If you want to chill harder than your energetic partying, without the associated ‘high’ of psychoactive effects, then you need a high CBD strain. CBD or Cannabidiol is one of the well-known types of cannabis chemical that is responsible for treating many medicinal issues in patients. This is done without the intoxicating ‘high’ of THC.

CBD’s popularity is not without supporting evidence. It is estimated that around 33% of American adults have used CBD products in their lifetime.

The biggest medical use of CBD is that it acts as a powerful anti-anxiety and anti-inflammatory agent. So banish those nagging pain or problems of anxiety from your life. Getting a good night’s sleep is minor work for the magical composition of CBD-rich products. This makes CBD an ideal choice for many illnesses. Consuming CBD products is legal in all 50 states here in the USA. The only condition is that it should not contain more than 0.3% of THC.

The research on the medical benefits of CBD is still ongoing, and every year, researchers uncover various new benefits of CBD. So this is a hot trend that both amateur and experienced cultivators are likely to embrace.

People who are into cultivating weed or newbies interested in growing weed always try out methods to ensure they get high CBD or THC concentration. It all comes down to how you grow the plant and how good you take care of them.

Therefore, we have compiled this article to guide you and let you know everything we know about growing marijuana strains with a higher concentration of CBD. As we pour forth our collective experience, we hope that you benefit the most from such a helpful article.

Genetics plays an important role in the production

No matter how hard you try, you cannot get more CBD concentration from a particular strain than it is genetically possible. For example, there is no way you could increase the concentration of CBD in Fat Banana up to the level of CBD in Charlotte’s web.

A plant with good genetics will sell more than an average genetic plant. The effects of CBD are so good that around 22% of people who consumed CBD mentioned that they replaced their original prescription drugs and selected CBD as their source of medication.

However, no guarantee that seeds grown from two CBD high plants will give you a CBD high strain. For example, if you grow from a 12% rich CBD plant using Cannatonic, the chances the seed will grow into a CBD-rich plant are below 75%.

United Seed Banks have mentioned that only 50% of Cannatonic seeds retain their 1:1 CBD to THC ratio. The remaining 25% will grow into plants with a high THC ratio, and the other 25% will grow into plants with a CBD to THC ratio of anywhere between 2:1 to 20:1.

Phew! It may look like too much mathematics for a humble cultivator. But don’t worry, you are sure to catch on, sooner rather than later.

Another way of getting high CBD plants is by talking with breeders about the phenotypes. But that is also not a suitable option. As you may end up spending weeks and months calculating the phenotypes and after cultivation, it might become a high THC plant.

They need to be tested early

Here is a “pssst” tip to avoid stress on deciding the genetics and the phenotypes. You can get the weed plant sample tested in a lab. But make sure the lab is respectable and genuine.

After three to four weeks of seeing the seedling emerge from the soil, generally, the sample is taken for testing in the lab. Taking the sample at such early stages helps you understand whether the plant has a CBD-rich concentration before entering the flowering stage.

To take the sample, you need to take a few of the plant’s top nodes. Dry them ahead of time before giving them to the lab. Once you get the results back from the lab, you will understand whether your plant is CBD-rich or not.

If you fail to get your sample tested, then you’d have to wait until the flowering stage, which is a big gamble. Once the plant grows, you can then consume the buds to see whether it gets you high or not.

If the plant gets you high, it has less concentration of CBD and more concentration of THC. A 2019 study found that around 20% of people in the age group of 18-29 years old have consumed CBD, and they prefer CBD to THC.

How growing affects the concentration of CBD

As mentioned earlier, you cannot force a plant to give more traits than what is genetically possible. So rather than playing God and trying to alter the genetic disposition of the plant, you can be a smart person on focus on the plant’s growing conditions. They, too, have a significant role in the concentration of CBD in plants.

Sikora Berenjo conducted a study in 2011 on how the growing conditions affect cannabis plants. They conducted the experiments over six years, and only 20 samples were tested, and the findings from them were submitted.

The study was conducted assuming the genetics were perfect of the plant. The soil needs to be warm for at least the first five cm. The other factor was that the higher the precipitation the plant was exposed to, the lower the CBD concentration.

It is no secret that the temperature affects the quality of all the plants and not just cannabis. The ideal temperature, according to the 2011 study, was around 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Some of the CBD high strains you can grow at home

People cultivate CBD for medicinal purposes, and it is crucial to understand the laws in your state before planting. Some states have strict laws on how many plants you can grow, the amount of THC in the plant should be within the limit, etc.

Keep in mind these laws and then choose the ideal strain for higher CBD concentration. Below are some high CBD-rich strains that you can grow at home.

1- Blue shark

The blue shark is an indica dominant strain that has a CBD to THC ratio of 1:1. Since it is an indica dominant strain, you feel relaxed and chilled out after a couple of puffs. Patients with arthritis and fibromyalgia mainly consume them.

2- Critical cure

Another indica dominant strain has around 7% CBD and around 7% to 11% of THC. Because of its indica genes, patients use it for chronic pain, inflammation, social anxiety, and depression. This plant gives around 600 grams per sq. m. and flowers within the first 55-60 days.

3- CBD Kush

This strain is always bought by patients who want to enjoy more CBD and do not wish to miss out on the effects of THC. The THC concentration is around 1%, and the CBD concentration is around 7%. It can flower within the first 70-75 days and gives around 400 grams per sq.m.

Final thoughts

You should identify the strains that you want to grow that will produce a higher concentration of CBD. This will help you produce the right type of seeds from Homegrown Cannabis Co. Once you have had an idea of which strains are good, you can then use clones instead of seeds to get maximum yield.