For those unfamiliar with them, a first visit to a seedbank can be overwhelming. Instead of an enticing selection, they see thousands of names, images and descriptions which, rather than helping, can be more confusing. Are you looking for an indoor strain that will not let you down, but do not want to spend hours browsing an e-shop? We have prepared a practical guide for beginner indoor growers.
For beginners in indoor cultivation, the best strains are those that do not require any special care or expertise. The easiest strains to grow are photoperiod strains with a flowering period of 8–10 weeks and a maximum height of 180 centimetres.
Which strains should beginners avoid?
- Sativa strains: Sativas can be challenging even for experienced growers. They flower for a very long time and stretch several times their height after being switched to flowering. It is therefore not always easy to keep their growth under control and fit them into the limited space of a grow box.
- Regular seeds: Although most cannabis strains are feminised today, seedbanks still offer regular seeds, from which both female and male plants can grow. They are excellent for breeders and anyone who wants to produce their own seed stock, but they certainly cannot be recommended to beginner growers.
- Landraces: Traditional regional strains from around the world form the foundation of all famous cultivars. However, times are changing, and most landrace strains no longer meet what modern growers expect from cannabis. If you want to achieve an impressive harvest, it is better to choose from modern bred cultivars.
- Autoflowering strains: Many seed sellers claim that autoflowering strains are suitable for beginners. We believe this certainly does not apply to indoor cultivation. Autoflowering plants do not wait for anything, and every mistake counts twice with them. When growing photoperiod strains, growers always have enough time to prepare their plants for flowering, even if everything does not go exactly according to plan.
The best indoor strains for beginners
Although indoor cultivation may look complicated at first glance, even a beginner can grow most modern strains. If you follow the recommendations mentioned above, there is nothing to worry about. If you are still unsure, we have selected several of our most reliable strains, with which you can achieve an excellent harvest with minimal effort.
Tropicana Cherry
Tropicana Cherry represents the gold standard of modern indoor cultivation. It is a high-yielding strain with a pronounced terpene profile full of fruit and sweet notes, flowering for approximately 8–10 weeks and reaching 180 centimetres in height. The plants respond very well to pruning, bending and other LST techniques. Tropicana Cherry produces compact, spherical flowers that are typical of the Cookies line.
Wedding Cake
Around 2019, Wedding Cake was among the hottest strains on the American recreational market, and it remains very popular. The main strength of this Cookies line strain is its unusual terpene profile, full of sweet flavours underpinned by earthy notes. With a maximum height of 120 centimetres, it is an easy-to-manage strain known for exceptional yields.
Alien OG
Originally from the Bay Area in San Francisco, this strain was initially available only as a clone. Alien OG is a typical Kush with a pungent aroma full of lemon, pine and earthy notes. Alien OG is easy to grow, and the result can floor even experienced smokers. The plants reach 180 centimetres in height and mature after approximately 9–10 weeks of flowering.
Gary Payton
This acclaimed strain was created through a collaboration between Cookies and Kenny Dumetz of Powerzzzup Genetics and was named after the famous NBA player. Gary Payton enjoyed its greatest popularity around 2022, but it remains popular to this day and can be found in the range of medical cannabis dispensaries around the world. The plants are relatively short, reaching just 110 centimetres in height, which can be an advantage for growers with smaller grow boxes.
Bubba Kush
A 1990s classic from the west coast of the USA, it belongs to the first wave of American Kush strains. Bubba Kush is characterised by a pronounced hash aroma with notes of coffee and chocolate. The plants reach up to 100 centimetres in height and mature very quickly after 8–9 weeks of flowering.
Permanent Marker
This is a strain that conquered the United States from coast to coast a few years ago. Permanent Marker’s terpene profile is so complex that it is difficult to describe. Once you taste it, you will always recognise Permanent Marker. The plants are medium-sized, reaching up to 160 centimetres in height, and some phenotypes may contain up to an incredible 34 % THC.
Spritzer
A hot new release from Cannarado Genetics that recently won the prestigious Michigan Cannabis Cup. This top-quality genetics stands out with dazzling buds and a sweet flavour full of grape, cherry and citrus notes, and certainly deserves attention. The plants mature after 8–10 weeks and reach 150 centimetres in height.
Are you looking for more advice for beginner and advanced growers, or for interesting facts and news from the world of cannabis? You can find all this and much more on the HiSeeds blog.
