Hybrid Strains
Hybrid hemp strains are a combination of two hemp strains designed to bring out the best effects from both plants. Hybrid hemp flower combines the contrasting effects of sativa and indica plants, offering a balanced strain of hemp that's simultaneously calming and energizing. Many people prefer using a hybrid hemp strain because it reportedly offers the best of both worlds.
What Is Hybrid Hemp Flower?
A hybrid flower is a cross between an indica strain (which induces sleep) and a sativa strain (which activates the pleasure center) CBD flower. It's a plant that's a combination of two cultivars. Not all hybrids have a 50/50 balance — this can be difficult to achieve. Most hybrids have a dominant strain, while some have been tailored to have higher amounts of sativa or indica. These hemp plants are then appropriately named indica-dominant or sativa-dominant.
What Are the Benefits of Hybrid Strains?
Hybrid hemp flowers were developed to aid the recovery of patients with specific medical conditions. By developing a hemp flower strain, growers can combine two strains and be strategic about whether indica or sativa is more dominant. This allows growers to create premium hemp flowers grown specifically to help with certain physical conditions or mental health issues.
Hybrid strains can also help alleviate chronic pain. They're more resistant to mold and pests and grow more quickly than pure strains due to sativa's quick growth rate and indica's high yield.
What Are the Differences Between Hybrid Versus Sativa/Indica Strains?
A hybrid is a mix of cultivars derived from two main cannabis plants, either indica or sativa. Depending on the strain, a hybrid plant can have a more dominant strain of sativa or indica.
Indica strains are full-bodied and provide a relaxing feeling, while sativa gives the body that floating, euphoric feeling by acting as a stimulant. Indica strains can ease the symptoms of arthritis, pain caused by cancer, and inflammation.
Sativa can help reduce anxiety and make a person feel energized, and it's used primarily for treating mental health conditions. A good hybrid can provide the user with the best of both worlds, ensuring the individual benefits from feeling relaxed and energized at the same time.
Why Do People Choose Hybrid Hemp Strains?
People have a range of personal reasons for choosing hybrid hemp strains, but the common reason seems to be that it provides a good balance between energy and internal tranquility. Hybrid hemp products are for those who don't want to use products with dominant sativa and indica.
These are a few of the other reasons people use hemp strains:
- It may help with anxiety.
- It may relieve chronic pain.
- It's believed to be a good antidepressant.
- It's thought to aid relaxation and creativity.
- It can support the recovery from PTSD.
Some people choose a hybrid because they simply enjoy the unique blend of aromas and delicious flavor profiles of hybrid hemp strains.
How to Choose the Right Strain for You
Before using hemp flower, you need to decide on the reason for wanting a hybrid strain, and you should understand what effects sativa (energizing) and indica (relaxing) strains have on the body. One is more of an upper, while the other is more of a downer.
If you're looking to get creative or crave that heavy "head high," sativa or a hybrid with a sativa-dominant strain is a good choice. If you have anxiety or lead a stressful lifestyle, you could possibly opt for a dominant indica hybrid, as it has a relaxing full-body effect. A hybrid with a 50/50 balance is often the safest option, especially when you first start using hemp flower.