Plain-English definitions of the cannabis seed, genetics, and growing terms you'll meet while shopping and growing — written for Canadian growers.
Breeding a hybrid back to one of its parents to reinforce that parent's traits in the offspring.
The first-generation cross of two distinct, stable parent lines — typically vigorous and uniform (hybrid vigor).
Seeds bred to produce only female plants (the bud-bearing ones), eliminating the need to identify and remove males.
A plant's underlying genetic code — the inherited blueprint that sets the range of traits it can express.
A cross between indica and sativa genetics, blending traits of both. Most modern strains are hybrids.
A cannabis line bred for many generations to lock in traits, producing highly uniform, true-breeding seeds.
A cannabis type known for shorter, bushier plants and relaxing, body-heavy effects. Often labelled the 'nighttime' type.
A pure, region-native cannabis variety that developed naturally over generations in a specific geographic area.
The observable traits a plant actually expresses (height, smell, potency) — the result of its genetics meeting its environment.
Naturally bred seeds that produce roughly 50% male and 50% female plants. Used mainly by breeders.
A wild, low-THC cannabis subspecies from northern latitudes whose age-based flowering gives autoflowers their automatic trait.
A cannabis type known for taller plants and uplifting, cerebral effects. Often labelled the 'daytime' type.
Cannabis that flowers automatically with age (8–11 weeks seed-to-harvest) regardless of light schedule, thanks to ruderalis genetics.
A mold (Botrytis) that rots cannabis buds from the inside out, thriving in humid, poorly ventilated conditions.
A rooted cutting taken from a mother plant — a genetic copy that skips germination and guarantees the phenotype.
Slowly aging dried cannabis in sealed jars to improve smoothness, flavor, and shelf life over 2–4+ weeks.
Strategically removing fan leaves to improve light penetration and airflow to lower bud sites.
Measures of nutrient concentration in your water — the key to feeding cannabis without over- or under-doing it.
A topping variant that pinches rather than fully cuts the growing tip, often producing four new colas instead of two.
The phase when cannabis produces buds, triggered by 12/12 light (photoperiods) or age (autoflowers).
Watering with plain water in the final weeks before harvest to clear excess nutrients from the plant.
The process of sprouting a cannabis seed — the taproot emerges, beginning the plant's life. Usually takes 1–5 days.
Cutting down mature cannabis plants at peak ripeness, judged by trichome color, to begin drying and curing.
A plant that develops both male and female parts, often due to stress — it can pollinate and seed your crop.
Gently bending and tying branches to flatten the canopy and expose more bud sites to light — no cutting involved.
A female plant kept in permanent veg to supply clones, preserving a chosen phenotype indefinitely.
Cannabis that flowers in response to the light cycle — it needs ~12 hours of darkness to bloom. The opposite of autoflower.
A measure of how much usable light actually reaches your plants — the real metric for grow-light intensity.
Weaving branches through a horizontal net to create a flat, even canopy of many uniform colas.
Growing many small plants flipped to flower early, harvesting one main cola each for fast, high-density yields.
Seedless cannabis flower from unpollinated female plants — the standard for premium, potent bud.
Cutting off the main growing tip to split it into two colas, creating a bushier plant with more bud sites.
The growth phase before flowering, when the plant builds stems and leaves under long-day (18/6) light.
A combined temperature-and-humidity measure that tells you how efficiently your plants can transpire.
The class of active chemical compounds in cannabis (THC, CBD, CBG, etc.) that interact with the body's endocannabinoid system.
A non-intoxicating cannabinoid valued for therapeutic effects on pain, anxiety, inflammation, and seizures.
The 'mother cannabinoid' that other cannabinoids form from — non-intoxicating and increasingly bred for.
A mildly psychoactive cannabinoid formed as THC ages, associated with sedative effects.
The theory that cannabis compounds (cannabinoids + terpenes) work better together than in isolation.
Aromatic compounds that give cannabis its smell and flavor and shape the character of its effects.
The primary psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis — responsible for the 'high.' Modern strains reach 25–32%.
The teardrop-shaped structures that make up cannabis buds and hold the highest trichome density.
A cluster of buds growing tightly together; the main cola is the large central bud at the top of the plant.
The point on a stem where leaves and branches grow; node spacing indicates plant structure and health.
The hair-like strands on cannabis buds that change from white to orange/amber as the plant matures.
Tiny resin glands on cannabis flowers that produce cannabinoids and terpenes; their color signals ripeness.