Best Sativa Marijuana Seeds

Many argue that cannabis Sativa is the original marijuana. While we may never know for certain the order in which Indica and Sativa cannabis evolved, we do know that Sativa was the first to be widely used by early humans. The name Sativa means “cultivated” and cannabis Sativa was indeed used as far back as 10,000 BC for its hemp fibers. Today Sativa refers to the tall, lanky, Christmas tree-esque marijuana that delivers a powerful, psychoactive cerebral high.

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Cannabis Indica, in contrast, is short and squat with broad leaves. When smoked it yields body effects, producing a narcotic, pain-killing stoned sensation.

History

Cannabis Sativa originated in the tropical and subtropical parts of India and Southeast Asia. There is evidence that cannabis Sativa was used Taiwan for its fiber around 8000 B.C. It made its way across China, where it was listed in 2700 B.C. in Emperor She-Nung’s book of medicine as a cure to conditions of “low Yin” such as menstrual problems, absentmindedness and even malaria.

Cannabis Sativa was also used for its seeds as a source of food, and hemp fiber made the pulp for early paper. However, the psychoactive effects of Sativa are not mentioned much until around 1000 B.C. in India, where cannabis Sativa served important religious and spiritual functions. Today it is used popularly as a recreational drug. It is also taken as medicine by those suffering from mental and emotional illness such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder.

Characteristics

Sativa marijuana evolved in the tropical and subtropical regions of India and Southeast Asia. Today it is found around the world in like climates: Mexico, Thailand, Columbia and even South Africa. The traits that allow cannabis Sativa to thrive in hot and often humid weather can make it challenging in the grow room.

• Tall and slender, Sativa can reach over ten feet in height, with a classic Christmas tree shape. Its size makes it a challenge for novice growers. If you can find the right strain for your climate, an outdoor grow may be the best option.
• Sativa has long fingered delicate leaves that are light green in color due to a low amount of chlorophyll. This means the plants require greater intensity light than their Indica counterparts to achieve maximal growth.

• Sativas flower slowly, an adaptation to the long tropical growing season. They may take 10-14 weeks to finish flowering, which can be a problem if you need a quick harvest or have a short outdoor season.
• Sativas tend to form a numerous, hairy buds making them unsuited for Sea of Green set-ups. However, this does make the buds less prone to bud rot and mold by allowing for ample air circulation.

Sativas grow tall, fast and strong, able to compete in a tropical jungle environment. They flower slowly, taking full advantage of the lengthy growing season. Their long internodes and light buds allow for air to move around and through the whole plant, preventing mold and pest problems in a humid environment. If you happen to live somewhere with a tropical or subtropical climate, you may have great success growing Sativas outdoors. If you choose to put a Sativa inside, be sure you have the space, time and energy to manage the plants’ growth.

Best Grow Systems for Sativa

Sativa marijuana may pose a challenge for novice growers, as its tendency to grow big and fast make it difficult for indoor growing. During the vegetative stage you may be surprised at the small size of your Sativa plants. Don’t be fooled- they can stretch up to three times their previous height during flowering. When growing Sativas, make sure you have enough vertical space for them to stretch without running into your lights. If you have the right climate, you should seriously consider an outdoor grow for your Sativa plants.

Unless you have unlimited room, you will want to train your plants. Sativas respond well to a variety of techniques, such as:

Fimming: Basically a severe version of Topping, Fimming encourages bushy growth. It can be used in conjunction with a Screen of Green (SCOG) set-up as it trains the tall Sativa to branch laterally, which will make it fit nicely into SCOG.

Super Cropping: This technique stresses the plant by bending and slightly breaking branches. It encourages the plant to grow in a bushy shape with lots of flower sites. This technique can train a typically tall, rangy Sativa to grow in a shorter, bushier form.

Low Stress Training (LST): LST involves bending your plants, encouraging horizontal instead of vertical growth. Be aware, your Sativas will still take up a lot of space! You will save yourself the hassle of adjusting your lights as frequently, and will be able to get away with growing in a shorter space.

No matter which technique you use, it is best to train during the vegetative stage of growth. Even though your Sativa won’t be showing its full growth potential yet, training it NOW will encourage it to grow out and bushy when it does stretch, instead of shooting straight up through your ceiling.

A final warning to the Sativa grower: while your plants will produce many large buds, Sativa buds tend to be airy. After you dry and cure your buds your yield may be lower than you initially thought. The high is usually well worth it, but if yield is critical to you, give Amnesia Haze or Durban Poison a try as they tend to be higher producing Sativas.

Smoking Sativas

Sativas tend to have citrus, fruity, pine or other “clean” tastes and odors. While her Indica sisters are earthy and musky, Sativas are light and crisp when smoked. Likewise, they have a lighter, crisper high.

It is the high that keeps everyone coming back to Sativas again and again. Typically described with adjectives like clear, bright, energetic, cerebral, social, giggly, euphoric, transcendental and functional, Sativa smoke produces psychoactive mental effects.

Sativa smokers often observe that sights and sounds are intensified, making everyday activities like watching a movie, listening to music or going shopping at the mall novel and exciting. This is great marijuana for parties, social events and even hiking. For many, the benefits of a cheerful, uplifting high make it worth taking on the challenges Sativas present in the grow room.

Medicinally, cannabis Sativa is useful in ameliorating depression, anxiety and other mental or emotional ailments. Indica is more effective in treating physical pain and insomnia.

Sativa vs. Indica Chemically

The high or stone sensation from smoking marijuana comes from molecules called cannabinoids. There are three main cannabinoids found in marijuana: Tetrahydrocannibinol (THC), Cannabidiol (CBD) and Cannabinol (CBN).

THC is the chemical in marijuana that gets you high, triggering a euphoric response when they bind to the many cannabinoid receptors throughout your body. In tests of pure THC, this molecule has been found to increase appetite, and suppress spasms, inflammatory responses and tremors.

CBD is not psychoactive like THC. It does offer a variety of medicinal effects including: suppression of nausea, suppression of convulsive, inflammatory and psychotic responses, sedative effects and protection from neuropathic diseases.

CBD moderates the psychoactive effects of THC and is said to help combat the paranoia that some users experience when smoking. CBD and THC interact to create different effects:

High THC:CBD ratio: the high is generally bright and energetic.

Low THC:CBD ratio: a sleepier, more narcotic stone sensation.

If both THC and CBD are high you get both mind and body effects creating a potent dreamy high.

CBN is produced as THC breaks down when cannabis ages and oxidizes. CBN is not psychoactive like THC, but it can increase feelings of drowsiness or a sluggish sensation of being drugged. Generally high CBN content is considered a negative result of improper marijuana storage.

Cannabis Sativa has high THC and minimal CBD, giving it a high THC:CBD ratio.

Generally cannabis Sativa has high THC, giving it an unmoderated euphoric high. Indica cannabis has higher CBD and lower THC, giving it narcotic, body stone effects and pain relieving medicinal properties.

Famous Sativas and Why

Many of the most popular strains are Sativas because of the beautiful high they offer. Amongst the most well-known and best-loved Sativas is Jack Herer, named for and smoked by one of cannabis’s greatest advocates. Durban Poison and Sour Diesel have been around for years and loved by all who have smoked them, yet their origins are unclear and no single seed bank can claim them.

Kali Mist is a newer Sativa that has made waves for the last 15 years, winning the title “Queen of Sativas” as well as numerous cup awards. Blue Dream is similarly claiming hearts across California. Most famous Sativas have earned their reputations through the powerful high they offer. After all, who doesn’t love a creative, energetic high that doesn’t put you on the couch? They all share a tendency to grow tall and gangly, often being unmanageable indoors, but there are many smokers out there who still choose to smoke and grow Sativa, and nothing else.

To Sum up Sativa Seeds…

Cannabis Sativa is loved by recreational and medicinal smokers alike for its energetic, clear-headed cerebral high. However, it is challenging to grow because of its slow flowering and large space requirements. Outdoors it is equally difficult simply because Sativa requires a hot climate with a long growing season, which is something many growers don’t have.

Novice Sativa lovers may want to start out with Sativa dominant hybrid like Critical +2.0 from Dinafem or Power Flower from Royal Queen. While outdoor growers in northern latitudes or places with cooler, damp summers should give Bangi Haze or Purple Power a try.

Breeders have also been trying to solve the “Sativa Problem” by crossing them with Indicas. The goal has been to capture the psychoactive high of a Sativa in the short, stocky, hardy body of an Indica. This has not been achieved perfectly in every hybrid, but some good ones to try include White Widow, AK-47 and White Russian.

For the pure Sativa lover, it is worth the trouble to learn to grow Sativas yourself. After all, working hard in the grow room and seeing your efforts rewarded by a bountiful harvest of your favorite buds is half the fun!

Please let us know which Indica strains you love to grow and smoke.

2018 Top 10 Sativa Seeds

Best For: South African Landrace Strain, Bright Energetic High

Durban Poison is a popular strain with a rich history. Its origins are Landrace subtropical Sativa from South Africa. A fellow named Ed Rosenthal brought a variety of seeds back from the Durban area of SA in the early 70’s. He worked to create a stable phenotype and a shorter flower period, before passing some seeds on to a friend. Eventually the strain that would become Durban Poison was brought to the Netherlands by Sam “the Skunkman” where it was introduced to the world.

With its bright, functional but still potentially mind blowing high, Durban Poison remains one of the best-selling strains on the market today. It is known for its highly energetic high and distinct anise flavor.

Currently both Sensi Seeds and Dutch Passion sell versions of Durban Poison. Dutch Passion’s Durban Poison is all Sativa, and more consistent in phenotype. Sensi’s Durban has a little Indica influence, giving rise to more variation in growth, but offers the same killer high and tasty licorice smoke. Nirvana also offers a Durban Poison, as do a variety of other seed banks. It is hard to say who has the true original, if anyone does. With so many offering Durban, the statistics are variable. Flowering can be as fast as 9 weeks or as slow as 120 days. Yields vary greatly as well, reaching up to 700 g/m². Some seed banks offer a feminized version.

• Type Sativa 100%
• Height Medium to Tall
• Flowering time Variable
• Awards won None
• Yield 300-700 g/m²
• Feminized Yes
• Autoflowering No
• Growth difficulty Moderate
• THC level 8-14%

For Similar Strains check out:

• Jack Herer Feminized Seeds

• Royal Queen Royal Jack Automatic Seeds

• Dutch Passion Mekong High Feminized Seeds

• Dutch Passion Dolce Vita Feminized Seeds