If you're new to cannabis, strain identification can be a daunting task. It's hard to know what you're talking about when there's no agreed-upon standard for naming strains and every dispensary has its own unique system. If this is the case, how do you even begin?
Well, let's start by saying that although it isn't always easy to tell cannabis strains apart, it is possible! With so many variations in color, aroma and flavor among strains (not to mention their effects), there are certainly some tools at your disposal that can make the process easier.
One of the most important things to know about cannabis is that it comes in many different forms. In fact, there are more than 700 strains of marijuana. But what exactly does this mean?
What Is a Strain?
A strain is a specific type of plant or plant material used for growing cannabis. These kinds of plants are bred by growers to produce certain types of effects on users' bodies and minds when they smoke them or ingest them (by eating edibles). Because these plants were selectively bred over time by growers who wanted specific characteristics in their products--such as higher THC content--there's no telling exactly how much THC will be in any given strain at any given time.
As you can imagine, there are many different shades of green cannabis strains. While some look almost identical to each other, others are much more distinct. This is because there are several pigments that contribute to the color of your bud and each one contributes a different shade. The most common pigment is chlorophyll, which gives plants their green hue and also helps them photosynthesize sunlight into energy for growth. Chlorophyll also gives buds their "fresh" smell when you break them open--this smell lingers on your fingers for hours after handling your favorite strain!
The next most prominent pigment in cannabis is anthocyanins: these tiny molecules give blue hues to certain strains when exposed to UV light or heat and are also responsible for the “purple” color of strains like Grand Daddy Purple and Trainwreck. Lastly is carotenoids, which give buds a yellow-orange hue and are especially prevalent in strains like Green Crack, Jack Herer and Blue Dream.
Now that you know what to look for in the plant, let's talk about how to tell if it is a male or female plant. In order for cannabis plants to produce buds, they have to have female flowers on them (buds are the part of a marijuana plant that contain THC). If there are no females around, then it will be difficult for any males to pollinate them. This means that males should be removed from your garden as soon as possible because they won't provide any benefit and could attract pests like spider mites or fungus gnats.
To identify sex organs on your plants:
Look at their trichomes-these are tiny little crystals that grow on top of leaves and stems and look like little crystals sticking up out of them (see picture below). They're easy enough just by looking at them without magnifying glass! You'll notice some look bigger than others--these are male flowers; smaller ones mean female flowers because those ones produce resin which contains cannabinoids like THC or CBD which give us those pleasant effects when smoked/vaped etcetera..
The trichomes on cannabis flowers are the little hairs that give cannabis strains their unique looks. They're also where you'll find cannabinoids and terpenes, which give each strain its own flavor, smell and effect.
When you're trying to identify a specific strain by sight alone, look closely at the trichomes--they're what make your favorite plant look different than all of its friends! If you see lots of clear or milky white ones with no coloration at all (like many sativa varieties), then it's likely not going to be an indica-dominant hybrid either because those plants have more darkly pigmented trichomes than their sativa counterparts do.
When you're smelling a strain, think about what you're smelling. Are there any distinct notes? Do they remind you of anything else? If so, what?
If your nose is sensitive enough to pick out individual notes, then this will be easy. Otherwise, think about how the smell makes you feel. Does it smell sweet or sour? Fruity or earthy? Spicy or floral? Do other smells come to mind when thinking about the strain--like pine trees or lavender incense (or perhaps more like pine sol)? This can help narrow down what kind of terpene profile it has.
Next comes taste: does it taste like anything else--like coffee beans or chamomile tea perhaps? Does its flavor linger on your tongue after each puff (for example: does Sour Diesel leave behind an acidic taste)?
The leaves are the part of the plant that absorbs light, and they help to produce THC and CBD. The buds are where you'll find these cannabinoids, so if your eyes are trained on them, you'll be able to identify your strain based on its color and shape.
The most common colors are green or white/tan (depending on whether it's been cured), but there can also be shades of orange or red as well! As for shape, buds will look like different things based on the strain you're smoking. Some strains have long, thin leaves that stick up straight from the plant; others are tightly packed and rounded. If you're unsure about what kind of bud to expect from a particular strain, ask an experienced cannabis user or budtender for advice!
Terpenes are the chemicals that give marijuana its smell and flavor. They're also what make each strain unique, as they have different effects on your body. For example, some terpenes may help you relax while others can help you focus or feel energized.
The cannabinoids in cannabis are responsible for its medical properties, including pain relief and increased appetite--but different strains contain varying amounts of these compounds (and therefore have different effects).
In general, it's difficult to determine the exact strain of cannabis you're looking at. There are many reasons for this:
Not all strains are labeled with their names. Many dispensaries sell their products under generic terms like "indica," "sativa," or "hybrid." This makes it hard for patients who have been prescribed specific strains by their doctors (and who may have allergies or other conditions) from knowing what they're taking unless they ask the budtender directly about their product's genetics and effects.
Some strains have multiple names--or even no name at all! For example, there are two different types of indicas called Blue Dream; one is bred by Dutch Brothers Farms while another comes from Humboldt County growers North Coast Organics. Both look similar but produce very different effects due to slight variations in THC content and terpene profiles between them.*
Most dispensaries mislabeled some strains because they can't tell them apart either! This makes things even more confusing for those trying new varieties without any experience identifying cannabis types before hand.*
The short answer is, yes! But it depends on various factors. If you're a seasoned cannabis user who knows the effects of different strains, then it's fairly easy to identify a strain just by its appearance. It's important to note that not all strains will exhibit all of the above characteristics, so it may take some experimentation before you nail it down perfectly!