Top 5 Easiest Cannabis Strains to Grow
You may be surprised, but growing marijuana isn’t rocket science, and even a newbie can cultivate a decent crop by mastering the basics. However, once you delve into the nitty-gritty details, there are various factors to consider, like nutrient levels, light exposure, temperature, pH levels, and humidity. All these can affect the quality and quantity of your harvest.
When it comes to growing cannabis, practice makes perfect. It may take a few tries to get the hang of it, but there are plenty of easy-to-grow strains that make the process a breeze. These strains are resilient and thrive in any growing conditions, requiring minimal care and showing great resistance to common stresses like pests, drought, sunburn, mold, or nutrient deficiencies. This makes them easy strains to grow for practically any skill level.
What Are the Easiest Cannabis Strains to Grow?
Here at Herbies, we're all about growing cannabis that's easy and low-stress. We've previously curated a list of beginner-friendly strains, but this time, we wanted to get some external insights. So, we headed over to Reddit's r/microgrowery to see what strains the community there recommends.
The consensus among many growers is to opt for well-established genetics that have stood the test of time. If a strain has been available for many years, it's likely that its genetics are reliable, leading to consistent and predictable growth.
After delving into numerous Reddit discussions, we've compiled a list of five popular strains that are especially well-known for their ease of cultivation.
Northern Lights
Northern Lights is often the top recommendation for beginners by experienced growers. A blend of Afghani and Thai landrace strains, this iconic hybrid is renowned for its exceptional quality, high-potency buds, and its delightful pine and earthy flavor. It has been a key parent in creating many other well-known strains.
Northern Lights (Herbies Seeds) - Photoperiod
- Lighting up the night
- 400 - 500 g/m² indoors
1200 - 1300 g/plant outdoors - 17 - 23 %
Thanks to its genetic heritage, Northern Lights exhibits classic strong Indica effects: a euphoric body high and a pleasant sense of happiness and well-being, along with a lasting buzz.
Its Indica dominance makes Northern Lights versatile, able to thrive in various conditions while producing abundant, resin-rich buds in a short flowering period of less than 9 weeks. It's a hardy plant that’s resistant to pests and not susceptible to mold or rot, ensuring an easy growing experience.
This strain is well-suited to the Sea of Green (SOG) technique and can be grown in soil or hydroponically. As an Indica, NL tends to grow bushy, so regular trimming is advised to ensure light reaches the lower parts of the plant. Additionally, indoor growers can enjoy multiple harvest cycles each year.
White Widow
Transitioning from Indica-dominant strains to a well-rounded hybrid, White Widow is often listed as one of the most user-friendly strains on the market. Originating in the Netherlands, it's a crossbreed of a Brazilian Sativa landrace and a South Indian Indica.
White Widow is notable for its coating of white trichomes, giving it its distinct appearance and namesake. It delivers robust, balanced effects that impact both the mind and body, making it a favorite for medical users for its ability to alleviate stress, symptoms of depression, chronic pain, and insomnia.
Growing White Widow is straightforward and suitable for growing both indoors and outdoors. The plant requires abundant light but is also capable of thriving in cooler climates with shorter summers, like in the UK, France, and the Netherlands. The strain is resilient against mold, pests, and lower temperatures, marking White Widow as an excellent choice for novice growers. It can also be cultivated in either soil or hydroponic systems and responds well to the Screen of Green (ScrOG) technique.
Blue Dream
Blue Dream, originating from Northern California, is one of the easiest strains to grow. A blend of Blueberry and Haze, this balanced Indica/Sativa hybrid is celebrated for its sweet berry scent and flavor. It offers a unique combination of both cerebral high and full-body relaxation.
Blue Dream (Garden of Green) - Photoperiod
- 450 - 550 g/m² indoors
500 - 800 g/plant outdoors - Lasting clear cerebral and energetic
- 25 - 29 %
Blue Dream is particularly noted for its resilience against mold, mildew, and fungi, making it an excellent choice for outdoor cultivation, especially if these issues are a concern.
Ideal for beginners, the plant thrives in subtropical or Mediterranean climates. For growers in different environments, indoor cultivation becomes a preferable choice. Indoors, Blue Dream requires ample space due to its tendency to develop large, robust branches.
Girl Scout Cookies
Inspired by the iconic cookies, the GSC strain mirrors its namesake with a sweet, minty aroma reminiscent of the famous Girl Scout treats. A Sativa-dominant hybrid born in California, GSC has risen to fame across the U.S. thanks to its prestigious parents, Durban Poison and OG Kush.
The experience with GSC is varied – it starts with an elevating, joyful buzz that gradually transitions into a relaxing effect without the typical couch-lock. It's known for its therapeutic benefits, aiding in stress, depression, appetite loss, and chronic pain management.
Contrary to what its Sativa heritage might suggest, GSC is surprisingly easy to cultivate. The plants are robust, compact, and bushy. When grown outdoors, they thrive in warm, sunny conditions, ideally in a Mediterranean-like climate.
LSD
Choosing the name 'LSD' for a cannabis strain is quite daring, reflecting this strain’s intense cerebral effects and high THC content, which can reach up to 25%. LSD is primarily an Indica hybrid that was developed by combining Original Skunk #1 with an Afghani Indica. True to its lineage, it exhibits characteristics like robust growth, a compact structure, and a brief flowering cycle.
This strain is known for its resilience and disease resistance, adapting well to various growing environments. However, it prefers daytime temperatures between 65-80 °F. Its strong resistance to most common pests and molds makes it suitable for both indoor and outdoor cultivation.
For growers looking to maximize their yields of LSD, techniques like topping the plant to encourage branching and employing the Screen of Green (ScrOG) method are beneficial. Pruning the lower branches can also be advantageous, as this helps the upper buds to develop better.
Why Are Some Strains Easier to Grow Than Others?
When it comes to the simplest strains of cannabis to cultivate, genetics play a pivotal role. Traditional wisdom holds that landraces – these are the original, unaltered cannabis strains that have grown in the wild without any crossbreeding – tend to be more robust than hybrid varieties. Their extensive genetic diversity is what has allowed them to endure over time.
Landrace strains are particularly notable for their hardiness, showing remarkable resistance to the weather changes in their native regions. Generally, growing an Indica landrace is easier than growing a Sativa.
On the flip side, hybrid strains, which include crosses between Indicas and Sativas, are often more prone to issues like mold, pests, and diseases, presenting a greater challenge for growers. However, it's commonly believed that Indica-dominant hybrids are easier to handle compared to those leaning toward Sativa for several reasons:
- Indicas usually have a shorter, bushier stature, making them the easiest strains to grow indoors.
- Indica strains often yield more, allowing even beginners to achieve substantial harvests.
- Indica plants are typically more resistant to colder temperatures and have a quicker flowering cycle, which is advantageous for outdoor growing in areas with shorter growing seasons – increasing the likelihood of being able to harvest before adverse weather sets in.
In contrast, Sativa strains are not the easiest weed to grow. Originating from equatorial regions, they need plenty of light and higher temperatures. They also demand more space due to their growth patterns and have lighter, airier buds.
What Else Should You Consider Before Growing?
Before planting your cannabis seed, it's a good idea to think about the type of strain you'd like to grow. Consider factors like your available space, budget, preferred effects and flavors, and the climate in your area. Here's a breakdown of the key aspects to consider:
- Resilience: Some strains are especially resistant to pests, diseases, or harsh weather, which is crucial whether you're growing indoors or outdoors.
- Size: Compact strains are great for limited space and are less noticeable.
- Yield: While proper care (nutrients, water, lighting) is essential, the genetic makeup of the plant also determines its harvest size.
- Odor: Depending on your situation, you might prefer a strain with a strong scent or something more discreet.
- Speed: Quick-growing plants mean a faster harvest and added stealth.
- Type: Autoflowering strains are an excellent choice for beginners. They're easy to grow, resilient, compact, and go from seed to harvest quickly, all while remaining potent. Additionally, opting for feminized seeds can be a huge advantage. These seeds are bred to produce only female plants, thus eliminating the need to identify and remove the males.
- Cost: If you're new to growing, consider starting with less expensive seeds. This reduces the pressure and makes your growing experience more relaxed.
By considering these key aspects, you're setting yourself up for success with growing marijuana.
Final Thoughts
If you're a newbie in the world of cannabis cultivation, choosing the right strain can make your life a whole lot easier. You still have to pamper your plants, but opting for robust, low-maintenance, and easy-to-grow cannabis strains can save you from a lot of headaches down the line.
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