What is the difference between Indica and sativa?
For the quantities of cannabinoids (the ingredients active in THC, CBD and CBN are the most common in measurements today) there is no direct link to the source enter-sativa or indica, namely that can be an indica strain with a lot of THC and a little CBD or vice versa (the differences between THC and CBD can be read here). The types of cannabinoids and the percentage in which they appear in the cannabis flowers depend on the genetic form of the species, along with its growth conditions, length and type of exposure to lighting and the date of harvest.
What is determining whether a cannabis strain is a sativa or indica is among other geographical origin from which it came. Indica originates in the Hindu-Kush mountains, and therefore the varieties of cannabis indica often receive the addition of the ‘ Kosh ‘, such as ‘ Purple Osh ‘. The anti-aliased sativa is estimated in the East Asian, Russian and Kazakhstan region, and they have received the nickname ‘ Hayes ‘ (Haze) often attached to family varieties, such as ‘ Purple Hayes ‘.
Next to the source, it is difficult to know for real, here are 5 features that will help you differentiate between Indica and sativa:
- The thickness and shape of the leaves – the fan of the Indica plant will have wider and shorter fingers. The fan leaves of the sativa will be narrower and longer.
- The height and structure of the plant – an indica plant will be lower and denser and with the structure of “bushes”. A sativa plant will be higher and its branches will be longer and more discrete.
- The nature of the influence -some claim that it is only a myth and not more than that, but the accepted assumption today is that varieties of the Indica family will usually have a more intuitive effect, that is, soothing and tiring, while the strains of sativa who have a more energetic effect of ‘ high ‘. As we said before, it is also a hypothesis that has not yet been proven.
- During the flowering period -as opposed to indica varieties that have finished the flowering period for 6-8 weeks after the period of growth, varieties of sativa are characterized by a longer flowering period of about 12 weeks.
- The shape of the flowers -this figure is also controversial because the hybrid strains alongside combinations and hybrids between different varieties have caused uniformity in the subject, but in large it is possible to see that cannabis blossoms of indica strains will be more fleshy and denser (like the leaves) while cannabis flowers of sativa varieties will be longer and more sparse. Of course, this has nothing to do with the intensity of the influence or quality and quantity of produce.
Most important: THC opposite CBD
In recent years, it appears, according to studies, that one of the most important things in the diagnosis and choice between cannabis varieties is the ratio between cannabinoids THC and CBD.
Over the past few decades, and since then the war began in cannabis and its growing moved into the closed houses, the percentage of THC–the main component that the towers recognized and which was discovered in the 60 of the previous century.
In recent years, the world has been exposed to the significant advantages of the second common knbinoid in cannabis-Cannabavil (CBD) – The non-psychoactive element.
Studies conducted in recent years show that in some high-THC cannabis-rich species may result in negative influences, the CBD can balance these effects until it is completely remade.
Therefore, it is advisable for medical cannabis patients, especially those who are inexperienced, to choose cannabis varieties with THC percentages and CBD as identical as possible-what is called “balanced varieties”