Comparison between Sativa and Indica Strains (2024)

If you're new to the subject, there might be a lot of terms you don't know about. But here are some things you might know: It has been in cultivation thousands of years ago. Currently, it is accepted widely by states and countries that have legalized it, at least to a certain extent. There are two definitive strains of cannabis, namely sativa and indica. When these two strains have been crossbred, they produce a wide range of hybrid strains that have exclusive characteristics.

The Primary Strains
While, this is true, both primary strains have their own distinct differences, which are still being debated, especially among those in the scientific field. However, many of these scientists will agree that sativa and indica plants are distinctive in several ways. Their differences are largely because of their adaptation to a wide range of various environments. Let’s assess this more closely.

The Appearance
The appearance is generally what people use to distinguish sativa and indica. The scientist labels this distinction as morphology. However, let’s try to find the basic explanation for the layperson to understand. Indica plants are dense, compact, and heavy. They have a unique fragrance too. These marijuana plants will usually generate nodes at standard intervals along the stems. The nodes are located where the buds, leaves, and branches form. With the indica plants, you will generally notice that they develop in dense clusters, encircling the nodes on the branches and stems. ÂThe space between the clusters is short. This is known as intermodal gaps.

Width, Length and Odor
In similar conditions, sativa grows taller in comparison to indica. The buds are larger and run like vines along the branches rather than growing in a cluster around the nodes as indica does. However, when it is dry, sativa does have less weight than indica because of its reduced density. The odor coming from the sativa buds tend to be less conspicuous than indica, whether during growth or when it is dry. Indica plants will flower faster with a flowering period of up to sixty days. Sativa takes a longer period to flower, up to ninety days to completely bloom. However, sativa has a reduced vegetative growth cycle before flowering.

The Size Comparison
Indica plants increase in height when flowering starts, but it is not helpful when they grow out of control during normal situations. During flowering, indica is expected to boost its vegetative height by up to 100 percent. In tropical weather when the days are shorter, sativa plants will adapt to growing and flowering simultaneously rather than having a distinctive vegetative and blooming phases as the indica plants do. During a 12 hour/12 hour flowering cycle indoor, the sativa plant will develop and flower simultaneously and in a similar manner as in a native setting. Sativa plants can quickly grow taller during the beginning of the flowering phase. Height will increase throughout the blooming state, reaching a height of up to 300 percent while flowering.

The Impact
Indica buds, when inhaled or consumed will give you a ‘stoned’ effect. This means that it gives a sensation of mental and physical relaxation, so much as to make the user want to sleep. On the other hand, sativa buds when inhaled or consumed will put you ‘on a high.’ This means the user is up and quite energetic, happy, and cerebral, less likely to make the user sleep.

If you want to know more about these primary cannabis plants, contact Altitude Dispensary at 720-708-5428. You can also visit their official website to purchase indica buds, sativa buds and its other hybrid strains offered at Altitude Dispensary.