Indica vs. Sativa: Subspecies of Weed Seeds

Common knowledge about weed seeds is crucial in establishing your growing gardens and making sure that you end up with only the best quality buds that you can produce. There are undoubtedly thousands and thousands of different marijuana hybrids out there.

Each one of these weed seeds will bring different qualities and values to your cannabis crops! However, all cannabis strain will mainly boil down to two distinct subspecies: Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Sativa.

It is important to know how these three different types of weed seeds grow. That way, you can pick the ones you like and not waste money on weed seeds that might be unfit for your tastes!

Cannabis Indica

Origins

First off, we have the Cannabis Indica variant of weed seeds. These were first discovered in the late 1700s by the French scientist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck. In one of Lamarck’s trips to the Indian Subcontinent, he stumbled across a certain cannabis variety indigenous to the area. Unlike the one already circulating the globe (sativa and it’s other variety, which is hemp), this one displayed different plant structures and appearances.

Upon further studies, more scientists discovered that it not only differed in appearance but in both psychological and mental effects as well! In order to avoid any confusion with other cannabis subspecies, this one was later classified as the Cannabis Indica.

Indicas grow abundantly in Central Asia, most especially in countries and places like Nepal, Tibet, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. It is also domestic to India, where it was originally discovered.

Appearance and Growing

The appearance and overall plant structure of Indica weed seeds are pretty easy to spot and differentiate. They are often described as being compact and bushy plants. They often grow to small heights, averaging just 2 to 5 feet for most indica-dominant weed seeds. The leaves of these plants emit a much deeper and darker shade of green while also being wider and broader in shape. When certain indica weed seeds are placed under slightly cooler conditions, they are capable of developing a subtle purple shade in the leaves and buds as well.

The buds of indica weed seeds, although small in size, are known to be very dense and heavy. Large volumes of trichomes give them a more frosty and potent look. Moreover, indica plants also have much shorter flowering periods than sativas. It will take roughly around 7 to 9 weeks for them to fully flower and mature. They can also handle lower temperatures better, which makes them a lot more mold-resistant.

Effects

Indica weed seeds, when planted, tend to give a more physical effect. The best way to describe the high that indica weed seeds give is it gets users feeling stoned and heavy. Unlike sativas, indicas will induce a relaxing and tranquil high. It may also be cerebral but will instead provide a hazy and dreamy effect that can lull smokers into pure calmness and bliss.

These properties make it a nighttime strain, as the sleep-inducing feelings may make it hard for people who use indica strains to function properly after smoking. Along with this laziness, indicas are famous for causing sensations of couch-lock, a feeling described as numbing the body and leaving you immobilized.

Cannabis Sativa

Origins

Sativas, on the other hand, were discovered much earlier in the world. While it wasn’t until 1753 that the Cannabis Sativa and its other counterpart Hemp (Cannabis Sativa L.) were officially classified as such, the earliest civilizations of humanity actually started using these as early as 2,500 years ago! Early communities in China made full use of cannabis during their times for a number of purposes. As it was used for a source of protein, strong fibres, medical substances, and rituals and traditions (due to its psychoactive effects), sativa and hemp weed seeds were often domesticated in large fields.

Fast forward thousands of years later, scientist Carl Linneaus took the initiative to further study the plant. In 1753, it was officially classified as the Cannabis Sativa and placed under the list of medical substances during the time. Cannabis Sativa grows naturally in Central America, Africa, Eastern Europe, and many parts of Asia.

Appearance and Growing

The appearance and growing information of sativa weed seeds are practically complete opposites with those of indica varieties, which makes them quite easy to tell apart from one another. Sativa weed seeds produce cannabis plants that are described as tall and lanky. The thick foliages of leaves that run through the whole length of its stems give the sativa plant a very loose and airy appearance. Along with this, its leaves are much brighter and vibrant, often glowing a shade of light green mixed with some yellow streaks.

The leaves are also much longer and finger-like as they will resemble the form of a hand. Sativa weed seeds can sprout into really tall plants. In fact, the average height of sativa-dominant weed seeds reaches up to around 10 feet, with many other strains out there reaching a ridiculous 16 feet! The buds of these are lighter in weight but bigger in size. They will often look like golf balls drenched in thick layers of trichomes.

Sativas, because of their height and structure, benefit greatly from being grown in a sunnier and wider space. They aren’t as resistant to molds and diseases as indicas are so we advise you to keep them away from damp and moist environments.

Effects

As a stark contrast to indica strains, the sativa weed seeds bring a much more vibrant and upbeat high. It is often described as being trippy and psychedelic as sativa weed seeds’ buds tend to target the head. The cerebral stimulation gives users a more happy and uplifted mood along with strong bursts of energy. Because of this, most sativas are used as daytime strains that increase your focus and productivity. They also reportedly get people a lot more sociable, inducing giggles and laughs throughout their high.

But because they mainly work their effects on the head, sativas are more likely to cause hallucinations and mind-altering effects than indica strains. The psychedelic high might disorient your way of thinking and decrease the responsiveness of your senses!

Conclusion: Which Subspecies Is Better?

To conclude our discussion, there really is no better among the two! As they both offer exact opposites in terms of growing and effects, it will pretty much depend on what you are looking for at a certain point in time.

Both these subspecies are equally famous and well-rounded as one another. Additionally, mixing them both to conjure up cannabis hybrid weed seeds will make a much more enjoyable experience!