If you’ve been looking for an exciting new cultivar that tastes delightful and gives an immediate burst of happiness, then South African is your gal. She’s a hybrid of Princess 88 with an indigenous marijuana cultivar from Africa, and she’s not only a pleasurable smoke but also pretty easy to grow. While her THC level of around 18 to 20% is not sky-high, her buds pack a mind-blowing punch that proves psychoactive strength is not always in numbers.

South African will give a much-needed push when you want to hit the ground running. The high begins with a sense of euphoria and an uplifted mood, accompanied by heightened energy and creativity levels. Soon after the first toke, you’ll feel refreshed and motivated to take on the world instead of getting overwhelmed by all of the tasks on your to-do list.

As an added bonus, the buzz ends with a warm, physically-relaxed state that pairs perfectly with the positive mindset nurtured throughout the high. As a medicinal herb, this one’s said to be great for easing symptoms of depression, chronic pain, and fatigue.

With her landrace genetics, you can bet South African is a toughie that can handle a reasonable degree of stress and mistakes. She’s adaptable to training, and heavy-yielding when reared in the right conditions. Homegrown Cannabis Co.’s South African feminized seeds practically eliminate the gender guessing game and can be used to make mother plants for cuttings or grown for buds.

Growing South African Feminized Seeds

South African grows medium to tall but can be trained to remain at a modest height. Topping is a popular technique that eliminates apical dominance by cutting off the tip and splitting the main stalk into two, encouraging the plant to bush out instead of stretching.

Alternatively, growers can try growing in a Screen of Green setup. This method entails creating an even horizontal canopy by bending or tying down branches to wire or mesh. With a significant part of the foliage exposed to light, the plant receives more light energy, which she uses for bud production. It also prevents branch or stem breakage as the screen helps carry the weight of the colas. Many growers top several times, stopping at least a week before switching to the 12/12 cycle and scrogging.

Luckily for those with existing setups, South African grows well in any medium with a suitable pH level — 6.0 to 7.0 for soil and 5.5 to 6.5 for soilless. Terp-hunters and concentrate makers prefer to use soil as it’s believed to enhance the flowers’ terpene profile, producing more aromatic and flavorful resin. You can also use organic compost tea and top dressing to provide a wide range of nutrients.

Because Princess 88 grows like an Indica despite being Sativa-leaning, there’s a chance you might end up with a bushy phenotype. If your plant develops thick foliage, remove nonessential leaves and branches to improve air movement and light penetration, especially in indoor grow ops. This will keep dampness and moisture-related problems like mold and mildew at bay.

South African flourishes in warm, dry and sunny places, particularly those with a Mediterranean-type climate like Southern Europe and coastal California. One plant can share up to 21 ounces in optimal outdoor gardens, which growers in the northern hemisphere can harvest by October.

Cultivating South African indoors in a controlled environment is also a rewarding experience if critical factors like humidity and temperature are appropriately regulated. Pair 45 to 55% RH lev-el with daytime temperatures between 69 and 77°F for optimal vegetative growth, then adjust to 35 to 45% and 68 to 75°F once the 8- to 9-week-long fruiting period begins. The nighttime temperature must be cooler by 7 to 9° during both phases. If all goes well, you could get your hands on around 1.3 to 1.6 ounces of buds per square foot.  

Cultivating South African for consumption can be tricky – especially for beginners – but it can be made less complicated with feminized seeds. These Homegrown Cannabis Co. babies offer the peace of mind of minimal to zero accidental pollination threat. Going for fems is more economical, too, as your efforts, resources and precious garden space will be taken almost entirely by bud-bearing ladies.

Fragrance and Flavor

South African buds have a fruity, sweet pineapple flavor.  Once ground up, an earthy nuance of wet cultivated soil emerges, giving every hit a bit of grape must. Bear in mind that this cultivar is pungent, so take extra precaution if you plan to smoke it in public.

Effects

As you might expect from a mostly-Sativa plant with up to 20% THC, South African is an in-credibly fast-acting cultivar that strikes the head immediately after the first hit. The high often begins with a subtle tingle in the temples or flushing in the cheeks. Once these odd sensations have dwindled, you’ll notice your thoughts take on a new intensity, with even mundane ideas seeming suddenly interesting. 

Physically speaking, South African is not likely to deliver a body-melting stone. Quite the contrary, in fact, since some users will feel active, energetic and sometimes even frisky. You can burn off the cerebral and somatic energy in a variety of ways: you can pair a smoke session with tasks that require brainstorming, or get stuck into a creative project.  The cultivar also provides a little background amusement while you’re plowing through mundane chores like doing the dishes, the laundry, or mowing the lawn.

The high is invigorating for the most part, but it eventually wanes and gives way to a mellowing body buzz instead. Still, South African is well suited for daytime consumption as it doesn’t cause couch-lock or hinder motor functions.

Medical

South African’s euphoric influence has been used by consumers suffering from depression, PTSD and stress. Its analgesic and anti-inflammatory traits may alleviate aches and pains caused by conditions like arthritis, eye pressure, migraines, multiple sclerosis and PMS, among many others. Those slowed down by fatigue may even see an increase in productivity thanks to its energy-boosting effect.

While South African can be beneficial, it must be used in moderation to prevent side effects from occurring – or at least to keep them minimal. Dry eyes and cottonmouth are common reactions, while lightheadedness, panic attacks and paranoia are quite rare – but not impossible, especially in higher dosages.

Feminized South African Seeds

Growers looking to cultivate South African for personal use would be wise to choose these feminized seeds from Homegrown Cannabis Co. The plant can be reared outdoors in a Mediterrane-an-type climate or in a dry and warm indoor space. In optimal conditions, a single plant can yield 21 grams al fresco, or 1.3 – 1.6 ounces per square foot inside. When smoked, the buds share up-lifting and energizing vibes suitable for daytime sessions.