Hybrid Cannabis Seeds

What are hybrid seeds?

Hybrid seeds are created by crossbreeding different strains to produce a hybrid plant that contains the desirable characteristics of both its parents. Traits such as potency levels, scents, flavors, aromas, yield, disease resistance can be bred into the offspring. They tend to offer the best of both worlds from indica and sativa genetics and offer a good mix of both relaxing and soothing indica effects and energizing, uplifting sativa effects.

Are hybrid seeds always 50/50 indica/sativa?

No. Technically speaking, a hybrid strain is any cross that shares traits from both indicas and sativas. Strains may even vary from plant to plant and seed to seed. For example, a cross between a pure indica and a pure sativa could produce a 50/50 hybrid, but each seed may contain a plant that shows more sativa-dominant traits or more indicia-dominant traits, regardless of the genetic cross.

A hybrid is basically almost any strain that is not an indica or sativa landrace. Some are more indica-dominant, and some are more sativa-dominant. Breeders tend to cross plants with more indica or sativa traits to make strains with more balanced effects, growing patterns, or other desired characteristics. With that said, some hybrids such as Gorilla Glue may approach a 50/50 distribution, but most others do not. Since there are no more pure indicas or pure sativas, the mix will always be different, and each seed may lean more towards one or the other. 

Who are hybrid seeds best suited to?

Hybrid seeds are ideal for any grower. There are so many varieties available, all with different characteristics, there will be a strain for everyone; short, tall, fast flowering, you name it there will be a hybrid that fits. It just depends on what kind of hybrid plant you want, if you are looking for a short easy to grow strain then maybe an indica dominant or autoflower strain is best. It also depends on where you are growing, if you are growing indoors smaller plants might be best whereas outdoor growers may want to choose a taller sativa.

Why choose hybrid seeds?

Thanks to their selective breeding, hybrids are often resilient and adaptable to both indoor and outdoor grows, allowing you to successfully run hybrids in warm and cool climates and other environments. But aside from growth, selective breeding has led to plants that produce some seriously desirable qualities, like increased potency and higher yields. Some are even easier to grow than standard indicas or standard sativas since they’re bred to be more manageable.

Are there disadvantages to growing hybrids?

While there’s a lot to love about hybrids, they tend to be a little inconsistent. For starters, they tend to be more demanding since they have environment and feeding requirements from both indicas and sativas, making them a little more challenging to manage. Because each seed contains a cross of DNA, you might get two or three different phenotypes from the same strain. In much the same way that some children look more like one parent than the other and siblings look different to one another, so do hybrid cannabis plants.

What are the effects of hybrid seeds?

While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, hybrids typically offer a more balanced high with a mix of effects. Thanks to their selective breeding and the range of genetics that go into each seed, you might enjoy the sedative and relaxing effects of an indica without the couchlock. On the other hand, you might enjoy the intense cerebral energy and euphoria of a sativa without the anxiety.

What are hybrids good for medicinally?

Many medical marijuana patients opt for a good hybrid strain when indicas slow them down too much, or sativas don’t give them enough physical relief. Hybrids tend to feel more clear-headed but still offer a good blend of physical and mental relief without swinging too hard in one direction. You might want to incorporate a hybrid strain or two into your medicine garden if you need relief from nausea, aches and pains, a lack of appetite, fatigue, depression, anxiety, or stress during the day or in cases where you don’t want to feel too sped up or too slowed down.

How long does it take for hybrid seeds to grow?

Because hybrid strains offer traits from both indicas and sativas, it’s hard to say for sure how long it’ll take for your seeds to grow and flower. Hybrid autoflowers can grow from seed to harvest in 8-12 weeks, whereas photoperiod hybrids can take anywhere from 14 - 20 weeks depending on if it is sativa or indica dominant.

How to grow hybrid seeds

Since hybrids are so diverse, growing specific strains will require specific climates, growing conditions, and other care considerations that may vary from strain to strain. A good place to start is to look at its genetics. You can tailor a cultivation plan by determining whether the strain you choose leans more towards indica or sativa dominance since indicas and sativas both have unique care requirements.

Indica dominant hybrids:

Indica-dominant hybrids typically share characteristics with their Indica parent, favoring a cooler and less humid climate since they tend to grow short, stocky plants with dense, compact buds. While the exact requirements may change with the sativa genes in there, it helps to reduce humidity. Indica-leaners may also enjoy slightly cooler temperatures. Due to their thick foliage, you may have to top, trim, prune, and train Indica-dominant hybrids more often to control their bushy growth, promoting healthy air circulation and light penetration for a better yield. Indica-dominant hybrids tend to flower a bit faster than Sativa-dominant strains, but that may vary thanks to their hybrid genes.

Sativa dominant hybrids:

Sativa-dominant hybrids tend to grow more like their Sativa parent, which usually prefers a warmer, more humid environment. These plants often grow to be very tall, so you’ll need to consider how much space you have in your grow room and ensure they can’t burn themselves on your grow lights. Sativa-dominant hybrids often have a longer flowering period and may benefit from pruning and training techniques, which can help manage their taller growth and ensure adequate light distribution to your flower nodes, boosting your yield.