Sativa, Indica and Ruderalis Explained

 Sativa, Indica and Rodralis

The cannabis plant is divided into 2 main varieties: Sativa and Indica, but there is another variety of cannabis that sells a little less: Ruderalis. The three varieties differ from each other in appearance, taste, smell, geographical origin and the amount of crop they produce, but not so much in the type and intensity of their impact on the consumer. Worth knowing: The three main cannabis strains and their characteristics.

Contrary to popular belief among cannabis consumers accustomed to the division of Amsterdam, cannabis strains are a complex issue, which cannot be understood by simple means of division into 2 of Sativa and Indica. In practice, there are dozens of different cannabis strains in the world and hundreds of genetic hybrids between them, and today it is not possible to determine that a particular strain affects one way or another because it belongs to particular genetics.

Most of the strains currently available in the free and medical market around the world are a direct result of many-cycle genetic hybridization, which has resulted in the fact that today almost no Indica or pure Sativa can be found, nor can the effect be characterized. However, this division is relevant in certain characteristics - such as external form or geographical origin - so it is worth knowing it in a basic way.

Cannabis Sativa

Sativa cannabis is the earliest strain of cannabis, which has its geographical origin in East Asia and parts of Europe. Due to their geographical origin, Sativa varieties cope with higher temperatures and humidity better than Indica varieties, which is a very significant consideration in Israel.

The flowering time of Sativa varieties is longer than the flowering time of Indica varieties, and they grow much more laterally so that their general shape is more reminiscent of a "shrub" than a tall reed. In Sativa home growing you will have to wait longer, but you are likely to get more crops.

It is said that Sativa has an uplifting, creative and energetic effect that is felt more in the head than in the body, which is why many artists use cannabis Sativa to make it easier for them to write, compose, draw, sculpt and the like.

However, the difference between Sativa and Indica in terms of effect lies, as far as the world of science is known today, in the existence (or non-existence) of a terpene called Myrcene, which is responsible for the heavy and sedative effect of cannabis. Dominant Sativa strains tend to contain less Myrcene, so their effect is usually milder.

Cannabis Indica

The Indica's geographical origin is from Pakistan, Afghanistan and India. Indica cannabis plants tend to be tall and dense, with very little spacing between nodes, and wider and shorter leaves that look like small fans, when in the distance the plant looks like one tall “pillar” of cannabis.

Indica varieties grow and bloom faster than cannabis Sativa, and in the past, they usually contained more CBD and less THC than Sativa varieties, although this difference no longer exists, and the percentages of active ingredients are determined by the specific sub-variety you choose.

The effect of Indica relaxes the muscles, helps with sleep problems, reduces anxiety and creates a relaxed atmosphere for the consumer, but as mentioned, it is a fact that Indica varieties usually contain more myrcene, which gives them the heavy effect.

Ruderalis and the automatic genetics

It is a lesser-known subspecies, even known as the "distant cousin of cannabis", coming to us from the northern and colder regions of Russia, China and North America. Ruderalis cannabis plants are small, with a central stem and few branches, on which various leaves grow in appearance in general pentagonal cannabis leaves.

Ruderalis plants grow very fast, and bloom in a short period of time and regardless of the light cycle to which they are exposed, but provide very few flowers that usually contain a very low percentage of cannabinoids. 

Due to the fact that Ruderalis blooms are not dependent on daylight hours, many growers have hybridized them with Sativa and Indica varieties to create " automatic varieties " that grow quickly, remain relatively small and do not need to change light hours and darkness to flower - ideal for home growing.

Ruderalis and the automatic genetics Cannabis Ruderalis- The Source of "Automatic" Genetics

The lack of independence in the light cycle is due to the fact that cannabis Ruderalis plants germinate in a state of "delayed flowering", and a few weeks after germination they begin to bloom on their own in any light conditions they may be.

Beyond a small crop that contains less active ingredients, the main disadvantage of automatic genetics is that it cannot be cloned. That is, cuttings from an “automatic” cannabis plant cannot be taken because they will enter a flowering state at the same time as the plant from which they were taken, and it is not possible to continue growing them.