Cannabis Glossary


Terms & Definitions

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  • 12/12 Light Cycle: A lighting schedule used to induce flowering in photoperiod cannabis plants, consisting of 12 hours of light followed by 12 hours of darkness.
  • 18/6 Light Cycle: A common lighting schedule for the vegetative stage, providing 18 hours of light and 6 hours of darkness each day.
  • Aeroponics: A method of growing cannabis where roots are suspended in the air and misted with a nutrient-rich water solution, promoting rapid growth and efficient nutrient uptake.
  • Autoflowering Seeds: Cannabis seeds that automatically transition from the vegetative stage to the flowering stage based on the plant's age rather than light exposure. Derived from Cannabis ruderalis, they are known for quick growth and are often easier to cultivate.
  • Backcrossing (BX): A breeding technique where a hybrid cannabis plant is crossed with one of its original parent strains to reinforce specific traits. Backcrossing helps stabilize desired characteristics in future generations.
  • Ballast: An electrical device used in conjunction with high-intensity discharge (HID) lights, such as metal halide or high-pressure sodium lamps, to regulate the current and voltage supplied to the bulb.
  • Bud: The flower of the cannabis plant, which is harvested, dried, and cured for consumption. Buds contain the highest concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes.
  • Bud Sites: Locations on a cannabis plant where flowers (buds) develop, typically found at the nodes where branches and leaves meet the stem.
  • Cannabinoids: Chemical compounds found in cannabis that interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system. The most well-known cannabinoids are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), but there are many others, including CBG, CBN, and THCV.
  • Cannabis Cultivation: The process of growing cannabis plants from seed to harvest, including germination, vegetative growth, flowering, and curing. This process can be performed indoors, outdoors, or in greenhouses.
  • Cannabis Flowering Stage: The phase in a cannabis plant's life cycle where it begins to produce flowers or buds, triggered by a reduction in light exposure for photoperiod strains.
  • Cannabis Genetics: The inherited characteristics of a cannabis plant, often referring to the strain’s lineage and the specific traits selected through breeding, such as potency, yield, and resistance to pests.
  • Cannabis Vegetative Stage: The phase in a cannabis plant's life cycle focused on leaf, stem, and root development before flowering. During this stage, plants require long light periods to maximize growth.
  • Cloning: A propagation technique in which a cutting from a mature cannabis plant is rooted to grow a genetically identical plant. Cloning preserves the desirable traits of the mother plant.
  • Colloidal Silver: A solution used to create feminized seeds by applying it to female plants, causing them to produce pollen.
  • Crossbreeding: The process of breeding two different cannabis strains to create a hybrid strain with characteristics from both parent plants.
  • Curing: The process of slowly drying and aging harvested cannabis to improve flavor, potency, and overall quality. Curing typically occurs in a cool, dark environment and can take several weeks.
  • Drying: The initial stage of post-harvest processing where freshly cut cannabis plants are hung or placed on racks to reduce moisture content before curing.
  • Endocannabinoid System: A complex cell-signaling system in the human body that interacts with cannabinoids to regulate various physiological processes, including mood, appetite, pain, and immune response.
  • F1 Generation: The first generation of offspring from a cross between two parent cannabis plants. F1 hybrids often exhibit hybrid vigor, showing enhanced growth and vigor compared to their parents.
  • F2 Generation: The second generation of offspring produced by crossing two F1 plants. F2 generations often show greater genetic variability and are used in breeding to stabilize traits.
  • Feminized Seeds: Cannabis seeds bred to produce only female plants, which are the ones that produce flowers rich in cannabinoids like THC and CBD.
  • Filial Generation (F1, F2, etc.): The sequence of generations produced in a breeding program, where F1 is the first generation, F2 is the second, and so on. These terms are used to describe the lineage and genetic development of a strain.
  • Flowering Time: The duration it takes for a cannabis plant to complete the flowering stage, from the start of bud development to harvest. Flowering time can vary depending on the strain and growing conditions.
  • Genetic Drift: The gradual changes in the genetic makeup of a cannabis strain over time, often due to selective breeding practices. Genetic drift can lead to variations in traits such as potency, flavor, and growth patterns.
  • Genotype: The genetic makeup of a cannabis plant, which determines its inherited traits, such as cannabinoid content, terpene profile, and growth characteristics.
  • Germination: The process of sprouting a cannabis seed, which marks the beginning of the plant’s life cycle. Germination requires moisture, warmth, and darkness.
  • Grow Medium: The material in which cannabis plants are grown. Common mediums include soil, coco coir, and hydroponic substrates like Rockwool. The choice of medium affects nutrient availability, root health, and plant growth.
  • Hemp: A variety of Cannabis sativa with low THC content (typically less than 0.3% THC by dry weight) and high CBD content. Hemp is cultivated for industrial uses such as fiber, seeds, and oil.
  • Hermaphrodite: A cannabis plant that develops both male and female reproductive organs. Hermaphrodites can occur naturally or due to stress, and they can pollinate female plants, leading to seeded buds.
  • High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) Lamp: A type of grow light commonly used during the flowering stage of cannabis cultivation. HPS lamps emit a red-orange spectrum of light, which is ideal for promoting bud development.
  • Hybrid: A cannabis plant created by crossing two different strains, often combining desirable traits from both indica and sativa varieties. Hybrids can be indica-dominant, sativa-dominant, or balanced.
  • Inbreeding (IBL): The process of breeding closely related cannabis plants, such as siblings or parent-offspring, to stabilize specific traits. Inbreeding can reduce genetic diversity but create more consistent offspring.
  • Inbred Line (IBL): A strain that has been stabilized through multiple generations of inbreeding, resulting in consistent traits across all offspring. IBL strains are prized for their reliability and predictability.
  • Landrace Strains: Indigenous cannabis strains that have naturally adapted to their environment over long periods. These pure strains often serve as the genetic foundation for modern hybrids.
  • Limonene: A terpene commonly found in cannabis with a citrusy aroma, known for its mood-enhancing and stress-relieving effects.
  • Low-Stress Training (LST): A technique used to shape cannabis plants by gently bending and tying down branches to promote horizontal growth and increase light exposure to bud sites.
  • Micronutrients: Essential nutrients required by cannabis plants in small quantities, including iron, manganese, zinc, copper, and molybdenum. Micronutrients play crucial roles in plant metabolism and overall health.
  • Mother Plant: A mature cannabis plant kept in the vegetative stage for the purpose of taking cuttings (clones). Mother plants are selected for their desirable traits and are used to produce genetically identical offspring.
  • N-P-K Ratio: The ratio of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in a fertilizer, which indicates the nutrient content. Different N-P-K ratios are used during the vegetative and flowering stages to optimize growth.
  • Nutrient Burn: A condition caused by overfeeding cannabis plants with nutrients, resulting in yellowing or browning of the leaf tips and edges. Nutrient burn can stunt growth and reduce yields.
  • Nutrient Deficiency: A condition where cannabis plants lack essential nutrients, leading to symptoms like yellowing leaves, slow growth, and poor bud development. Common deficiencies include nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium.
  • Phenotype: The observable physical and chemical characteristics of a cannabis plant, determined by both genetics and environmental factors. Phenotypes include traits such as plant height, leaf shape, aroma, and potency.
  • Pheno-Hunting: The process of growing multiple seeds from the same strain to identify and select the plants with the most desirable traits (phenotypes). This practice is common among breeders and cultivators.
  • Photosynthesis: The process by which cannabis plants convert light energy, water, and carbon dioxide into glucose (sugar) and oxygen, providing energy for growth and development.
  • Photoperiod Strains: Cannabis strains that require specific light cycles to transition from the vegetative stage to the flowering stage. Typically, photoperiod strains need 12 hours of darkness to initiate flowering.
  • pH Level: A measure of acidity or alkalinity in the grow medium or water. Cannabis plants generally thrive in a pH range of 5.5-6.5 for hydroponics and 6.0-7.0 for soil. Proper pH management is crucial for nutrient uptake and plant health.
  • Pistil: The female reproductive organ of the cannabis flower, consisting of a stigma (hair-like structure) and a style. Pistils collect pollen from male plants and are indicators of the plant's maturity.
  • Pollen: The male reproductive cells of cannabis plants, produced by the male flowers. Pollen is used to fertilize female plants, leading to seed production.
  • Pollination: The process by which male cannabis plants release pollen that fertilizes female plants, resulting in seed production. In controlled breeding, pollination is carefully managed to produce specific genetic outcomes. Unintentional pollination in a grow environment can lead to unwanted seeds in buds, reducing the overall quality of the harvest.
  • Pre-Flowering: The stage in a cannabis plant's life cycle where it begins to show the first signs of its sex—either male or female. Pre-flowering typically occurs a few weeks after the plant enters the vegetative stage and is an important time for determining the plant’s future growth and flowering.
  • Regular Seeds: Cannabis seeds that have a 50/50 chance of producing male or female plants. Regular seeds are often used by breeders who want to produce their own hybrids or preserve genetic diversity.
  • Resin: A sticky substance produced by trichomes on cannabis flowers and leaves, rich in cannabinoids and terpenes. Resin is the primary source of THC, CBD, and other active compounds in cannabis.
  • Reversal Process: A breeding technique used to produce feminized seeds by applying a chemical solution, such as colloidal silver, to a female plant to induce it to produce pollen. This pollen, when used to fertilize another female plant, results in seeds that are predominantly female.
  • Rhizosphere: The zone of soil and root interactions where microorganisms, nutrients, and plant roots interact. Healthy rhizospheres are crucial for nutrient uptake and overall plant health.
  • Ruderalis: A subspecies of cannabis known for its short stature and ability to flower automatically based on age rather than light cycles. Ruderalis genetics are often used in breeding to create autoflowering strains.
  • SCROG (Screen of Green): A training technique where a horizontal screen is placed above the cannabis plants, and branches are woven through the screen as they grow. This method helps to create an even canopy and maximize light exposure to all bud sites.
  • Sea of Green (SOG): A growing technique where many small cannabis plants are grown close together and quickly forced into the flowering stage. SOG is used to maximize yield in a small space by focusing on the production of many small buds rather than a few large ones.
  • S1 Seeds: The first generation of self-pollinated seeds from a feminized plant. These seeds are genetically identical to the parent plant and are often used to stabilize specific traits within a strain.
  • Sexing: The process of identifying the sex of a cannabis plant, typically during the pre-flowering stage. Male plants are often removed from the grow environment to prevent them from pollinating female plants.
  • Silica: A mineral additive used in cannabis cultivation to strengthen cell walls, improve resistance to pests and diseases, and increase overall plant vigor.
  • Stabilization: The process of breeding cannabis plants over multiple generations to achieve consistent and uniform traits in the offspring. Stabilized strains are highly valued for their reliability and are often used as the foundation for further breeding.
  • Stamen: The male reproductive organ of a cannabis plant, consisting of a filament and anther, which produces and releases pollen.
  • Stress Training: Techniques such as Low-Stress Training (LST) and High-Stress Training (HST) used to manipulate the growth of cannabis plants. These techniques can enhance yield, shape the plant structure, and improve light exposure.
  • Super Cropping: A High-Stress Training technique where branches are intentionally bent or damaged to promote stronger growth and higher yields. Super cropping can also help create a more even canopy in the grow space.
  • Synthetic Nutrients: Man-made chemical compounds used to provide essential nutrients to cannabis plants. Synthetic nutrients are often used in hydroponic systems and can deliver precise nutrient levels.
  • Terpenes: Aromatic compounds found in cannabis that contribute to the plant's scent and may influence its effects. Terpenes like myrcene, limonene, and pinene interact with cannabinoids to create the "entourage effect."
  • THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol): The primary psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis, responsible for the "high" associated with cannabis use. THC content is a key factor in the potency of cannabis strains.
  • Top-Dressing: The process of adding a layer of nutrients or amendments on top of the soil in a grow medium. Top-dressing is often used to provide slow-release nutrients to cannabis plants.
  • Topping: A pruning technique where the top of the main stem is cut off to encourage the plant to grow more side branches, resulting in a bushier plant with potentially more bud sites.
  • Trichomes: Tiny, glandular hairs on the surface of cannabis flowers and leaves that produce and store cannabinoids and terpenes. Trichomes give the plant its sticky texture and are the primary source of resin.
  • Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD): A measure of the difference between the amount of moisture in the air and the amount the air can hold at a given temperature. Maintaining the correct VPD is crucial for optimizing plant growth and preventing issues like mold or mildew.
  • Ventilation: The process of exchanging air in a grow space to regulate temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels. Proper ventilation is essential for maintaining a healthy growing environment and preventing issues like mold and pest infestations.
  • Vermiculite: A mineral used in soil mixes and as a growing medium in cannabis cultivation. Vermiculite improves water retention and aeration, helping to create an optimal environment for root growth.
  • Vegetative Stage: The phase in a cannabis plant's life cycle where it focuses on building leaves, stems, and roots before entering the flowering stage. During this stage, plants require long light periods (typically 18-24 hours) to maximize growth.
  • Watering Schedule: A planned routine for providing water to cannabis plants. The schedule varies depending on the stage of growth, the type of growing medium, and environmental conditions. Consistent and proper watering is crucial for healthy plant development.
  • Wet Trimming: A method of trimming cannabis buds immediately after harvest while they are still wet. This technique can make trimming easier and can help prevent mold, but it requires careful drying afterward.
  • Whiteflies: Small, sap-sucking insects that can infest cannabis plants, causing damage by feeding on plant juices and spreading diseases. Whiteflies are typically controlled through integrated pest management strategies, including natural predators and insecticidal soaps.
  • Worm Castings: Organic material produced by earthworms as they digest organic matter. Worm castings are rich in nutrients and beneficial microorganisms, making them an excellent natural fertilizer for cannabis plants.
  • Yield: The total amount of usable cannabis produced by a plant or grow operation, typically measured in grams or ounces per plant. Yield can be influenced by factors such as genetics, growing techniques, and environmental conditions.
  • Zinc Deficiency: A common nutrient deficiency in cannabis plants, often caused by improper pH levels or poor soil conditions. Symptoms include yellowing and distorted new growth, particularly in the youngest leaves.
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