There are a lot of things to remember if you are new to growing – ensuring proper light cycles, providing quality nutrition, keeping an eye out for deficiencies, etc. While growing marijuana is not exactly easy‚ there are some strains that grow better and are more hardy than others. As a beginner in the cannabis growing space, starting with genetics that are more forgiving will help you get the hang of growing, while still providing solid yields and a quality product.
To help you, we have put together a list of some of the easiest marijuana strains to grow.
Northern Lights
Northern Lights is one of the most popular strains of all time. The heritage is somewhat of a gray area, but it is a pure Indica and descends from original Afghani landrace strains.
Northern Lights is a great choice for beginner growers and is best grown indoors. This plant grows to a mid-sized bush and reaches just over 1.2 meters indoors. It is best suited for hydroponic or soil-based growing environments and prefers a temperature of between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. This strain has a 6-7 week flowering time and high yields of up to 500 grams per square meter. Northern Lights grows well with higher levels of nitrogen and can handle heavy feedings throughout the flowering stage.
This strain has moderate THC content of between 16-21% and a sweet, earthy flavor. As a result, Northern Lights is a highly effective medical strain with powerful body effects that promote relaxation and an upbeat euphoria.
Blue Dream
The second strain on our list of easiest cannabis strains to grow is Blue Dream. This particular plant is a cross between Blueberry x Haze strains, resulting in a slightly Sativa-dominant hybrid – 60% Sativa and 40% Indica.
Blue Dream is easy to grow indoors and has a fast grow time; flowers can be harvested in roughly 10-11 weeks from seeding. This is a very hardy plant that allows for a large margin of error, making it an ideal strain for beginners. Blue Dream exhibits a growth pattern that is similar to a pure Sativa, with a taller and more slender leaves. This strain requires some extra support as it sprouts heavier, Indica-style buds that have a hard time on the thin Sativa structure. Consider topping and training to ensure Blue Dream doesn’t outgrow your indoor space. Similarly to Northern Lights, Blue Dream can handle higher levels of nitrogen and nutrients without burning. This makes it an idea training plant for beginners to get accustomed to cannabis nutrition.
When grown correctly, Blue Dream can have a THC content of between 17-24%, making it a potent hybrid. The resulting high is an immediate cerebral onset that lifts mood, leaving the user motivated and focused. The cerebral high is accompanied by a relaxing, yet mellow, body high. These effects make Blue Dream an ideal strain for patients battling chronic stress, chronic pain, mild to moderate depression and sleep disorders.
Gorilla Glue #4
Next on our easiest cannabis strains to grow is Gorilla Glue #4. This strain is a 70% Sativa-dominant hybrid that was developed by GG Strains; it is a mix of Chocolate Diesel x Sour Dub x Chem Sister. It was so popular after development, that it won the 2014 SoCal and the High Times Best Hybrid awards.
This strain is notorious for being one of the stickiest out there, so be prepared to clean your CenturionPro trimming machine immediately after harvest. Despite being extremely sticky, this strain is considered to be one of the best hybrids to grow. When done so correctly it produces a solid yield that can reach up to 21 ounces of bud – per plant! The flowering cycle is 8-9 weeks from seed to harvest. Bear in mind, Gorilla Glue #4 likes moderate climates (between 68 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit) and a lower humidity to mitigate mold. In addition, cooler temperatures towards the end of the flowering cycle will increase trichome production.
Gorilla Glue #4 boasts potent THC content of 25-28% on average, sometimes reaching 33%! The effects of this strain are Sativa-dominant, resulting in an energizing and euphoric high that can help with chronic pain, OCD disorders, fatigue and stress.
Blue Cheese
Blue Cheese is an Indica-dominant hybrid derived by breeding the original Cheese strain with Blueberry. The flavor strongly resembles blue cheese, as the name suggests, and the aroma is a mixture of blue cheese and sweet blueberries.
With a flowering period of only 50 days, Blue Cheese is not only one of the easiest cannabis strains to grow, but also one of the fastest. Blue Cheese does have a very strong odor due to its highly resinous buds. This plant prefers cool to moderate temperatures, between 65 and 80 degrees, and also requires a lot of headspace; plan for at least 3 meters if growing indoors. This plant is has an abundance of foliage and requires plenty of nutrients, making it hard to overfeed. Providing nitrogen, calcium, magnesium and silica will greatly benefit this strain. Blue Cheese also responds well to LED lights in particular, which promote the production of extra-potent, extra-sticky buds.
Blue Dream has predominantly Indica effects and THC levels around 20%. This results in a deep body relaxation and a mixture of joy and euphoria for its users. This strain is ideal for treating anxiety, depression and pain as well as providing relief for insomnia, PTSD and bipolar.
Green Crack
The final strain is Green Crack, another Sativa-dominant hybrid. Developed by inbreeding Skunk #1, this strain has a Sativa:Indica ratio of 65:35.
Green Crack is a great option for any individual learning to grow cannabis. This plant performs particularly well in outdoor environments with unlimited space to grow, however the rapid flowering cycle is ideal for indoor harvesting. However, this strain is sensitive to powdery mildew, so ensure you have low humidity when growing. This strain does grow tall and fast prior to flowering. The buds are dense and tight, with a sweet tropical flavor and develop quickly over the short flowering period. The yield for this strain is moderate to high, depending on nutrition and growth environment.
Green Crack is a potent hybrid with THC reaching 25% in some cases. This strain has Sativa-effects, providing a mood boost and burst of energy to spur creativity and get things done. Green Crack is ideal for individuals looking for a daytime strain to fight fatigue, anxiety, stress and even ADHD and PTSD.
Get Growing!
After you have finished growing, an automated trimming machine can make harvesting easier too! If you are a home-grower, consider a CenturionPro Tabletop machine. This trimmer can help reduce your harvest time from several hours or days down to just one, thanks to its ability to produce up to 6lbs dry (30lbs wet) trimmed product – per hour!
For those of you who have mastered these strains and are looking for more of a challenge, check out our 5 most difficult cannabis strains to grow.
