So you want to grow your own strain? Something just for you, something that ticks all your THC boxes?,
Hybrid cannabis strains are created through deliberate crossbreeding of different parent strains, typically from the cannabis species Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica. The goal of hybridisation is to combine desirable traits from each parent strain, such as specific cannabinoid profiles, terpene profiles, growth characteristics, and effects.
The process of creating a hybrid strain typically involves the following steps
Selecting Parent Strains Carefully choose two or more distinct cannabis strains with desirable characteristics that they want to combine in the hybrid. This could include strains known for their potency, flavour, aroma, or specific medicinal properties.
Cross-Pollination Collect pollen from the male flowers of one parent strain (pollen donor) and transfer it to the female flowers of the other parent strain (pollen recipient). This process is known as cross-pollination or controlled fertilisation.
Seed Development After cross-pollination, the female plant will start producing seeds. These seeds will contain genetic material from both parent strains, carrying traits from each.
Phenotype Selection Once the seeds are obtained, grow them out and evaluate the resulting plants for their characteristics. Each seedling will exhibit different traits due to genetic variation. We then select the individuals that best represent the desired traits we are seeking in the hybrid strain. This process is known as phenotype selection.
Stabilisation After selecting the desired phenotypes, we continue to grow and observe these chosen plants over multiple generations. Through successive rounds of breeding and selecting, we aim to stabilise the desired traits and create more consistent offspring.
Testing and Refinement The stabilised hybrid strains are then tested for their chemical composition, including cannabinoid and terpene profiles, as well as their effects. This testing helps ensure that the strain meets the desired goals set by the us. If adjustments are needed, further breeding and selection may be done to refine the hybrid.
Naming and Release Once the hybrid strain has been thoroughly tested and meets the our expectations, it is named and released into the market for everyone’s enjoyment!
It’s important to note that the process of creating a hybrid strain requires expertise, patience, and knowledge of genetics.
We employ various breeding techniques and strategies to achieve our desired outcomes – with our ultimate goal – to create new cannabis strains that possess unique and desirable characteristics, providing a diverse range of options for our Chi customers!