Our Favorite Cannabis Strains to Grow and Preserve at Home
When we first started to grow our own cannabis, it wasn’t just about saving money, though that is definitely a bonus. It was about having more control over how the plants we consume are treated, knowing how they are grown and getting to choose which varieties of cannabis we grow and consume. We also enjoy preserving our cannabis in various forms. From making edibles to processing our own rosin, growing at home has opened up a world of hobbies and creativity for us.
We still appreciate the convenience and variety that buying from dispensaries provides, but there is something rewarding about harvesting your own plants and preserving your favorite strains. In this post, we’re sharing a few of our favorite strains that we’ve loved growing at home, whether for their effect, flavor, or how well they translate into extracts and edibles.
What We Look For in a Cannabis Strain
Effect over everything - We typically prioritize how a strain makes us feel above all else. Whether we want something for pain relief or to boost creativity, we try to have a strain in storage for whatever we may need or want.
Flavor/aroma profile - Flavor and aroma play a huge role in determining which varieties of cannabis you enjoy. Whether it is earthy, fruity, or gassy, the smell and taste make the experience more enjoyable, regardless of how you are consuming it.
Yield - When you’re trying to grow enough flower to cover your consumption, yield will always be a consideration when choosing what to grow. We grow in a perpetual harvest, so yield does not always impact our strain choice, but since we also enjoy consuming hash rosin, we generally prefer plants that yield well when they are processed into hash. Some plants, such as GMO, are known for their high yields when processed from flower to hash, and other plants, such as Super Lemon Haze, return lower yields when processed.
Growing environment - The anticipated flowering time and growth rate are several factors that influence what strain we grow. It’s easier to grow plants with similar flower times and growth rates as it allows our plants to finish at the same time, and keeps them at a similar height, allowing for even light distribution, when they are sharing a tent.
Our Favorite Cannabis Strains to Grow and Store
Strain #1: GMO (Garlic Cookies)
Type: Indica Leaning Hybrid
Genetics: Chem D x Girl Scout Cookies
Grow notes: This can be easy to medium for grow difficulty. If you can keep this plant trained properly, growing won’t be too challenging. It has a 9-13 weeks flowering time (we prefer 12 weeks), becomes a large plant, and has a propensity to stretch a lot in flower.
Flavor/aroma: Heavy hitting strain, with a funky aroma, with notes of garlic, onion and diesel.
Yield estimate: Typically produces just under a pound of dry flower per plant in my 5x5 with two plants. It is also a heavy resin producer.
What we use it for: This is our go-to for nighttime use since it has heavier, sedative effects, especially on the body. It helps with relaxation, pain relief, and supports our sleep. This strain also yields an abnormally large amount of hash when processed and the effects and flavor transfer beautifully to rosin.
Strain #2: Chem D
Type: Indica Leaning Hybrid
Genetics: Unknown Bagseed
Grow notes: This plant can be difficult to grow, has 8-10 weeks flowering time, and becomes a bushy plant with lateral branching. It’s sensitive to overfeeding and prone to self-cannibalization, when a plant consumes its own supply of nutrients, towards the end of flower.
Flavor/aroma: Pungent aroma carries a variety of flavors and smells from strong diesel to skunk.
Yield estimate: Produced 1 pound of dry flower from 1 plant in a 4x4 tent.
What we use it for: This gives a strong head high with relaxing physical effects. We use this for pain relief or to slow down a racing mind. This strain can give you some couch lock, so it’s usually for a chill day at home.
Strain #3: Super Lemon Haze
Type: Sativa Dominant Hybrid
Genetics: Silver Haze x Lemon Skunk
Grow notes: This plant is easy to grow, has 10-12 weeks flowering time, and becomes a tall-stretchy plant. It doesn’t respond well to topping unless rooted to its container. Low stress training methods are our preference in keeping an even canopy with this plant. The plant stretches significantly during flower.
Flavor/aroma: Bright, citrusy aroma with a lemony flavor.
Yield estimate: Produced 6 ounces in our 3x3 under a 150w light.
What we use it for: This is our favorite daytime strain. It boosts creativity and gives an energizing high that is great for working in the garden or doing chores around the house.
Our Preservation Process
When it comes to preserving our harvests, we like to keep things simple. We cut down branch by branch into a “V” shape so they can hang upside down on a hanger to dry. This allows the plant to dry evenly, so it is all ready for trimming at the same time. The drying period is typically 14 days, but can change depending on conditions. In the winter, we do 17-18 days of drying, and we’ve even gone as high as 20 days. Once the buds are fully dry, we move onto trimming and storage.
Once the buds are trimmed, we store them in TerpLoc bags, which are great for self-regulating humidity while sealed, making them super low maintenance. You can also store trimmed buds in glass jars, but they require daily burping (i.e., opening the jar once a day to release excess moisture and allow for airflow). We recommend dumping the buds out onto a clean surface for about 5 minutes a day to be sure that no mold forms. Continue the burping process for 10-14 days.
Trim Tip: Don’t forget to save all of your trim! We store ours in sealed bags stored in the freezer, which keeps it fresh for us to use at a later time. We love to use our trim to make edibles and hash.
Things We’ve Learned Over the Years
Proper Airflow During the Drying Process
When we first grew Chem D, we didn’t realize just how easily we could mess up the drying process and get mold. During drying, we used a 2x2 tent, which was too small for how large the plant got. A lot of the buds developed mold on them because there was not enough space and airflow in the tent. Unfortunately, this meant we lost most of our harvest.
Keep Environment in Mind
When you’re growing cannabis year-round, you must keep your environment in mind during the growing, drying, and preservation processes. During the summer, our grow space gets significantly warmer and more humid. We try to pick strains that will grow better in a hot, humid environment. Lowering our lights a little allows the lights to emit less heat, keeping the tent cooler and the cannabis flowers in better condition. We also adjust our drying process based on those conditions. We often dry our buds in a different part of our house during the summer. The best conditions will be close to 60 degrees Fahrenheit and less than 60% humidity. While we can’t always perfectly hit these numbers, we try our best to stay close to them.
