Indica marijuana characteristics
List of contents
Geographical origins of Indica marijuana strains
We usually call Indica varieties those cannabis strains originary from Afghanistan, Pakistan, northern India, the Hindu Kush and some areas from Eastern Europe and the Near East. The Himalaya/Karakorum region is the originary place of most pure Indica genetics, which were brought to the West by the first hippies who travelled to Asia during the 60's and 70's and visited those places, where they met local growers and obtained marijuana seeds from them.
Most of these originary places are extremely isolated areas geographycally, so each genetic line could be bred and kept "pure" easily. In this way, we can find strong differences between genotypes grown in two different valleys in the same area.
As we already mentioned, the first Indica strains were brough to the West during the 60's, so breeders had the chance to use these new genetic features to make Sativa plants more suitable for indoor crops . In this way, the first Indica-Sativa hybrids were created, with the initial aim to shorten the size and flowering time of the classic Sativas.
Cannabis Indica was first described and named by french naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck in 1785, who based his description on plants from India.
Morphology of Indica marijuana strains
The main phenotypic characteristics of Indica marijuana cultivars are:
- Short and compact plants
- Short internodal distance
- Thick leafs with broad leaflets
- Relatively short flowering period, from 45 to 65 days
Cannabis Indica cultivation
All these features make Indica strains a very suitable option for either indoor or outdoor domestic crops. When grown indoors , they have the advantage of being short and compact plants, perfect for the SOG technique . They don't grow much, have strong - and few - side branches and develop a main stem from where we get almost 100% of the plant's yield. Their flowering period is really fast, thus being perfect for novice growers since they can usually harvest their plants before pests or diseases appear.
Regarding outdoor crops, the advantages are mainly the same than indoors; short and compact plants, they are suitable for terrace crops and easily camouflaged. Furthermore, their early ripening - mid September, early October - enable the grower to harvest his plants before bad climate conditions arrive at the beginning of Autumn. While Indica strains are usually resistant to insects, they may be sensitive to mold attacks due to their compact buds, which can be attacked by fungus when it rains or with high humidity levels.
Nowadays, almost every commercial cannabis strain has Indica genes in it, since - as we mentioned - most breeders have been using these genetics to shorten the size and flowering period of indomitable pure Sativas or long flowering Sativa hybrids, thus creating the socalled Indica-Sativa hybrids.
In regard with the organoleptic features of Indica strains , they are often considered to be of lower quality than those of Sativas, although we can also find delicious Indicas. Some Indicas have a very pleasant sweet and fruity scent, while others have earthy, spicy, liquorice or musky notes.
Traditionally, Indica strains have been used for hashish production due to their extreme resin production in most originary countries of this subespecies.
Effects of Indica marijuana
Regarding the effect, most Indica strains induce a sedative and narcotic effect, the typical "stoned" feeling which is often not recommended for performing activities that may require concentration, such as driving or operating heavy machinery. Some strains have a very strong, almost instant effect, so one can feel almost asleep with few tokes.
Both buds and resin concentrates made from these strains are suitable to treat several medical conditions such as pains, eating disorders, stress, anxiety or insomnia. Serious munchies are guaranteed when smoking most Indica varieties, so be advised!
Indica landraces and hybrids
As happens with Sativa genetics, we can find pure Indicas - genotypes that have never been outbred, crossed with other genetics - and pure Indica hybrids, plants created by crossing two Indica purebreds or landraces that show 100% Indica traits inherited from their parents.
Among pure Indica varieties, we can find the Afghani #1 from Sensi Seeds or the Pakistan Chitral Kush from Cannabiogen , which develops awesome purple colours.
In regard with Indica hybrids, we can also find countless examples, among wich we highlight the Master Kush (Kush line x Kush line) from Dutch Passion or Northern Lights from Sensi Seeds .
Have a nice smoke!
