Cannabis Indica, Sativa, Ruderalis, and Hybrids

One of the many beautiful things about the Cannabis plant is that it comes in many different types of weed plants. Not one marijuana type is exactly the same, and they also come in both male and female varieties. Some cannabis strains are tall and skinny, others are short and stout, and still, others are much smaller.

The Cannabis plant is also known for its dioecious nature, meaning that it forms into distinct colonies of male and female plants. This is one of the reasons growers develop issues with male plants invading a grow room.

In addition to male and female plants, growers and cultivators are likely to run into (and create!) hermaphroditic and androgynous plants.

Whichever type of marijuana you ultimately choose to grow, it is a good idea to gain some basic knowledge of the variations and the differences between the different cannabis strains, as well as male and female plants. You’ll also want to understand the reasons why you’d want to separate them.

When you know these things, you can make the best decision for your own growing habits. In this article, we will cover the three species of cannabis, the role of gender in growing as well as hybrid breeds and hermaphrodites.

How many types of weed are there?

Although technically, these are cannabis plant species, there are 3 types of weed:

• Cannabis Sativa
• Cannabis Indica
• Cannabis Ruderalis

There is actually no official scientific evidence that explains the differences between Indica and Sativa strains of marijuana or even confirms that these differences exist. Nonetheless, they have widely accepted facts in cannabis circles.

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 regular hemp crops grown in Europe at the time, as they did not intoxicate the consumer.

Because of the differences between the European hemp crops (then actually known as Cannabis Sativa), Lamarck named his Indian discovery Cannabis Indica to establish its uniqueness from the European hemp. It was considered a therapeutic remedy of sorts in Europe during the 1800s and commonly used in Western medicine.

Cannabis ruderalis and Cannabis indica are all linked to Cannabis sativa L., the original tropical phenotype that spread north of the equator after the last ice age.

However, as they encountered different climates, these three types evolved with adaptive and reproductive mechanisms to survive in their new environments.

For example, cannabis plants in areas with weaker sunlight tend to have larger leaves to help them absorb more sunlight.

Cannabis Sativa

Sativa is the marijuana strain that people seem to like smoking the most. This plant grows quite large, reaching up to 15 feet in some cases. While it is not a really thick plant, many growers like it due to how tall it can grow.

Their leaves are long, dainty, and narrow, and considering their height potential, these are perfect for outdoor growing. The seeds are soft to the touch, with no spots or markings on them.

Do not expect this plant to flower quickly because Sativa takes its precious time, and even shifting the light cycles could 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 either vaporize or smoke this strain, it is the norm for users to use this to get high.

“You are not going to get stoned from using Cannabis Sativa, but it does have an invigorating, pick me up kind of effect that leads to feeling happier, unlike its more sedating counterpart, Indica.”

— Robert Bergman

It also can enhance your creativity, depending on the person. This is the strain you use when you want to be up and active during the day since it raises your energy and opens you up to fresh, new ideas.

If you are an artist of some sort, you may love this one. Sativa is known for a high ratio of THC to CBN the two primary active ingredients in cannabis.

Sativa dominant strains are higher in THC levels. This makes it less likely to be used for medicinal purposes, but one of the more popular strains for recreational purposes. However, sativa strains are still commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine.

Growing Cannabis Sativa

Sativa is a marijuana strain that typically flowers for longer, has lower yields than Indica, and has characteristically long thin leaves.

They’re taller plants in general since they come from a region near the equator, which has longer summers (which is also why their flowering period naturally lasts longer).

A good thing about growing Sativa is that the vegetative phase is shorter. There are even some Sativas out there bred to have shorter flowering phases.

If you’re from a hotter climate or have trouble keeping your grow room temperatures down, then a Sativa might be for you — they can take high temperatures better than Indicas.

Buy Sativa seeds

• Thrive in sunny climates
• Grow slender leaves for an uplifting high
• High THC levels
• Tall plants for in- and outdoor

BROWSE SATIVA SEEDS

Cannabis Indica

Cannabis Indica is a more solid strain in comparison to Sativa, but it does not have the height Sativa achieves.

Indica strains generally grow between 3 to 6 feet tall (1 to 2 meters). It is a bushy plant with round healthy leaves, unlike Sativa. However, they both have marbled-colored, soft seeds. Being that pure Indica is a short plant, this one is perfect for indoor growing.

While Sativa takes some time to flower, pure Indica strains flowers much faster and can be influenced a lot easier by adjusting the light cycle to promote this phase. It is most commonly found above 30° N in countries like Nepal, Lebanon, Morocco, and Afghanistan.

The buds and flowers on Indica dominant strains will usually grow very close to each other and are stickier to the touch than Sativa plants. When you want to make hashish, Indica is the plant you would choose due to the amount of resin it contains.

“Cannabis Indica is a stoner’s favorite since it is more like a sedative and puts your entire body into a deep state of relaxation. It has so much CBN in it that it will surely take you far and beyond just a regular high.”

— Robert Bergman

Growing Indica strains

Indicas are typically higher yielding, have a shorter flowering time, and have leaves that are shorter and wider than a Sativa’s. They’re smaller plants in general, but they can get quite bushy. Lots of growers prefer growing Indicas for these reasons.

Because of their shorter flowering phase, people who grow in colder climates with shorter winters may want to grow Indicas. Because of their shorter height, growing them indoors is also easy when it comes to growing Indicas.

Buy indica seeds

• Easy, small, sturdy plants
• High THC levels
• Heavy yields
• Perfect for limited space

BROWSE INDICA SEEDS

Cannabis Ruderalis

You will rarely hear anyone talking about Cannabis Ruderalis, which is one of the primary marijuana types and has a pretty short stature growing between 20-25 inches in height. Similar to Indica, this plant has very thick foliage. This plant is usually found growing in northern regions of the world.

Ruderalis plants have an extremely early and fast flowering cycle because it grows farther north than any other type of marijuana, so don’t have the luxury of a lot of time to mature before cold weather hits. Ruderalis is used to produce autoflowers.

One of the reasons you hear little about this strain is that cannabis Ruderalis flowers are not known to be highly psychotropic. It is used primarily as a source of additional genetic material by breeders and cultivators. That way, hybrids that flower early can be bred, and certain strains can be adjusted so that they will grow in more northerly climates.

What is hybrid weed?

In modern cannabis cultivation and breeding, there are a huge number of varieties available. Many years of intense mixing (here are some of the best strains to mix) and hybridization have created a huge spectrum of hybrid strains across these three primary varieties.

The different mixes all have different characteristics, running the gamut of possibilities relating to flowering cycles, yield, CBN: THC ratios, and disease resistance, among others. In general, the purpose of hybrid strains is to combine positive characteristics from different strains together.

Some key differences between Indica and Sativa marijuana types are the height of the plants, the length between buds, the size and shape of the leaves, the odor, the quality of the smoke, and the chemical properties themselves. In general, Indica is wide and robust while Sativa is long and thin.

So, hybrid weed is nothing else but a cultivar that has a mix of indica and sativa traits.

Growing hybrid strains

Hybrid strains can vary greatly, but usually, they have some of the good qualities of both Sativas and Indicas. Because of the range of genes you can find in hybrid marijuana plants, it’s hard to specify a common height, leaf shape, or other distinguishing detail. However, hybrids are often bred to have higher yields and be more pest-resistant, 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 growth descriptions before buying.

Download my free Grow Bible to learn everything there’s to know about growing your own.

What to grow next?

Now that you know about the three types of cannabis plants, you may want to know more about the plant sex and seed types. We’ve got you covered!

• Cannabis seed types explained
• What are feminized seeds?
• What are autoflower seeds?
• What are regular cannabis seeds?
• What are photoperiod cannabis seeds?
• Comparing autoflower vs. photoperiod
• What is sinsemilla?
• Cannabis plant types: Sativa, Indica, and Ruderalis
• Where to buy marijuana seeds?
• Cannabis Seed Banks in the USA
• Recognizing quality marijuana seeds
• How to store cannabis seeds
• Feminizing: How to make female cannabis seeds

Thanks for reading. If you have any questions, if something is unclear or if you’d simply like to learn more, then leave a comment or questions below, and don’t forget to download my free grow bible.

Robert