Sativa plants vary from about 6ft to over 25ft in height.Most varieties grow in the 8ft to I2ft range. The leaves are long and thin fingered and are light green , especially equatorial varieties, which have less chlorophyll and more yellow pigments in order to protect the plant from intense light. Temperate varieties are darker green.The leaves of some varieties yellow and fall off during maturity. The plants have long branches. The bottom ones may spread 4ft or more from the central stalk, rather like a conical Xmas tree shape.
The buds are long and thin, far less densely populated than the Indica, although longer in length, sometimes stretching 3ft in or more along the branch. The stomas of the flowering bud may be tinged slightly purple in a cool climate but in a warmer environment will turn dark orange or even red. Maturation time varies considerably.
Low THC midwestern varieties mature in August and September, while Equatorial varieties mature from November through to January. The buds require intense light to thicken and swell. Under the low light conditions found in the UK the buds are very skimpy and thin but are often very potent. Sativa buds smell sweet, fruity (Apple Pie comes to mind) and perfumed, and their smoke is usually smooth and easily inhaled. Sativas are found all over the world and include most of the commercial equatorial varieties such as Colombian,Mexican, Nigerian and South African where plants can be very potent.When smoking a sativa the high is very Cerebral, you have a rush of energy, a buzz in the body and a great way of getting the housework done without vegging out.
Native sativa plants above the 30th parallel are considered industrial hemp. Under artificial light an Indica plant will mature faster than a sativa, over 4 weeks of extra light is required to bring a sativa plant to maturity, even then its weight is often much lower. Hence, more indica strains are grown for sale, making the dealer / grower richer. So, with all these different growth patterns, highs, THC content and maturation times, plants of today are almost tailored to the individual grower.
Twenty years ago it was difficult to get a prime crop of bud, as the seeds were from a country that produced more light and heat, therefore making growing in this country a little painful for the poor plants. However today it is possible to buy strains that will flower in the autumn month that best suits you. Indoor growing is fast becoming big business in this country and growers are free to grow whatever strain they desire, no limit is put on light and heat, making all strains possible to grow. Seed companies would not exist without a crossbreeding pattern and there would be no cannabis Cup!!
So when you go out to Holland and purchase a strain of weed, purchase three kinds, Pure indica, Pure sativa and a 50/50 crossbreed, and see if you can see the difference in the high, you will be pleasantly surprised, if not a little trashed.
I know it may seem like a stupid question, but I just got to know. Thanks in advance for your help.
