The 5 Most Popular Weed Strains To Grow in Australia in 2024
By Space Coast Daily // October 4, 2024
The Australian cannabis market is enjoying a meteoric rise, and in 2023, the Australian Cannabis Association reported the demand for high-quality strains rose by 35%.
With legislation continuously changing and full legalisation seemingly on the horizon, growing cannabis is now more popular than ever.
However, new growers might be intimidated by the extensive range of strains available, so how would you pick them?
In this blog post, we’ll share the top five most popular in Australia today, their profiles, and how to successfully grow them!
The Most Popular Weed Strains in Australia 2024
Now to the matter at hand, here are the top five most popular weed strains in Australia!
- Blue Dream
- Girl Scout Cookies (GSC)
- OG kush
- Sour Diesel
- Green crack
1. Blue Dream
Hailing from California, Blue Dream is a crossbreed between the Blueberry Indica and Haze sativa cannabis strains. It is a sativa-dominant hybrid with greater THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) content. The rich terpene profile also boosts its popularity.
They are distinct in appearance, with thick green buds, bright orange pistils, and long trichome coatings. The buds have a striking blue hue, earning them their name. The plant has a sweet berry scent and herbal notes, and you can feel a hint of spice when you exhale.
The effects of this strain are balanced. The THC levels range from 18-24%, and CBD (cannabidiol) ranges from 0.1-0.2%. The known benefits of Blue Dream include:
- Pain relief
- Stress reduction
- Antidepressant
- Alleviates nausea
The sativa dominance makes it ideal for daytime use, enhancing mood and creativity without causing excessive sedation.
| Blue Dream Characteristics | Details |
| Name | Blue Dream |
| Origin | California |
| Lineage | Blueberry Indica x Haze Sativa |
| Appearance | Thick green buds, blue hues, orange pistils, trichomes |
| Terpene Profile | Myrcene, Pinene, and Caryophyllene |
| Aroma | Sweet berry, earthy |
| Flavour Profile | Sweet berry, herbal, spicy |
| THC Content | 18-24% |
| CBD Content | 0.1-0.2% |
| Recreational Effects | Enhancing mood and creativity, relaxing body effect |
| Medical Benefits | Pain relief, stress reduction, anti-depressant, nausea, chronic pain |
Growing Tips for Blue Dream
Blue Dream thrives best in an environment with plenty of sunlight and temperatures between 20-26°C (68-79°F). The soil should also drain well and have a slightly acidic pH level of 6.0-6.5.
Some common challenges of Blue Dream are mould and mildew, and humid conditions can make plants susceptible to fungal infestations. Ensure good air circulation by spacing and regularly monitor and control humidity levels.
In the vegetative stage, Blue Dream relies on nitrogen for stronger growth and development. In the flowering stage, more phosphorus and potassium are needed to help with more physiological functions like flower development, opening and closing of stomata, energy transfer, and water loss.
| Blue Dream Growing Tip | Indoor Cultivation | Outdoor Cultivation |
| Climate | Maintain temperatures between 20 and 26 °C. | Mediterranean climate, temperatures between 20-26°C |
| Lighting | Use high-intensity lights (HID or full-spectrum LED). | Ensure a location with plenty of direct sunlight. |
| Soil | Use rich, well-draining soil with pH 6.0–6.5. | Prepare rich, well-draining soil, slightly acidic (pH 6.0-6.5). |
| Humidity | Control humidity levels; use fans and dehumidifiers. | Monitor humidity and ensure good air circulation. |
| Nutrient Needs | High nitrogen during the vegetative stage; high phosphorus and potassium during the flowering stage | High nutrient demand; amend soil with compost; monitor nutrient levels. |
2. Girl Scout Cookies (GSC)
Also from California, Girl Scout Cookies is a hybrid strain from the combination of OG Kush and Durban Poison. It has a higher THC to CBD-content ratio of 20-28%: 0.1-0.2%. Girl Scout Cookies has a diverse terpene profile with caryophyllene, limonene, and humulene.
It has a distinctive appearance, with thick buds showing a bright mix of green and purple hues, orange pistils, and frosty trichomes.
GSC has a sweet and spicy taste and aroma with underlying hints of vanilla and citrus.
Some reported benefits include:
- Manage chronic pain, nausea, and appetite loss.
- Relieves stress and depression.
- Encourages creativity and sociability.
| Girl Scout Cookies Characteristics | Details |
| Name | Girl Scout Cookies (GSC) |
| Origin | California |
| Lineage | OG Kush x Durban Poison |
| Appearance | Thick, conical buds, green and purple hues, orange pistils, trichomes |
| Aroma | Earthy sweetness, spicy floral |
| Flavour Profile | Sweet, spicy, vanilla, citrous |
| Terpene Profile | Caryophyllene, limonene, and humulene |
| THC Content | 20-28% |
| CBD Content | 0.1-0.2% |
| Effects | Euphoric high, full-body relaxation |
| Medical Benefits | Chronic pain, nausea, appetite loss, stress relief, depression |
Growing Tips for Girl Scout Cookies (GSC)
The GSC strain likes a warm and stable climate. Your ideal temperature should fall between 68-77°F (20-25°C), with cooler temperatures at night.
During the vegetative state, GSC can handle medium to high humidity but in its flowering state, maintain a relatively low humid temperature to avoid poor growth and infestations.
Your soil should be rich in essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium.
If the soil lacks any nutrient type, add organic matter such as compost or worm castings to enhance soil quality. An ideal soil for GSC is high-quality, well-draining, and pH between 6.0 and 6.5.
You might face common problems like pest infestation and fungal infections, such as whiteflies, spider mites, aphids, moulds, and mildew. To combat pest infestations, use sticky traps, insecticidal soaps, or Neem oil.
| GSC growing tips | Tip |
| Climate | Daytime Temperature: 68-77°F (20-25°C)
Night temperature: slightly cooler Humidity: >60-<70% (vegetative), >40-<50% (flowering) |
| Soil Type | Well-draining soil with pH 6.0-6.5
Enriched with organic matter like compost or worm castings |
| Lighting | Use high-quality LED or HID grow lights.
Vegetative Stage: 16 hours on, 8 hours off Flowering Stage: 12 hours on, 12 hours off |
| Nutrients | Balanced nutrient solution during the vegetative stage
Increase phosphorus and potassium during flowering. |
| Pests | Regular inspections
Use organic insecticides or beneficial insects. |
| Mould and mildew | Ensure good air circulation.Maintain appropriate humidity levels. |
3. Green Crack
You might know Green Crack as “Cush”, which is the original name. It is a hybrid formed from Skunk #1 and an Afghani landrace. It is dominantly Sativa with a thick terpene profile of myrcene, pinene, and caryophyllene.
Green Crack has bright green flowers with orange pistils and frosty trichomes. When you inhale, you get hints of mango and citrous and a sweet tropical fruit taste.
The known effects of Green Crack include:
- Relieving stress, fatigue, and depression.
- Effective against chronic pain and migraines.
- Uplifts and energises, making it perfect for daytime.
- Mental clarity for creativity and productivity.
| Green Crack Characteristics | Details |
| Name | Green Crack |
| Lineage | Skunk #1 x Afghani landrace |
| Appearance | Dense, bright green buds, orange pistils, trichomes |
| Aroma | Sweet, fruity, mango, citrous |
| THC Content | 15-20% |
| CBD Content | 0.1-0.2% |
| Effects | Energetic, focused, uplifting |
| Medical Benefits | Stress, fatigue, depression, chronic pain, migraines |
| Terpene composition | Myrcene, pinene, and caryophyllene |
Growing Tips for Green Crack
Here are some tips on how to grow Green Crack!
| Aspect | Tips |
| Climate and Environment | Warm and sunny, 70-85°F (21-29°C) during the day, above 50°F (10°C) at night. |
| Soil and Nutrients | Well-draining soil, pH 6.0-6.5, nitrogen-rich fertilisers for the vegetative stage, and phosphorus and potassium-rich fertilisers for the flowering stage |
| Watering | Keep soil moist, avoid waterlogging, and water when the top inch of soil is dry. |
| Lighting | Use HID lamps, 18-20 hours of light in the vegetative stage, 12 hours in the flowering stage |
| Pruning and Training | Regular pruning, removing dead/yellowing leaves |
| Pests and Diseases | Monitor for pests, use organic insecticides or beneficial insects, and ensure proper air circulation. |
| Harvesting | Harvest when trichomes are milky white with some amber, typically 7-9 weeks of flowering. |
4. OG Kush
OG Kush is a legendary hybrid strain from North California derived from Chemdawg, Lemon Thai, and the Hindu Kush. Its diverse terpene profile combines myrcene, limonene, and caryophyllene.
The buds are light green with orange pistils and icy-looking trichomes. They give off a super strong scent of pine and lemon, and their THC content ranges from 19% to 25%, while the CBD content is around 0.3% to 0.5%.
Like an OG, an OG kush has incredibly powerful effects:
- Helps with stress, anxiety, pain, and insomnia
- Deep relaxation
- Uplifted mood
- Mental stimulation
| OG Kush Characteristics | Details |
| Name | OG Kush |
| Origin | Northern California |
| Lineage | Chemdawg x Lemon Thai x Hindu Kush |
| Appearance | Dense light green buds, icy trichomes, orange pistils |
| Terpene Profile | myrcene, limonene, and caryophyllene |
| Aroma | Earthy, pine, lemon, spice |
| Flavour Profile | Earthy, woody, lemon tang |
| THC Content | 19-25% |
| CBD Content | 0.3-0.5% |
| Effects | Powerful euphoria, relaxation |
| Medical Benefits | Stress, anxiety, pain relief, insomnia |
Growing Tips for OG Kush
OG Kush grows better in indoor cultivation where the environment can be more controlled.
Maintain a stable temperature of 18C to 26C (65-80°F) and a naturally humid environment that is greater than 40% but less than 50% during the vegetative state.
Outdoor cultivation needs a warm, sunny climate and a temperature of about 24C to 29C (75-85°F). It requires soil rich in essential nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. A slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6.0–6.5 is key for best growth.
OG Kush typically flowers in 8–9 weeks. Carefully monitor the pistils and trichomes to determine the best harvest time.
| OG Kush Growing Tips | Details |
| Climate | Indoors: 65-80°F, 40-50% humidity (vegetative), 30-40% (flowering)Outdoors: 75-85°F |
| Soil/Medium | High-quality soil |
| Lighting | Vegetative: 18/6 hours of light/darkFlowering: 12/12 |
| Nutrients | Vegetative: higher nitrogen (N)
Flowering: higher phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) |
| Watering | Water when the top inch of soil is dry.
Soil pH: 6.0-6.5 |
| Flowering Time | 8-9 weeks |
| Harvesting | Harvest when trichomes are mostly milky white with some amber. |
5. Sour Diesel
Sour Diesel is a cross between Chemdawg 91 and Super Skunk. It is a sativa-dominant strain characterised by tall, thick flowers with a light green colour and orange pistils.
Sour D has a sharp aroma and taste, leaving a citrous feeling after. The dominant terpenes in this hybrid are caryophyllene, limonene, and myrcene. With a higher THC content of 20-25% and a lower CBD content of around 0.2-0.3%, Sour Diesel is known to energise and uplift.
It is known to relieve stress, depression, pain, and fatigue, making it a preferred strain for daytime use.
| Sour Diesel Characteristics | Details |
| Name | Sour Diesel |
| Appearance | Tall, thick buds, light green, orange pistils |
| Lineage | Chemdawg 91 x Super Skunk |
| Aroma | Diesel, lemon, skunk |
| THC Content | 20-25% |
| CBD Content | 0.2-0.3% |
| Effects | Energising, uplifting |
| Medical Benefits | Stress, depression, pain relief, fatigue |
| Terpene Composition | Caryophyllene, limonene, and myrcene. |
Growing Tips for Sour Diesel
| Sour Diesel Growing Tips | Details |
| Climate and Environment | Thrives in a warm, Mediterranean-like climate (68-85°F / 20-29°C). It requires plenty of sunlight for outdoor growing. |
| Soil and Nutrients | Well-draining soil with a pH of 6.0–6.5. It benefits from organic, nutrient-rich soil. For physiological processes, it needs enough nitrogen during the vegetative stage and phosphorus and potassium during flowering. |
| Watering | Keep soil consistently moist, but avoid waterlogging. Water more during the vegetative stage. Ensure the soil properly drains to avoid root rot. |
| Lighting | Needs 18 hours of light and 6 hours of darkness during the vegetative stage and equal hours of light and darkness (12/12) during flowering. |
| Training and Pruning | Pruning promotes better airflow and light penetration, reducing mould and pest risks. |
| Flowering Time | The flowering period is between 10 and 11 weeks. This period allows flowers to develop potent resin and a distinct aroma. |
| Pest and Disease Management | Regularly inspect for pests like spider mites, aphids, and whiteflies. Use organic pest control methods (neem oil, insecticidal soap). Ensure good airflow and humidity control to prevent mould and mildew. |
| Harvesting | If the trichomes are mostly milky white, its time to harvest! |
Criteria for Selecting the Most Popular Cannabis Strains in 2024
After careful consideration, we selected the top five most popular cannabis strains in Australia this year using the following criteria:.
1. Market Demand
If the market buys it, the growers will grow it. The strains that are highly sought after by consumers will be more popular than others. Most cannabis growers choose to plant strains that are easily sellable to maximise profit.
2. Yield Potential
Cannabis growers prefer strains that produce high yields because they provide a larger quantity of product per plant, ensuring you get a good return on your investment.
3. Growth Characteristics
Some favourable characteristics of cannabis plants include:
- Quicker flowering period
- Better pest and disease resistance
- Ideal plant height
These characteristics increase the popularity of selected strains with cannabis growers and will influence their decisions. The faster the flowering and growth, the quicker the return on investment.
In addition, some strains are known to be more hardy than others, making them more resilient to pests and diseases.
4. Environmental Adaptability
Strains that can adapt well to the specific climate and soil conditions in Australia are preferable to cannabis growers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What strain gets you high the longest?
- Blissful Wizard: Energising hybrid for a long-lasting high
- Durban Poison: Popular choice for longer effects
- Pink Gorilla: Delicious indica
- GMO Cookies: Powerful pain and stress relief
- Kansas City Kush: Top-quality, potent indica
2. What is the strongest weed?
- Godfather OG: Most potent strain overall
- Gorilla Glue #4: Relaxing and euphoric highs.
- Cake Bomb: Potential pain relief.
- Bruce Banner: Powerful energising effects.
- Chocolope Fem: Intense mood uplift
- Apple Betty: Impressively high yields.
3. What is the most arousing strain of weed?
Strains featuring limonene can result in a full-body feeling of euphoria that stimulates an enhanced sexual drive. Sour Diesel, rich in limonene, is among the most popular strains to stimulate libido. Consumers of Sour Diesel have reported experiencing full body sensations, an uplifted mood, and an energy boost.
4. Why is Sativa so much better than Indica?
Sativa has more THC than CBD; it tends to cause a mind-altering effect, typically making people feel euphoric and stimulated.
Conclusion
So there you have it! The five most popular weed strains in Australia at the time of writing. Whether it is Blue Dream or Green Crack, successfully growing cannabis plants starts with top-quality feminised cannabis seeds.
Check out AussieHempSeeds, Australia’s premier seed bank, trusted by the top growers across the nation!
