish green hue that can look like purple at times.
When indica plants mature, they start to turn more purple in color. Then they produce buds that are dense and thick. They have a skunky aroma and taste that defines their smoke. When you smoke indica, you feel the near-hypnotic and relaxing effects in your body more than your brain.
Understanding Narrow Leaf Cannabis (Sativa)
Sativa has pointed leaves with no pattern on them and the plant is thin and tall. It produces an effect that is energetic and concentrated on the brain.
Sativa usually grows in tropical areas and it originates from places like Thailand, Cambodia and Mexico. Despite the fact that these plants come from warmer environments, they can adapt to cold temperatures well. They are slender and tall plants that can grow up to 8 and 12 feet in height. The sativa plant has narrower leaves with a light green color.
When sativa begins to ripen, it starts to become red in color. They start to turn purple in colder climates. Other strains of sativa produce a yellow or gold colored hue. The sativa plant produces a lively, cerebral high. The taste and smell of the plant is spicy, sweet and fruity like.
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Understanding Cannabis Ruderalis
The ruderalis plant is small. It is used for making clothes and ropes. This plant is widely used for its ability to produce marijuana plants with auto-flowering properties.
Ruderalis is majorly grown in some southern former Soviet states and the northern Himalayas. Additionally, it grows in a weedy, scant pattern and it is never cultivated for usage as a psychoactive plant.
Ruderalis used to be wildly grown in areas like the mid-Western United States. One can still find some extant ruderalis plants in those areas. Ruderalis also appears in large numbers in areas like Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania and other nations. Humans rarely grow ruderalis so it has lost some characteristics that made humans desire it. Ruderalis has a low THC content when compared to indica and sativa. But it still has some favorable properties. Ruderalis has a high amount of cannabidiol which is a less potent cannabinoid than THC. Some grow medical marijuana plants of these varieties.
The major attractive property of ruderalis for a lot of breeders is the fact that these plants can be auto-flowering and very resistant to diseases and pests. Sometimes breeders crossbreed indica with ruderalis to produce THC plants that have auto-flowering properties. These crossbred plants are more resistant to environmental pressures and they have a shorter height.
Understanding Hybrid Cannabis Strains
A marijuana hybrid occurs when one crossbreeds one marijuana plant with another marijuana plant. For example, you can crossbreed sativa with indica and vice-versa. Nowadays most of the strains available is a cross-breed between a sativa and an indica in order to get the best possible highs. Each one of those strains has their own characteristics as the percentages of the psychoactive ingredients and the terpenes are unique. For example the effect one gets from a indica dominant strain like strawberry kush is much different from any other cannabis strain. Any crossbred plant will contain certain indica properties and certain sativa properties. Each marijuana strain has its own unique medicinal properties. The cannabis news bring more and more medical possibilities every day.
Choosing the Right Strain to Grow
When it comes to selecting which strain of cannabis you want to grow, the options are plentiful. However, if you plan on growing outdoors, you must know the kind of weather that is expected when the marijuana seed is planted. This is why it is very important to consider the weather conditions in your area before you buy cannabis seeds. You must also take note of the average temperature in your area at the beginning of fall and spring. Southern and tropical locales will provide a lot of warmth and light for marijuana plants. But northern locations will have to prepare in a different way.
It is best to have a strain that grows within a short period of time like indica if winter comes early or if you have frozen ground at the start of spring. The plant can be grown later in spring and harvested early in the fall so that the cold temperature will not affect their potency or yield.
Of course, if you are setting up an indoor grow room, you are able to control the climate and overall environment. This allows you to choose any strain you are interested in growing as you can alter the indoor grow room’s environment to meet the strain’s needs.
With new research being conducted on the cannabis plant as it slowly is legalized in the United States, we are continuing to discover new differences between cannabis strains ourselves. Check back soon to learn more about the cannabis plant’s terpenes, as well as how these play a role in the overall effects you receive from the plant.
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