Elation, Sedation and A Tingling Sensation

 

Bud Basics

When you think of the ideal environment for growing cannabis, Alaska isn’t exactly the first place to spring to mind, given the state’s cooler climate - and yet Matanuska Tundra Feminized hails from the gorgeous grasslands of Matanuska Valley, so even the best of us are proved wrong on occasion.

 

Also known as Alaskan Thunder Fuck (ATF) and Matanuska Thunder Fuck, the original herb is almost purely Sativa, but Matanuska Tundra Fem isn’t actually a pure landrace strain.

 

The persistent theory amongst the cannabis community is that this weed was bred from Northern Californian Sativa and Russian Ruderalis offspring, then crossed with Afghani. As such, the modern version of this cannabis plant is actually more Indica-leaning that her lineage, though she retains some of her more impressive traits, and can produce huge amounts of resin despite a longer than average flowering period.

 

Whether this marijuana is a hybrid or a true Alaskan, what we can confirm is that her earthen, pine and cedar smoke is a creeping high that’s likely to take even seasoned tokers by surprise.

 

With an average 18% THC, the cerebral high this herb provides gradually mounts to a crescendo of positivity and euphoria that clears the mind of worry before your body drifts down into sedation.

 

Matanuska Tundra’s uplifting and mood-boosting properties make her an excellent medicinal strain for the relief of stress in particular - but as a pain-reliever, she’s also effective and treating the symptoms of a variety of physical ailments, whilst also reducing swelling.

 

Since these are feminized seeds, cultivators can enjoy the many traits that make this strain a simple plant to grow without the need to consider weeding out the males from the batch. As always, keeping the crop's environment in top condition is key, but this strain's nugs are likely to be sticky and dense even if you’re new to growing your own stash.

 

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Flavor and Fragrance of Matanuska Tundra Feminized

When dried and cured properly, Matanuska Tundra’s aroma is fragrant with woodsy notes, reminiscent of pine, cedar and damp earth, though her sticky buds are difficult to break up without the help of a grinder. Beneath this, there are faintly sweet and nutty notes that can come across as chocolate-like.

 

Once combusted, this strain’s smoke is acrid and pungent, and can be harsh on the lungs for newbies. Upon exhaling, you’ll find that there are faint flavors of sour lemon that linger on the tongue. Since this strain’s scent is somewhat strong, tokers looking to maintain discretion should take care.

 

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Effects

Since a 20% THC content isn’t considered to be particularly strong, even experienced tokers can underestimate Matanuska Tundra Fem - but don’t be fooled. As her high tends to creep up on you, she’s a stealthy strain that can soon overwhelm if you toke too much too fast. As such, try to keep the dosage low - the first time, anyway.

 

Once the high really sets in, the pleasure and euphoria that hit you are difficult to beat, delivering a burst of energy to the head first, before spreading swiftly to the body. You’ll begin to notice that your worries and stress melt away, and any negativity is wiped from your body to be replaced by a rush of happiness and positivity that uplifts your mood.

 

While this is all happening, this slow-building high works its magic on the senses, and Matanuska Tundra may make colors suddenly more vivid, and sounds clearer even as your focus increases. This colorful combination tends to inspire creativity and usher in motivation for productivity, encouraging physical activity.

 

Eventually, this cerebral high is joined by a warm, tingly sensation that spreads across your body from the head down. These physical effects soothe tension, removing uneasiness and tightness from every muscle more effectively than a deep tissue massage. Your limbs will loosen, softening so that you’re practically incapable of moving as this narcotic body-stone sedates you into near-paralysis.

 

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Medical Uses of Matanuska Tundra Feminized

The slow-spreading, top-to-bottom buzz of Matanuska Tundra Feminized is a well-loved therapeutic relief amongst tokers in the medical marijuana (MMJ) community, as this strain is capable of easing the symptoms of many a malady.

 

The joyful thoughts and euphoric effect this herb ushers in are an effective shield against stress, depression and anxiety, pushing out negative and intrusive thoughts to allow your mind to think clearly without debilitating distraction.

 

Also enjoyed by patients suffering from severe mood swings, bipolar disorder, ADHD and PTSD, Matanuska Tundra can be beneficial for such patients due to her sustained focusing effect.

 

Containing potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, this weed will create a wave of comfort and relaxation for the body, working to relieve and remove pain for patients struggling with multiple sclerosis, arthritis, migraines, PMS or ulcerative colitis - and can even reduce swelling and inflammation.

 

Matanuska Tundra Fem, like many strains of cannabis, can induce potent hunger pangs, more often referred to as ‘the munchies’. As such, those struggling with a lack of appetite, possibly due to chemotherapy-induced nausea or an eating disorder, can toke this herb to find themselves suddenly ravenous.

 

Due to this strain’s sedating effect, she can also be effectively utilized as a treatment for insomnia, inducing drowsiness and deep slumber to give your body the time needed to relax into restorative REM sleep.

 

In order to ensure you enjoy the full effects of Matanuska Tundra Feminized, make sure to keep dosages low and allow intervals between tokes to let the high really set in. Because she’s so potent, there’s a likelihood of cottonmouth and dry eyes for consumers, and if the dosage is too high, this could escalate to lightheadedness, dizziness, headaches, anxiety and paranoia.

 

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Growing Matanuska Tundra Feminized Seeds

Though Matanuska Tundra Feminized looks small, she in fact exhibits all the very best Indica traits you could want when cultivating cannabis: her size is manageable, her nugs are big and dense, and her resin production is off the charts.

 

This plant won’t get much bigger than 2.5 feet, and often not even that - but her massive colas make her a strain worth growing, once you see how she shimmers with frosty white crystals.

 

Cultivating this cannabis indoors is best with a Sea of Green (SoG) setup, and it’s important to maintain a comfortable environment for your plants by ensuring Relative Humidity (RH) levels remain between 40% and 50%. Temperature is important too, and 70° to 80°F is ideal. The combination of optimal temperatures and RH levels is essential to prevent the build-up on moisture on Matanuska Tundra, and therefore reduce the chances of molds and mildew on her thick, palm-shaped foliage.

 

Provided her environment is well controlled, you should be able to harvest between 1.14 and 1.22 ounces of tapered, spade-like and sticky nugs per square meter after 9 to 10 weeks.

 

If you’re lucky enough to live in a region with a warm and sunny climate, then growing Matanuska Tundra Feminized outdoors is a viable option, as her Indica genetics make her hardy even when conditions aren’t optimal. In the northern hemisphere, harvest time occurs around late October, and you should have a yield of around 17 ounces of pale, sea green buds per plant.

 

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Summary

Very few strains showcase all that Indicas have to offer, but Matanuska Tundra Feminized is a paragon that displays ideal growth tendencies, dense nugs and effects that are sought after by even the most seasoned and difficult to impress tokers.

 

This strain’s earthen, woodsy scent immediately brings to mind the beautiful valley from which she hails, and though her smoke may be a little cough-inducing, if you give her a minute to creep up on you, you won’t be disappointed in her cerebral, body-tingling high.

 

For those looking for an uplifting wake-and-bake, you can stop your search now - and if your consumption is more about the medicinal effects, this strain can aid with alleviating a variety of psychological and physical symptoms.

 

Thanks to the robust, hardy nature of Matanuska Tundra Fem, growing plants of your own is a simple affair that can be managed by most beginners and is laughably simple for any cannabis cultivators with experience.