If you’re ready to start growing your own marijuana, you should consider these best indica strains of 2020.
First discovered in 1783, indica weed strains were some of the first to be discovered. These relaxing plants are known for their ability to withstand harsh conditions – some of the most popular indica strains are also some of the strongest indica strains, known for their ability to survive tough weather and growing patterns. What’s more interesting? – indica strains are aslo proven to be valuable in treating anxiety, chronic pain and sleep disorder.
If you’re considering growing one of these popular indica strains, it’s important that you know what to look for. We will tell you all about the top indica dominant strains in this article – as well as how to pick the best indica plants for your needs.
Top 10 Indica Strains for 2020
Hindu Kush seeds have been selectively bred for decades – the resulting strain is one of the best indica strains you will find.
Pros:
- Quick 6 week for flowering time
- Regular and feminized seeds
- Dank, hashy, and bold indica flavors
Cons:
- Not the best for outdoor growing
Hindu Kush is a classic choice for novice and expert gardeners alike. It grows best indoors, as it’s a pure landrace strain from the Hindu Kush mountain range – it’s tough to replicate these conditions outdoors.
This indica strain is reliable, producing uniform growth. It grows modestly during the vegetative stage but will turn on once you provide it with plenty of nutrients and light. Although Hindu Kush isn’t the most vivacious producer, it will be reliable – it’s flowering time just takes six to seven weeks. If you want to try to grow it outside, you can, too – just make sure you bring it inside before the weather changes.
Hindu Kush produces dank flavors with sticky, dense buds. You’ll get a calm, uplifting high compared to the heavy indica strains you are used to.
Rumor has it that the original Northern Lights female clones originated in Seattle, WA and were produced by the renowned Nevil Schoenmakers.
Pros:
- Only 6-8 weeks in flowering time
- Available as regular and feminized seeds
- Extremely high THC content
Cons:
- Plants can grow quite large
Regardless of whether you believe folklore or not, this indica strain is one for the record books. This plant grows in short, dense-looking bushes that can be cultivated both indoors and outside. Suitable for warm environments, it needs lots of intense sunlight. However, the plant produces extremely strong indica strain seedlings.
This alone makes it a perfect choice for beginners – however, it has other features to offer, too. It produces hard nuggets with lots of sticky resin along with buds that smell like honey. Smoke this strain, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Despite its honey-scented buds, it actually tastes like pine and even mint. It has high amounts of resin along with plenty of THC to give you an excellent high.
Northern Lights is well known for its indica strains. Not only has the company won multiple awards, but it has a good customer reputation, too.
Created back in 2003, at the San Francisco Area, this was sought out to be the ultimate indica hybrid by merging two strains with fantastic genetics
Pros:
- Flowering time takes about 8 weeks
- Cerebral rush feeling at first
- Gorgeous purple leaves
Cons:
- Can easily get invaded by pests
Although this strain has been around for many years, it is still one of the best selling Indica strains in the market. Its THC content is around 17% – 23% which leads to its euphoric effects that gives users a dreamy buzz. It is easy to grow and its flowering time only takes 8 weeks. Once fully mature, it blooms stunning purple leaves.
Since it is ideal to grow this indoors, indoor growing in tents are advised to get the best results. The flavor is what you would expect from a cannabis strain that smells fruity; your taste buds will easily recognize the tangs of grape, berries and other sweet delights.
Another fruity delight on our pure indica strains list, this one is offered by ILGM with a blend of sativa, too.
Pros:
- Classic genetics with exceptional growth
- Grows very tall
- Fruity buds
Cons:
- Tough to grow indoors due to size
Blueberry indica has been around since the 1970s, when Afghani and Purple Thai genetics came together for this indica strain. Because of its Thai genetics, it can grow quite tall. Outside, it can become a monster. If you decide to grow it indoors, you will want to make the most of your lighting by pruning or bending the plants.
It can be somewhat finicky at times to nurture, but it produces impressive yields of more than 350 g/plant when grown outside. Growing solid, dense, and sticky buds, this plant is potent. However, its yields aren’t what make it popular – it’s the smell. This indica strain smells just like fresh blueberries. You’ll get an uplighting, energetic effect. It’s also good for bubble hash!
If you want a mellow effect without a lot of buzz, then the Strawberry Kush strain is the best indica for you.
Pros:
- Plant takes up little growing space
- Mellow flavor and scent
- Won’t give you an overwhelming high
Cons:
- Low CBD content
This indica strain contains 15-17% THC content plus small amounts of CBD. It won’t knock you to the ground, nor will it put you to sleep – you can smoke it all day long. Instead of feeling a strong overall effect, you’ll have a relaxing, euphoric experience. Plus, it tastes and smells just like fresh strawberries.
This is one of the most popular indica strains for beginners. It has plenty of power yet it’s not too overwhelming if you are a novice. In addition, the plant is easy to grow and takes minimal time to flower. You’ll also get exceptionally large yields. It’s even classified as a medical marijuana so you can use it for conditions like migraines, depression, stress, and more.
Sold in pack sizes of five, ten, and twenty seeds, this indica variety is created as the result of OG Kush and Strawberry Cough strain genetics. It has a woody, sweet flavor and the plant grows in a compact format.
O.G. Kush is world-renowned for its potency, distinct flavor, and excellent body and head highs.
Pros:
- 19% THC
- Can treat headaches and ADD
- Has an earthy smell and taste
Cons:
- Does not fend off diseases and bugs well
O.G. Kush is an easy to grow plant that delivers a fast rush of euphoric energy. This indica dominant strain contains 75% indica and 25% sativa, with all autoflowers fully feminized. You’ll get a nice full body relaxation high with this strain, which has a high THC level of 19%.
The buds smell quite nice, offering a unique mixture of pine, spices, and herbal flavors. It grows in a compact fashion, preferring sunny indoor climates. A great mood lifter, it is often used to treat migraines, ADHD, epilepsy, and other stress disorders.
If you are looking for the best strains of all time for indoor growing, look no further than O.G. Kush. It thrives in a tropical climate yet, since it doesn’t tolerate bugs or diseases well, you’ll want to cultivate it in a more controlled setting. It’s autoflowering, too, so you’ll have a short flowering time.
One of the strongest indica strain varieties you will find, Purple Kush is from the Oakland region of California.
Pros:
- Has gorgeous dark leaves
- Resistant to powdery mildew
- Peppery taste
Cons:
- Needs frequent watering
One of the most powerful indica strains, Purple Kush has an extremely high THC content – 27%, to be precise. It’s easy to grow both for beginners as well as for more experienced cultivators. It creates dark, mysterious-looking leaves that make it perfect for your sales. It is high-yielding, harvesting at around 450 g/m2 when grown inside.
However, you don’t have to stick to indoor growing in tents with this one. It’s also perfectly safe to grow outside, especially if you live in a humid climate. It is even resistant to one of the most malignant diseases when it comes to growing marijuana – powdery mildew.
This indica strain will give you a bright, upbeat high. It’s a pure indica variety that is pepperty to the taste and can even have a sweet flavor if the buds are cured slowly.
Another pure indica strain, Bubba Kush is a cross between Northern Lights and OG Kush.
Pros:
- Produces compact buds
- Performs well indoors
- Sweet, pungent aroma
Cons:
- Not the best for outdoor growing
Bubba Kush was developed in New Orleans and has grown to massive popularity in the 1990s and early 2000s. Bubba Kush is a pure dank indica strain that produces thick, stocky growth with compact, light-green buds. An easy to grow plant, it yields up to 500 g/m2 indoors and up to 800 g/plants outdoors.
It’s best grown inside, where you can control all aspects of cultivation. Outside, you need to make sure you provide plenty of airflow and a dry environment. In return, you’ll receive resin-coated buds that offer a sweet kush aroma. The leaves and flowers contain a white trichome coating that leaves the user feeling sleepy and relaxed. It even develops purple colors when temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
You already heard about Strawberry Kush, but if a banana flavor is more your thing, you’ve got to consider this Banana Kush.
Pros:
- Great for social smoking
- Gives you a sweet buzz
- Offers you a good body high
Cons:
- Low CBD content
If you are a social smoker, you will like this Banana Kush. One of the best strains of all time if you are looking for good indica, this strain was originally developed in California as a blend of Ghost OG and Skunk Haze. It provides the smoker with an excellent body high that stays with you for quite some time.
Not only will this strain of indica gives you a good body high, but it can also help you feel more creative. It’s classified as a medical marijuana so it can also help treat things like insomnia, pain, stress, depression, tension, and more.
Seeds are sold in packs of five, ten, and twenty. It flowers easily and is a good option for beginners since it’s flowering time is less than two months. It has an average height among marijuana plants, too – it won’t take over your entire living space but it’s also not so tiny that it’s fragile.
Get a powerful – yet sedative – relaxation high with the California Dream indica strain.
Pros:
- Up to 24% THC
- High CBD
- Grows tall and flowers in 9 weeks
Cons:
- Often bred as a hybrid
It’s easy to grow the California Dream indica strain. Not only does it grow quickly, reaching more than three feet in a matter of weeks, but it can also be easily nudged along with regular pruning. It yields close to a pound per 3×3 feet. Best grown indoors under some grow lights, it can also be grown outside if you live in a sunny, Medtterenaean-style environment.
Containing a large amount of indica genetics, this plant can give you a great high. The buds are large and drenched in resin and you’ll see results quite rapidly. Its best smoked medicinally for anxiety and depression but also has great recreational uses, too.
How to Select the Best Indica Strain for Your Needs
As you’re reading this, you might be thinking that any of the latest marijuana strains will suffice for your grow room.
Not so fast. Not all weed strains are made alike – nor are all indica weed strains. Even the very top indica strains differ, so it’s important to know exactly what you are getting into when you’re looking for new varieties to try.
Why Indica?
People steer toward the purest indica strains for one reason – indica produces plants that grow short and produce dense buds. They tend to have a heavy, relaxing effect, while sativa tends to be more easy and upbeat.
Not sure which way you want to go? Don’t worry – you can easily choose one of 2020’s top indica strains that’s also a hybrid. Also known as an auto-flowering strain, this cross provides all the benefits of indica weed strains with all the best features of the latest sativa strains, too.
Indica is an easy plant for beginners to cultivate. It grows well without a lot of heat and actually performs better in tehc old, too.
How to Choose the Best Indica Strain for Medicinal Use
Once you have decided that indica is the variety you would like to grow, you next need to settle on a strain. The easiest way to do this is to decide whether you will be growing indica for medical or recreational use.
If you’re struggling with anxiety or seizures, you will want to choose an indica strain that contains low THC and high CBD. THC at a high level can actually make anxiety worse, so steer clear.
If you are in chronic pain, you might want to choose a strain with plenty of cannabinoids, as these relieve pain. Look for something with lots of CBD like Northern Lights. If you have nausea or need to stimulate your appetite again, however an indica strain with high THC will be best.
Now, if you don’t need indica marijuana for medicinal use but instead want to experiment recreationally, you have a bit more leeway. If you want more energy or a psychedelic effect, choose something with lots of THC but low CBD. These are uncommon among indica strains – you will have better luck with a sativa strain.
Looking for a more sleepy effect? Indica is the way to go. You can choose a top indica strain with high THC and medium amounts of CBD, like Bubba Kush. This will be the perfect choice for helping you nod off.
The Best Environment For Indica Strains
Indica is one of the best types of marijuna you can buy if you are growing indoors. The tallest indica will ever grow to about four feet. In addition, indica plants tend to have fewer branches that are also much shorter than those of the standard sativa plant.
Despite the fact that indica and sativa strains came from the same species, there’s a lot of variation between the two. Because they were replaced in different geographic regions, the two have different tolerances when it comes to the environment. For example, indica does best in cold areas of high altitude. It originated in the Hindu Kush mountains of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Sativa, on the other hand, was cultivated in a much warmer environment.
Smell
One of the most important features to consider when you are shopping for indica dominant strains is the smell. If you are able to smell the weed of the strain you want to purchase, you will be better off because you will know what kinds of compounds are in the product. Also known as terpenes, these are found in every strain and give you a good hint as to what the pot will taste like.
Color
Some strains of indica have unique hues that are not to be missed. These often don’t do much for the flavor or smell of your indica, but they can be more fun to grow. Most natural hues are bright green, dark purple, and gold. However, sometimes indica can be bleached if it left too long in the sun. When you are growing your own indica, make sure this doesn’t happen, as it can affect the aroma.
Size and Shape
Choose a plant with large nuggets, as they will likely be more potent than small ones. This isn’t always true, but often, size correlates to potency. Shape is also important, as this points to how the plant was cultivated. Often, growers trim leaves off the plant to help it stay pruned and growing effectively, so if you are looking at the pictures of a cultivated plant to get an idea of what its seeds will produce, don’t always assume it will look just like the pictures when you tend to your own plant.
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