Autopilot XXL is basically the autoflowering version of Big Bud XXL, by Ministry of Cannabis. It keeps the best of its illustrious parent but makes it even easier to grow.

Strength

Big Bud was (and is) known for its stupendous yields rather than its high THC content and Autopilot XXL is in the same vein. It has around 15% THC, which these days puts it firmly in the “medium” category and probably hits the spot nicely for quite a few people in that it’s enough to deal with everyday aches and pains and to get you moving and grooving again on days when you’d really prefer just to stay under the covers and not get out, but, at the same time, it stays within the sort of limits most people are going to find safe and comfortable, rather than strapping you to an ejector seat and sending you hurtling into the stratosphere. Autopilot XXL is still mainly an Indica, so you probably want to keep this strain for night time use.

Yield

It has to be said that Autopilot XXL does not match up to Big Bud when it comes to yields. You can expect up to 125 gr per plant indoors or up to 250 gr per plant outdoors. On the flip side, it doesn’t match up to Big Bud when it comes to height or maintenance either and this is still a pretty respectable output from an autoflowering strain.

Speed

Autopilot XXL takes 8 to 9 weeks to deliver its harvest. That’s certainly on the longer side for an autoflowering strain but fairly average for modern strains in general. The good news is that this time is put to use developing buds rather than stretching to the skies. Whereas Big Bud could easily reach 1.5M even indoors Autopilot XXL keeps its head down a bit, although it has to be acknowledged that it’s still on the taller side for an autoflowering strain. Like Big Bud, Autopilot XXL generally grows one main bud along with a lot of smaller side buds and may need a bit of support during the flowering period.

Taste

The taste of Autopilot XXL is everything you loved about Big Bud all over again. It has that classic mixture of earthiness and skunk together with floral overtones to add sweetness and counterbalance the solidity of the base.

Bag Appeal

Autopilot XXL looks good when harvested. It’s a pleasing mixture of dark green leaves, bright orange pistils and those frosty trichomes. It feels good too, nice and weighty. Even though it’s not a strain with a super-high resin content, like Northern Lights or White Widow, it still has plenty of trichomes so nugs have a decent level of hold rather than just crumbling as soon as you look at them. There’s plenty of skunk pungency and the odour has more of a herbal edge than a floral one, some people say pepper and others parsley.

Big Bud has been around for a long time and Autopilot XXL is essentially just a modern update of it. As an autoflowering strain, it’s a bit smaller than its predecessor and yields are therefore somewhat lower, but at the same time, it’s also rather quicker and easier to grow. It has enough THC to make an impact without getting anywhere close to the sort of “rocket fuel” levels seen in some of the modern strains (like Gorilla Bomb). In shot, Autopilot XXL is a good, all-rounder, which will please skunk lovers looking for a nice, easy grow with a decent harvest at the end of it.

CBD Star is an exciting new addition to the range of medically -balanced strains, which aim to provide moderate THC and high CBD for a combination of fast-acting and long-lasting relief from chronic pain and insomnia.

Strength

Even though CBD Star’s headline benefit is, of course, the CBD, it still has 12% THC. While this is on the low side by modern standards, it is quite enough to deliver noticeable pain relief for many conditions both physical and mental. With a 1:1 ratio of THC to CBD, CBD Star does indeed have one of the highest CBD levels out there and is therefore definitely a strain best kept for night-time use. In fact, CBD Star should probably go right to the top of your list of options if you’re looking for a strain to keep chronic pain at bay all night long so you can enjoy some decent sleep.

Yield

Yields are very respectable. Indoors you can expect 500-550g/m2 and outdoors you will be looking at 700g/plant. What’s more CBD Star is a nicely compact strain, which makes it a great choice if you have limited grow space.

Speed

CBD Star has an eight-week flowering period, which is about average for modern photoperiod strains. You can certainly get autoflowering varieties which finish more quickly, but you’ll almost certainly lose out on yield and you’ll be pushed to find many options which deliver the 1:1 ratio of THC to CBD. Outdoors, you’ll be looking to harvest in mid-/end-September, which means that growers in most of Europe have a fighting chance of beating the autumn frosts. If you’re not entirely sure you’ll get the weather you need right to the end of the flowering period, you could look to split the difference and grow under glass, just to give your precious plants a bit of extra protection from the elements

Taste

The taste of CBD Star is full of warmth, musk and mild spice, some people say incense. We think it would appeal to most people unless you’ve absolutely set your heart on a specific flavour such as diesel or fruit.

Bag Appeal

Speaking of appeal, CBD Star does look good when bagged up. You get lots of weighty green nugs, livened up with orange pistils and a decent sprinkling of trichomes. While it has to be acknowledged that the low level of THC means that this is a pretty frosting rather than the sort of eye-dazzling glitter you get from the likes of White Widow and Northern Lights, it still looks good. It also smells good with an odour somewhere between musk and incense.

CBD Star was developed to provide fast-acting and long-lasting relief from chronic pain and insomnia, so if you’re suffering from either or both of these conditions, then CBD Star is definitely worth considering for night-time use. Whether or not you can use CBD Star in the daytime basically depends on how much you need to focus during your day. If you need to do anything complex, particularly driving, then you probably want to give CBD Star a miss for the simple reason that it’s meant to have a long-lasting effect and it does, which is great when you have plenty of time to appreciate it but far from ideal when you need to clear your head quickly and get on with your life. In that situation, you might want to look at a strain with high THC and low CBD to control your pain in the daytime and keep CBD Star for use at night.

Many people just love fruit-flavoured strains and if you’re one of them then Mandarin Haze may be the perfect strain for you.

Strength

With 23%, THC Mandarin Haze is strong enough to deal with severe physical pain and more challenging emotional conditions. In fact if you’re new to marijuana, you may want to start with a lower THC strain just so you get a realistic idea of what THC levels mean in practice (taking into account the fact that everybody’s different). Alternatively, if you’ve set your heart on the delicious taste and happy, energetic high of Mandarin Haze, go very gently with the dose until you’re clear about how you, personally, respond to it.

If you’ve already tried Sativas then you might find it useful to know that Mandarin Haze is about 15% Indica and while that might not sound like much, it’s enough to give a stable anchor to the high and ensure that you come back to earth in a gentle glide rather than with a harsh bump.

Yield

Looked at in terms of headline figures, Mandarin Haze offers good yields with indoor growers looking at 550-600 gr/m2 and outdoor growers looking at 750gr/plant. In the real world, however, you need to remember that Mandarin Haze is a Haze, meaning it is a Sativa dominant, meaning it likes to stretch.

In other words, there are plenty of compact Indicas available, which will yield almost as much bud in much less space, hence, frankly, the harvest is far less impressive than it initially sounds. On the other hand, while there are plenty of gorgeously fruity Indicas out there (Tangerine Dream springs to mind), even these days, you’d be hard pressed to find any Indica with this kind of THC level.

Speed

Taking 10 weeks to flower, Mandarin Haze is never going to win any awards for speed, although the touch of Indica genetics does help to bring the flowering time down a fraction.

Outdoors, you can expect to harvest around end-September to mid-October, which means that really it’s only suitable for true outdoor growing in the very sunniest parts of Europe. Depending on where you live, you may be able to work around this, at least to some extent, by growing under glass so you can take advantage of natural light and heat as much as possible, but back it up with electric lights as days get shorter.

If you do want to go down this route, then you’ll have to think about managing light cycles the way indoor growers do.

Taste

The clue is in the name. Mandarin Haze is fruity sweet, citrus fresh and clearly a Haze.

Bag Appeal

To be perfectly honest, Mandarin Haze doesn’t look like much in the bag. For a strain with Mandarin in the name and a pretty high level of THC, there’s isn’t much to see in the way of orange pistils or frosty trichomes. On the other hand, there is a simply mouth-watering tangy/sweet odour of mandarins, which wafts out clearly even before you’ve started breaking up the chunky nugs.

The Haze family have always divided opinion. Some people absolutely love them, others think they’re just more hassle than they’re worth. If you’re one of the former than Mandarin Haze should definitely be high on your list of strains to try. If you’re still making up your mind, then we won’t pretend that Mandarin Haze is the easiest strain in the world to grow and frankly beginners should probably give it a miss and wait until they’ve confident growing photoperiod Indicas, but if you’re up for a challenge, then Mandarin Haze could be a very rewarding strain to try.

Strength

With a THC level that reliably falls between 19-22%, White LSD will provide the kind of nitro-boost high that takes away any mystery on how it earned its name. Its 70% sativa and 30% indica genetic makeup ensures a highly cerebral yet relaxing experience, which has understandably found it with some very committed fans.
As White LSD is smoked the effects come rushing on mere minutes after inhaling, hitting you hard with an infusion of energy and blissful euphoria. This stimulating effect can increase your focus and assist in creativity, making an overall sensation that is lively and uplifting.

The strength behind the strain is astounding, boldly fuelling these effects and even adding a palpably psychedelic element to the mix. White LSD is in no hurry to leave either, boasting a long-lasting effect that is slow and gradual on the comedown too. These qualities make it ideal for social occasions accompanied by music and a good environment, though its strength means beginners may wish to be careful about the quantities they consume. It also means any tasks more demanding of your willpower may not be completed, so it’s certainly worth ensuring you have the coming hours free of any commitments before enjoying the strain.

This strength, of course, comes with certain other useful applications, often helping ease a range of medical problems. These can include migraines, depression, nausea, stress and chronic fatigue, providing relief from these ailments as well as others. White LSD should be enjoyed in moderation even when consumed for medicinal purposes, however, as its strength can means the strain’s useful sedating effects soon become overwhelming.

Yield

White LSD is not the easiest of strains to cultivate and is quite a large plant to handle, but attention and care will see it produce some top quality bud while its size means it can yield generously. A good harvest will see you net 500-650g of bud per m2.

Speed

While it is suitable for both indoor and outdoor growth, the large sativa size of the White LSD plant means certain considerations will need to be made. Kept indoors it will reach 180-220cm tall, meaning it should fit most properties. Outdoors, however, the plant has been known to exceed a gargantuan 3.5m in height.

If you do decide to grow indoors the plant will require plenty of light to reach its size potential, needing approximately 800 watts per square metre. White LSD will also need you to monitor its pH levels, ensuring the soil or hydroponic system used keeps below 6.5. Taking the effort to do so, however, will see the plant shoot from seed to flower in only 9-12 weeks.

The tall height the plant can reach means discretion could be an issue with many growers, but those who do will see this towering beauty provide all the more rich bud. To achieve this, however, you will need to provide the plant with more nutrients than your average strain, lots of space, and the type of climate that ensures plenty of sunshine consistently. If these conditions are met you can expect a generous outdoor harvest in mid-October

Taste

The strain is best known for its trippy high, but those with a delicate palette may find pleasure in the layers of flavour that White LSD packs. The primary notes are pine and lemony citrus, giving the strain a fragrant and bright taste profile. Beneath this, however, are delicate yet delectable hints of eucalyptus and honey to offer a curious and satisfying flavour.

Bag Appeal

Matching its appearance to its psychedelic name and effects, White LSD mixes the bright green colouring of its bud with the rich red pistils that litter them. These striking shades are then set beneath the crystalline glitter of a heavy trichome dusting that covers the fluffy round nugs.

Somewhat similar but largely different from the taste, the scent of the bud retains its fragrant woodiness but replaces the citrus notes with an earthy musk that is rather herbal and skunky in parts. The strength of the scent gives clues to the potency of the smoke within, but also makes for a rather fragrant growing experience that will require good ventilation and heavy filter usage if cultivated indoors.

While perhaps a bit too strong for the less experienced out there, White LSD rewards those with a sufficiently strong constitution by offering one of the most psychedelic, uplifting and rewarding smoking experiences out there. It may be somewhat rare, it may not be the easiest plant to grow, but those who push past these obstacles will find a strain that is worth every bit of effort it demands.

Some strains boast huge yields, some the most delectable flavours, some a mind-warpingly high THC content. Having such options is one of the many benefits of there being a diverse range of strains out there for our enjoyment. Yet not all strains are super-specialised specimens, focusing their energies in certain areas at the expense of others. Some strains feel comfortable without such flash and glamour, instead giving enough of everything to be appreciated as a reliable and effective smoke in just about any situation.

Auto Sweet Tooth by 420 Seeds is one such strain. The result of crossing the original Sweet Tooth with a ruderalis to give it autoflowering properties, Auto Sweet Tooth has its roots in a mixture of Afghani, Nepali and Hawaiian strains. Better yet, the addition of a ruderalis into the mix hardly seems to have dented the original strain’s impact, keeping all that made Sweet Tooth great and making it even more cultivation-friendly.

Strength

Being the result of such fine genetics, the original Sweet Tooth was lauded for its quality hybrid effects. Auto Sweet Tooth is not much different, with its manageable 16% THC level fuelling a balanced and eminently pleasant experience. The swift onset of the strain’s effects become known first through an uplifting high that is potent without being unsettling. Some even report transient periods of creativity, especially in these initial moments.

The real fun begins after this, however, as the bodily stone that ensues is one of the finest to be experienced. Some unfamiliar with the strain will find it rather intense, but once the initial shock has been ridden out it becomes clear that these physical effects are simply blissful. This gives the strain a lot of capital amongst real indica lovers, whose refined tastes have identified Auto Sweet Tooth as one to look out for.

That these effects can be kept away from being overbearing may be due to the high CBD content of the strain, smoothing out the rough edges to ensure your comfort when smoking. This easy ride also makes it ideal for medical use, assisting in the treatment of stress, insomnia, nausea and headaches with ease.

Yield

Ridding any lingering doubts about the effectiveness of an autoflower in providing good size yields, Auto Sweet Tooth will perform adequately even when compared to many non-autoflowering varieties.

The strain has been known to vary its harvest heavily on the basis of whether certain growing conditions are met. An average yield on a plant is 50g, but if a good growing environment is maintained then yields can be as large as 100-200g per plant. Where you grow it too can have a big impact, with indoors growers netting 600g per m2 and outdoor growers receiving 200g per seed.

Speed

One of Auto Sweet Tooth’s main selling points is its simple and quick growth, presenting no problems even for inexperienced growers and taking only nine weeks to flower. Indeed, this may even be the ideal strain for an individual’s first growing project; its pest and disease-resistant genetics removing much of the worry while its squat up-to-80cm stature makes it small and manageable.

Indoor growing will be a breeze thanks to its autoflowering genetics, thriving under any grow lights provided. Even simply planting the seeds and leaving Auto Sweet Tooth to its own devices may see you with a modest harvest after some weeks (although we do not recommend this for an optimal crop!). Using strong LED or HID lights can make the plant quite top-heavy, so it may need a bamboo stick or similar support to keep it all vertical. If left unchecked the plant may also expand to a metre tall, meaning those with limited growing space will benefit from training the plant with LST or HST.

The outdoors is also a fine place to grow Auto Sweet Tooth as long as there is enough warmth and sunshine provided. Those pest resistant genetics will come in handy whilst its small height makes it great for stealth grow operations. Whether grown indoors or out, however, Auto Sweet Tooth will cause you few problems and will make you wait only 65-75 days for your harvest.

Taste

The original Sweet Tooth was lauded for its fantastic flavour, and it is a pleasure to find that none of this has been lost in the strain’s new autoflowering iteration. As the name suggests, a rich fruity sweetness forms the basis of its taste, giving notes of mango and peach in abundance. Along with this there are elements of earthiness, citrus and pine that enrich the flavoursome profile on offer here.

Bag Appeal

Much like the taste, the scent of this saccharine wonder is as sugary as it is fruity. These delectable notes must be brought out by properly curing the buds, however, and any who have compared pre-cured and post-cured Auto Sweet Tooth cannot fail to notice the difference. It is this rich potent scent that many identify with the strain and its non-autoflowering kin, marking its pleasant qualities before it has even left the bag.