Re:
Indica vs Sativa Explained
Fri, 02/Apr/21
Marijuana strains in the modern market are axiomatically divided into two main families: Indica and Sativa. These are the historical families of the cannabis plant, but just the modern breeding progressing wildly made them – “Indica” and “Sativa” – the labels, the trademarks: practically there is no pure Indica, nor pure Sativa, but just historically we find it way convenient and we stick to the definitions. I bet anyone has seen a description saying: “Indica 60%” – let’s dig up, what does it even mean?
There is also Ruderalis, becoming a popular term as autoflowering seeds are conquering the market – the easiest and fastest way to grow cheap weed at home. However, those autoflowering seeds are usually a mix of Ruderalis and either Indica or Sativa. And the latter two forever take their special place in the language, in the industry, and among end consumers – aka stoners, which is us!
What’s the difference between Indica and Sativa?
About 30 years ago I have stepped on the path of a recreational stoner, and loving it. Even though we didn’t have 50 strains over the counter, however, that day a very close friend of mine told me the difference: “The formula is simple to catch the basic idea, Sativa is to laugh, and Indica is to sleep.”
Since then I use it as the basic definition, for whoever asks me. Of course, not only this, and a whole speech follows about the myriad of nuances, but the truth is – Sativa delivers storms of laughter, and an avalanche of creativity, but Indica is to feel sleepy, relaxed, being deep into strategic thinking. This just explains everything we want to know about what is Indica, and what is Sativa.
Sativa (on the left) and Indica (on the right)
Cannabis Sativa gives a taller plant compared to Indica, which is, in general, a lower plant and bushier. Also, you can detect the domination of Indica or Sativa genetics in a marijuana plant by the shape of the leaves, and by color. Indica is in general darker with deeper green, while Sativa obviously features a lighter green color of the leaves and buds if you put both together in front of yourself. Basically, Indica and Sativa determine the type of your high.
Indica effects
Indica cannabis family originates from the northern regions of India, just as its name suggests. Thus, Cannabis Indica has evolved in a cooler climate rather than Cannabis Sativa. Cannabis Indica is considered amateur marijuana once it comes to growing weed at home: as a northern lass Indica is less whimsical, not yet all-forgiving but some grower’s mistakes it certainly allows.
Indica delivers sleepy effects indeed, recommended for the beginner stoner to bake one in the evening. It delivers vast relaxation to the body, and slowness in movements, compared to Sativa, Indica is responsible for physical effects on the body. Once you intake a good portion of Indica you get what we call “stoned”, rather than “hyper”.
Sativa effects
Sativa cannabis family has evolved closer to the equator, and it loves high temperatures and arid climates, and it gives taller slimmer plants. Many growers confirm Cannabis Sativa is harder to grow rather than Cannabis Indica.
What does Sativa make to you? Sativa strains make you “hyper” and “pro-active”, as only hyper one can be from marijuana. Anyway, you get high as it is top-notch marijuana, but Sativa just alters the mind different way and less the body’s physical condition. For the creative drive, you prefer Sativa. This is not carved in stone, and you get your creativeness and a lively mind from Indica too, but the stoners recognize it as the general idea to start from – the liveliness of Indica is “slower”, so to say.
Historical record
In 1753, a Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus, also referred to as Carl von Linne, was the first person in recorded history who identified a cannabis plant as “Cannabis Sativa L.”, where “L.” stands for Linnaeus, his name.
In 1785, a French military scientist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck identified the other type of cannabis plant – Cannabis Indica, and he classified it as “Cannabis Indica Lam.”, where “Lam.” is for his name. I’m not a botanist but it seems obvious that they all were putting their names trailing.
In 1924, a Russian botanist Dmitry Janischevsky has identified the third variety Cannabis Ruderalis, separating it from the already-discovered Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Sativa.
Cannabis Ruderalis
Cannabis Ruderalis originates from the Chuy Valley, a natural wonder located on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, where the wild weed grows for ages covering 400,000 hectares – equals the size of Delaware, full of wild marijuana, belonging to no one, totally wild.
Some sources call it Siberia, other sources call it Russia, but it is neither, it’s Chuy. This type of marijuana plant is also found in the northern Himalayas in Asia. The cold climate, compared to what Indica or Sativa enjoy, made Cannabis Ruderalis evolve as less sensitive to the light regime so that it gives flowers by reaching a definite age, rather than reacting to the rhythm of the Sun. Also, the full growing cycle of Ruderalis from seeds to buds is significantly shorter.
Cannabis Ruderalis “suffered” less marketing attention but gained its fame eventually with the development of the autoflowering seeds at the beginning of the 21st century. The genetic properties of Ruderalis concerning the light regime gave us the brilliant opportunity to grow the all-forgiving amateur weed in no time.
Why do breeders mix Sativa and Indica?
First of all original Cannabis Sativa plant may reach a great height, several meters in the wild, which is not convenient for home growing. Mixing its rich properties with the physical characteristics of Indica, including its resistance to pests and environmental conditions, is just reasonable. Hybrids and Indica-dominant strains fit a limited growing space nicely.
Secondly, the breeders work hard to satisfy the market needs, delivering the mixtures of flavors, what we call terpenes, also the amounts of THC making the recreational weed higher than high, and also delivering proper medical properties of marijuana.
Breeding is a usual process while messing with plants.
Indica vs Sativa vs Hybrid
Nowadays they are all hybrid. We have hundreds of strains in the market, and most of them indicate some percentage of Indica and some percentage of Sativa. The dominating genetics makes it this or that, but they are all hybrids, however.
What do we choose then? We choose the baseline, as weed strains come to the market marked as “more Sativa” or “dominant Sativa”, usually called simply Sativa, or “dominant Indica”, referred to as Indica, with a respect to the high effects as we described above for both types.
Examples,
- White Widow is Indica, a strong and very classic one.
- Strawberry Chemdawg is a mad mix of everything. This one we officially call a hybrid strain, it contains the aromas of strawberry, diesel, and black pepper, also featuring the energetic effects of Sativa and calmness of Indica, altogether.
- Sour Diesel is a Sativa-dominant strain, but it may relax you due to the amount of caryophyllene, the psychoactive terpene standing apart from THC or Sativa properties.
- Northern Lights, showing in its name the Northern origin, is an Indica-dominant strain of marijuana offering the classic Indica effects.
Autoflower Sativa vs Autoflower Indica
The autoflowering marijuana inherits the unusual growing cycle from Ruderalis, making it very easy to cultivate at home, requiring less growing space, and the breeders have already mixed it with Indica and Sativa – so we enjoy a good amount of high in the autoflowering plants.
Basically, the autoflowering strains share the branding with the famous normal strains but may differ in amounts of THC. There is White Widow Autoflower, and there is Sour Diesel Autoflower. Despite that any autoflower is a hybrid, we’d better call them already Autoflower Sativa and Autoflower Indica, as soon as the genetic of Ruderalis is present in the autoflowers anyway.
Examples,
- “Auto Orange Bud” contains the genetics of the classic Orange Bud, from the classic era of cannabis breeding. It is now an autoflower, and extremely high Sativa, altogether.
- “Auto Skywalker” certainly breaks the rule about lower THC in autoflowers, it counts 25% of THC, and is a Sativa strain. Limonene and Caryophyllene are also there.
- “Auto Blueberry” is another super-classics in a form of autoflower, and it’s Indica.
Practically all the weed in the nowadays marijuana market is technically hybrid, but we still use the archaic terms “Indica” and “Sativa” indication to describe clearly what is going to happen as soon as we consume it, and how we grow it. And, all the commercially distributed weed is high, but we also choose the smell, the terpenes, the price, the easiest effort to grow one at home, etc. It is great fun to know the origins and try to taste the basic difference between Indica and Sativa. So we expect and plan the type of high, and we can compare the feeling while trying all of them.
Common Cannabis Plant Problems: Seeds, Roots and Stems
Thu, 19/Sep/19
Cannabis plant may suffer a certain amount of problems and sicknesses, and this troubleshooting guide we have compiled as a practical advice to diagnose a problem, how to recognize and prevent the possible seed issues, root issues and stem issues. There can be also pH and water related leaf symptoms, but we focus on the very base – hit which one to jump to: roots, stems and seeds. And in the first place you should find the part of the cannabis plant or type of plant material that is showing a symptom that makes you think there is a problem.
Seeds Issues
Jump to: Stem Issues or Root Issues
These are the beginning of life for the cannabis plant, and any problems with such a base of life will result in poor performance throughout the entire grow and finally affect the total yields. This is the common picture of cannabis seed we all know it well.
The Ideal Seed
The ideal seed is a dark green, almost brown, may also have sort-a ornamental stripes or markings, also depending on genetics. A viable seed is plump and firm. Applying slight pressure on the seed should not crush the outer coating.
Brittle Seed
A brittle seed, less brown or too light green, or if you push slightly and it cracks or otherwise break the coating – all these demonstrate that the seed is not yet rite and most probably it will not survive to maturity. Remove such seeds at once. And then while producing the seeds – in case you do not buy ready steady seeds but instead going to do it on your own – it’s recommended to keep them growing until they naturally fall to the ground which is a healthy approach and seeds will be naturally ripe and ready to produce a new healthy cannabis plant in your garden.
Green Seed
The green seed however can be saved, but just there is no actual reason to do so except that it is literally the last seed in this particular genetic collection, or you are a castaway in a small piece of land in the middle of Pacific alone, whatever. To save such seed one should be out into paper towel into dark warm place – right, like you do while germination. So if it goes darker and then finally sprout – plant such seed closer to surface, as soon as it does not have enough nutrients in its stock to make the full way.
10 Top Reasons Why Seeds Do Not Germinate
Too big, too small?
Size does matter, after all
Zu groß, zu klein?
Er könnte etwas größer sein
(from ‘Rammstein’)
1. Too Cold. Cold temperatures can kill seedlings by preventing germination or otherwise result a slow, uneven germination and provoke attacks by soil diseases.
2. Too Hot. Higher temperatures result a dry soil and injury to seeds or seedlings.
3. Too Wet. Excess water prevents oxygen, and also cause soil fungi related diseases.
4. Too Dry. Water is just vital and essential for germination. So maintain the soil moisture and/or the humidity when germinating before putting into soil, by putting plastic wrap or glass covers.
5. Too Deep. If planting cannabis seeds too deep then the sibling shall need more energy to go through while the amount of it is still determined by the capacity of the seed itself, as soon as it is filled with nutrients to supply this emerging stage. Limited “food storage” for a sibling may result a weaker plant in general. Recommended planting depth: ½ in.!
6. Too Shallow. If you plant cannabis seeds too shallow they can dry out too quickly.
7. Too Firm. If your mix of soil is too firm – that may affect the oxygen from getting to seeds and later – the roots, and also affect drainage.
8. Too Loose. Soil that is too loose will result in too much air surrounding seeds, making it harder to absorb moisture and your siblings will most likely dry out.
9. Soil Fungus. Keep it all clean – from your germination container, properly cleaned before you ever start, and then the pot well washed, and all the surrounding. And still any overwatering, lack of ventilation or drainage, may cause appearing of fungus attacking the seeds. Prevention is the best (if not the only) tool against these ones.
10. Non-viable Seeds. By any reason unviable: whether if the seeds have been stored improperly or been damaged, or simply immature seeds (see above) or just lack of luck this time without any visible reason.
Roots Issues
Jump to: Stem Issues or Seeds Issues
Roots are the beginning of the plant. They supply everything to the buds through the whole plant system. You need a strong and healthy root system to be able to pass enough nutrients all way up to support the plant at its maximum growth rate.
As soon as the whole root structure is not much visible it is important to take proper preventative measures to avoid even any possibility that roots ever develop problems.
Tight-packed Roots Curling Around the Edge of the Pot
That one is a very common scenario especially in the conditions of limited grow space – like a pot, for example, or any other container. The very beginner grower mistake at the same time, and quite predictable too. Also keep in mind that the roots take less advantage of the container’s horizontal space. Just give them more space.
Root Stunting
Root Stunting – when roots become chunky and in the laterals especially, and the whole system may discolor to brown or grey. Root stunting is often a result of calcium deficiency, acidity, aluminum toxicity, and boron deficiency or copper toxicity.
Loose and Weak Roots
Generally speaking roots grow well in a space with a carefully maintained pH and lots of oxygen. And weak thin roots can be an early message that you need more oxygenation. Poor drainage or tight soils can be reasons – check them first.
Smelly Roots
Sounds disgusting to me. Okay, this is lack of oxygen making the condition in which roots start rotting. I would not try saving a rotten plant, yet it can be saved in some occasions, and let us consider this is the worst root problem to avoid.
Stems Issues
Jump to: Seeds Issues or Root Issues
Stems transport all nutrients from the soil through the roots into the leaves and buds. Nice strong thick stems demonstrate the health of the whole system and result good frosty harvest in the end.
Leaning Branches
This is also related tot he next issue with weak and long – and both are about strength in the stems and branches, but just different reason. Except lacking the light the reason may be in lack of wind, and the plant cannot simply train the strength. Give more wind and your cannabis girl shall become more sporty and well fitness’ed then )
Thin and Tall and Looking Weak
The most common for this is lack of light. When getting insufficient amount of light the plants start stretch into direction of poor light source. In the early emerging stage of the plant just dig it down deeper when transplanting. Adding an extra fan to increase the airflow is also a solution – it may strengthen the stems because they’ll resist stronger wind. And in any case – add more light if such possible.
Broken Stem
This is not the end of the world yet don’t panic. Tape the broken stem together with the undamaged stem or stronger branch with a string. Using some additional supporting pole is also a good idea. Give it a lot of time to recover before giving load back onto the damaged part.
If it was a cat or a dog who damaged the cannabis plant, then think twice then, as soon as cats and dogs are also the carriers for germs of all sorts ann varieties, that can bring even more harm to your cannabis plant.
What are Terpenes
Tue, 20/Aug/19
Weed in a pocket produces smell, the scent is strong and merciless, it spreads out, and identifies the bearer as a stoner. The aromas of plants are produced by terpenes, volatile chemical compounds, which are smells per se, terpenes deliver aromas when we keep weed or smoke weed.
What are terpenes?
Terpenes are organic compounds present in all plants, they give smell of plants and all parts of the plants, fruits, leaves, buds, etc. Studies indicate there are 20,000+ different types of terpenes in nature, while 100+ types of terpenes are found in cannabis plants. Terpenes are very volatile, they are smells themselves, each gives its effects on human body.
What is the entourage effect?
How strong weed kick in may be a result of entourage effect as synergistic relationship of cannabinoids with terpenes which improves the impact of cannabis in the body. In other words, when cannabinoids and terpenes interact, an entourage effect is what we call individual feels.
Terpenes in marijuana
In marijuana more than 100 terpenes are found. We do not need to know them all, but some of terpenes are more popular than others. Like, Limonene is the easiest to be identified as it smells like lemon or orange, giving citric aroma. A very unique terpene in weed is Caryophyllene interacting CB-receptors, which makes Caryophyllene a psychedelic terpene, but it is more recognizable if we say it’s famous peppery diesel taste in weed.
Limonene
Some strains aim at lifting your mood and providing you with a creative front and an inspiration to complete your work. These strains are mostly of the Sativa family and contain limonene more often rather than Indica. From its name we understand it is responsible for the taste similar to lemon, let’s call it a citrus fragrance. Other than cannabis, for example, rosemary and peppermint contain limonene.
Also, consider smoking weed using glass bongs, it may help to accumulate smoke, mix it with air, and feel the presence of terpenes better. The same effect comes when you take wine from a wider glass with a narrower top, such holds the volatile molecules over the wine level yet preventing them from flying out of the glass for a while.
Larry Lemon on the picture offers a lot of limonene:
Pinene
If your stash has a pine tree scent or fir trees or orange-like, its composition has lots of pinenes. This terpene also occurs in many Sativa dominant strains.
Myrcene
This terpene occurs mostly in Indica strains. Myrcene provides an earthy smell that characterizes most of the cannabis plant types found in the world today. However, it may also be fruity and sweet. For example, the scent of grapes, and sometimes, it may have a gassy like fragrance like that of nutmeg.
Beta Caryophyllene
Caryophyllene terpene identifies as a spicy aroma, and is the same terpene present in black pepper or rosemary.
Caryophyllene terpene forms the famous Diesel taste in combination with limonene and myrcene. Caryophyllene is the only terpene which is also psychedelic as it interacts CB-receptors in the brain.
More about Caryophyllene terpene in weed and black pepper
Humulene
Its identification comes from its musky or earthy fragrance and sometimes may include being spicy. The Mediterranean dish “humus” shares the same root in it’s name, I’m not sure which of these two comes first and which inherits the name.
Linalool
It is characterized by its floral scent with a hint of spiciness.
Understanding terpenes is fundamental in the identification of different cannabis strains we purchase and use. Some terpenes enhance the high effect, some bring it low, and others have different medical benefits. And of course the best use of terpene comes of our preferences in smell, and now we know just a small bit more about the cannabis plant!!+)))
ツ 👍
Anthocyanin in the buds, or Why Weed is Purple
Fri, 24/May/19
When weed is purple color it means the anthocyanin pigment is present in the plant in significant amounts. Anthocyanin is a universal plant colorant responsible for red, purple, and blue colors, and evident in many fruits, vegetable, grains, flowers, and berries, like blueberries and raspberries.
Anthocyanin suggests the vast list of health benefits, and medical theories, including traditional ones around the world, use anthocyanin to treat conditions such as liver disorders, diarrhea, kidney problems, infections, it provides the reduction of blood pressure, it improves the eyesight. More important, anthocyanin even cures the common cold. It’s easy to imagine, raspberry (rich with anthocyanin) as a medicine in a form of a grandma’s anti-cold raspberry jam and hot tea. Besides its healing application anthocyanin is used as a natural color in food, health, cosmetic industries.
! This website does not provide advice, but it is a compilation of material, personal experience, and opinion. My grandma cured me with forest berries in the North, I felt better, they were yummy and with grandma’s cooking witchcraft. All we say herein is not a call to action, nor a promotion of weed, we make websites, we are not growing cure, and no grass.
Weed on the top picture is a little bit blue in color, considering it is dark on the photo. It starts making itself rich with anthocyanin, the result shall be what we call purple weed. And, a very nice close-up on the image below we have borrowed from @chewberto420, you can see the purple and a little bit red colors of anthocyanin in cannabis trichomes:
Being a phenolic compound, Anthocyanin may also behave as the pro-oxidant, means numerous medical effects, and used traditionally to prevent blood issues or flew and other sicknesses — people take fruits and especially berries rich with anthocyanin as source of vitamins, and against common cold. Grandmas use it on children all the time in a form of raspberry and blueberry jams, whether science or grandma’s witchcraft, I don’t know.
It is not well known by now about how anthocyanin exactly works, either by itself alone or serving a component of a more complicated sequence, but it works. Anthocyanin makes the body stronger. Eat berries. Find marijuana edible recipes of berry deserts and weed cheesecakes by this link: The Cookbook App by Chef420
How To Make The Weed Purple
Exposure to cold
Exactly the thing happening when summer turns into fall when all plants change leaves to yellow and red: all plants produce Anthocyanin when the temperatures drop.
Beware, too much cold may affect the quantity of buds. We’d recommend doing it in the last couple of weeks of flowering. To make it cold low down the night temperature to 60 degrees.
Basically any stress provoke anthocyanin increase in plants, the cold is one of such. The science does not know for sure, by far, but this may serve as some sort of explanation why it helps against health issues, right because plant just do the same when synthesize the anthocyanin in itself, and it works to suppress a stress, illness or cold or a wrong nutrition. Exposure of the cannabis plant to colder temperatures shall make buds more purple, the “how long” and “how cold” can be a more tricky technology, but the basic idea is to expose the plant to the cold.
Anthocyanin as a genetics property
Genetic food engineering uses anthocyanin as a visual marker, as soon as this is a quite forgiving genetic material easy to deal with (sources say so, I don’t know))). And then it may be yet another reason for purple buds – the genetically determined amount of anthocyanin in a certain strain.
Anthocyanin color from PH
Anthocyanin is very sensible to the PH level (and this is another stress for the plant too), and the colourful compound is degraded to none in an environment with a higher PH. It changes it colour as soon as PH level changes, it can be red in acidic (pH < 7), purple in neutral (pH = 7), yellow with greenish in alkaline (pH > 7). Can serve as the natural PH indicator either.
This is how you get the amount of Purple into the trichomes of your weed. And here the following is about what else to do with it:
Where Else?
Except in marijuana flowers, and especially those showing a lot of purple color, high amounts of anthocyanin are found. Alternatively, anthocyanin is present berries and fruits showing magenta, red and blue colors.
Anthocyanin carriers can be also red cabbage, cauliflower, raspberries, blueberries, grapes, red oranges aka blood oranges, cherry, eggplant, black peas, blackcurrant, etc. Everything demonstrating an obvious cyan and/or purple tones in color. You may notice, a lot of cyan component in overall color of what is on the pictures is visually dominating.
More of scientific stuff about anthocyanin can be found on the NIH, the US national institute of health, you maybe enjoy this one Anthocyanin and human health, an in vitro investigative approach or this one Anthocyanin the comprehensive review of chemichal properties. And a very special one is for to start your dig up on anthocyanin in fruits and plants: Anthocyanins, more than nature’s colors
Cooking weed and berries together
You should try, a little headache with cannabutter if you are a first timer, then ll go smooth. Imagine a cheesecake or a cookie which contain both blueberry weed and blueberries, or, say, raspberries — oh! ho! ho!
Download the Cookbook app Edible Recipes by Chef420