Cannabis Ruderalis: What Is It and How Is It Different from Sativa or Indica?

Cannabis consumers can now buy cannabis in more forms than ever, and when it comes to weed users often choose between indica, sativa, and hybrid products.

These categories are based on the types of plants these products are harvested from. Indica plants and sativa plants have different growing properties and different effects while hybrid plants have features of both. However, there’s also another kind of cannabis- cannabis ruderalis.

Compared to indica and sativa, cannabis ruderalis is much less talked about and even some experienced cannabis users might never have heard of it. However, this species of cannabis has a lot of interesting properties that make it highly useful. Here’s a guide to cannabis ruderalis: what is it and how is it different from sativa or indica?

What Is Cannabis Ruderalis?

Cannabis ruderalis is one of the three main types of cannabis. Unlike indica and sativa cannabis, ruderalis is much less known by users and is quite different from the other two types of cannabis plants. 

Ruderalis plants are known for their ability to grow with relative ease. Ruderalis plants are often seen growing wild in parts of Russia and Central Asia- areas where conditions aren’t prime for growing sativa and indica plants.

Compared to indica and sativa plants, ruderalis plants look fairly different. They only grow to around 1.5-2 feet tall. They’re bushy and have fewer leaves than their counterparts. They also produce significantly less THC to the point that pure ruderalis plants are useless for marijuana growers.

What Is Cannabis Sativa?

When talking about cannabis strains and species, it also helps to know what exactly defines the two most widely known types of cannabis- indica and sativa. Cannabis sativa is the taller, rarer, and more mentally stimulating of the two. Cannabis sativa plants grow taller with narrower leaves and the weed harvested from them is generally known for more uplifting effects.

Cannabis sativa plants are tall and thin in their structure with narrow leaves. Sativa plants can grow up to 20 feet tall and, as such, can produce some incredible yields. However, they can also take longer to grow. Sativa plants can take anywhere from 3-6 months to fully grow. They can be difficult to grow indoors due to their height and are usually preferred by outdoor growers.

Sativa strains are generally known for producing a more stimulating, uplifting, head-focused high. Users report feeling mentally focused, alert, and creative under the influence of these strains. Some popular examples include Sour Diesel, Strawberry Cough, and Pineapple Express.

What Is Cannabis Indica?

Cannabis indica plants are shorter and bushier than sativa plants and are also easier to grow. They’re often grown indoors, although they can be grown successfully outdoors as well. While sativa strains are seen as the more mentally stimulating of the two, indica strains are used for their relaxing and physically soothing properties.

Indoor growers often choose to grow indica strains as they grow much shorter than sativa plants, making them prime for indoor growing when you don’t have much space. They usually grow to around 3-6 feet and have wide, bushy leaves. They can also be grown in as little as 8-12 weeks, making them great for beginner growers.

Indica strains are generally more widely available than sativa strains due to how easy they are to grow. Users often opt for indica strains when they want calming effects that help them relax both mentally and physically. They give you a more powerful body high than sativa strains, but can also be good for the mind. They’re also useful for issues such as chronic pain, inflammation, aches, strains, nausea, and insomnia.

How Is Ruderalis Different From Sativa or Indica?

Cannabis ruderalis plants are incredibly easy to grow and much shorter than sativa or indica plants, growing to heights of around 50-100cm. They also grow much quicker than other strains and don’t take much effort or care. However, you won’t find ruderalis strains in stores like you would indica or sativa strains. So how is ruderalis different from sativa or indica?

The main difference is that, while sativa and indica plants are known for producing high levels of THC, ruderalis plants barely contain any. THC is the psychoactive chemical responsible for making you high and, as such, cannabis ruderalis plants won’t help you get any of these effects. With that said, they can be useful for getting the effects of CBD.

However, cannabis ruderalis plants are still widely used for one main reason- their incredibly quick growing times and ease of growing. Ruderalis plants are often crossed with sativa or indica plants to create autoflowering seeds. These seeds allow you to grow your favorite indica or sativa strains in as little as 60-90 days.

How To Get Cannabis Ruderalis

Although cannabis ruderalis grows wild in some parts of the world, finding pure ruderalis cannabis isn’t a common option for consumers. Pure ruderalis strains are rarely grown or used, especially as they don’t contain enough THC to get you high.

The main use of cannabis ruderalis today is to create autoflowering cannabis seeds. These are seeds created by crossing ruderalis seeds with feminized indica or sativa seeds, giving growers the ability to grow popular strains extremely fast.

Look out at stores and seed banks for autoflowering seeds for all of your favorite indica and sativa strains. These give you prime plants with plenty of buds with the only difference being that they grow much faster than normal seeds.

Conclusion

Cannabis ruderalis is one of the three main types of cannabis, although you’ll hear about it much less than indica or sativa. Although it’s incredibly easy to grow and barely takes any care, cannabis ruderalis is less sought-after than indica or sativa plants as it doesn’t contain high levels of THC. However, it’s often crossed with indica or sativa strains to create autoflowering seeds.

Users looking to get high are much better served by indica or sativa strains. You can also use hybrid strains- strains created by crossing the genetics of both indica and sativa plants to give users a range of effects and benefits. You can find plenty of indica, sativa, and hybrid strains online at West Coast Cannabis.