You may already know the differences between indica and sativa varieties of cannabis, but have you heard of cannabis ruderalis? According to Cannabis King Jorge Cervantes, grow guru and author of The Cannabis Encyclopedia, “Botanists disagree as to whether c. ruderalis qualifies as a separate species or subspecies.” So, to answer some of the questions we always get about cannabis ruderalis and autoflowering genetics, WeedHomie had the honor of putting together a quick background on this lesser-known classification of cannabis strain, known as ruderalis.
The term ruderalis stems from the root word ruderal. In the plant world, a ruderal species is one that grows in spite of its environment being inhabited by humans or being otherwise affected by naturally occurring disturbances to the area. Many believe ruderalis to be a descendant of indica genetics that adjusted to the harsh climates and the shorter growing seasons of the northern regions where it originates.
Cannabis ruderalis is a wild variety of cannabis that originates from areas in Asia, Central/Eastern Europe, and specifically Russia, where botanists often used the term “ruderalis” to classify the breeds of hemp plant that had escaped cultivation, adapting to the extreme environments found in these very climates.
Cannabis ruderalis is a short and stalky plant, especially when compared to its sativa and indica counterparts. The plant is incredibly short and only grow to about 2 feet tall, with a rugged and shaggy growth pattern that produces very wide leaflets. Compared to other varieties of cannabis, the leaves of ruderalis plants are much smaller and commonly fewer in number.
Ruderalis also produces very little THC, which lowers its appeal for recreational and medical users, but would be great for industrial scale production.
What really sets ruderalis apart is its unique flowering cycle that is induced according to its maturity instead of being activated by the photoperiod (length of sunlight exposure) like indica and sativa varieties. Modern ruderalis hybrids will commonly begin to flower between 21 and 30 days after the seeds have been planted, regardless of the light cycle. This is why most growers and enthusiasts would consider ruderalis hybrids to be classified as an “autoflowering” strain.
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