Every person is unique, and the same applies to all marijuana strains in the world. We all have our individual preferences and favourites when it comes to cannabis seeds. Picking weed is a matter of taste, and we all know pot is a tasty subject. So how do you choose the best cannabis strains? This blog helps growers and connoisseurs decide.

How To Pick The Best Cannabis Strains?

There’s a perfect cannabis match waiting for everyone, no matter your taste or growing goals. So how do growers choose their best matching cannabis strains when ordering seeds the smart way? Someone looking for strong medicinal effects will pick different cannabis strains than growers aiming for relaxing, happy, or creative genetics. Beginners and experienced growers decide differently, too. Below, we’ve listed some grower types and added tips to help them pick the best cannabis strains to match their personal needs and preferences.

Best Cannabis Strains For Active People

To anyone who prefers an active lifestyle and days filled with busy schedules, we recommend our most uplifting genetics. Do you love to spend time exploring, hiking, or cycling outdoors, pounding away at the gym, visiting festivals, doing some home improvement, cleaning up, or any of a million other activities? If so, our more sativa-dominant strains are probably worth a try.

Our haze ganja seeds in particular pack an activating, uplifting headbuzz that stimulates the mind and keeps the feet moving. Our top favourites here are Super Silver Haze, a refreshing Amsterdam Evergreen with up to 25% THC; and Amazing Haze, with an enervating mental boost and the taste of sweet caramel.

Creative And Artistic Growers

There’s plenty of growers out there aiming to crank up their creative capacity with their chosen weed strains. Heavily sedative strains are not the best choice here, as these are prone to keep even the greatest creative geniuses glued to the couch. Luckily, our collection has plenty of cannabis seeds packed with all you need to feed the mind with new impulses, free associations, and original ideas.

We advise all artists, designers, writers and other makers, as well as any amateur creative growers, to choose a cannabis strain such as Chocolato. This tasty strain combines full mental creativity with a carefree and slightly floaty body sensation.

Plenty Of Strains To Choose For Medicinal Cannabis Growers

People have been growing cannabis for its medicinal applications for centuries. In fact, there are too many medical options to just link this grow goal to any single personality type. Luckily, we don’t need to, because we have more than enough blogs to help any grower pick matching cannabis strains for:

• Chronic pain;
• Stress;
• Nausea;
• Sleeplessness;
• Depression;
• And other physical and mental problems.

Check out our strain blogs to pick your best match in medicinal cannabis strains.

Socialites Choose Happy Cannabis Strains

For many people, cannabis is a social phenomenon, meant to enjoy in the company of friends. That is why growers often choose cannabis strains that can boost the mood and atmosphere by promoting good conversation and happy vibes. Well, it’s time to start smiling, as we have more than enough strains to pick if happiness is the prime concern!

Our Lemon Ice seeds are known to pack a cheerful, relaxed effect, due in part to the freshly sweet fruit flavour of aromatic pick-me-up limonene. Still, the considerable sativa content of this merry lady remains the chief happy trigger. The resulting high activates the mind and keeps people talking for hours, sharing the cheer out among the crowd.

Try our Candyfloss seeds to watch how one strains sweeps all negative vibes out the window in one fell swoop! This sugar-sweet sativa melts away stress and unease like snow in summer, swapping them for a clear and friendly high that is downright euphoric.

Strains To Choose For Stressed-Out Cannabis Growers

Stress doesn’t have to be a medical issue. In fact, plenty of people choose a cannabis strain to chase out a healthy dose of job stress after a hard day’s work and start afresh the next day. No matter what, cannabis growers looking to ditch some stress, lose a bit of tension, and relax to the max have enough strains to choose from in our catalogue.

Defusing physical body stress often works best if you pick cannabis strains like Blue Magic, a real beauty queen with a deeply relaxing bodybuzz inside. She works her way down to the deep muscle fibres, making her a great match for athletes – because you can bet your muscles get stressed out by a punishing gym workout!

Gourmet Picks

We know, we know: there’s no accounting for taste. And yet, anyone trying to pick cannabis seeds based on taste and scent preferences is bound to feel like a kid in a candy store checking out our strains. These selections are all about the terpenes a strain contains. These aromatic compounds add more to cannabis strains than flavour alone, though: people also choose them for the subtle effects they can add to a high.

Anyone with a sweet tooth hits the sweet spot with delights like Candyfloss or Fatkid’s Cake. You’ll taste fruit and citrus tones in strains like Strawberry Glue or Lemon Haze. Anyone with a linking for spicy hotness ought to explore our high-caryophyllene seeds, such as our AK-OG Kush, for instance.

Of course, you could also go next level as you choose a cannabis taste experience, because we have some strains with complex bouquets that even connoisseur will find memorable. Our Choco Cheesecake is a fine example, with diesel fumes meeting chocolate and even cheese aromas. How about a touch of pepper, some fuel, and bit of a sour pickle? We dare you to try and unravel the taste profile of our Spicebomb seeds!

For your convenience, we state the unique aromas you can expect in all our different strains, allowing you to pick your perfect cannabis match as a matter of taste.

The Best Cannabis Strains With Fruit Flavours

If you prefer to pick cannabis seeds based on flavour, you’ve come to the right place. We have a comprehensive selection of seeds representing the best cannabis strains with fruit flavours, for instance. These range from citrus scented genetics like Lemon Haze and Tangerine G13 to Banana Slush or Strawberry Glue, and exotic delights such as Pineapple Kush.

This fresh and fruity selection has something wonderful in store for everyone. Of course, you will taste, smell, and feel the force of their various terpene profiles, embodied in the best cannabis strains reflecting all the glory of the plant kingdom.

The Best Cannabis Strains With Chocolate Genetics

Let’s be honest: who doesn’t love a nice piece of chocolate every now and then? This universal love for cacao is mirrored by our world-famous choco strains, including White Choco, Chocolato, and Royal Choco.

The interplay of of trademark cannabis aromas and the scent and flavour of fresh cacao keeps bringing growers back to our expanding range of choco genetics. We have them in all shapes and sizes too, from haze to kush and even in the form of autflower cannabis seeds to make growing a piece of chocolate cake!

Our Top Autoflower Seeds

And speaking of pieces of cake, we suggest you take a quick look at our collection of high quality autoflowering strains too. Unparalleled ease of growing meets rock-solid genetics rank our autoflowers among the best cannabis strains out there, with ruderalis power to make any grower want to give them all a try!

Best Cannabis Strains For Beginners

We’ve made sure that growers with little or no experience can pick suitable cannabis strains in our online store, too. True rookies will find ultimate growing ease in our autoflower seeds collection. These cannabis strains were specifically designed to choose their own perfect time to flower, leaving the greenest of growers with a lot less to worry about.

Our seeds catalogue also states the level of growing difficulty for all seeds. That helps anyone pick the cannabis strains that match their level of experience and expertise. On top of that, we have our expanding collection of Grow Blogs full of advice, tricks, and tips for advanced and novice growers. We have something for all shapes and sizes, no matter what you love to grow.

The Best Cannabis Strains In Full Colour

Of course, you can also choose your favourite cannabis seeds based on the spectacular colours some strains display as they flower. Here too, Amsterdam Genetics offers plenty of choice: just check out our most stunning purple strains for instance, and enjoy plants that show their true colours long before harvest time arrives.

We have genetics leaning towards blue, buds that trun purple and even strains that touch on the pink end of the spectrum like our Candyfloss seeds. It just goes to show that any grower will find the best cannabis strains here – even if green is not your favourite colour!

The Best Cannabis Strains Amsterdam Genetics Has In Store

So now you’ve seen for yourself: no matter what your personality, taste, preference, and level of experience, you can always choose seeds that meet your needs in our online cannabis catalogue. Take your time to look around and read our blogs and strain info at your leisure. Once you’ve managed to choose your perfect cannabis strain, ordering online is your best guarantee to grow that green match made in heaven!

Check Out All Seeds

So did you find the best cannabis strains for your personal style and taste? Then let’s get that grow on by ordering them easily and safely online. If you place your order before 12pm CET, we’ll ship them out on the very same day, to match the finest service with the best cannabis strains for any grower and connoisseur out there!

Cannabis comes in many shapes and sizes, and its spectrum of flavours and aromas is even more diverse than its appearance. This blog is a tribute to a line of strains that brought fame to Amsterdam Genetics: chocolate flavoured cannabis genetics! Love cannabis, adore chocolate? Well. sit back and feel your stomach growl as we present our Top 5 of Chocolate Cannabis Strains….

A Natural Taste For Chocolate Cannabis

Everybody loves chocolate – that’s a well-established fact, and if you don’t believe us, just ask your mom or boy- or girlfriend. Chocolate is one of the world’s most popular natural products, and it can affect your mood in positive ways. That makes it a great match for cannabis, a direct natural competitor both in terms of popularity and psychoactive potential. Little wonder then, that our expert geneticists have earned international fame by crossbreeding exquisite cannabis strains with chocolate flavour.

These chocolate cannabis seeds and the delicious genetics they contain have in fact become so popular that we can’t stop inventing new choco-inspired strains. That’s why it’s well past time we took you on a tour of our top 5 best chocolate cannabis strains. No matter whether you’re into sativa or indica, fast-paced autoflowers or hefty haze highs – Amsterdam Genetics has all your favourites coated in first-class cacao for a taste sensation and dazzling effects that will keep you coming back for more.

So without further ado, here’s out Top 5 Chocolate Cannabis Strains – enjoy!

Nr 1 Chocolate Cannabis Strain: White Choco

White Choco can rightly be called our primordial chocolate cannabis strain that started it all. This legendary 50/50 sativa-indica hybrid is still the pinnacle of balance, both in terms of refined flavour and nuanced high.

Tasting of sweet chocolate with a tantalizing spicy finish, this true Amsterdam classic takes cannabis crossbreeds to a whole new level. Spreading her chocolate delights equally across mind and body, she just melts out of her wrapping and on into your senses, carrying mild euphoric joys and creative impulses while soothing the limbs.

Chocolate has a reputation of being a natural mood lifter – well, White Choco proves the point beyond reasonable doubt, as her scent alone is enough to paint smiles on the faces of Amsterdam connoisseurs and international grow buffs alike!

If you haven’t grown a batch of original White Choco flowers yourself, you now have no excuse left. Order these legendary chocolate figurehead cannabis seeds straight away and try to keep from drooling as you anticipate that fat harvest of compact, dark green buds coated in gleaming trichomes that shine brighter than the original white chocolate to which they owe their name!

White Choco Autoflower

To satisfy any grower’s chocolate cravings, our breeders soon came up with a White Choco Autoflower variant. Merging White Choco genetics with a dash of ruderalis hardiness made for a fast-paced, hard-hitting, slightly more indica-oriented version of our celebrated chocolate cannabis champion.

This is a real treat for growers with more taste than experience under their belt. Autoflower properties make growing this user-friendly White Choco cousin a breeze, while still retaining that classic look, scent, and effect of the original strain that still lies at its heart. If you are looking for a genuine chocolate cannabis experience with minimal hassle, or you just want to squeeze in some extra chunks of choco awesomeness at the end of the outdoor season, here’s your girl.

Nr 2 Chocolate Cannabis Strain: Choco Cheesecake

Choco Cheesecake is every bit as delicious as her name suggests. Our breeders managed to cross our number one chocolate cannabis strain White Choco with the unique cheese and diesel perfumes of Cheetos genetics. The result is a genuine cluster bomb of flavour: pungent, sweet, and almost dizzying in its aromatic depth.

Choco Cheesecake is slightly indica-dominant at 60%, but her effects are still nuanced like those of her White Choco parent strain. Some stress-prone people indulge in binging out on boxes of chocolates; well, with Choco Cheesecake you can easily burn the same amount of chocolate comfort without having to burn the calories.

She makes stress and tension melt like a chocolate bar left out in the sun. At the same time, 40% sativa genetics, 20% THC and a tasty interplay of terpenes lift the mood and ease physical pain – try getting that from your local chocolatier; they’ll probably think you’re high…

Nr 3 Chocolate Cannabis Strain: Chocolato

Chocolato is what happens when great taste meets great taste and they decide to have kids together. As if White Choco weren’t enough of a culinary delight already, we paired this flagship strain with Gelato, a wildly popular Cali delicacy with its own fine reputation for incredible flavour.

What came out of this tasteful encounter is far too complex to describe in words, but if we had to try, we would end up with an overpowering sweetness laced with deep tones of dark cacao and touches of succulent summer fruit.

In terms of taste, chocolate cannabis strains don’t get much better than this. Don’t overlook the intense high produced by freshly harvested Chocolato buds, however. This is a 24% THC indica-leaning hybrid that hits hard and fast. Uplifting energizing creative vibes go hand in hand with stress-busting, happy mental states compounded by a scent and flavour that seem to keep changing as the buzz continues to unfold.

From a grower’s perspective, Chocolato is the perfect strain to manage hard-to-manage Gelato genetics in a friendly, fast-flowering, chocolate-coated variant that will leave you yearning for more even before the harvest is in…

Nr 4 Chocolate Cannabis Strain: AK Choco Kush

Yes indeed, celebrities love chocolate too – and that’s doubly true for cannabis celebs! Again, this is an intricate crossbreeding project based on our Nr 1 White Choco genetics paired with epic AK OG Kush goodness. We then went on to add the AK-47 strain for a bit of extra AK firepower and boom: out came AK Choco Kush, an 80% indica cannabis chocolate adventure with a body buzz as beautiful as the flowers that provide it!

Chocolate is still the leading aroma in the complex bouquet of this Hindu Kush-rooted cannabis strain. There’s some sweet and spicy nuances to her impression on the palate, though, making AK Choco Kush that much more intriguing for any experimentally-minded grower and connoisseur.

If you want to find out just how far a chill, mellow, relaxed mood can go, then this chocolate laced cannabis beauty is a fine way to raise the bar. While the stress dissipates, you may notice how this flower reaches beyond the nerves and muscles, caressing the brain with delicate mood-lifting qualities.

AK Choco Kush has plenty of growth potential too. After a stormy vegetative phase, she cranks out compact flowers so full of trichomes that you may want to wear sunglasses to determine when to harvest this chocolate cannabis beauty queen.

Nr 5 Chocolate Cannabis Strain: White Choco Haze

We close off this top 5 of chocolate cannabis greatness by returning to the strain that started it all. In hindsight, it was only a matter of time before the legion of White Choco fans demanded a more hazy version of this mouth-watering marijuana monolith.

Our eye fell on Mexican Haze as a prospective bride. This addition proved a stroke of true genius, both for her eye-watering flavour boost and her capacity to turn White Choco into a 80% sativa high roller. If you have a preference for clear, uplifting headbuzz highs, this is your ticket.

When it comes to flavour, White Choco Haze manages to mix chocolate tones and the sweet taste of melon into a single smashing cannabis strain. Far-fetched? Perhaps. Haute cuisine? Quite possibly so. No matter how you look at it, though, White Choco Haze unites the best of two worlds into a high-yield, creativity boosting, undeniably potent sativa chocolate sensation you’ll just have to try before you can grasp its true contribution to the cannabis universe!

Chocolate Cannabis Galore At Amsterdam Genetics

So, did our Top 5 chocolate cannabis strains get your blood pumping and your taste buds tingling yet? If so, we suggest you hop over to our online store and select your own champion choco strain to give her a spin. Before you know it, you’ll be licking your fingers as you rake in that chocolate-covered flower harvest coated in a frosty layer of delicious dripping resin!

Bon appétit, fellow cannabis chocolatiers!

When you look closer at the myriad cannabis strains available today, you’re bound to run into landrace strains at some point.  These are the original, ancient cannabis variants that have been native to specific regions and habitats for millennia. Together, they form the basic genetic stock modern-day breeders used to create new strains. These days, landrace strains are back in focus, because consumers long to return to the source; to the pure taste of original cannabis. This blog dives into the past as we search for the roots of landrace cannabis strains.

On The Origin Of Cannabis Species

Cannabis is popular: no matter where you go on this planet, you’ll find people who lovingly grow and consume this plant. Cannabis as we know it today, however, is pretty much incomparable to its predecessors back in the days when humans first started to cultivate the species. Botanists suspect that weed was originally domesticated in the Middle East, with a particular part to play for the Hindu Kush mountain range bordering present-day Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India.

Over the centuries, cannabis was bred, cultivated, and traded, causing drastic changes to its shape and appearance as well as its taste, scent, and active components. Today, we have various genotypes (indica, sativa, ruderalis, and hybrid strains are a common distinction) with a huge diversity of phenotypes and properties. This staggering variety is the result of genetics interacting with environmental influences.

Plants were crossbred and traded between cultures, ending up in all corners of the earth. In the nineteen sixties and seventies, a new wave of cannabis landraces hit the shores of Europe and America. American soldiers returning from Vietnam brought home tonnes of landrace cannabis seeds with them. At the same time, the Hippie Trail trade route running from Asia to Europe saw many travellers bring exotic goods back to the west. Landrace cannabis seeds from the Far and Middle East were definitely part of this wave of souvenirs.

Al this travel and trade led to the crossbreeds that founded today’s popular strains. You can still trace many modern cannabis names back to the landrace strains that gave birth to them, including Afghan and Kush varieties. Yet even though all of these novel cannabis strains have their own unique traits and qualities, they gradually lost much of the original strength and genetic potential of their landrace ancestors. This explains why these ancient landraces never lost their native appeal, and today, many growers would love to see them return to the playing field.

What Are Landrace Cannabis Strains?

Landrace cannabis strains are the original, native cannabis plants that grew in the wild across specific regions of the planet. There, they evolved to develop the exact traits they needed to survive in their particular habitat. Plants growing high up on a mountainside obviously need different qualities than specimens growing on warm, humid environments. This is how the first variety of landrace cannabis strains came about.

They include examples like:

• Pakistani Citral Kush from Central Asia;
• Hindu Kush from the Kush Mountains;
• Swazi God from Central and Southern Africa;
• Luang Prabang from Southeast Asia;
• Acapulco Gold from Southern and Central America.

These ancient landraces were pure sativa and indica cannabis strains with uniquely different genotypes adjusted specifically to their various habitats. In principle, cannabis is a hardy plant that will grow just about anywhere, across different circumstances, climate ranges and terrain types. This plants is a true survivor found all over the globe.

That does not mean, however, that any type of weed will grow anywhere. Strains that prefer warm, tropical conditions will struggle to thrive in arid, mountainous regions. This is one of the major drawbacks of landrace cannabis strains: they are ill-equipped to adapt to changes in their environment. They simply lack the genetic disposition to do so.

Many of the modern crossbreeds we find today are explicitly selected for their adaptability, as well as for resilience against disease or mold and similar properties.  In this sense, hybrid cannabis strains are superior to their landrace cousins – it all depends on what you’re looking for.

What Makes Landrace Cannabis Strains So Special?

As these ancient cannabis variants are steadily enjoying renewed attention from growers, you may wonder just what makes them so attractive. After all, the huge diversity and superb properties of contemporary strains appears to consign landrace cannabis genetics to the annals of history. However, it is their very originality and genetic purity that truly sets them apart from modern hybrids.

One thing to keep in mind is that quality is a tricky standard here; genetics are at the heart of the matter. Cannabis landrace strains still contain their original genetic code in their DNA. They have adapted to the conditions of the original habitats where they belong. A landrace strain from Thailand will thrive in hot, humid conditions, for instance, whereas an Afghani Kush prefers cooler climes similar to the high plains of the mountains where it originated.

Of course, this makes landrace cannabis strains pretty hard to find. If you happen to live in Thailand, you’ll have a hard time growing Afghani Kush in your back garden because the plant is not suited for your own tropical habitat. Growing landraces indoors is no easy feat, either. You’ll have to create just the right conditions for any particular strain, which can be very hard to manage indeed. Some aspects of climate or specific conditions are almost impossible to replicate. This is one of the main reasons why you won’t find large-scale landrace breeding operations.

The respectable lineage and sheer age of a strain does not automatically make it more potent than contemporary strains (at least, not in terms of THC or CBD percentages). They do have their own unique traits, though, which tends to make them incredibly diverse in their yields, flavours, aromas, and potency.

Bringing Landraces Back To Life

There are quite a few cannabis growers and consumers who try to bring back the old landrace strains. Someone may have enjoyed some unique landrace strain years ago, for instance, longing to relive the experience by tracking down its feral genetics. People who set out on expeditions to find the old landraces are called strain hunters. They try to bring the old genetics back and use back-crossing techniques to reintroduce them into mainstream cannabis culture.

For cannabis breeders, landrace genetics pose a real treasure trove to use for back-crossing techniques used to make ancient traits resurface in in existing strains. This opens up possibilities for restoring original traits to hypermodern hybrids . This could serve to improve a strain’s genetic stability, for instance, although there are many more old qualities breeders qould love to see resurface in the latest weed varieties.

It is telling how our modern society starts to look at original purity with renewed interest. We can see it in the revival of natural medicine and a preference for plant-based supplements like CBD Oil, while we long for bread like grandma used to bake and see classic, ‘forgotten’ fruits and vegetables return to the shelves. Now, we see the same tendency in the return of ancient landrace cannabis strains.

As an added benefit to the revival of landrace cannabis, we can use this renewed interest and channel it to the conservation of vulnerable natural habitats, many of which are under threat and vanishing rapidly. The exclusive and indeed elusive nature of many landrace cannabis strains can often be linked directly to the destruction of their original habitats. Renewed attention for our many wonderful primal genetics can become a useful impulse for nature conservation. It would be great to know that the love for natural landrace strains expressed by the global cannabis community would benefit connoisseurs and fragile ecosystems at the same time!

Amsterdam Genetics & Landrace Cannabis

For obvious reasons, you will not find pure landrace cannabis strains in the Amsterdam Genetics seeds collection.  We have, however, used landrace genetics to create our own unique cannabis strains. Great examples include our Super Silver Haze seeds, which carry Afghani, Thai, and Acapulco Gold genetics in their DNA. Our Amnesia Haze reflects the taste and influence of Prabang from Southeast Asia, and there are many more ancient lineages to discover in our seeds range.

Check The Collection

Of course, even the most modern cannabis hybrids ultimately contain traces of landrace genetics if you dig deep enough into their pedigree history. Still, much of this ancient splendour has been diluted and indeed lost forever in the tsunami of new crossbreeds we see today. That is why every grower and connoisseur ought to know where our roots lie: no matter how faintly, you can still hear the echoes of landrace strains in any cannabis seeds you order!

When ordering cannabis strains, growers expect their weed to have specific properties. Professional breeders such as our own are responsible for developing strains with consistent and reliable characteristics. But what are stable cannabis strains and how are they made? Find out below.

What Are Stable Cannabis Strains?

Stability in cannabis roughly means that stable strains show high degrees of uniformity and predictability. Variation between individual plant characteristics is minimal. Basically, stable cannabis strains are more easy to predict in terms of their future traits, even when they’re only just seeds.

Unstable strains are harder to anticipate in terms of their properties. In the jargon of genetics, these properties or traits are called a plant’s phenotype. Phenotype encompasses all the perceivable characteristics of an organism. For cannabis, these include taste, scent, the high of a specific strain, and the size of the plant and its leaves, for instance. Phenotype is the sum total of genetic expression. It is the consequence of an individual’s genetic makeup (genotype) and the effect of the environment on those genes.

For commercial cannabis seed banks, genetically stable strains are a necessity. Obviously, their customers want to order seeds that yield the same results every grow. If you order Amnesia Haze seeds, for instance, you expect to raise plants with typical haze properties. Genetically stable cannabis strains are difficult to cultivate. The process takes years of hard labour.

How Do You Get Stable Cannabis Strains?

Breeders developing new strains take their time to get what they want. The specific properties they are after will have to be stabilised in order to make sure they keep returning in new generations. First, a breeder selects a string and healthy mother and father plant. Mother plants are carefully selected for the traits sought by the breeder, which ideally should resurface in the strain they are trying to develop.

Cuttings of the plant are turned into clones. These are by definition genetically identical to each other and to the mother plant. The clones are then crossbred with a stable male plant that is genetically unrelated while also displaying some of the desired properties in its phenotype.

F1 & F2 Generations

The offspring of such crossings are called the F1 generation. Some F1 specimens will display the parent plant traits breeders are after, while others do not. Such hybrid offspring have varying predictability, depending on how stable the parent genetics are. If the mother and father plants are from stable cannabis strains, their F1 offspring are likely to inherit at least some of the desired traits.

Generally speaking, breeders will try to get as many F1 individuals as they can. This creates a large stock of young plants with varied genetics. Once these plants mature, the individuals with the largest number of desired traits are selected for another round of crossbreeding to produce the F2 generation.

This second crossbreeding round exponentially increases the number of new genetic combinations. And since the F1 generation had lower genetic stability than the parent plants, the F2 generation will be even less stable. This is why breeders need to invest a lot of time and effort into selecting and crossbreeding the right plants, working across multiple generations. It usually takes five or six generations to get some initial results; and reliable stability without mutation will easily take twelve generations to achieve.

Speeding Up The Process

Breeders have a few tricks up their sleeves to speed things up a bit, however. One of their most important tools is the back-crossing technique, in which new-generation plants are crossbred with individuals from previous generations. An F1 individual could be back-crossed with its mother plant, for example. This is likely to produce offspring that resemble the mother plant’s genetics more closely, including her genetic stability. Back-crossing is a clever way of accelerating the integration of favourable parent traits in a cannabis breeding line.

The Benefits Of Stable Cannabis Strains

So what are the benefits of this cannabis breeding technique? Ultimately, cannabis breeders aim for the level of genetic stability that rules out unwanted mutations. They want to see certain plant traits return in next generations in the most reliable way possible. If you like to grow Kosher Choco Kush seeds, for instance, you’ll want your buds to have their characteristic scent and flavour of earthy chocolate tones. And if you choose to grow Chunky Cookies, you’ll expect a lovely effect of euphoric and relaxed sensations. If that doesn’t happen, the breeder has failed to live up to consumer expectations.

Genetic stability allows for consistent presence of desirable cannabis traits in strains across the generations. The sought-after traits can become dominant, making their continued presence even more likely. Undesirable traits can be bred out of strain genotypes over time.

This is a labour-intensive and time-consuming process: a true labour of love that uses the latest in cutting-edge genetics technology. All that hard work is rewarded, though, once it produces the unique strains and traits the breeder sought. Growers and consumers will love the new options this provides.

Developing stable new cannabis strains produces reliable genetics with higher THC, CBG, or CBD percentages, specific terpenes, unusual colours, or improved pest resistance, for example. This constant quest for innovation makes finding the next stable cannabis strains worth the effort.

Trust The Stable Strains Of Amsterdam Genetics

So now you’re probably wondering just how Amsterdam Genetics manage to come up with all those wonderfully stable cannabis strains. Well, hard work and thorough research are part of the answer. Of course, the exact development of every unique strain is our best-kept secret.  Ultimately, all growers and breeders have their own tricks of the trade, and that’s how it should be. After all, you don’t really need to know exactly how we breed our unique genetics here in Amsterdam. As long as we make sure you get the seeds, grows, and buds that you want, all of our hard work has not been in vain!

Order Your Favourite Strains Here

In recent years, the favour of cannabis strains has become increasingly important for growers and connoisseurs alike. Anyone trying to keep up with the trends will have noticed how more and more cannabis strains have some kind of fruit in their name. But do those strains actually taste and smell fruity? And if so, how come? This blog takes you on a short tour of our best cannabis fruit strains, so you can enjoy the rich pickings of what we have in store!

Cannabis And Fruit: A Matter Of Taste

Strawberry Glue, Banana Kush, Lemon Ice: the Amsterdam Genetics seeds collection is almost like a fruit basket judging by the strain names. Then again, who can blame us? Don’t we all like a nice and refreshing touch of fruit flavour in the bouquet of our cannabis?

Recent years have seen a frenzy of attempts at breeding and crossbreeding strains with a whiff of fruit inside. And since Amsterdam Genetics likes to stay ahead, our breeders have been sinking their teeth into fruit strains for years. You’ll find the fruits of their labour in the nine fruity strains presented in this blog.

How To Squeeze Fruit Into Cannabis Genetics

So how do you go about developing weed with strawberry taste or fragrant lemon aromas? Sadly, you can’t just crossbreed a cannabis plant and a banana tree and wait for them to bear fruit. Instead, our experts set out to find genetics with the most powerful properties in terms of taste and smell. Their prime focus was the terpene profiles of potential parent strains.

Terpenes, Fruit, And Cannabis Crossbreeds

Terpenes are aromatic compounds cannabis plants produce to protect themselves against unwanted threats and to attract useful insects. These ‘terps’ can be found all throughout the plant kingdom. They are also used in aroma therapy and the production of perfumes, to name a few examples. They are not only popular for their wonderful scents; terpenes can also influence our mental state. For cannabis specifically, they do so by means of the entourage effect, which enables various cannabis ingredients to influence each other’s effects, and sometimes even intensify the high.

Hundreds of different terpenes have been identified. The types commonly found in cannabis determine the high as well as the scent of buds; in some cases, that’s an unmistakable scent of fruit.

Some terpenes smell strongly of lavender like linalool, while humulene is much more earthy in scent. Then again, other terpenes smell strongly of fruit, such as limonene with its uplifting citrus aroma and effect. Geraniol is a terpene that reminds of ornage zest instead. Still, it is usually the combined bouquet of multiple terpenes that determines flavour and fragrance, resulting in terpene profiles that smell like bananas, berries, or even pineapple!

Myrcene In Fruit And Cannabis

Myrcene is a terpene that deserves special mention here. It is the most common terpene found in cannabis, often associated with a herbal aroma and the perfume of sweet fruit. Interestingly, myrcene is also present in mangoes, making this a doubly fruity compound. Myrcene makes it easier for THC to reach the brain, enabling it to boost the effect of the high. Our cannabis fruit tip is to have a bite from a juicy mango to intensify the impact of your buzz – and having a piece of fruit adds a healthy twist to the high as well!

Our Fruitiest Strains For You

Now that you know more about the taste of fruit in your cannabis, it’s about time we introduced out own fruity strains. Since it’s all a matter of taste, we present them in random order, allowing anyone to pick their favourite fruit and grow the corresponding cannabis genetics at home.

Lemongrass

Lemongrass feminnized cannabis seeds grow into refreshingly tart indica buds. 22% THC is definitely on the cards with this strain, which owes her fruity origins to a pair of other fruit strains: Lemon Ice and Kosher Tangie Kush.

Order Lemongrass Seeds

With a relaxed-yet-euphoric high and bountiful harvest prospects, Lemongrass is sure to put a smile on the face of experienced and rookie growers long before the harvest is in!

Pineapple Kush

Pineapple is a piece of fruit you’re not likely to find in the average cannabis strain, but Pineapple Kush packs plenty of its tropical flavour. A 70% indica background and OG Kush descent amount to a silkysmooth bodybuzz that’s hard to forget.

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If you’re looking for a truly special fruit flavour, Pineapple Kush cannabis seeds manage to merge the exotic into the high as well as the taste of this truly unique hybrid strain!

Banana Slush

Sweet banana flavour matched with the typical aromas of quality haze: Banana Slush manages to combine both extremes into a first class cannabis strain. Genetically, sativa dominates the effects of this decidedly headbuzz-oriented variety.

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Make no mistake: at 27% THC, this is a serious piece of cannabis fruit. Still, her energizing, cheerful, creative high is worth a try for anyone out for a fruity adventure with distinctive taste.

Grapefruit Superstar

Clocking in at a serious 90% sativa payload, this (grape) fruit big shot hits you right between the eyes. Its enervating and intensely cerebral high in itself is worth a try – and the terps in her sweet and sour buds complete the experience.

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Grapefruit Superstar is a surefire daytime cannabis strain with uplifting capacities to rival the exclusive fruit determining her flavour and scent. Growers beware: Grapefruit Superstar is know to grow pretty tall outdoors, and he rich odour is ample reason to install new air filter indoors!

Lemon Haze

Lemon Haze unites two esteemed classics from the world of weed: rock-solid haze genetics and and that characteristic lemon flavour that’s been the namesake of so many strains. And yet, her skunky citrus aroma is very much a niche delight: Silver Haze and Lemon Skunk make a fine set of parents for this sweet 60% sativa hybrid.

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If you’re looking for a powered-up haze with a slice of lemon, look no further: this fruity madam brings a subtle and gradual euphoric effect while she relaxes the muscles. A real treat for chilled-out daytime use, or for romantic occasions that call for a celebration.

Tangerine G13

The taste of tangerines proves a glorious match for the berry-like fruit aroma of parent strain G13 in this balanced indica hybrid. The result is a delicately sweet taste of fruit that dovetails perfectly with this unique cannabis high. She’s a bundle of joy full of fresh energy, and yet she manages to help the body unwind as the cheer builds up.

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Tangerine G13 offers you the best of both worlds in a well-balanced hybrid cannabis strain that just seems to drip with fruit inside.

Kosher Tangie Kush

Eating a tangerine is a matter of seconds, but you can bet that Kosher Tangie Kush will keep you occupied for much, much longer. This indica and fruit hybrid strain brings a profoundly relaxing long-lasting bodybuzz that deserves a bit of a sit-down.

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With celebrities like Kosher Kush and Tangie for parents, the harvest results are sure to be rewarding. Even though flowering times are a bit longer than average and indoor results tend to be better than outdoor yields, you sure won’t be losing sleep over any of that once you rake in that harvest!

Strawberry Glue

Strawberries are always a popular fruit, and that’s doubly true when they feature in the flavour of a cannabis strain! Gorilla Glue x Strawberry Banana cannabis seeds guarantee a whole fruit basket full of sweet fruit aromas, with a fast and intense physical buzz to match.

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Her Glue background adds a pleasant touch of fiery spice to this special strain, with a happy vibe as an added bonus. Highly recommended both for her unmatched aroma and her peerless effects!

Lemon Ice

We finish our delicious cannabis fruit menu with a wonderful ice cream dessert: enter Lemon Ice! This icy lady is sweet and skunky at the same time, carrying tones of citrus that just add more depth to the uplifting effect of her 60% sativa genetics.

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This lovely lemony strain is the perfect pick to top off our cannabis fruit basket. Time to pick your favourite and decide what’s your own perfect cannabis fruit flavour…

Growing Cannabis For Fruit Flavour And Effects

As you can see, we have plenty to choose from for any grower planning to grow cannabis with fruit in its bouquet. From indica to sativa and from kush to haze: these lemons, bananas, and strawberries are a match for any taste and preference. If this blog has pumped up your fruit cravings into overdrive, we suggest diving into our catalogue and order premium cannabis seeds with a touch of fruit that let you reap so much more than what you sow!

Like it or not, the chance of experiencing some sort of trauma over the course of your life is pretty realistic. Traumas can happen to anyone: from traffic accidents to your house catching fire, finding yourself caught up in a war, or the sudden death of a child or loved one. Life has a nasty habit of taking sudden drastic turns. So how do you cope with traumatic events? People differ in their responses. Some develop PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and get nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety, and depression. Psychotherapy and medication can help, but cannabis may be useful in treating PTSD, too.

Life After Trauma

We all hope for a peaceful life with a minimum of drama and shocking events. Realistically, though, that has a faintly fairytale ring to it of ‘living happily ever after’. Sadly, that’s not how life usually goes. On average, more than one in two people experience actual traumatic events at some point in their lives. Walking into a supermarket robbery or being a sexual abuse victim is more likely than most of us would like to admit.

No matter how traumatic an event may be, however, developing PTSD is by no means a given. Some people get to terms with trauma in a matter of weeks or months. Stress and anxiety soon fade to the background. Failure to cope well with trauma can lead to developing post-traumatic stress disorder. This is a chronic condition that can cause various physical and mental problems:

• Difficulty concentrating;
• Intense anxiety (including panic attacks);
• Depression;
• Headaches;
• Jumpy, fearful mindset;
• Dizziness;
• Fatigue;
• Withdrawn behaviour;
• Sleeping problems;
• Nightmares;

PTSD can have disruptive consequences for daily life. Feelings of loneliness and isolation can be crushing (since nobody truly understands what you’ve been through), while panic attacks and recurring flashbacks can make you feel deeply insecure. In addition, PTSD can make it very hard to concentrate on on your job or studies. PTSD symptoms are usually treated with medication and psychotherapy. However, the calming properties of cannabis have scientists interested in the potential of marijuana in PTSD treatment. We take a look at the benefits involved in using cannabis for this condition.

Veterans, Cannabis & PTSD

One group of PTSD patients who prove especially likely to use cannabis for symptom relief are traumatized army veterans. In the US in particular, more liberal legislation, high numbers of (former) army personnel with traumas, and better access to cannabis have led many veterans to try cannabis for their PTSD issues. It appears that many of them turn to marijuana once regular antidepressants and anxiolytics fail to bring relief. Let’s find out what makes cannabis so interesting as a natural treatment option of PTSD.

How Cannabis Can Help Control Trauma And PTSD

Cannabis can influence our body and brain by working with our endocannabinoid system (ECS) to affect various processes. The ECS is tasked with preserving our physiological balance, a job for which it need cannabinoids. These cannabinoids act as messenger, binding to cell receptors to relay messages to other cells. Cannabinoids found in cannabis plants, including THC, CBD, and CBG, are accepted by the body just like the highly similar endocannabinoids it produces itself, allowing them to perform this task too. This begs the question: what potential does cannabis have in treating PTSD?

Replenishing Cannabinoid Deficits

Martin Lee is a researcher investigating the consequences of PTSD. In his position at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), he found that many people suffering from PTSD have cannabinoid deficits affecting their ECS. Their bodies produce insufficient endocannabinoids of their own, which causes disruptions into specific processes. Using cannabis could help replenish these deficits, however, giving patients a chance to recover.

Fewer Nightmares On Cannabis

Many people use cannabis as a natural means to help them sleep better. This implies another benefit of cannabis for PTSD patients. Recurring nightmares are one of the most prevalent symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Participants in a 2019 study were given 5mg THC twice a day. This improved their quality of sleep, with fewer bad dreams to disturb them.

Reduces Hypervigilance

Hypervigilance is a common symptom in many anxiety disorders, including PTSD. It means being in a heightened state of readiness. Hypervigilance can alter the brain’s chemical makeup, which in turn changes how we respond to our environment. Cannabis (with emphasis on indica strains) can help people relax, both in the physical and the mental sense. This relaxing effect can help lower hypervigilant states, which can bring vigilance back within its normal boundaries.

Positive Influence On The Amygdala Response

Researchers at Detroit’s Wayne State University have studied the influence of cannabis on the amygdala in trauma-induced anxiety disorders. The study was made up of three subject groups: a healthy control group, adults affected by trauma without suffering from PTSD, and a third group with PTSD. All 71 participants received either low doses of THC or a placebo. They were then exposed to a series of threatening stimuli while their amygdala response was monitored.

It turned out that the THC group showed lower amygdala activity. These subjects displayed less anxiety in situations designed to trigger the sensation. These results were observed in all three groups, indicating that THC can reduce anxiety in PTSD patients. The researchers concluded that THC has a regulatory effect on threat processing in PTSD patients. This property makes CBD Oil a viable option for PTSD treatment in the future.

Lowers Intensity Of Anxiety

A research team at Brazil’s Federal University of Parana investigated whether cannabis can help reduce the intensity of traumatic memories. The setup was based on professor R. Sewell’s idea that traumatic memories can be overwritten by new memories, a notion called ‘extinction learning’.

This process can be used to extinguish trauma by repetition. Imagine a war veteran who gets anxious near bridges, because he recalls how explosives were thrown at him from a bridge during his deployment. After returning home, the veteran is likely to avoid brides altogether to prevent feelings of anxiety. The primitive reptile part of his brain warns that going near the bridge will kill him. However, if the veteran can be persuaded to go under the bridge and repeat the process several times, his brain will start to understand that bridges aren’t lethal after all. The anxiety is extinguished through the formation of new, non-traumatic memories.

People with PTSD appear to lack a healthy person’s capacity for extinction learning. Associations with the traumatic memory keep triggering anxiety responses. Professor Sewell thought, however, that cannabinoids could help out here. Cannabis stimulates the CB1 receptors of the endocannabinoid system, which have been shown to improve extinction learning in animal trials. In case of trauma, cannabinoids may boost the process and grant PTSD patients renewed access to this learning mechanism. This could enable them to recover from their traumatic experiences. Sadly, however, Sewell passed away before he could complete his research.

The Brazilian research team carried on the line of investigation, however. Their multi-study review demonstrated that cannabis can prove useful. Low THC doses paired with CBD seem to speed up extinction of traumatic memories. Apparently, cannabis helps reduce anxiety as seen in PTSD. THC improves the extinction process, while CBD helps counter the side-effects of THC.

Cannabis To Improve Sense Of Calm In PTSD

There are many people who grow their own weed for the plant’s many alleged medical benefits. But what if you want to grow cannabis to increase your control over PTSD: which seeds should you order? We will hand aspiring growers a few suggestions below, but do keep in mind that success is never guaranteed. Always take conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder seriously. Weed is no miracle cure, and we advise anyone to seek professional help for mental and physical health problems in general!

As mentioned, researchers note that indica cannabis strains prove particularly helpful in controlling the symptoms of PTSD. Our selection of indica-dominant variants gives you plenty of choice, both in terms of their relaxing bodybuzz and with respect to flavour preferences and parent genetics. Our kush cannabis strains are worth a try for anyone aiming to pair mental tranquillity with relaxed muscles.

Growing Amsterdam Genetics Cannabis Seeds For PTSD

Being spoiled for choice in picking Amsterdam Genetics seeds is a good thing, especially when it comes to PTSD. Individual expressions of post traumatic stress disorder vary both according to personality and symptomatic nature. This depends on individual character traits, underlying trauma types, and severity of symptoms. We are more than happy to help growers find the best choice in cannabis genetics to control their specific PTSD problems.

Check Out Our Indica Strains

You’ll find plenty of suggestions for growing suitable weed variants in our blogs on cannabis strains to help you relax. Make sure to check our info on cannabis for stress and anxiety disorders. And don’t forget to consider the benefits of growing CBD seeds with high cannabidiol levels. Of course, our CBD Oil and CBG Oil supplements are good alternatives to increase your grip on PTSD.

Always Take Cannabis And PTSD Seriously

If you have had a traumatic experience and you’re still dealing with negative consequences, you could try cannabis to find a sense of calm. It can help you sleep better, have fewer flashbacks, and possibly tone down the impact of your traumatic memories. Whatever you do, though, always make sure you act safely and responsibly. Consult a doctor if you are already using medication. The various cannabinoids in marijuana can sometimes interact with specific types of medication. Moreover, it is important to take both cannabis and PTSD symptoms seriously. Weed is no miracle cure: seeking professional support and talking about your problems with people close to you is always a good idea!

Anyone planning to grow their own cannabis, whether for PTSD or otherwise, will find the knowhow they need in our many Grow Blogs. Paired with the best cannabis seeds you’ll find online, even the greenest grower can make a flying start to that first home-grown harvest!

Indica and sativa are the most familiar cannabis variants. There is a third variety, however, which easily gets overlooked: cannabis ruderalis. Ruderalis originated in inhospitable environments, allowing it to survive in  conditions where other kinds would perish. Cannabis ruderalis is used to breed autoflower strains – find out why below.

The Birthplace Of Ruderalis

The deepest roots of cannabis ruderalis come from the harsher regions of Asia, Eastern Europe, and Russia. It is a native species commonly found along roadsides and on fallow plots of farmland. This highly robust plant can grow in harsh climates. They are able to survive in conditions that would be absolutely lethal to other types of cannabis.

The name ruderalis is derived from Latin ‘rudus’, which means rubble or debris. Ruderal plants are able to grow and thrive on soil rendered inhospitable by human activity. Examples include barren fields, railroad embankments and abandoned construction plots.

As you can see, cannabis ruderalis is a real survivor.  Even its seeds are tough: they can remain viable after being crushed underfoot and cracked open. They have an innate ability to remain dormant in the soil for a long time, waiting patiently until the right conditions for growing present themselves.

Cannabis Ruderalis Autoflower Genetics

What makes cannabis ruderalis truly special, however, is its autoflower ability. Other cannabis variants and in fact most other plants depend on changes in daylight hours to switch from the vegetative growth stage of their life cycle to the flowering stage. Non-autoflower cannabis plants only start to develop flowers after the summer solstice, when the days start to grow shorter as the summer starts to make way for autumn (northern hemisphere).

Ruderalis cannabis strains, by contrast, start to flower automatically irrespective of daylight hours – hence the name autoflower. This useful property developed to allow these plants to thrive in areas where days are short and sunlight is scarce. For growers, these autoflower characteristics are very useful indeed.

Find All Our Autoflower Seeds

The Properties Of Cannabis Ruderalis

Clearly, ruderalis plants have very different qualities than their sativa and indica counterparts. Ruderalis cannabis strains differ from the other two in terms of growing and flowering as well as by their effects.

Size

In the wild, cannabis ruderalis is much shorter than indica and sativa plants. It usually grows to between 30 and 75cm, featuring thick, firm stems and broad leaves.

Flower Buds

The flower buds or colas of ruderalis plants tend to be small, although they are usually compact and firm.

Autoflower Capacity

Of course, the true distinguishing feature of cannabis ruderalis is its autoflower capacity. Sativa and indica plants depend on light to trigger the process of flowering. Ruderalis plants, by contrast, start to flower automatically; usually around 21 to 30 days after sprouting.

Often, ruderalis flowers can be harvested a month after flowering starts. Roughly speaking, growing ruderalis autoflowers means raking in a cannabis harvest between 70 to 110 days after the seeds germinate.

With some luck, autoflower strains can even grow and flower outdoors in wintertime, making cannabis ruderalis a very useful addition to the family indeed!

Effects: No True High

Cannabis ruderalis hardly contains any THC at all, which means they will not cause much of a psychoactive high when consumed. This explains why you’re unlikely t find ruderalis in its pure, native form: cannabis consumers probably wouldn’t appreciate the lack of high or stoned effects. Most autoflower cannabis strains are hybrids combining ruderalis, sativa, and indica genetics.

Ruderalis tends to be rich in CBD (cannabidiol), however, which is known for its soothing, relaxing properties. This is why people sometimes use pure ruderalis as medicinal cannabis, usually for treating sleeping problems or anxiety issues.

The Advantages Of Growing Cannabis Ruderalis

At first glance, cannabis ruderalis seems an unattractive plant for growers. Judging by its low THC percentages, low terpene content, small size and modest productivity, it seems logical to just leave ruderalis to grow on the barren fields where it feels at home.

Yet in spite of its apparent unattractiveness, ruderalis autoflower variants can make a huge difference to cannabis growing. The key to its contribution is in creating crossbreeds. Crossing cannabis indica or sativa strains with ruderalis generates powerful new strains that combine the advantages of both parent plants.

This is the secret behind autoflower cannabis ruderalis hybrids that start flowering after 21 to 30 days, irrespective of lighting cycles. Such variants can pack a powerful THC and terpene punch indeed.

In addition to their swift grow characteristics, ruderalis autoflower seeds are also highly interesting for novice growers. They make popular genetics that are hard to cultivate more accessible for less experienced growers, too.

Ruderalis crossbreeds bring exactly what easy-going growers want: ease of growing, a plant that starts flowering automatically, and all the power, fragrance, and flavour of the indica or sativa genetics underpinning the autoflower cannabis strain.

A major benefit of autoflowers is their ability to grow all year long, except in freezing weather. Of course, spring is still the best time for outdoor planting. This is when soil conditions are optimal, with plenty of sunshine to help promote full growth and flowering.

Autoflowers: Best Of Both Worlds

Even though cannabis ruderalis may not be very attractive to growers in its pure form, autoflower crossbreeds with sativa and indica genetics offer a wealth of options for growing beautiful strains with attractive properties and great grow convenience.

Autoflowers literally combine the best of both worlds, merging tough ruderalis genetics and broad growing and flowering potential with short life cycles, allowing for multiple cannabis harvests per year or even season.

Ruderalis genetics offer strong resilience to pests and disease, and can handle temperature changes quite well. At the same time, they carry the full range of flavours and effects of the indica and sativa strains that sired them. All in all, then, ruderalis based autoflower cannabis offers growers all they could possibly want, with seriously reduced hassle.

Ruderalis Autoflower Cannabis Seeds

Anyone interested in growing ruderalis strains will find more useful information and smart tips in our grow blogs. Of course, our best autoflower seeds are available from our online store, but this blog highlights our most popular ruderalis based strains.

If you want to know more about the other genetics we use to create our ruderalis autoflower cannabis seeds? Be sure to check our blogs on sativa and indica strains, or our haze and kush blogs for instance.

If you just want to get going and grow a premium quality ruderalis hybrid strain, then head straight for our autoflower seeds selection and enjoy the pinnacle of cannabis comfort on your next grow!