By Stoney Tark
Choosing the right cannabis cultivar for your first grow is vital to success. The cultivars you choose should be practical for your grow space and skill level. There are many variables to consider when deciding which cultivar, and these tips will help you weigh them before investing in seeds or clones.
#1: Desirable Traits
Every cannabis plant has its own unique characteristics and traits. These can include size, structure, flowering time, effect, terpene profile, resin production, and yield potential. Decide in advance which trait is most important to you and find a cultivar that reflects your preferences. Everyone is different, so take the time to research breeders and their catalogs before investing.
#2: Grow Space
The amount of grow space you have affects your plants. For example, a bedroom grower may only have enough space for a short and stocky indica or autoflowering plant. Growers with ample garden space can work with taller sativa-dominant hybrids. Growers who use a Sea of Green method should choose fast-flowering medium-sized plants. A Screen of Green (ScrOG grower will certainly want a large-sized bushy plant to grow.
#3: Explore Old-School Genetics
Even though breeders are producing the best hybrids ever these days, old-school genetics represent a time when most breeding was crossbreeding, and line breeding was the focus. If you are interested in breeding with a solid, stable lineage, or want a population of plants with greater phenotypic expression and diversity than feminized seeds, give old-school regular seeds a shot!
#4: High-Yielding Genetics
Many growers’ primary aim is to produce as many dry flowers as possible after each harvest. High-yielding genetics can help take yield to the next level, especially when grown in hydroponics. If your goal is to keep your curing jars full for the next 3-4 months until your next harvest, consider large-yielding genetics, as they will be advantageous for commercial-scale growers as well.
#5: Try CBD Hybrids
Although CBD hybrids may not be as commercially popular as other cultivars, they offer growers the opportunity to produce buds or extracts with varying THC:CBD ratios. I strongly recommend CBD hybrids to anyone who wants to enjoy the flavor, aroma, and therapeutic effects without the overwhelming THC experience.
Tip #6: Remember Autos are Fast!
The great thing about growing cannabis indoors is that you can decide how long you want the vegetative cycle to last before inducing flowering. Many growers like to keep their plants in vegetative growth for 10 weeks before flowering, while others prefer the shortest possible turnaround time. This is where autoflower cannabis seeds using the Sea of Green method come in handy and allow home growers to achieve a seed-to-harvest time as quickly as 9-10 weeks.
Tip #7: Look for “Washers”
If your goal is to make hash, then you will want to research which cultivars are most favored by hash makers. These are called “washers” because they are high-yielding when water extracted.
Tip #8: Grow Multiple Cultivars at Once
Whenever I grow indoors, I always grow at least three different cultivars at once. Not only does it give me a greater selection once harvested and dried, but it also allows me to try different breeders and see which plants are keepers, worth cloning, and worth keeping a mother. Filling your grow space with only one cultivar is ideal if you are using a Sea of Green format. I would always recommend growing as many cultivars together at once.
Take your indoor garden further
If you want structured guidance beyond trial and error, Oaksterdam’s Home Grow course walks you through setting up and running a productive indoor garden from seed to harvest. When you’re ready to turn that experience into job-ready skills, the Live Commercial Horticulture Worker program adds live instruction, hands-on learning, and the practical training you need to step into a professional grow with confidence.
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