There are hundreds of varieties of weed on the market today. Uplifting sativa strains, relaxing indicas, balanced hybrids, and unique varieties with THCV or CBG offer more consumer choices than ever. But how precisely are strains made?
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The process of breeding cannabis is actually not as difficult as it sounds. However, creating a plant that provides a flavorful flower you’ll want to smoke and boasts robust yields can present some challenges. Fortunately, decades of trial and error mean there are plenty of tried and true formulas to follow for the novice breeder.
With the knowledge readily available in books, online, or classes, pretty much anyone can make their own strain. Here’s a quick primer of what you should know before digging in.
1. Understand the plant
Cannabis is one of a small percentage of plants that are dioecious, meaning that they naturally flower into either male or female plants. This makes them much easier to cross-breed. Female pot plants produce the buds we all know and love, while males produce pollen meant for reproduction.
When it comes to cannabis breeding, there are a few methods. The easiest, of course, is to select male and female plants and grow them near one another. Nature will likely take its course.
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Benjamin Lind, co-owner and chief science officer of Humboldt Seed Co., has been developing cannabis seeds for many years. He suggests taking the utmost care when attempting to breed, including separating breeder plants when possible.
“The biggest challenge is chucking those first grains of pollen without pollinating your whole grow,” Lind told GreenState, referring to larger cultivation sites.
With this in mind, some people take a more nuanced approach to breeding. Pollen is collected from a male plant and placed on a female plant. The pollen looks like yellow dust; one method of collection sees breeders cut stalks from mature male plants and place them onto parchment paper. After roughly 24 hours, the stalks are shaken to loosen the pollen, which can then be placed in a jar and saved.
Once a female cannabis plant begins showing its stigmas (or yellow-white hairs), the pollen can be placed. Many breeders use paintbrushes to apply a small amount of pollen to the stigmas. The female plant should then produce seeds, which can be planted. Thus, a new cannabis strain is born!
2. Do your homework
Making a new weed strain, in theory, seems simple. But there’s a big difference between simply creating a plant and developing robust, viable genetics. No one wants to spend all the time and effort just to have bud that is harsh to smoke or lacking in potency. Furthermore, successful breeding and cultivation require specific environmental conditions and tools.
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Consider checking out the book Cannabis Breeding: The Art and Science of Crafting Distinct Cultivars by James Loud, a well-known expert on the subject. It’s a great primer and offers many illuminating tips and tricks. Other useful texts include The Cannabis Breeder’s Bible by Greg Green and Marijuana Botany by Robert Connell Clarke. These resources will set you up for success.
3. Select your parents wisely
Breeders aren’t just seeking out the next big thing in cannabis—they’re often working lines to stabilize the genetics and weed out bad traits. With that in mind, choosing which strains to cross is a delicate process. The end goal is to get the best of both parents, but until the seed starts to grow, it’s hard to predict just what the outcome will be. If you like the gassy notes of an OG and the fruity notes of a Tangie and hope to get both notes in an original creation, you can attempt to breed them, but it’ll be a gamble.
This is why the phenohunt is so crucial to the cannabis breeding process. Seeds are planted, often in various conditions, to document the plant’s expression. This includes things like terpene and cannabinoid profiles, as well as overall plant vigor and growing style. Once a “winner” is identified, the plant is typically cloned or re-vegged as a mom. Just be sure to take good notes throughout the process in order to make informed decisions about your plants moving forward.
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As far as naming your progeny, the choice is yours. Some people like to pay homage to the family tree (think Tangie OG), which also offers familiarity to consumers. Others may get creative and name their strain after its unique aroma (think Cat Piss).
“Follow your heart and not the hype…”
Creating strains is becoming more commonplace as consumers seek out new and interesting varieties. While many breeders are also working to stabilize classic genetics, others are constantly on the hunt for the next big thing. Whatever your goal is, remember that plants are fickle but experimentation is always encouraged.
“My biggest recommendation is to follow your heart and not the hype. There are so many flavors and traits out there—create something unique to your heart,” Lind concluded.
