What are the types of Cannabis and what differentiates them?
One of the many great things about the cannabis plant is that it comes in many different variations. No one type of marijuana is exactly the same and they are also available in male and female varieties. Some are tall and thin, others are short and stocky, and still others are much smaller.
Types of marijuana
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Historical origins of types of marijuana
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Type of marijuana no. 1: Cannabis Sativa
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Type of marijuana no. 2: Cannabis Indica
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Type of marijuana no. 3: Cannabis Ruderalis
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Types of industrial hemp marijuana
The cannabis plant is also known for its dioecious nature, meaning that it forms in distinct colonies of male and female plants. This is one of the reasons growers develop problems with male plants invading a grow room. In addition to male and female plants, growers and growers are likely to encounter (and create!) hermaphroditic and androgynous plants.
Whatever type of marijuana you ultimately choose to grow, it's a good idea to gain a basic understanding of the variations and differences between different species, as well as male and female plants. You will also need to understand the reasons why you would want to separate them.
When you know these things, you can make the best decisions for your growth habits. In this article we will cover the three species of cannabis.
Historical origins of types of marijuana
In reality, there is no official scientific evidence that explains the differences between Indica and Sativa strains of marijuana or that confirms the existence of these differences. However, they are widely accepted facts among the marijuana growing and using crowd.
There are some historical explanations for the beginnings of the Indica strain, also known as Cannabis Indica . It was first classified by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck , a French biologist, in the late 1700s. He also identified the fact that the plants were intoxicating. It was different from the normal hemp crops grown in Europe at the time, as they did not intoxicate the consumer.
Because of the differences between European hemp crops (then known as Cannabis Sativa ), Lamarck called his Indian discovery Cannabis Indica to establish its uniqueness from European hemp. It was considered a therapeutic remedy of sorts in Europe during the 1800s and commonly used in Western medicine.
Type of marijuana no. 1: Cannabis Sativa
Sativa is the type of marijuana that people seem to enjoy smoking the most. This plant grows quite large, reaching up to 4.5 meters in some cases. Although it is not a very thick plant, many growers like it for its height.
Cannabis Sativa leaf
Their leaves are long, delicate, narrow and, considering their height potential, are perfect for growing outdoors. The seeds are soft to the touch, with no spots or marks on them. Don't expect this plant to flower quickly because the Sativa takes its precious time, and even shifting light cycles may have little effect on this.
Sativa is usually found below a latitude of 30°N, in places like India, Thailand, Nigeria, Mexico, and Colombia.
Sativa is often dried, cooked and consumed. While many people vape or smoke this strain, it is common for users to use this strain to get high.
“You won't get tired of using Cannabis Sativa, but it has an invigorating and stimulating type of effect that leads to feeling happier, unlike its more sedating counterpart, Indica.”
-Robert Bergman
It can also improve your creativity, depending on the person. This is the strain you use when you want to be awake and active during the day as it boosts your energy and opens you up to new ideas. If you are an artist of some kind, you might love this. Sativa is known for a high ratio of THC to CBN, the two main active ingredients in cannabis.
Sativa gives an energizing and stimulating effect Image by Sensiseeds
Sativa-dominant strains are higher in the cannabinoid THC . This makes it less likely to be used for medicinal purposes, but it is still common in Ayurvedic medicine. They also work well to combat the symptoms of:
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Depression
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ADHD
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Fatigue
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Mood disorders
Cultivation of cannabis sativa
Cannabis Sativa is a type of marijuana that typically flowers longer, has lower yields than Cannabis Indica, and has typically long thin leaves. They are taller plants in general since they come from a region near the equator, which has longer summers (which is why their flowering period naturally lasts longer).
A positive aspect of growing Cannabis Sativa is that the vegetative phase is shorter. There are also some Sativas out there bred to have shorter flowering phases. If you're from a warmer climate or have trouble keeping your grow room temperatures lower, then a Sativa might be for you - they can handle high temperatures better than Indicas.
Type of marijuana no. 2: Cannabis Indica
Cannabis Indica is a more solid strain than Sativa, but does not have the height that Sativa reaches. Indica strains generally grow between 1 and 2 meters tall. It is a bushy plant with healthy, round leaves, unlike Sativa. However, both have soft, colorful seeds. Since Indica is a short plant, this is perfect for indoor growing.
Cannabis indica leaf
While Sativa takes a while to flower, Indica flowers much faster and can be influenced much more easily by adjusting the light cycle to promote this phase. It is most commonly found above 30°N, in countries such as Nepal, Lebanon, Morocco and Afghanistan.
The buds and flowers of Indica-dominant strains usually grow very close together and are stickier to the touch than Sativa plants. When you want to make hash, Indica is the plant you would choose due to the amount of resin it contains.
Indica gives a feeling of strong relaxation Image by Sensiseeds
“ Cannabis Indica is a smoker's favorite because it is more like a sedative and puts your entire body in a deep state of relaxation. It contains so much CBN that it is sure to take you far and beyond a normal high.”
-Robert Bergman
Cannabis Indica has excellent healing qualities and helps with:
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Insomnia
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Relieve pain
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Induce muscle relaxation
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Muscle spasms
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Calm anxiety
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Relief from headaches and migraines
Growing Cannabis Indica
Cannabis Indica is a variety of medical marijuana that is typically more productive, has a shorter flowering time, and has leaves that are shorter and wider than a Sativa. They are smaller plants overall, but can get quite bushy. Many growers prefer to grow indicas for these reasons.
Due to their shorter flowering phase, people growing in colder climates with shorter winters may want to grow Indicas. Due to their short height, growing them indoors is also easy when it comes to growing Indicas.
Type of marijuana no. 3: Cannabis Ruderalis
You will rarely hear anyone talk about Cannabis Ruderalis, which is one of the main types of marijuana and has a rather short stature growing between 60/100cm tall. Similar to the Indica, this plant has very thick foliage. This plant is usually found growing in the northern regions of the world.
Runderalis cannabis leaf
Ruderalis has an extremely early and fast flowering cycle because it grows further north than any other type of marijuana and therefore does not have the luxury of much time to mature before the cold weather arrives. Ruderalis is used to produce autoflowers .
One of the reasons we hear little about this strain is because it is not known to be highly psychotropic. It is mainly used as a source of additional genetic material by breeders and growers. In this way, early-flowering hybrids can be bred, and some varieties can be modified to grow in more northern climates.
Types of industrial hemp marijuana
Industrial cannabis , typically found in the Northern Hemisphere, is a type of marijuana from the Cannabis Sativa species grown specifically for the industrial uses of its derivative products. It is one of the fastest growing plants and was one of the first plants to be spun into usable fiber 10,000 years ago.
It can be refined into a variety of commercial items including paper, textiles, clothing, biodegradable plastics, paints, insulation, biofuels, food and feed.
Hemp was a cash crop in America until the passage of the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 , in part because hemp can grow wild in climates where winter does not freeze the soil and kill the seeds. According to the USDA, hemp has low THC content and is not worth smoking. With THC levels under 0.3%, I totally agree.
Hybrid types of marijuana
In modern cannabis cultivation and breeding, there are a huge number of strains available. Many years of intense mixing and hybridization have created a huge spectrum between these three primary varieties.
Hybrid types of marijuana
The different blends all have different characteristics, spanning the gamut of possibilities regarding flowering cycles, yield, CBN:THC ratios, and disease resistance, among others. In general, the purpose of a hybrid plant is to combine positive characteristics of different strains together.
Some key differences between Indica and Sativa types of marijuana are the height of the plants, the length between buds, the size and shape of the leaves, the smell, the quality of the smoke, and the chemical properties themselves. In general, Indica is broad and robust while Sativa is long and thin.
Hybrids on the rise
Hybrids can vary greatly, but usually have some of the good qualities of both Sativas and Indicas. Because of the range of genes in which you can find hybrid marijuana plants , it is difficult to specify a height, leaf shape, or other common distinguishing details. However, hybrids are often bred to have higher yields and be more resistant to pests, which is great for growers. Hybrids are extremely popular. Most of the seeds available are hybrids. To know what you can expect, be sure to read the plant descriptions before purchasing.
FAQ about grass types
How many types of grass are there?
There are three main types of grass; Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Ruderalis.
What are the common types of grass?
The two common types of weed are Cannabis Sativa and Cannabis Indica.
What is a hybrid weed?
Hybrids are created by combining the good qualities of different strains of grass. They tend to have higher yields and are also resistant to pests.
All information contained is for informational and educational purposes only. We urge all users not to make any practical use of this information in connection with cannabis seeds. In fact, let us remember that:
In Italy the cultivation of cannabis seeds is prohibited (Art. 28 and 73 of Presidential Decree 309/90) if you do not have a specific authorization (Art. 17 Presidential Decree 309/90)
Therefore, cannabis seeds may be used exclusively for collecting purposes and for genetic preservation and are marketed with the reservation that they are not used by third parties in conflict with the law. Cannabis seeds are excluded from Presidential Decree 309/90, which means that they are not to be considered narcotic substances (L. 412 of 1974, Art. 1, Paragraph 1, Letter B; New York single convention on narcotics of 1961 and table 1 Ministry of Health decree 11 April 2006).