When you’ve found yourself exploring different strains, you might come across selections such as Pineapple Express, Blue Dream, and White Widow. These popular pickings are hybrid cannabis strains, and they make up most of what’s available on the market today.
The growing demand for cannabis has increased experimentation efforts, especially when it comes to cultivating hybrid cannabis strains. So what exactly are hybrids?
Read along to have a full understanding of hybrid cannabis strains and what they can do for you!
Hybrid Cannabis Strains, Explained
Hybrid cannabis strains are plants bred from different strains to create certain or specific effects and flavour profiles. Purebred landrace strains and existing hybrid strains are continuously being bred as a solution to meet all kinds of consumer needs, whether for recreational or medicinal purposes.
Some of you might already be aware of the two major types of cannabis plants: sativa and indica. Each strain has its own range of effects on the body and mind, resulting in a wide range of medicinal benefits. Sativa gives an uplifted, more active buzz, while indica typically offers a sedated, relaxed high. By fusing and cultivating these plants, a hybrid cannabis strain is born. This combination creates a harmony that balances out the effects, becoming a great choice for a lot of users.
Generally, there are three types of hybrid cannabis strains:
- Sativa-dominant;
- Indica-dominant; and
- Balanced.
Not all hybrid cannabis strains are created the same. Here are the major differences:
Clone-only Hybrid Strains
This type is grown into a plant with specific characteristics in mind. The cultivator can create genetically identical clones of the plant and distribute them. A clone acts as the only way to ensure that the genetic makeup of the hybrid is preserved. Growing conditions will affect the final outcome of this type of hybrid.
Stable Seed Strain
The breeder can select both male and female plants and breed them multiple times to stabilize specific characteristics or attributes. The final outcome will create these traits each time the seeds are grown.
Unstable Seed Hybrid Strain
These types of hybrid cannabis strains can be produced quickly compared to stable seed hybrids.
Effects of Hybrid Cannabis Strains
The effects of a certain hybrid greatly depend on the more dominant strain it is based on. Sativa plants are generally known for their uplifting and energizing effects, while indica plants are more sedating. Additionally, the terpenes present in the strain assist in the type of buzz you get. A balanced hybrid will provide a mixture of both sativa and indica, which can be an uplifting buzz with a maintained relaxing body high.
Why Hybrid Cannabis Strains Are Bred
Hybrids are bred for specific reasons. Hybrid cannabis plants are bred to create specific effects that give a higher level of satisfaction for recreational users and to provide more beneficial effects for those who use cannabis for medicinal purposes.
Some other reasons why hybrids are being increasingly bred include:
They Contain Specific Amounts of Cannabinoids
When it comes to cannabis strains, cannabinoids are the primary elements responsible for the effects they give. There are over 100 different cannabinoids in any given cannabis plant, and the two most dominant are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Hybrids are a mix of indica and sativa parents, and this allows breeders to know the kinds of effects the hybrid strains produce. As medical research develops and expands, more and more breeds are being created to keep up with specific healing demands or effects that patients would most benefit from.
Size and Appearance of Plants
Sativa plants grow tall and tree-like, while indica plants are usually shrubby in appearance. Hybrids can be customized to possess certain characteristics such as size and bulkiness to fit growing space restrictions.
Resin Content
Some plants contain more resin than others, and hybrid strains are specifically crossed for their resin content. Resin is the amber-coloured substance found in the trichomes and is considered the most valuable part of the cannabis plant. It delivers the majority of THC that is responsible for the plant’s psychoactive effects.
Cannabis resin is the light to dark brown sticky substance found on the trichomes of a cannabis plant. This sap-like plant byproduct is considered the most valuable part of the plant and delivers the prime majority of the psychoactive compound THC. Products containing resin are called concentrates. There are several ways that resins can be harvested to produce concentrates, such as butane hash oil, live resin, and rosin.
Terpene Profiles and Flavonoids
Hybrid cannabis strains combined with essential oils are now starting to appear in the wellness sphere for medicinal, calming, and relaxing effects.
Looking to Try Hybrid Cannabis Strains? Visit Seven Point!
Seven Point Cannabis offers a wide range of hybrid cannabis strains. Visit our High Park cannabis dispensary any day of the week to see our offerings up close, or contact us today to learn more about our hybrid strains. You can also choose to browse our wide selection of flowers and other smoking essentials online, delivered right to your door through our same-day delivery service.
Whether you’re new or experienced in the world of cannabis, our knowledgeable budtenders will guide you through your journey in finding the best hybrid cannabis strains to suit your specific needs and preferences.
