After over five years of cannabis genetics in Surterra’s own lab, we’ve learned a lot about which strains are worth smoking, and which ones aren’t fit to burn.

Our breeders know that you can’t just plant a seed and expect high quality weed every time. Every run starts with options. Dozens of seeds, multiple plants, and a lot of budding potential.

Boy Meets Girl

Pollen from a selected male plant is brought to female plants to create a new batch of genetics to run. From there, we germinate, grow, and see how each plant’s genetics express.

Each individual plant from a cross of the same two strains carries its own genotype (the unique set of genetics that can vary from seed to seed), and each genotype may have slightly different characteristics. Aroma and taste may vary from plant to plant based on how those genetics express. Growth can differ, so plants may vary in height, structure, and color. Some may have light, fluffy buds while others are tight and dense. Yield is important too, and some give us more buds than others. Even effects and potency can vary depending on the genotype.

They Grow Up So Fast

As we watch the plants grow, some are clear duds early on. They may have a weak structure or develop slowly. These are the easy cuts.

But once a plant is fully grown, things get real. We analyze buds just as you would. How do they smell? How do they look? And of course we have to know: how do they smoke?

Each plant goes to the lab testing for THC levels, terpene content, and the general profile of their cannabinoids. You can see these testing numbers for each strain in the store and online.

The Final Countdown

After rigorous lab testing, visual analysis, and user experience, a winning cannabis plant emerges. The rest, unfortunately, often get the axe. Months of work can go into growing and testing, and it can be hard to say goodbye to some strong contenders. But in the end, only the best gets brought to you.

That winning plant then gets cloned, meaning we take trimmings and grow genetically identical copies of the same genotype. So any time you pick up a Surterra exclusive strain, you know you’re getting the same smoke every time.

Hopefully you’ve got a better understanding of the genetics process, and how we find the right cannabis flower for your bowl, bong, or joint. Keep an eye out, because next time we’ll talk about how we’ve grown from trial and error to focused, deliberate breeding.

In the meantime, check out some Surterra exclusive strains for yourself! We’re proud to put our name on these strains, because we know we’ve brought you the green of the crop.

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