What is a Hybrid Cannabis Strain?

Here in Seed City our shop is absolutely flooded with top quality hybrid cannabis seeds, in fact we have over 8,000 of them for sale! A cannabis Hybrid is a strain where the parents have come from two completely different strains. We explained in previous articles about the qualities of Landrace Seeds, and also Inbred lines, and delved into what makes those two types of cannabis seeds particularly attractive for breeders and collectors. For the purposes of breeding, hybrids do have some uses, but are not as sought after as landraces, or a good Inbred line; this is due mainly to the stable genetic influences that they have and which are very valuable when creating new strains that offer a consistent product. The reason that Hybrids are in such generous supply is because they are the sort of strains which are generally more sought after by companies and individuals that may legally produce cannabis for medicine (depending on their location, and of course the laws in that location). The reason why hybrids are wanted by personal cannabis producers, and also medical companies is because hybrids generally grow a little quicker, and are also more productive therefore allowing more reliability for those companies that make medicine out of cannabis. There is also the hybridisation of cannabis to thank for the always growing percentage of THC found in hybrid plants and this is obviously something that is sought out by commercial producers.

Hybrids do have the ability to be stable and produce less phenotypes (genetic variations) but are nearly always less stable than landraces which are again less stable than inbred lines. As mentioned in our inbred line article, these strains are specifically bred with themselves over and over again in order to create the most stable output possible. The vast majority of cannabis seeds purchased will be hybrids because breeders take say one strain with very high productivity and another with very high THC content and then breed them together to create something with the best of both worlds. However, it is to be expected that the output will be less stable than with IBL or landrace strains. The average grower is very much after high yields, fast flowering times and High THC levels and this is what the right hybrid will provide! Today's hybrids have been bred with so many other varieties that it is not surprising that they may produce more variation in their offspring, just like we see with humans. This is not to say that there is no stability in hybrids as it is in the breeder's best interest to ensure that the varieties they produce through their interbreeding of various strains have a reasonably uniform result.

Please go to the following link to see all of our hybrids (there are a lot of them, so you may want to further refine your results by using our fantastic seed selector. You can add in whether you want them to be feminised, or Indica Dominant, or Sativa Dominant etc. The first thing you probably want to do is refine the selection to show only feminised or regular seeds, depending on your preference as well as only showing 12/12 or autoflowering ones.

So to cut a long story short, hybrids are simply cannabis strains that are the result of crossing one distinct strain with another and this varies from landraces which are "original" strains that evolved over a long period of time and IBLs which are strains bred with themselves to create great stability.

Here below are some renowned hybrids that you may want to take a look at:

 

Chocolope - DNA Genetics Seeds

"We decided to combine our Original Chocolate Thai female with the Cannalope male. Through subsequent backcrossing, we aimed to shorten the flowering period while preserving some of the distinct Original Chocolate Thai traits. These Cannabis Seeds hold a unique allure – when you savor them, the chocolate essence reminiscent of the 80s comes alive! The Chocolope stands as the ultimate choice, with minimal haze presence yet abundant appeal."

Kosher Kush - DNA Genetics Seeds

“The High Times Cannabis Cup Winner 2011 for the Indica Category!
The winner, KOSHER KUSH, is an amazing strain out of California. It is a stinky over the top strain with an average yield making all who smoke it feel "blessed". She grows tall so pinching will help tame her as well as beef up the yields. She is easy to grow for the beginner and a challenge to master for the expert. The Kosher can handle moderate to heavy nutrients and has a great bud to leaf ratio making her easy to trim. Kosher Kush will instantly become your favorite smoke. Any herbalist who tries her wants more”

Jack Herer - Sensi Seeds

“The cream of the crops and perhaps the most exquisite ganja you will ever encounter; this strain ranks as the most awarded variety in the history of harvest festivals. Nine awards and counting would be the pinnacle of recognition for any strain, yet Jack Herer manages to go a step further and bears the distinction of being distributed under prescription by Dutch pharmacies as a recognised variety of medicinal-grade cannabis. Sensi’s champagne of strains is named in honour of Jack Herer, author of The Emperor Wears No Clothes. Through tireless activism and his landmark book, Jack Herer can take most of the credit for reminding the world that cannabis in all its forms has always been one of humankind’s most valuable resources, and that we can literally save the planet with hemp!”

Silver Haze - Sensi Seeds

“The first Haze is vintage masterpiece of cannabis breeding - a harmonious blend of complementary equatorial genotypes that’s widely regarded as the purest and most powerful Sativa ever created. Sensi’s award-winning Silver Haze distils the sunny cerebral magic of her towering parent into a manageable strain with great indoor potential
Haze started out as a multiple-Sativa hybrid with roots in Central America, South India and Thailand. Developed in the days before indoor growing and cultivated below 30°N, her breeders were not restricted by factors like height, yield or short summers. As indoor growing gained popularity in the Eighties, true Haze began to disappear. Though smokers still adored the soaring high, growers found her slow flowering, low yields and unstoppable height-gain impractical for indoor production.”

AK 47 - Serious Seeds

“This easy to grow plant is our most popular. It is of medium height and produces good yields quite quickly. Extremely strong odour and smoke. Take extra care with odour control when growing near neighbours. The name was given not out of any idea of violence, but more in association with the 'one hit wonder' that the smoke is. Quality without compromise makes AK suitable for commercial grows or home use. These plants have a short flowering period for a Sativa, producing compact, not too leafy buds that gleam with a coat of resin crystals. Winning seven prizes!! in Cannabis competitions, including second prize for the Best Sativa in the 1999 High Times Cannabis Cup, proves it is a favourite to smoke as well as to grow.”

Kali Mist - Serious Seeds

“Arguably the top sativa strain available today. With 90% sativa genetics, Kali Mist grows into tall, classically sativa plants with very few leaves. This strain produces dense clusters of full fluffy buds, producing much higher yields than you would expect. The plant structure and few leaves allow the light to pass all the way to lower branches, allowing bottom buds to develop fully. When planted outside early in the year this plant can grow very tall. Expect spiralling flowers with high resin content and a delightfully spicy scent. Kali Mist is often the choice of experts for their own stash grows. Also, women particularly seem to like this strain, next to the sheer pleasure of smoking it, we received several reports that it works great against menstrual cramps. We are proud to announce that Kali Mist was improved in 2000 to produce bigger yields. In Spain it proved to be very mould resistant, even outside during bad weather. This strain has flavour and subtle cerebral effect that gave it a Cannabis Cup first prize in 1995 (Hydro Cup) and again (with this new and improved version) in 2000 (Seed Company Sativa Cup)! Without a doubt the choice for connoisseur stashes. Gives a very strong, clear and energising high.”

Girl Scout Cookies - Cali Connection Seeds

"This is the famed Thin Mint phenotype. We took the OG KB as well as the Forum and have mixed them up and created our Girl Scout Cookies. So our Girl Scout Cookies come from all the Cookies- it’s a group effort. Our male/female seeds come from SFV OG Kush IBL male, the feminized seeds come from our Tahoe S1 that pollinates our Tahoe S1 reverse male. These will give you a larger yielding Girl Scout Cookie, thicker stem, no more little tiny yields. Same flavor, same smells, same everything as your typical Girl Scout Forum OG KB cut. This is what we’ve been known for- putting what YOU want into seed but making it better, stronger, thick stems and higher yields."



Blue Gelato 41 - Barney's Farm Seeds

"BLUE GELATO 41™ is our sensational new Blueberry super-cross with the West Coast. She was created by crossing the famous Blueberry with Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies and the fresh and fruity Indica, Sunset Sherbert. BLUE GELATO 41™ will rapidly plunge you into a tranquil pool of potent psychedelic pleasure. Many phenotypes display blue/purple flowers, all are smeared in thick resin and ooze sweet and earthy citrus flavours. Let this fabled Indica fascinate your taste buds and massage pain away leaving pure satisfaction and joy.  Although Gelato’s aromas are wonderfully intoxicating, effects are generally clear headed and energetic. Flowering time indoors is 9 to 10 weeks; outdoors BLUE GELATO 41™ can reach up to 2 metres, normally finishing in October. Expect an exceptional yield! With stretched pre-flowering can deliver up to 3kg of breathtaking bud."



Gorilla Glue #4 - Expert Seeds

Wedding Cake - Big Head Seeds

We hope that you have enjoyed this article on ‘What is a Hybrid?” As always if you have any questions about this article, or about any of the other articles here on Seed City, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Seed City team! Keep your eye’s peeled in the near future for more of the latest Seed City articles! If this tickled your fancy then you might be interested in these other similar articles: