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Top 5 Most Challenging Cannabis Strains to Grow
Cannabis breeders have created hundreds of easy-to-grow strains that make harvesting a stash simpler than ever before. But many growers want to challenge themselves, hone their skills, and achieve even bigger yields. If this sounds like you, then you need to grow these five strains. They'll put you to the test, but potent and tasty flowers await.
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What are the hardest cannabis strains to grow? And why would anybody want to cultivate them? Novices often conflate the hardest weed strains with the worst weed strains, but this isn’t true. While these varieties aren’t recommended for newbies, they offer experienced growers a unique and rewarding challenge.
These “difficult” strains require the right climate outdoors, plenty of training, a good amount of space, and lots of patience. They are also some of the longest-flowering strains. Although they take some time to mature (and depend on a long growing season), they make up for it with big yields of potent flowers.
Below, you’ll discover five varieties that are often labelled as the worst weed strains to grow, simply because of their elevated difficulty. We’re going to show you why they don’t deserve this tag, and, in fact, why the opposite is true. By the end, you may just consider testing yourself with these challenging varieties.
1. Shogun
Despite her long list of incredible traits, many growers fear the challenge of commanding this fierce warrior. Before we get into why Shogun can be considered a handful, let’s check out some of her best qualities. To start, she packs a notorious THC content of 25%, which fuels a long-lasting cerebral high perfect for creative pursuits. On top of that, she delivers tastes of citrus, pine, and earthiness, and boasts gorgeous flowers inundated with trichomes.
What’s not to love? Well, her demand for a long growing season makes the strain almost impossible to grow outdoors further north. Even within the confines of a greenhouse, the waning light later in the summer leaves her hungry and unfulfilled. To make the most of this strain, you’ll need to grow her further south; Mediterranean climates meet her needs well. Here, you can expect plants to top out at 74.1 inches and produce up to 26.5 oz by the end of October. Indoors, plants max out at around 54.6 inches, but deliver satisfying returns of up to 19.4 – 21.2 oz/m².
Shogun
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Amnesia Haze x Gorilla Glue 4 |
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19 to 21 oz/m² |
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3 to 4 feet |
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9 - 11 weeks |
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THC: 25% |
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Sativa 70% Indica 30% |
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23 to 26 oz/plant |
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5 to 6 feet |
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Late October |
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Calming, Clear, Laughter, Uplifting |
2. Amnesia Haze
Amnesia Haze is a revered legend, but she’ll put your cultivation skills to the test; you need some experience under your belt to proceed with this one. Breeders teased these genetics out of Original Amnesia Haze and, following some tweaking, created a variety that boasts a THC content of 22% and citrusy and peppery terpenes. After harvesting these dense colas, you’ll experience a cognitive high that provides a motivating boost during the day. But you need to grow them first!
Much like other members of the Haze family, Amnesia Haze needs to soak in the sun all season long—and she needs a long season. Here, she’ll require a south-facing position in order to reach her maximum height of 81.9 inches and put out a yield of up to 24.7 oz. You’ll also need to keep these plants well-fed with organic nutrients and plenty of organic matter. This strain is perhaps not the most suited for indoor operations, although with enough taming and patience, yields of up to 22.9 oz/m² are possible.
Amnesia Haze
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Original Amnesia Haze |
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21 to 23 oz/m² |
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3 to 5 feet |
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10 - 11 weeks |
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THC: 22% |
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Sativa 70% Indica 30% |
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23 to 25 oz/plant |
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6 to 7 feet |
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Late October |
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Long Lasting , Physically Relaxing, Powerful |
3. Haze Berry
Haze Berry stands as one of the tastiest strains in the Royal Queen Seeds catalog. But you need to put in the work if you want to experience these pungent flowers. This sativa-dominant hybrid demands plenty of sunlight and a warm climate, and you’ll need to rely on refined training techniques if growing her indoors. But before you get bogged down with the growing details, just think of how thrilled you’ll be to harvest her potent, flavorful nugs. THC levels of 20% and a dynamic range of fruity and earthy terpenes demand respect.
In a large grow tent, you’ll need a powerful set of lights and a sharp pair of trimming scissors to tame this lady. We recommend topping plants early and then employing main-lining or LST to keep them under control throughout the duration of the growing cycle. Expect yields of up to 20.3 oz/m² after a flowering time of 9–11 weeks in this setting. Outdoors in warm climates, she churns out an amazing 600–22.9 oz/plant come late October.
Haze Berry
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Blueberry x Shining Silver Haze |
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18 to 20 oz/m² |
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2 to 3 feet |
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9 - 11 weeks |
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THC: 20% |
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Sativa 60% Indica 40% |
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21 to 23 oz/plant |
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5 to 6 feet |
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Late October |
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Long Lasting , Physically Relaxing, Powerful |
4. Shining Silver Haze
As a descendant of Haze, Skunk, and Northern Light, no self-respecting cultivator can insult Shining Silver Haze in good conscience. However, she’ll challenge you along the way. This tall and lanky sativa produces compact colas, sky-high levels of THC, and a high that will leave you energised and inspired. So, what’s the problem? Once again, you need a lot of patience and a warm growing environment.
If you live in a region with short summers, you can grow this strain indoors. Left unchecked, she’ll peak at a height of 46.8 inches and yield up to 600–22.9 oz/m² after flowering for 9–11 weeks. Outdoors, watch plants surge to 85.8 inches tall and deliver 22.9 oz/plant by the end of October. She requires a sunny position, without full exposure to high winds that can easily snap her main stem.
Shining Silver Haze
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Haze x (Skunk x Northern Light) |
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21 to 23 oz/m² |
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3 to 4 feet |
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9 - 11 weeks |
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THC: 21% |
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Sativa 75% Indica 25% |
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21 to 23 oz/plant |
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6 to 7 feet |
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Late October |
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Heavy |
5. Chocolate Haze
You might run into difficulty growing Chocolate Haze, but you’ll quickly forgive her. Immense flavors of candy and sugar generally have that effect. Many growers are drawn to this strain based on her terpene profile alone. But this sometimes ends in disappointment, especially for novice cultivators. Why? Because her near-pure sativa profile won’t settle for anything less than constant sun and a growing season that runs well into October. Don’t let the elements catch you out. You could watch this variety develop a stunning canopy, only for it to fall prey to frost several weeks before harvest.
If you want to experience this specimen in a cooler climate, you’ll need to grow indoors. Given she can reach 62.4 inches, you’ll need adequate room and some decent lights. Cater to her needs, and she’ll churn out up to 18.5 oz/m² of 20% THC buds after a flowering time of 9–11 weeks. If you have the luxury of living in a warm climate with long summers, watch this strain grow up to 78 inches outdoors. She’ll serve up 15.9 – 17.6 oz, but you’ll have to wait until late October to process and sample her sugary flowers.
Chocolate Haze
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OG Chocolate Thai x Cannalope Haze |
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17 to 18 oz/m² |
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3 to 5 feet |
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9 - 11 weeks |
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THC: 20% |
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Sativa 95% Indica 5% |
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16 to 18 oz/plant |
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5 to 7 feet |
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Late October |
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Heavy |
Are These Really the Worst Cannabis Strains?
No. In fact, they’re some of the best! But these varieties take effort, heart, and the willingness to take on a challenge. If you get things right, you’ll come out the other side a better grower with jars full of tasty buds. While these strains are more suited for warmer environments, indoor growers looking to push themselves can try them at any time of year.
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