Cannabis has been present in people’s lives since times immemorial, helping them address a variety of health problems and doing good service as a source of fiber, material for cloth manufacturing, etc. Despite its broad application in various industries, weed is still the best-known for its cerebral high effect and the ability to relax the consumer, relieve pain and anxiety, and take all the troubles away.
Yet, some consumers with little experience with weed varieties may fall into the trap of the wrong choice; they get a couch-locking effect instead of a joyful, cheerful party or get unnaturally energized before bedtime. Why does this happen, and how can cannabis serve two opposite goals at the same time?
That’s because of Sativa and Indica gene dominance in specific cultivars, which makes some weed types energizing and creatively boosting and others – sedating and relaxing. Here is a guide to Sativa-dominant and Indica-dominant hybrids that will inform your choice and help you determine the right weed variety suited to your goals and health needs.
Indica vs. Sativa: The Difference
Let’s start with the basics – what are Sativa and Indica? These pure, generic weed types come with an absolutely different set of properties, look differently, and grow well in different conditions. Here are the key distinctions you should know.
Indica
Sativa
These are the features of pure Sativa and pure Indica plants and the weed they produce. However, the genetic engineering and crossbreeding industries don’t stand still, and tons of hybrids with varied genetic makeups emerge day by day. Thus, a user can get the best of the two worlds today, with some traits dominating the others. Let’s discuss what a consumer may expect from a hybrid with one species’ dominating features and in which cases they should choose one over the other.
What to Expect from an Indica-Dominant Hybrid? An Example of Pink Panties Seeds Feminized
Though the sativa genes can affect a hybrid in a specific way, Indica-dominant hybrid cultivars usually offer the following characteristics:
Some famous Indica-dominant strains are:
Let’s exemplify these features by looking at the famous Indica-dominant seeds – https://askgrowers.com/seeds/pink-panties-seeds-feminized. This weed cultivar was developed using the genetics of two glorious strains – Burmese Blackberry Kush and OG Kush, so it contains the best Indica properties and can be confidently called an Indica-dominant variety.
It is high in THC, with weed buds containing 16% to 24% depending on the cultivation conditions, but its CBD content is higher than in Sativa cultivars – around 0.2-0.4%. Besides, following its Indica lineage, the Pink Panties plant is typically around 130 cm high (though plants grown outdoors can reach up to 220cm). Smoking this weed helps users relax and prepare for bedtime, so it is recommended for evening use and can be of much help to insomniacs. Besides, Pink Panties is known for painkilling and sedating properties, which are also a primary feature of Indica weed.
How Will Sativa-Dominant Hybrids Help You?
Now, let’s proceed to Sativa-dominant hybrids. Just like with Indica-dominant varieties, these cultivars may exhibit various characteristics depending on the percentage of each type’s genes in their profiles. Thus, if Sativa dominates the strain’s genetic profile, it may be commonly expected to have the following properties:
Some famous Sativa-dominant strains are:
How to Choose an Optimal Strain for Yourself?
Now that you know that there are hundreds of marijuana varieties, which one can suit you the best? It’s vital to understand your needs and expectations before picking the strain, as it may make or break your acquaintance with weed and its therapeutic properties. We recommend focusing on the following parameters in the selection process:
The pro tip: if you’re a complete newbie, go to a local dispensary and talk to a consultant, explaining your health condition and sharing your expectations from weed use. They will surely advise you on a couple of strains ideally fitted to your profile; after trying them, you can search for strains with similar qualities and scan the Internet to expand the spectrum of strains that help you the best.
Final Word
Picking a favorite strain may be a challenge. Still, if you approach this task with due diligence and do some preliminary research about Indica and sativa effects, you’re sure to start your acquaintance with weed on the right note. Scan the Web, talk to people around you, and try several different hybrids – all these small steps will guide you on a path to a rewarding cannabis user experience.
This article’s author is Tia Moskalenko, an experienced professional in CBD use in pets and humans and a full-time writer at AskGrowers. Tia is always on the frontline of CBD market research to share her finds with consumers and educate people about the benefits of CBD for their health.
