15 Easiest Cannabis Strains to Grow (For Beginners)

Cannabis plants are reputed to be quite fussy and demanding in their requirements. While that may be true in some cases – and perhaps daunting for novice growers – it’s certainly not the full story.

So here is our beginner's guide to weed strains. A selection of easy-going strains any beginner should be comfortable getting started with, and which are far from picky in their horticultural prerequisites.

Quick jump to the Top 15 easiest strains to grow for beginners 

What makes a strain easy to grow?

In plant cultivation, as in many other fields, it’s the divas and thoroughbreds that make life difficult. So this collection will exclusively highlight beginner-friendly strains known to be easier to cultivate.

As with all plant species, different varieties have different requirements, especially as regards temperature, humidity, light, and nutrients. Beyond this, some strains may be particularly susceptible to certain pests or diseases.

Your plants will still need careful nurturing, but the listed strains will generally be more hardy and tolerant. Beginners should find these varieties better able to resist insects, mold, and plant diseases.

In particular, that means your cannabis plants will flourish in a wider range of environments and growing conditions, yield stronger, and be more forgiving into the bargain.

Autoflower

Autoflowering cannabis plants are day-neutral strains that don’t quite play by the same growth rules as most plants. In essence, that means their transition from a growth phase to a flowering phase is governed by the age of the plant.

So the proportion of light they actually receive is not the critical factor that triggers productive flowering.

In a nutshell, an autoflower variety won’t have specific light demands and thus potentially offers growers a faster life cycle. Many plants can thus be harvested some 8-12 weeks from the moment the seeds germinate.

Feminized

Simply put, the advantage of feminized seeds is that (for biological reasons) they always produce predictable (female) plant outcomes. By contrast, male seeds may well produce more erratic results.

For the novice grower, feminized seeds make plant cultivation much easier because it is possible to plan and anticipate matters such as the required growing space, and better manage plant husbandry considerations such as plant feeding and insecticides.

1. Northern Lights Auto

Northern Lights autoflower feminized seeds grow quickly and easily indoors or outdoors. This high-yielding strain matures in 11-13 weeks and is moderately resistant to fungus. It grows tall, up to 120 cm indoors and 170 cm outdoors.

Yields are highest outdoors. The aroma is sweet and spicy with faint citrus notes. The flavor is typical mild Skunk with lemon and pine accents. The effect is relaxed and sleepy.

2. Blue Dream Auto

Blue Dream autoflowering seeds produce beautiful purple and indigo hues. With proper lighting and nutrients, Blue Dream grows well indoors using SOG or SCROG techniques.

The bushy plants stay short, around 50-75 cm indoors and 75-125 cm outdoors. Dense buds form over 6-8 weeks flowering, yielding high-quality weed in 2-3 months.

Blue Dream smells strongly of blueberry with sweet undertones and hints of pine. The effects are very relaxing, happy, and euphoric. It's used for intense calm and stress relief.

3. Gorilla Glue Auto

Gorilla Glue autoflowers grow fast indoors or outdoors in warm climates. Plants reach 60-100 cm tall and yield up to 200g per plant in 2 months. The strain has very high 26% THC content.

Aromas are pungent, woody, and piney with traces of sandalwood. Flavors reflect woody, petrol, and pine notes, sometimes with spicy chocolate or chemical sweetness.

The uplifting effects are strongly social, good for relaxing with friends.

4. Green Crack

Green Crack grows vigorously indoors and outdoors. It has a light green color and Christmas tree shape, reaching 2m indoors and 3.5m outside. Flowering finishes in 2 months with a very pungent aroma.

The aroma and taste are intensely fruity with hints of mango, pineapple, and tropical woods. It causes minimal dry mouth side effects.

The potent cerebral high is euphoric, motivating, and anxiety-relieving without hindering function. It's used medically for pain relief.

5. Blue Cheese Auto

Blue Cheese autoflowers are easy to grow indoors or outdoors. They start flowering in 21-28 days and are ready to harvest in 13-14 weeks. Minimal care produces decent yields of 16% THC weed. Indoor height is 40-47 cm, outdoor is 60-110 cm.

The dominant aroma and aftertaste is blue cheese with fruity sweet berry notes. The potent effects are relaxing and uplifting for unwinding after stress. It causes minimal dry mouth side effects.

6. AK-47

AK-47 is a premier cannabis strain easy for novices to grow. It thrives outdoors thanks to mold resistance and does well indoors with adequate ventilation. Outdoor height reaches 130-170cm, indoor is 80-140cm.

The Sativa-dominant strain flowers in 7-9 weeks.

The smell is somewhat dank and acidic with spicy, floral, and fruity notes, occasionally licorice. The stimulating, prolonged high warrants caution for beginners.

Medicinal uses include treating anxiety, depression, and muscle spasms.

7. OG Kush

OG Kush feminized seeds grow well indoors and outdoors. The indoor/greenhouse environment and hydroponics increase yields.

Outdoors, watch for mildew and mites. Indoor height reaches 160cm, outdoor 200cm. The 56-63 day flowering produces lots of lime green buds.

OG Kush has a strong earthy, pine aroma with lemon and pine oil notes and a lingering petroleum aftertaste. The high blends Sativa animation and Indica relaxation subtly.

8. Girl Scout Cookies Auto

Girl Scout Cookies auto is an easy, popular strain good for beginners. Grows indoors, outdoors, or in a greenhouse. Indoors, gets 100-130 cm tall. Outdoors can reach 130-190 cm.

Flowers in 63-70 days with orange and purple-pink colors. Yields up to 400g/m2 indoors, 600g/m2 outdoors.

Smells dank - chocolate, brown sugar, earthy, hint of mint. Provides relief from chronic pain, inflammation, anxiety, depression, nausea, and appetite loss.

9. Super Skunk Auto

Super Skunk is a popular, sun-loving strain suitable for novice growers. Can be grown indoors, in a greenhouse, or outdoors. Outdoors yields best.

Grows relatively short - max 110 cm indoors, 130 cm outdoors. Flowering time is 56-70 days. Total growth cycle about 3 months.

Can produce 2 outdoor harvests per year in ideal conditions. Up to 4 indoors optimally.

Produces dense, aromatic buds. Smells and tastes sweet and citrusy - tangerine, lemon. Provides a powerful cerebral head high that relaxes the whole body.

10. White Widow Auto

White Widow auto relieves pain. Good for beginners and advanced. Grows indoors, outdoors, greenhouse. Indoors gets 70-120cm tall, outdoors 100-180cm. Use coconut soil, small frequent waterings. Organic fertilizers recommended.

Fast flowering - 14-28 days after germination. 3 month cycle. 2 outdoor harvests or 4 indoors per year possible.

Sweet, sour, earthy, pine/citrus flavors. Provides prolonged relaxation.

11. Bubba Kush

Bubba Kush is an 80% Indica dominant hybrid. Indoor cycle is 16-18 weeks with feminized seeds. Provides relaxing effects.

Grows well indoors and outdoors. Short, bushy plants with dense foliage turn deep green and purple. Prune leaves to improve bud development.

Indoors reaches ~1m tall. Outdoors up to 180cm.

Earthy, petroleum aroma with citrus, cinnamon, coffee notes. Ultra calming high leading to extended sleepiness.

12. Critical Purple Auto

Critical Purple is a cross strain good for beginners. Grows indoors, outdoors, greenhouse. Outdoors reaches 120cm tall, indoor yield 300g/m2, outdoor 350g/m2. Hydroponics recommended indoors. Autoflowering.

Has a floral, sweet aroma like summer roses. Provides an ultra-relaxing, long-lasting high.

Also known to relieve chronic pain, nausea, anxiety, stress, headaches, and migraines.

13. Sour Diesel

Sour Diesel is a classic sativa-dominant strain good for beginners. Grows well indoors, outdoors, greenhouse. Gets 160cm+ indoor, 300cm outdoor. Needs a clean environment to avoid mildew.

Has a petro-diesel aroma with lemon and herbal notes. Taste is mildly spicy and earthy. Provides a strong, euphoric sativa high lasting around 5 hours that increases sociability.

14. Zkittlez Auto

Zkittlez Auto is a popular, high yielding strain good for beginner growers. Grows well indoors, outdoors, greenhouse. Fast growth cycle. Responds to training for higher yields. Needs ample water and nutrients.

Has sweet candy, berry, citrus, and chocolate aromas when mature. Provides an intense, euphoric high and relaxation lasting hours.

Relieves stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain symptoms.

15. Tangie

Tangie is a sativa-dominant strain that delivers an energetic high. Good for beginners with potential for high yields. Best grown outdoors in a warm Mediterranean climate.

Dislikes cold. Indoor growing requires plant training techniques. Prefers nutrient-rich soil to maximize orange aromas.

Has a strong orange and bittersweet citrus aroma with musky undertones. Provides a euphoric, clear-headed high. Medically used for anxiety, stress, pain relief and insomnia.