Doing Some Strain Calculations and Ratios

Nowadays, hemp enthusiasts by and large prefer hybrid strains, which bring together the qualities of indica and sativa cultivars into a perfect marriage. When choosing a hybrid strain, the first thing you’ll usually notice is the ratio that tells you how much of the hybrid is sativa, and how much is indica. Maybe you’ll encounter a 50/50 hybrid, but you’re more likely to get a strain that’s more along the lines of 70/30, 80/20 or somewhere around there.

So, what does this ratio actually mean, and how much does it impact the ultimate experience we’ll have when it comes to our delta 8 high? And, how is it even determined? Let’s find out, because the answers may actually surprise you.

What’s the Actual Difference Between Indica and Sativa?

Before we get into the different ratios of indica to sativa in any given hybrid strain, it’s important to cover the main differences between the two, as they’re still largely misunderstood.

• Indica strains are more associated with a sense of calm, and even drowsiness or couchlock.
• Sativa strains are usually closely associated with uplifting, cerebral effects that make you feel hazy, and even motivated, creative or sociable.

But, are there actual scientific differences between the two? The answer is yes.

One is in appearance. Indica cultivars are short and compact when you look at the plant, and have a bushy look to them, with light, wispy flower buds. By contract, sativa breeds are taller and leggier, with lanky stems and very dense flower buds.

In terms of the chemical composition, there are also differences. Mainly, the difference between an indica and sativa is determined by its myrcene level. Myrcene is a terpene that plays a big role in the more soothing, mellowing nature of indica strains.

• If the plant’s terpene profile has more than 0.5% myrcene, it’s classified as an indica.
• If there is less, it’s a sativa.

What Exactly is a Hybrid Strain?

Then we get to hybrids, which are a cross between an indica and a sativa through selective breeding. A hybrid is going to have some proportion of indica to sativa, whether it’s an even 50/50 balance or a 90/10 balance. A hybrid must have both an indica and a sativa in its lineage to be classified as such, and modern breeding techniques have become exquisitely advanced, allowing breeders to launch more hybrids onto the market than ever before, hence their growing popularity.

What Makes a Hybrid Indica or Sativa-Dominant?

There’s something of a misconception about breeding a hybrid, in that people tend to think that if you cross a sativa with an indica, you automatically get a 50/50 split. But, when we think about it, genetics don’t work like that. Take two human parents who give birth to 4 children at different times. Each child is going to have a unique combination of their parents genetics, which is rarely exactly split down the middle. Otherwise, you’d have 4 children who look like identical quadruplets.

The same goes for breeding two strains of hemp together. In this case, each “child” is referred to as a phenotype. And, if a breeder is trying to make a specific indica to sativa ratio to achieve a very particular strain profile, they may have to breed the same parents together numerous times until they get the phenotype that they were looking for. One phenotype may be 90% indica to 10% sativa (or vice versa), one may be 70% indica to 30% sativa, and one may end up being a perfect 50/50 balance.

What allows the breeder to determine what the ratio is has to do with the chromatographic methods they use to observe the entire chemical composition of the plant. They look at the genetics of each phenotype and observe how much of each parent has influenced the offspring’s chemical composition.

How Much Should You Pay Attention to the Ratio?

Now, this is where things get tricky. While the percentage of sativa to indica in any given strain is valuable information, it may not tell you as much as you may think. Genetics are wildly unpredictable, and one thing to keep in mind is that not all breeders are as diligent about testing each phenotype to verify the ratio. And, to make matters complicated even more, companies often misrepresent the phenotypes they’re carrying because they’re not taking into account that each breeder’s ratio may be slightly different from the first phenotype of that strain ever created. For instance, sour diesel is long-established to be a 90% sativa, 10% indica hybrid. But, a breeder may end up with a phenotype that’s closer to 80/20, or even 70/30, and distribute that to a retailer who doesn’t clarify that this phenotype isn’t identical to the sour diesel that most of us are used to.

Overall, Research Will Help You Choose the Right Strain – Not the Ratio

Because genetics are unpredictable, it’s best to go with a strain that has specific effects you’re looking for – and, as you can see, a retailer that has a good reputation, who is less likely to get the phenotype information wrong. Another thing that matters is that because of the unpredictability of genetics, a strain that says it’s, say, 60% sativa and 40% indica, may ultimately have strong indica-like effects because of the potency of its indica side.

So, rather than going off of the ratio alone, research a strain before buying to hear what people have to say about it. Not only that, but also, read the reviews of the product to see if customers’ experiences with the strain, are what you’re looking for. You may find, for instance, that a particular indica-dominant hybrid provides an energy boost, which you’d associate more with a sativa. In most cases, you will discover this ahead of time through some research.