Top Sativa Strains for Growers: Genetics and Effects

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Autoflowering cannabis seeds are available in multitude of strains, making it easy to grow your favorite cannabis varieties quickly, easily, and efficiently. In this article, we cover some of the most popular sativa-dominant hybrids whose diverse benefits appeal to a wide range of consumers. By discussing their unique properties and genetics, we aim to shed light on how and why these strains produce their wildly popular effects. These coveted sativa strains autoflower to grow quickly and easily both indoors and outdoors, while boasting superior genetics and highly-desirable effects.

Pineapple Express

Pineapple Express is a balanced hybrid popular for its uplifting effects: this strain is known to boost mood, relieve anxiety, and promote feelings of happiness while boosting creativity. Pineapple Express is a balanced hybrid crossbred from Trainwreck (a potent, sativa-dominant hybrid) and Hawaiian Haze (a sativa-dominant hybrid known to produce euphoria and relaxation). Due to its highly positive psychological effects, Pineapple Express is popular among those suffering from low moods, anxiety, stress, fatigue, and similar ailments. The dominant terpenes in this strain include limonene and pinene, which are associated with mood-lifting, invigorating effects–like the strain itself, these terpenes are thought to boost mood, creativity, alertness, and focus.

Rhino Ryder

Produced by Fast Buds, Rhino Ryder is an autoflowering crossbreed adapted from the popular strain Medicine Man, also known as White Rhino. This strain is easy to grow and matures rapidly, offering all the benefits of autoflowering cannabis combined with a unique genetic profile and highly desirable effects. Rhino Ryder is coveted for its medical benefits, making this strain ideal for those who seek powerful relief from a variety of ailments. With a high CBD and THC content, Rhino Ryder is considered especially beneficial for those suffering from muscle aches and spasms. Rhino Ryder is also known for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory benefits; it is also thought to reduce stress and nausea. A balanced hybrid, Rhino Ryder offers the best of both worlds: its indica genetics yield powerful pain relief, while its sativa genetics produce cerebrally-invigorating, anxiety-reducing effects.

Gelato

With an average THC content as high as 26%, Gelato is a powerful strain that yields potent effects.This hybrid owes its balanced genetics to parent strains Sunset Sherbert, an indica-dominant hybrid, and Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies, a balanced hybrid that lends this strain its sativa genetics. Gelato’s balanced genetic profile makes it popular with a wide demographic of consumers seeking diverse effects; this strain is known for a variety of mental and physical benefits. Due to its sativa genetics and high limonene content, Gelato produces invigorating and uplifting effects, and is widely suggested to boost mood and creativity. Meanwhile, Gelato retains the powerful analgesic benefits of its indica parent strain, and is known to ease stress and anxiety.

Zkittlez

Zkittlez is a crossbreed of parent strains Grape Ape (an indica-dominant hybrid) and Grapefruit (a sativa-dominant hybrid). Due to this balanced genetic profile, many consumers find Zkittlez both calming and energizing at once. Zkittlez is associated with wide-ranging recreational and medicinal benefits. This strain is reported to boost mood and reduce anxiety, while promoting focus and alertness. Zkittlez is associated with both mental and physical relaxation, making this strain popular among those who seek relief from various forms of physical and psychological tension. The dominant terpenes in Zkittlez include caryophyllene and humulene, which are known for their powerful anti-inflammatory benefits, as well as linalool, which contributes calming and relaxing characteristics to the effects of this popular strain.

Gorilla Glue

Gorilla Glue is a popular, highly potent, balanced hybrid known for its powerful relaxing effects. This strain is popular among consumers seeking potent and powerful effects, while it is also known to relieve insomnia, anxiety, and pain. Gorilla Glue owes its genetic profile to parent strains Chocolate Diesel and Chem’s Sister, both sativa-dominant hybrids, and Sour Dubb, an indica-dominant hybrid. This strain combines a high THC content with dominant terpenes including caryophyllene, known to promote relaxation and reduce inflammation; limonene, known to boost mood and relieve anxiety; and myrcene, which provides powerful pain relief.

Blue Dream

Blue Dream is a sativa-dominant hybrid native to the West Coast. It owes its superior genetics to parent strains Blueberry (indica-dominant) and Haze (sativa-dominant). As a result, Blue Dream harnesses the benefits of a balanced genetic profile to produce mental invigoration and bodily relaxation. Though this strain produces potent effects, Blue Dream lacks the “couchlock” tendencies of other high-THC strains, yielding powerful benefits without overpowering sedation or mental cloudiness. Blue Dream has an average 19% THC content, and its dominant terpenes include myrcene and caryophyllene–which give this strain prominent analgesic, anxiolytic, and anti-inflammatory benefits–and pinene, an uplifting terpene thought to boost mood, ease stress, and reduce anxiety. As a result, Blue Dream is associated with a combination of euphoria, relaxation, and invigoration.

Girl Scout Cookies

Girl Scout Cookies is a widely popular hybrid whose balanced genetics promote a unique mixture of relaxing and energizing effects. This strain derives from OG Kush (a balanced hybrid) and Durban Poison (an uplifting, energetic sativa). With a high-THC, low-CBD content, Girl Scout Cookies produces potent psychoactive effects, while producing a variety of medicinal benefits. The dominant terpenes in this strain include humulene, known to reduce pain; limonene, known for its uplifting, creativity-boosting, anxiety-reducing effects; and caryophyllene, known to reduce pain, relieve inflammation, and promote mental balance. As a result, Girl Scout Cookies offers a combination of uplifting cerebral benefits and powerful pain relief. This is an excellent strain for recreational daytime use, associated with feelings of creativity, euphoria, calmness, and clarity. Meanwhile, Girl Scout Cookies’ potent, rapid-onset effects makes this an ideal strain for those suffering from conditions that demand powerful and rapid relief, such as pain and nausea.