Quality Cannabis Seeds and Terpenes

Strong smelling and tasting cannabis is not as easy as it sounds to get right the first time. But with a bit of practice and some good advice, you will be on the right track for growing cannabis that blows your socks off and tantalizes your taste buds.

 

I am sure if you are looking for good quality cannabis seeds you have once or more in your life tried some really good marijuana. In the article below we are going to discuss good quality seeds and bud, as well as the important terpenes that go hand in hand with taste and aroma. Like the old farmer saying goes:” You reap what you sow”. Buying top quality cannabis genetics will set you on the right journey from the start. You may consider growing “bagseed” for your first grow, and you may be pleasantly surprised. But with all the advances in technology and the development of the cannabis industry, it’s a good idea to buy quality seeds from the start.

 

It never ceases to amaze me to think that a small cannabis seed, which is usually smaller than a teardrop, can produce a cannabis plant that will give you many pounds of a top-quality flower. The seed when sprouted initially requires very little light, nutrition and water when you first get it going. But as it grows bigger its requirements change. In its vegetative state it uses up the element nitrogen and in flowering, it adjusts its requirements and uses the element phosphorous. If it lacks any of these nutrients during this period, it could have a devastating outcome on your final product.

 

There are many other micro- and macro-nutrients that go into a healthy and vigorous cannabis plant during its lifecycle and if you can provide it with a decent environment, the plant usually can sort itself out. A good outdoor environment would include, but not limited to, clean water, good sunlight, fresh air and rich soil. These are all the basic building blocks for a quality cannabis grow.

 

If you can provide all the basic necessities for your cannabis plants, you will see and taste at the end of your harvest season, some skunky, funky cannabis, dripping with cannabinoids, smelling like a dream and a rich flavoursome smoke. The flavor and aroma of cannabis is given off by volatile oils found in different combinations in each strain.

 

Cannabinoids

Over 100 cannabinoids have been identified by researchers. Two major cannabinoids are THC ( Tetrahydrocannabinol )  and CBD ( Cannabidiol ). THC is the active psychoactive compound found in cannabis and responsible for the “high”, while CBD, on the other hand, is non-psychoactive and actually works as a THC inhibitor.

 

Terpenes

Terpenes are found in many other plants and they are what gives them their flavor and aroma. They also protect plants against herbivorous animals and act as semiochemicals, interact with other living things. In cannabis, terpenes interact and modify with cannabinoids,encouraging different medicinal properties and recreational effects. Linalool is one of the most common terpenes found in cannabis and is the principle compound that gives lavender its aroma. Terpenes only make up 5 – 10% of the essential oils found in cannabis trichomes but make a world of difference to flavor and aroma. Another common terpene is Pinene and produces a taste reminiscent to pine needles.

 

Like cannabinoids, terpenes have many different medicinal properties and work hand in hand when delivered to our bloodstream. Cannabis plants with high levels of Pinene, for example, are often used and infused with topical antiseptics and bronchodilators. Linalool like other terpenes also has many beneficial therapeutic properties, such as a natural soporific, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, and topical skin application.

 

To get the best out of your bud you will need to give your prized cannabis seeds a good start. There are many tips and tricks to improve the terpene and cannabinoid profile and I will discuss this a bit later. Some tricks many growers use, besides a good environment, are as follows:

 

1 – restrict the nutrient schedule at the end of flowering. Nitrogen inhibits the bud and phytocannabinoid formation in plants if used in excess during the flowering period.

 

2 – Giving your plants low levels of stress can improve the quality of your cannabinoid and terpene profiles. LST (Low-Stress Training ) is a great way to improve your growing skills in a limited space or area. This method of growing can change the direction of plant growth, expose more light to plant and improve the bud formation and strong flavor.

 

3 –  Keeping temperatures low during flowering can improve the quality of terpenes, as due to their volatility, these oils could evaporate in higher temperatures.

 

4 –  Harvesting and curing is probably the most important part of the cannabis growing cycle. Just like anything in life, patience and taking your time during curing is essential to maintain good quality cannabinoid and terpene profiles.

 

Back to the Beginning

 

Durban Poison

 

Starting with good seeds will ensure your grow has the best start you can give it. And if you are looking for specific terpenes, researching top quality seeds profiles is paramount. One of the most unique strains on the market is Durban Poison. It was found and bred during the 1970’s and was located south of a shipping port in Durban, KwaZulu Natal South Africa. It’s unique in the sense that its major carpenter is terpinolene and makes up over 70% of its profile. It also contains terpenes such linalool, humulene, amongst a couple others. Durban Poison is a sativa strain, well known for its potency, sweet and citrusy flavor, with an uplifting high.

https://seedmasters.com/cannabis-seeds/durban-poison.html

 

Blue Dream

 

Another very popular strain is Blue Dream that has featured in the top winners of cannabis cups all over the world. The strain is a hybrid of the indica Blueberry and sativa Haze. Blue dream delivers a calming effect and creative euphoria without the usual sedative effect of indica. Although a predominately sativa strain due to the Haze genetics, Blue Dream has a high volume of the terpene myrcene amongst others like pinene, alpha- and beta-. The fragrance is sweet berries with earthy undertones.

 

With all the technological advancements in the cannabis industry, we are only just understanding the therapeutic and medicinal benefits of cannabis plants. Don’t forget no matter how you grow, it all starts with good genetics and buying top quality seeds is the right way of putting your best foot forward.

https://seedmasters.com/cannabis-seeds/blue-dream.html

 

Ref:

 

https://mrterps.com/home/14-blue-dream.html

The Most Common Terpenes Found In Cannabis and Their Medical Benefits

When we talk about terpenes in cannabis, we are mostly focused on their role in the plant’s smell. However, we often forget that these compounds contribute to the plant’s health benefits as well as shape the type of high we get.

Yes, terpenes are molecules that give plants their scent, while at the same time protecting them from predators. Luckily for us, terpenes are not just about the aroma, as these powerful compounds have a wide range of medical properties on the side.

Plants from the Cannabis Sativa genus are particularly rich in terpenes, and weed contains more than a 100 of these substances, majority of which are unique to it.

Terpenes are the reason why every marijuana strain is unique in some aspect. Depending on its terpene profile, a strain may smell like pine, berry or a lemon. You name it.

That being said, we can say for certain that all strains have a unique undertone scent that provides that well known trademark marijuana smell. Did you know that this is the fault of a terpene called myrcene?

As you can see here, some terpenes have sedative properties, while others are more prone to cause an uplifted mood. Linalool can help you manage symptoms of arthritis, myrcene provides relief from chronic pain and humulene reduces inflammation.

Besides marijuana, these terpenes can be found in several other plants. Caryophyllene is also present in green leafy veggies, as well as spices like rosemary and oregano.

As for limonene, the name says for itself. This terpene is the major component of citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges and it’s no wonder that it can be found in strains like Lemon Haze or Sour Diesel.

The Entourage Effect

Besides all their medical power, terpenes are responsible for improving symbiosis between cannabinoids, a phenomenon also known as the entourage effect.

Basically, what happens is that terpenes work together to assist cannabinoids to pass through to our bloodstream easier.

That way terpenes enhance their own medical properties, as well as those coming from cannabinoids.

Thanks to that same entourage effect, the psychoactive effect of cannabis is modulated, as to say diminished. For example, CBD, along with other terpenes, diminishes long term memory loss and reduces the psychoactive effect of THC. On the other hand, linalool modulates the way neurotransmitters contribute to anxiolytic and sedative effects, so strains containing this terpene will not make you anxious.

Understanding terpenes and their therapeutic role has become a sought-after skill when it comes to buying and growing cannabis. As you can see, strains are not all about the two major cannabinoids, and terpene profile plays a very important role in the medical use of marijuana.

Even the cultivators have started paying more attention to these important molecules. By cross-breeding, they are now producing new strains specifically made for treating certain ailments.

So, before choosing a perfect cannabis strain for your condition, make sure to consult the infographic again to find which terpene will benefit you the most. The more you know about terpenes, the better chances you have to find relief in cannabis.

How Do Cannabis Terpenes Affect the Body?

Terpenes For Sale

For many people the word “terpene” is a strange and unfamiliar term, but it won’t be for much longer. As science and technology carry us to better understandings of cannabis, we’re beginning to see that there’s a lot more to marijuana than its cannabinoid content. To get a hint of the other therapeutic compounds in your strain, just give it a sniff.

Terpenes are fragrant oils that give cannabis its aromatic diversity. They’re what give Blueberry its signature berry smell, Sour Diesel its funky fuel flavor, and Lavender its sweet floral aroma. These oils are secreted in the flower’s sticky resin glands, the same ones that produce THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids. Terpenes are by no means unique to cannabis; they can be found in many other herbs, fruits, and plants as well.

Leafly cannabis terpene wheel infographic

 

Like cannabinoids, terpenes bind to receptors in the brain and give rise to various effects. The above infographic outlines properties of six common cannabis terpenes along with a few strains that tend to express notable levels of each.

When choosing a strain based on its terpene content, keep in mind that different harvests may demonstrate dramatically different terpenoid profiles due to variances in growing and curing techniques. Lab-tested products are the only surefire way of knowing a strain’s terpene potency – without it, you’ll have to rely on your nose to guide you.

Lastly, when choosing your method of ingestion, keep in mind that the beneficial qualities of terpenes can be seriously damaged if heated past their boiling point.

Cannabinoids and Terpenes: What is the Difference?

Terpenes and cannabinoids are two buzzwords that are frequently bounced about the cannabis industry. Both serve specific purposes, being somewhat similar, yet vastly different. If you’re not sure of the difference between cannabinoids and terpenes, you will hopefully be able to discuss it at your next vaping party – get out that Volcano vaporizer – because we are here to educate you so you can sound like a true connoisseur.

Most people are more familiar with cannabinoids than terpenes. After all, the cannabinoids THC and CBD are making a big splash in the industry. These are the two – among the many compounds in the cannabis plant – with medicinal value. However, if you really want to look into how marijuana affects you, the terpenes have their own jobs.

cannabinoids

Have you ever noticed how even among the same strains, cannabis can smell different? How it has different notes, different aromas? Those are the terpenes doing their work. Of course, they do more than just provide aromatics, but like the notes in a good wine, terpenes give cannabis its aromatic and flavor profile.

The oils are secreted in the resin gland of the plant, which also produce the cannabinoids THC and CBD. However, terpenes are not unique to cannabis and are found in other plants and fruits as well as herbs.

When you combine different terpenes with different cannabinoids, you get what is called the “entourage effect.” This effect describes how different cannabinoids and differing terpenes, sometimes referred to as terpenoids, combine and lock onto different receptors in our brains to produce a unique high.

cannabinoids

This can explain why people can feel different highs, even from the same harvest – because the amounts of terpenes secreted – and the kinds of terpenes can differ from plant to plant, even in the same strain from the same harvest. In this, CBD and THC cannabinoids are typically similar – so there would be little difference in the amounts of the cannabinoids among the same strain.

Basically, these terpenes bond with the cannabinoids to ‘turbo charge’ them, creating synergistic effects with the cannabinoids you know and love. For example, if you’ve noticed the difference between an indica that is packed with the terpene limonene, and a sativa that is enriched with linalool, then you’ve found the purpose of terpenes and how these little flavonoids can enhance your cannabis experience.

As knowledge of terpenes, and the testing of cannabis for the amounts of specific terpenes, become more widespread, you will see dispensaries and stores being able to cater to specific tastes and to specific highs.  People will be able to pick and choose cannabis for the amount of terpenes and THC or CBD or other cannabinoids present. This will allow for a more customized experience, all based upon what the consumer – or the patient – wants and needs.