Selecting Strains + Procuring Seeds
The two most common plant types are Cannabis Sativa and Cannabis Indica. Cannabis Sativa is a species originating from South America, the Caribbean and Africa. The plants are normally taller + more slender than Indica. On the other hand, Indica strains originate from the Hindu Kush mountain range within Afghanistan and Pakistan. Indica plants are normally shorter + bushier than Sativa.
It is generally believed that Cannabis Sativa and Cannabis Indica have distinct effects. Sativa is thought to produce more energetic effects, while Indica is thought to produce more calming and sedative effects. While some of this basic knowledge may still apply, over the past few decades, growers have cross-cultivated so many different strains that it in reality, all existing cannabis varieties on the market today are technically hybrids of the two. While researchers are working on better ways to classify strains in terms of terpene and cannabinol profiles, until then, the industry still widely uses the general classification of Indica, Sativa, or Hybrid.
Sativa = Uplifting, energetic, invigorating and cerebral effects. Great for physical activity, social gatherings, and creativity.
Indica = Euphoric and sedating. Great for relaxing, watching a movie, or sleeping.
Hybrid = A mixture of effects. Because of the broad classification of hybrid strains, it is very important to do some research and select the correct strain for you.
Our best advice in selecting a strain, is to do your homework! There are a plethora of websites and databases with reviews, profiles, and descriptions of different strains, their effects, and how they grow.
This database helps you select a strain by either Mood & Activities, Medical Issues, or the traditional Indica / Sativa / Hybrid classifications. With thousands of strains available this step can be overwhelming, so we’ve put together a list of some of our favourite strains to grow in Grass & Grain cabinets. Just search the strains and pick your favourite!
Once you’ve selected a strain, it’s time to get a seed! To be clear, it is completely legal to buy, plant, and grow up to four (4) cannabis plants per household. You can buy seeds legally in Ontario from the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) or, from licensed retailers. That said, you may find the availability of these seeds are sparse. Like many aspects of the recent legalization, the supply chain in Canada cannot keep up with demand. The licensed retailers and OCS do not have ready access to seeds given the strict regulations and broken supply chain.
However, a massive and readily available market of high-quality, safe, and feminized seeds are available by retailers online. Many of which are even located in Toronto, Ontario. Some of our favourite seed suppliers are:
Toronto Cannabis Seeds
Weed-Seeds
Growers Choice Seeds
True North Seed Bank
Upper Canada Seed Bank
When selecting your seed, ensure it is a FEMINIZED seed. These suppliers all have dedicated catalogs of feminized seeds – remember only female plants produce consumable flowers!
Be sure to experiment with different strains and different seeds. One of the most beautiful aspects of cannabis is the varieties. The different aromas, tastes, and effects. Having multiple strains on-hand at home provides you with different experiences for different activities, moods, or medical aid. Growing different strains will open your eyes to the true beauty of cannabis. Have fun and explore everything cannabis has to offer!
*We recommend that you DO NOT buy autoflowering seeds. Autoflowering cannabis strains are new-age cultivated strains that are bred to be non-photoperiod plants. Instead of reacting to the natural light cycles, these strains are genetically modified to switch to flowering at a certain pre-determined timeframe. These varieties grow short, have small yields, and many growers have concerns of the carcinogenicity of the growth regulators. Some growers prefer growing autoflowers outdoors because it keeps the plants small and discreet and maintains a predictable lifecycle not dependent on sunlight. We DO NOT recommend growing autoflowering seeds indoors and WILL NOT provide customer support if you choose to grow autoflowers. We prefer to stick with traditional, natural, feminized seeds.