“Should you mix weed?” is a question people often ask. Tea, coffee, herbs, alcohol, and cooking are all longstanding examples of the benefits of combining ingredients.
When it comes to buds, most of us have probably resorted to mixing strains out of desperation. Outside of necessity, however, the weed salad isn’t that prevalent.
Is it good to blend strains to get the effects you want? Most smokers in dire straits would unequivocally answer yes.
Combining different strains has the potential to create a wonderful synergy of effects, terpenes, and flavors more than the sum of their parts.
Keep reading to learn the benefits of mixing weed, how to do it, and some stunning synergistic strain suggestions.
Why mix different cannabis strains?
Blending weed strains gives you the power to tailor your smoking experience exactly to your tastes. Explore a few reasons you might consider it.
Are two effects better than one?
When most smokers want two or more effects from their buds, their thoughts usually turn to hybrid strains. While it’s true that hybrids offer a balance of effects inherited from their parents, the breeding process usually involves some compromise.
Breed a racy sativa with a couch-locking indica, and the resulting hybrid may provide both effects but likely less potency. Combining two or more strains together in one joint after they’ve grown lets you enjoy the full effects of each in a proportion of your choosing.
Tame your high
Getting totally blazed has its place, but sometimes a little more discretion is necessary. Sometimes you may wish to smoke without impeding your movement or thought processes. You should mix weed with opposing effects when you want to tame your high. A cocktail of strains with opposing properties often produces a more balanced, less extreme set of effects for times when you need your wits about you.
Is the high from two cannabis strains better?
There’s been a lot of discussion among scientific circles around the supposed “entourage effect” that occurs when mixing weed strains. The hypothesis is that certain terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids work with THC to produce synergistic results. By blending strains, you increase the odds of this occurring, and you may strike upon a particularly effective combo.
How to combine different cannabis strains
Practically speaking, it’s pretty simple. Pop your desired buds in your grinder and fill your bowl, roll a joint, or smoking peripheral of choice with a mix of weed. Try out different ratios and see how they pan out. It takes a little experimentation, but finding the perfect "salad" is highly rewarding. Let’s face it; the research phase isn’t so bad either.
Combining weed strains is all down to personal tastes, and there’s no such thing as a “bad” mix of weed.
Read on for some factors to consider when preparing a "weed salad". Don’t get too bogged down in the details, and remember to enjoy yourself above all.
Cannabinoids
Every strain contains a different amount and proportion of cannabinoids. THC and CBD are present in all strains but to differing degrees.
Recreational smokers and fans of psychoactive effects want high levels of THC and often disregard CBD content. Check out our collection of seeds with a large amount of THC if you are a one of them.
The opposite is true when it comes to medicinal users. This community knows that CBD has a powerful calming effect and great analgesic potential. CBD’s use in medicinal and therapeutic settings has skyrocketed recently, thanks to its ability to treat various issues.
While they do exist, it’s quite rare to find a strain with high levels of both CBD and THC. Cultivars usually focus on one or the other. Mixing weed allows you to combine these different cannabinoids as you wish.
Cultivars with a high CBD content with a more THC-focused strain to add a dose of therapy to your smoking sesh. The added soothing qualities may ease the pain while also leveling out the trippiness of Sativa strains.
Studies also show that consuming comparable amounts of THC and CBD together prolongs the effects of both.
Terpenes
These little magic molecules make each strain unique in flavor, fragrance, and effects.
Cannabis may contain hundreds of different terpenes. Some cultivars possess one or two dominant terpenes, while others, usually poly-hybrids, have a diverse and varied profile. Terpology concerns these small but important parts of cannabis, and it’s a complex and in-depth field of study. Thankfully, you won’t need a doctorate to understand the basics, simply mix your weed and benefit from blending terpenes.
A few recurring terpenes show up time and again and serve as the foundation for whole lines of hybrids.
Myrcene is a terpene found in many strains of cannabis. This is the dominant terpene found in mangoes, and it gives weed a fruity, musky flavor with a hint of ginger. Myrcene also boosts cannabinoid absorption, which must be the basis for believing that eating mango and smoking gets you extra high. Cultivars containing myrcene for a full-bodied, fruity flavor and an extended set of effects.
Another common cannabis terpene is limonene. This terpene is found in citrus fruits, most notably lemon, as you might have guessed. Any strains with ‘lemon’ in their names will almost invariably contain abundant amounts of limonene. Mixing weed strains with limonene adds a sharp, tangy quality and a clear-headed buzz.
This tangy terpene provides more than just sharp flavors. Ongoing research is revealing limonene’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, as well as potential anti-carcinogenic properties.
Beta-caryophyllene is another popular terpene with a pervasive, biting fragrance similar to kerosene or gasoline. You’ll find this robust molecule most commonly in Skunk and Diesel strains.
Along with its unique scent, this terpene boosts weed’s psychoactive properties. Mix weed strains with beta-caryophyllene for an eye-widening smoking experience with a vibrant edge. These are just a few of the terpenes found in cannabis. We listed these common ones to give you an idea of what mixing weed strains with different terpene profiles provides.
While some combos work better than others, the important thing is to have fun and find what works for you. There are lots of possible ways to increase terpenes in plants, check them out here, if you are interested in.
Mixing Indica and sativa... Why not?
Blending cannabis strains can be as simple as mixing indica and sativa buds for a nicely balanced buzz.
Generally speaking, sativas provide a more cerebrally-focused experience, while indicas are more centered around physical relaxation.
Combining sativa and indica buds in a joint or in a bong lets you tweak your experience as desired. Btw, if you are interested to know how to create a homemade bong with simple materials, you'll definitely need to check up on this article. Enjoy the taste of that indica but find it overbearingly heavy? Add a splash of sativa to lighten the buzz and keep things positive.
Conversely, the process lets you temper the hyperactivity of some sativa strains. Combining a little indica and sativa helps rein in those exuberant qualities and adds a mellow aspect to your smoke.
Recommended strain combinations
Hopefully, you’re convinced that the answer to the question you asked above is yes. Some people get super invested in combining different cultivars to perfection with the ideal terpene combo and flavor profile. This process is full of fun, you'll definitely enjoy experimenting. But sometimes you want to skip the experimental phase and get straight to business.
Here are five tried-and-tested options for you to try. Mixing these strains offers something new that the constituent buds don’t do by themselves.
Royal Domina and Medical Mass
Royal Domina is an indica-dominant cultivar with an intense psychoactive high and an overbearing sedative side. Medical Mass is a sweet, CBD-focused strain with huge calming properties. Mixing weed like Medical Mass with Royal Domina tempers the high, allowing you to stay focused while still enjoying the bulk of the buzz.
Sour Diesel and OG Kush
They say opposites attract, which is certainly true when blending cultivars like Sour Diesel and OG Kush. These two iconic strains are equally tasty but polar opposites in terms of effects. The heady Sour Diesel is packed with sativa genetics and abundant amounts of limonene and beta-caryophyllene. OG Kush is a dank, myrcene-laden indica with a heavy-hitting body stone.
These strains when mixed together deliver a wonderfully-rounded set of effects and an eye-opening explosion of flavors.
Royal Cheese and Blue Mystic
Is it good to mix weed strains that are both indica? If the results are anything like this combo, then the answer is an emphatic yes. Royal Cheese and Blue Mystic are two lazy, laid-back indicas packed with tasty terpenes. Royal Cheese delivers relaxation through a mouthful of thick, sapid smoke, oozing with creamy, sweet, and skunky smells.
Adding the fruity, earthy Blue Mystic delivers a compelling blend of flavors. Expect mouthfuls of sugary sweet berry and cheesecake flavors and profound relaxation.
Wedding Gelato and Chocolate Haze
Mixing sativa and indica strains like Wedding Gelato and Haze produces a wonderfully balanced high and lip-smacking flavor. Wedding Gelato is a hard-hitting indica full of dessert flavors and 25% THC. Chocolate Haze is a decadently delicious sativa-dominant hybrid that delivers a lucid, creative high.
Mixing these strains creates a match made in heaven. The sweet flavors complement each other perfectly, while Chocolate Haze prevents the soothing buzz from becoming overwhelming.
Lemon Shining Silver Haze and Shogun
Mixing sativa and indica are fine when you want a rounded buzz, but blend two sativas to send yourself skyward. Combining Lemon Shining Silver Haze and Shogun shows how mixing weed has the potential to produce amazing results. Mixing these strains leads to an exceptionally stimulating high and boundless energy. If you’re a fan of wake-and-bakes and wonder if you should blend different cultivars, give it a shot, and you won’t be disappointed.
Pick and mix your way to perfection
Mixing weed strains is a simple and inexpensive way to create a novel experience using familiar buds. The next time you have the opportunity, why not try doing it and see where it takes you?
If you’ve got time, check out some of our other blog entries, or share this article with your friends and get their opinion. The process might be more common than we thought.If you need some inspiration, check out our store for detailed descriptions of all our cultivars. Don’t forget to order your seeds to grow the strains you want for guaranteed quality every time.
