Best Indica Strains and Tips How to Grow Them

Sometimes there's nothing in the world that can relax and offer comfort like a good old indica. Indica strains are a common choice among both medical and recreational users. Native to the harsh environment of the Hindu Kush mountains in Asia, cannabis cultivars of the indica type are praised for delivering full-body buzz, offering deep relaxation, and combating insomnia and stress symptoms. Indicas are also perfect to improve appetite and reduce nausea and pain. 

Unlike Cannabis sativa, whose plants are taller, thinner, and usually take more time to mature, Cannabis indica is typically shorter, bushier, grows faster, and is associated with bigger yields. 

What Are Some of the Best Cannabis Indica Strains? 

Medical cannabis users may be particularly familiar with indica strains. Some indicas work miraculously to alleviate pain and reduce inflammation. Beyond that, they may work as excellent mood boosters for the occasional smoker who needs a break after a busy, hectic day.

Below are seven of the best indica cannabis strains, a quick overview of their medical and/or recreational uses, effects, and cultivation tips you might find handy in your home garden.  

1. Granddaddy Purple

Medical uses: perfect analgesic; also anti-stress and anxiety
Effects: relaxing, sleep-inducing, euphoric
Side effects: cottonmouth 
Smell and flavor: pine, herbal, peppery, with a sweetish, berry-like taste

A California staple strain created in 2003, Granddaddy Purple (GDP) is an indica cross between Big Bud and Purple Urkle. Famous for its recognizable purple flowers and white crystal resin, GDP gives the user both mind and body high, delivering a combination of euphoria with relaxation. Recommended for anyone who struggles with stress, chronic pains, insomnia, muscle spasms and appetite loss. It's a dominant indica cultivar with some sativa genes in its as well. Its average THC contents reach around 18%. 

Cultivation: GDP can be a very generous flower with hefty yields. Best to grow indoors, where the process concludes with a flowering time of around 75 days. The short, stocky plants of this strain may need additional support on the stalks when they give heavy buds. The recommended temperature range is between 70°F and 80 °F, and importantly, GDP will react very bad when plants are exposed to sudden drop in temperature. For example, if the daily room temperature in the grow room is around 70°F, it would be a huge shock for GDP if it falls to 60°F during the night. Keep humidity around 50%. 

2. 9 lb Hammer

Medical uses: analgesic and sedative, for pain, cramps, insomnia, stress
Effects: relaxing, sleep-inducing, couch lock, mild euphoria 
Side effects: cottonmouth, dry eyes, a small number of users will also report dizziness
Smell and flavor: pine, peppery, herbal, can have hints of incense, lime, grape.
(Extra attention in the curing process can greatly boost the fruity aromas of this strain.)

A famous indica cross of Jack the Ripper, Gooberry and Hells OG, 9 Pound Hammer is a potent strain with high THC levels ranging 14-21% and heavy, long-lasting effects. With low CBD levels of only 0.3%, this strain is a great choice for stress relief and battling chronic pain. Indulging in 9 lb Hammer can easily lead to couch lock, so this is not the type of strain to smoke when you are still active with your daily agenda. 

Cultivation: Grow 9 Pound Hammer indoors. The flower period for this cultivar is between 50-60 days and it's a nice surprise for every grower when the plant shows its sizeable colas. Leading to the flowering stage, the night temperature in the grow room needs to be gradually adjusted to around 50°F (without making shocks for the plants). Growers can benefit from early topping when the plant is in vegetation. Remove extra fan leaves to push more energy into the plant's buds later on. 

You can still grow 9 lb Hammer outdoors. The anticipated flowering time is around 8 weeks; the harvest hour chimes by the end of September or beginning of October. 9 Pound Hammer wants warmth and medium humidity and it will not thrive in cold climates. 

3. Purple Punch

Medical use: analgesic, anti-stress and anxiety
Effects: relaxing, sleep-inducing, couch lock, happy
Side effects: cottonmouth, dry eyes, dizziness 
Smell and flavor: pine, peppery, citrus

A successor of Granddaddy Purple and Larry OG, Purple Punch is an epitome for a powerful punch. The buzz it gives is felt in both the mind and the whole body. First there is an eye-popping uplifting feeling, that is later followed by more sedative effect. Purple Punch is also rich in aromas, reminding of sweet blueberries and other fruits. Appropriate to use for stress, insomnia, body aches and nausea. It contains up to 20% THC and around 1% CBD. 

Cultivation: Purple Punch may requires more skills as a grower, so it may not be the easiest strain for novice growers. The strain requires a lot of sunshine and warmth, so growing indoors means that you have to replicate those conditions with lots of light and sufficient heating. The temperature range should be between 66°F and 82°F, and humidity in the range of 40-60%. Growing outdoors in warm climate can result with big yields. But you have to pay attention for mold and pests such as caterpillars. 

4. G13

Medical uses: anxiety, stress, analgesic
Effects: relaxing, sleep-inducing, happy
Side effects: slightly greater chances for cottonmouth, dry eyes and dizzy 
Smell and flavor: herbal, peppery, citrus

A very potent and robust cannabis indica strain, G13 (short for Government Indica Strain 13) is a source for many imaginative urban myths and legends alike. The story goes that in the late 1960s, the FBI and CIA gathered the top of the top marijuana strains from growers all over the globe in a secret facility at the University of Mississippi with the purpose to breed some super hybrids. But then someone from the inside took a sample which was massively spread so that everyone can grow G13. While it's hard to confirm the authenticity of this story, G13 potency and its ability to deliver amazing effects are very much true. Users may anticipate full-body stone typical for indica strains, accompanied by a robust cerebral high, and a bit of lethargy and laziness. Finally, G13 also opens the appetite, so get ready for the munchies. 

Cultivation: G13 requires more space for growing than the usual, both if you grow indoors or outdoors. Its branches are quite protruding and during flowering they may need additional support. To get the best G13 yield indoors, don't forget to ventilate your grow room, elevate CO2 levels and add enough nutrients because G13 does need a lot of nutrients. If you grow with hydroponics, the water needs to be around 65 degrees, and air temperature above 75°F. During the early vegetative stage, stick to a 70% humidity level but gradually lower as the days go by. Humidity should be around 40% once the flowers appear. It's a fairly easy strain to take care of also outdoors and has no temperature issues up to 85°F. 

5. Blueberry

Medical uses: potent analgesic, anti-stress and anxiety
Effects: calming, relaxing, couch lock 
Side effects: cottonmouth, dry eyes, slight dizziness
Smell and flavor: blueberry, herbal, peppery and citrus

A THC-packed strain that has enchanted the community for decades now. Blueberry is a great remedy for treating anxiety and it also have proven effects with patients suffering from chronic pain. The therapeutic qualities of Blueberry are also appreciated among recreational users, or those who need to take a break and just chill. A Blueberry round is the perfect reward when you no longer have any tasks on your to-do list, as well as for weekend relaxation and fun. 

Cultivation: With moderate to high yield, Blueberry is best to grow outdoors in climates with extended sunshine hours. Crop the plant's top to make it look like a bush and wait for mid-October when the harvest time is due. When grown into such shape, Blueberry strains give extra buds. For indoor growing, anticipate flowering time in around 8 and 10 weeks. 

6. Northern Lights

Medical use: analgesic; for insomnia, stress and anxiety 
Effects: relaxing, sleep-inducing, improves the mood
Side effects: cottonmouth, dry eyes, a very small number of users report paranoia 
Smell and flavor: sweet, spicy, pungent

If someone asks you what is the best medicinal strain of all time, you won't be wrong to say it's Northern Lights. A fusion of sweet and spicy, NL is one of the most popular indica strains of all time and if you're smoking for a while now, you've probably tried it even if you don't know it. This resilient, fast-flowering cultivar that keeps on giving luscious buds, delivers deep relaxation in the muscles and calms the mind with peaceful euphoria. Northern Lights cannabis is great for those who struggle with chronic pain, insomnia, stress and depression. The relative amount of THC in this legendary indica strain is around 16-17%. 

Cultivation: It might be a challenge in the beginning to find good seeds from Northern Lights. Several different phenotypes can be found on the market, and the estimated indoor flowering time usually is between 45 and 50 days. If you find good seeds, it might be a good idea to reproduce clones for future grows. Since Northern Lights is a fast-flowering strain, multiple grow strategies can be implemented. You can grow both indoors and outdoors, and you can use both soil or hydroponics. A combination of indoor grow lights and natural sunlight can be of great benefit to NL plants. For example, use indoor lighting during vegetation and move the plants outdoors when they start to flower, if the weather and where you live allows that. Ensure that plants receive sufficient nitrogen during vegetation and switch to phosphorus and potassium as they enter flower. 

7. Hindu Kush 

Medical use: analgesic, anti-stress, the ''sleep pill''
Effects: relaxing, sleep-inducing, happy
Side effects: cottonmouth, dry eyes, and a small number of users might report feeling paranoid 
Smell and flavor: pine, flowers, pungent, sweet, creamy

Named after a mountain range stretching between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Hindu Kush is one of the best and purest cannabis indica strains on the planet. The strain, brought to America in the 1960s and 1970s via the legendary Hippie Trails, is appreciated for its pungent smell that fills in the room almost immediately as well as its resinous and colorful buds. Boosting earthy and floral scents and aromas, Hindu Kish can help those with chronic pains and chronic stress by generating muscle relaxation and calmness. It's also why habitual users also find joy in it. 

Cultivation: Hindu Kush is ideally grown in warm and dry environments. Growing indoors is best to replicate the optimal conditions for this strain. Plants grow bushy and they look like miniature Christmas trees, thus they need a grow room with sufficient space. This famous indica cultivar flowers in between 7 and 9 weeks; it's fairly easy to grow and highly rewarding thanks to the therapeutic effects it gives. If you are the lazy kind of grower, the best thing of all is that you can leave your Hindu Kush indica to grow without your constant peeking how it's doing. The kush will grow as long as it's warm and dry. Though, the least you can do is explore techniques to improve yields and get the most ounces while you are at it. 

Also read on Soft Secrets:

- How to Grow Big Purple Punch Buds? 

- How to Grow Northern Lights? 

- How to Grow Blueberry Cannabis?