Learn about how different environmental factors impact potency.

Cannabis strains are an important fixture of the industry.

Experienced cannabis consumers and newcomers alike want to know what the best cannabis strains are. Dispensary owners want to keep the most popular strains in stock, and cultivators want to prioritize their best-selling products.

Strains have colorful names like “Purple Trainwreck,” “Super Lemon Haze,” and “Girl Scout Cookies.” These names correlate to selectively bred genetic characteristics.

Different strains have markedly different effects. A certain strain might give you a euphoric rush of energy, while another makes you feel relaxed and drowsy.

The Difference Between Cannabis Strains and Species

Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Sativa are two distinct species of cannabis. Strains like “White Widow” or “OG Kush” belong to one or both of those species but have been selectively bred for certain characteristics.

The canine world offers a helpful analogy. Both wolves (Canis Lupus) and dogs (Canis Familiaris) are species of canines. Every breed of wolf, dog, and wolf-dog-hybrid belongs to the canine group, even though they can exhibit wildly different characteristics. Humans have been breeding dogs (and cannabis) for thousands of years – plenty of time for the characteristics of individual breeds and strains to flourish.

Are Cannabis Strains Related to Plant Species?

Until recently, common convention held that Cannabis Indica was responsible for relaxing cannabis experiences, while Cannabis Sativa had a more energizing effect. Various hybrids purported to combine these effects in different ways.

Now, cannabis industry experts are rethinking this approach. Terpene research indicates that the individual combination of aromatic oils each plant produces may have a more pronounced impact on the resulting bud’s intoxicating effect.

This means that the conventional differences between indica and sativa may not be as important as experts used to think. Terpenes, as well as environmental conditions like indoor vs. outdoor growing and hydroponic vs. greenhouse cultivation, may be more decisive.

How Cannabis Flower Cultivation Impacts the End Result

In the cannabis industry, there is considerable debate over what the “ideal conditions” for cannabis cultivation are. Some people see outdoor cultivators as opportunists who take advantage of natural advantages like free light and cheap land to produce high volumes of cannabis without strict control over the consistency of the final product. Others see them as idealists who are committed to cultivating cannabis “the natural way.”

On the other side of the spectrum, indoor growers are able to optimize every aspect of the growing environment to the smallest detail. Inside a grow room, cultivators can control light, temperature, and humidity with scientific precision. 

But that precision comes with a significant price tag – commercial grow rooms can cost between $50 and $75 per square foot. Outdoor cultivation, on the other hand, typically starts around $10 per square foot.

Among indoor cultivators, there is an additional layer of debate. Some cultivators believe that the precision of hydroponic cultivation is vastly superior to greenhouse-style cultivation in soil. Others think that cannabis is poorly suited to hydroponic cultivation.

Cannabis horticulture is a complex and fascinating discipline. Consumers may not need to understand every last detail, but gaining some familiarity with these industry-wide distinctions is helpful. When you find a strain you particularly like, you may be able to identify similar ones by paying attention to its aromatic profile and cultivation conditions.

Sources:

Typical Commercial Grow Room Setup Costs

https://www.healthline.com/health/beginners-guide-to-marijuana-strains#How-to-choose-a-strain