Best Cannabis Strains for Newbies

Choosing the right strain can make all the difference in your growing experience if you're a first-time grower. The best strains for beginners are not only easy to cultivate but also offer robust yields and enjoyable effects. 

In this guide, we'll explore some of the best beginner-friendly cannabis strains that are perfect for new growers. Each strain has its own unique characteristics, and we'll break down what makes each one special and easy to grow. 

Whether you're interested in Sativa, Indica, Hybrids, CBD-dominant strains, or autoflowers, we've got you covered. So, let’s dive into the best cannabis strains for new growers, so you can kickstart your growing journey the right way! 

Best Cannabis Strains for Beginners 

Let’s dive right in and explore some of the best strains you can grow as a first-time cultivator. 

We've carefully selected a diverse range of strains, including Sativa, Indica, Hybrid, CBD-dominant, and autoflowering varieties. This selection ensures that no matter your preference or growing conditions, you'll find a strain that's easy to manage and rewarding to cultivate. 

1. White Runtz — A Balanced Hybrid 

White Runtz is a one-of-a-kind cannabis strain, with its lineage from Zkittlez and Gelato, offering excellent effects and flavors. More than that, though, the strain is known for its exclusivity. It’s highly sought after but hard to find. Protip: look at “Cookies” growers in California. 

As mentioned, this hybrid strain is pretty easy to grow both indoors and outdoors, but it does fare well in cooler environments. So, if you live in a warm region, growing it indoors is the better option. 

This cannabis strain usually matures in 8-9 weeks, but you should also monitor its humidity levels. It is sometimes prone to issues like mold. Here, training the plant or giving it a light trim works wonders. 

Apart from its beginner-friendly growing nature, it is also inviting for new cannabis users. Yes, it does boast a high THC rating, but the high is still mellow and you’ll enjoy its relaxing and euphoric high. It also induces creativity, so you can enjoy your hobbies too. 

Apart from that, White Runtz is also known for its medicinal properties. Since it is stress-relieving, you can use it to find relief from anxiety, pain, and stress. Additionally, users also claim that it relieves muscle cramps, back pain, menstrual issues, arthritis, and spasms. 

As for its flavor, the large spade-shaped flowers boast a deep green color with frosty trichomes. The flavor is sweet creamish and fruity with hints of diesel. You’ll enjoy it. 

2. Royal Dwarf — A Punchy Autoflower

Unlike White Runtz, Royal Dwarf is not exclusive and hard to find. It’s a pretty common cannabis strain that was engineered to be easy to grow while packing a punchy high. It’s a cross of Skunk with an unknown Ruderalis, so you know what to expect. 

The strain is pretty easy to grow and is suitable for growers who are limited in space. It only grows up to a meter high and the canopy is compact, so you can be discreet or grow it indoors with ease. 

Since this one is an autoflowering strain, you don’t have to worry too much about lighting either. A basic grow light setup is all you need; the plant will take care of the rest. Within seven weeks, you can expect the harvest.

As mentioned, Royal Dwarf is indeed royal in its effects. With a relatively high THC content, the high is pretty strong. It starts as a cerebral high with euphoric hints and a touch of creativity. Soon, this translated into a body high, which is known to produce tingles and arousal. That’s not where it ends, though; this then translates to a heavy high that winds you down. 

As for its medicinal properties, Royal Dward is a great mood-lifter. It can possibly reduce depression and stress, and can also help you sleep well, not to mention that it can help with headaches, muscle spasms, and pain. 

But, being a compact autoflowering strain, don’t expect the nugs to be massive. The flowers are small, with purple undertones and lush white trichomes. The aroma is a bit skunky with a hint of honey and the flavor is a lasting sweet diesel. 

3. White Widow — The Snow White Girl

White Widow stands out as a cannabis strain globally known for its balanced effects and ease of growth. Originally developed in the Netherlands by Green House Seeds in the 1990s, White Widow is a strain comprising about 60% Indica and 40% Sativa genetics. It was created by crossing a Brazilian Sativa landrace with a South Indian Indica resulting in a potent plant. The name "White Widow" originates from the strain’s buds covered in white crystal trichomes giving it a beautiful, frosty appearance.

Famous for its effects catering to both medicinal and recreational users, you can enjoy White Widow any time. When you take that first puff, you're greeted with a tingling euphoric boost that enhances your mood and energy levels significantly. Now is the time to go handle that tough project you've been staving off for weeks. 

But then, after a while, the Indica aspect starts to kick in and you'll feel a warm relaxing embrace spreading through your body. Let your stress and anxiety melt away slowly. At this point, you may feel hungry as White Widow is known to increase appetite. Make sure you drink lots of water. 

Many people also use White Widow to ease minor pains and muscle spasms but take this with a grain of salt as we don't have many studies on specific strains. However, with THC levels typically falling between 18% and 25%, expect a nice high that wears off slowly, making you want more.

Finally, White Widow is easy to grow as she's not a fussy strain. She does well in both indoor and outdoor environments although she does prefer a Mediterranean climate to thrive. 

Make sure you provide ample light with an 18/6 light cycle during the vegetative stage and switch to 12/12 during flowering. Keep the temps constant between 70-80°F (21-27°C) during the day but reduce it by a few degrees during the night. You can reduce it further during the last few weeks of flowering to pump up those trichomes she's so famous for. 

White Widow typically flowers in 8-9 weeks and you just have to provide what she wants while she produces oodles of resin. Naturally, she's a perfect candidate to turn into concentrates. And, don't waste the sugar leaves! Use them to make extracts as they have a heavy sprinkling of trichomes as well.

4. Northern Lights — An Award-Winning Indica 

Who doesn’t know Northern Lights? It is one of the most popular cannabis strains out there and was once known as CI #5 F1. As an award-winning Indica-dominant cannabis strain that growers and users cherish, Northern Lights is also pretty common in dispensaries! 

Despite being so popular, its genetic ancestry is still a mystery. No one knows where it comes from, but the most widely accepted theory is that it is a cross of landraces Thai and Afghani. It was perfected in Holland before making its way to the States. 

It is also fairly easy to grow for new growers. It flowers in 6 to 8 weeks and usually produces a decent yield of around 500 grams/m2 and about 600 grams/plant outdoors. You can expect the same in a greenhouse setup. 

Remember, Northern Lights is all about quality, so don’t worry if the yield is not groundbreaking. It’s a staple strain that produces consistent and reliable results. And considering it’s so easy to grow, there’s no reason why you should skip this one. 

This strain produces a powerful body high, which is bound to make you feel lazy and couch-locked. Also, keep some snacks handy because it often produces munchies, too, even if you only smoke a little bit. 

Other than that, the high is happy and euphoric, and you may even feel more creative or focused after smoking this. But be wary of some negative side effects like dizziness, anxiety, and paranoia — don’t overuse it. 

Considering it is so sedative, you should stick to smoking it in the evening or when you want to fall asleep. It’s also a great stress, anxiety, and pain reliever. Just don’t smoke it before you want to work; it won’t go well. 

As for its flavor and aroma, the dense flowers produce a sweet citrusy, and piney aroma with a hint of skunk. The flavor is spicy and earthy. 

5. Green Crack — The Mango Wonder

Originally known as "Cush " Green Crack is a Sativa hybrid known for its revitalizing effects and ease of growth. The strain is cherished for its mango-flavored buds that make you feel like you’re chewing on fruity gum. Of course, the citrus aroma is a wonderful combination as well. 

Coming to the effects, it starts with bursts of energy. Thanks to its Sativa dominance, Green Crack induces a powerful cerebral high that enhances your mood. Use it at any point during the day as you won't feel drowsy at all. They say money can't buy happiness, but you can certainly do that by purchasing a few Green Crack seeds or clones or even buds from a dispensary. Many users say that it makes them more driven to complete tasks with razor-sharp focus. It's no wonder that even artists like Snoop Dogg are in love with this wonder. 

As one of the most perfect strains for beginners, you can grow Green Crack anywhere, whether you have some space outdoors in a backyard, balcony, or in a greenhouse. She performs well even indoors as long as you provide lots of light and nutrients. The strain will absolutely love it if you live in a warm climate with abundant sunlight, but if you don't, you can simply recreate that indoors with grow lights.

One thing you need to keep in mind is that Green Crack hates getting her feet wet, so be cautious while watering as you don't want to encourage bud rot or other root issues. Make sure you let the top layer of soil dry out between waterings to avoid overwatering. 

Green Crack typically flowers within 7-9 weeks. In ideal conditions indoors, she can produce anywhere from 500-550 grams/m2 whereas you can expect at least 600 grams per plant outdoors if you can train the plant. 

6. Durban Poison — A Pure Sativa Landrace 

Let’s take a look at a strain that’s totally unlike Northern Lights, and that’s Durban Poison. This strain is a pure Sativa landrace, originating from South Africa, and it’s known for its powerful psychoactive high. 

It has an interesting history, too. Cannabis has been grown in Africa since the fourteenth century, and when Dutch colonizers made their way to the content, cannabis was pretty common in South Africa. There, it was known as dagga among the Bantu, San, and Khoikhoi communities. 

Ed Rosenthal, an American Breeder, started selectively breeding South African cannabis in the late 70s. He then transferred some plants to another breeder, Mel Frank, who further developed the genetics to improve flowering time and resin production. 

Frank then passed his B line of plants to Sam the Skunkman, an Amsterdam breeder, who then worked on reducing the flowering time. Thus, Durban Poison was born as we know it today. 

Since it is Landrace in origin, this strain is very resilient and hardy, making it easy for beginners to grow in a variety of conditions. And it’s a tall plant, often reaching heights of three meters in warm and semi-humid environments! 

So, if you’re growing it indoors or want to be discreet, you will have to train the plant with LST and pruning — start as early as you can in the vegging stage. Within nine weeks, the plant will start maturing, and you can expect harvest by late September. 

Expect a high yield from this strain; even the flowers tend to be medium to large and are often dense with a tapered shape. The trichome-covered buds are sticky and produce a dank aroma with undernotes of licorice. The thick smoke has a pine sap flavor. 

Once you smoke it, you’ll get a clear and focused high with a quick onset, which will heighten your sights and sounds. It’s a great strain if you want to indulge in some social shenanigans, produce some hard, or just work. 

Adding cherry to the top is that the strain can help with depression, PTSD, and ADD. However, don’t smoke too much of it as it can sometimes produce paranoia and anxiety, too.

7. Cannatonic — The CBD Champion

Cannatonic is known for its balanced mix of cannabinoids and therapeutic properties. It's a blend of MK Ultra and G13 Haze, so you can imagine how it performs. What sets Cannatonic apart is its high CBD and low THC levels typically maintaining a CBD to THC ratio of 1:1 or higher. This makes it an ideal choice for individuals seeking benefits without the psychoactive effects often associated with high-THC strains.

Cannatonic is renowned for its effects that appeal to medical cannabis users as it offers a mild soothing experience that promotes relaxation without inducing significant intoxication or euphoria. Therefore, it’s suitable for daytime consumption. Thanks to its rich CBD content, Cannatonic may also help in managing symptoms of conditions related to pain and inflammation. 

Another effect Cannatonic is famous for is that it can perhaps help with reducing anxiety and stress, helping users feel more relaxed and focused. Most importantly, despite offering little to no psychoactive effects, Cannatonic can still make you feel good by uplifting your mood and alleviating symptoms related to depression. 

It’s relatively straightforward to grow Cannatonic and it becomes easier if you have experience growing cannabis. 

Cannatonic performs best outdoors but will also do well if you provide intense lights indoors. Although this strain isn't too picky about nutrients, it thrives with a fixed routine. During the vegetative stage, focus on nitrogen levels before transitioning to higher phosphorus and potassium levels during flowering. In short, grow it just like you'd grow high-THC strains. 

Cannatonic flowers within 9-10 weeks and produces at least 400 grams/m2 indoors and 500 grams/plant outdoors in optimal conditions. Its high CBD content, gentle effects, and therapeutic properties make it a favored option for cannabis users and individuals looking for quick relief without psychoactive effects. Its ease of growth and balanced cannabinoid profile have made it a popular choice among both newbies and seasoned growers.

8. ACDC — Uplifting CBD Strain 

What if you want to grow a strain that doesn’t get you stoned but brings the medicinal benefits associated with cannabis? In that case, you should pick an easy-to-grow CBD-dominant strain, and our recommendation here is ACDC. 

This cannabis strain has a super low THC content of around 1 to 5% but its CBD content is around 20% — it’s an excellent medicinal cannabis strain. It’s a cross between Cannatonic and Ruderalis, so it’s also a pretty balanced hybrid. 

Also, it has earned various Cannabis Cup awards, too! 

When growing ACDC, you can expect a bushy cannabis plant with thin leaves, and it reaches over a meter tall usually. However, it does produce large colas with a hint of purple. 

Generally, the strain flowers for up to ten weeks, but it can flower a bit longer if the weather is cool. And despite being a beginner-friendly cannabis strain, it does need some maintenance and branch support. You should also supplement it with minerals like calcium and magnesium for the best results. 

As mentioned earlier, the strain is not at all rich in THC, so don’t expect a typical cannabis high. It’s more of a medicinal plant and can help alleviate symptoms of cancer, alcoholism, epilepsy, and severe pain. However, you should note that there’s little scientific evidence backing these claims. We need more studies on the effects of CBD. It can also work for depression and anxiety as it produces a happy and relaxed sensation. 

In short, it’s a great strain to just enjoy smoking. It boasts an earthy and sweet aroma with fruity undertones. You’ll also get some lemongrass and cherry notes when you smoke it. It’s also a great strain to make edibles with as the effects are subtle. 

9. Pineapple Express — The Celebrity

Pineapple Express was extremely famous, and the movie just catapulted its popularity. It's absolutely delicious and smells like…well, what James Franco says. 

As a blend of the Trainwreck and Hawaiian strains offering a mix of fruity flavors and uplifting calming effects, this strain is a favorite of many.  Its tropical scent and smooth smoke are the icing on the cake as it has some amazing effects already. 

The Sativa-dominant nature of Pineapple Express delivers a fast-acting boost in mood and energy making it great for daytime use and social engagements.

Many individuals experience increased creativity and concentration with this strain, which can be advantageous if you're working on important projects, solving puzzles as a hobby, or doing anything that requires you to stay attentive. In addition, this strain is effective in easing stress and anxiety due to its mood-enhancing properties and you'll end up feeling relaxed like you would after a nice meditation session. 

Pineapple Express is one of the easiest strains to grow and does well in well-draining soil rich in nutrients. The flowering period needs about 8-9 weeks. In terms of yield, it produces anywhere from 550-600 grams/m2 indoors and at least 600 grams/plant outdoors. 

10. Blue Dream — Stuff of Dreams

Blue Dream is a cannabis strain celebrated for its balanced effects and adaptable growth traits. Originating in California, Blue Dream is the offspring of the Sativa-dominant Blueberry and the Indica-dominant Haze varieties. This genetic mix produces a strain that combines the energizing and cerebral qualities of Sativa with the pain-relieving properties of Indica. Recognizable by its buds covered in trichomes and its sweet berry scent, with earthy and spicy undertones, Blue Dream is renowned for its effects making it a top pick among individuals seeking both enjoyment and medicinal benefits. 

The Sativa qualities of Blue Dream kickstart a wave of happiness and vitality fostering a positive mindset and boosting creativity. It's a wonderful companion for daytime activities. With time, the Indica components come into play, inducing a gentle physical relaxation that eases stress and tightness without any drowsiness.

Blue Dream is effective in handling some medicinal issues like pain. Needless to say, its balanced effects make it suitable for addressing discomfort during both day and night.

In addition, this robust strain is pretty easy to grow. Every beginner should try it once at least. Blue Dream typically flowers for 9 to 10 weeks but you should monitor the trichomes on the buds to determine the perfect time for harvest. Harvesting is ideal when the trichomes appear milky with some turning amber.

Coming to the yield, Blue Dream can yield around 650 grams/m2 indoors and at least 600 grams/plant outdoors. 

11. Quick One — An Easy Autoflower

Alright, we’ll add one more autoflower to the list — only because they are so easy to grow. This strain comes from Lowryder, which was the first-ever autoflowering strain. Hence, it also has some Ruderalis characteristics. But there’s more to its genetics than just this. 

The strain was created using Lowryder #2 by the Joint Doctor, and Lowryder #2’s genetics contained Northern Lights, a Mexican Ruderalis, and Williams Wonder. Hence, Quick One is a unique hybrid that contains 60% Indica, 30% Ruderalis, and 10% Sativa genetics. 

These genetics make it a fast-maturing cannabis strain that can grow up to a modest height of 60 centimeters. It finishes within nine weeks. It’s perfect for indoor growers looking for a quick one, pun intended. 

It does produce an average yield of around 45 grams per plant, but it’s one of the easiest cannabis plants to grow. It’s compact, easy to maintain, and fuss-free. It’s the perfect first-timer’s cannabis plant. 

Still, it produces a potent high that is calming and can easily put you to sleep. There’s a reason why users refer to its high as narcotic; it’s quite sedative. However, you can use it to find relief from anxiety, loss of appetite, and nausea. 

How to Find Beginner-Friendly Cannabis?

Sometimes, you may not find the strains we’ve listed above, and other times, the popular recommendations may not suit your style and preferences. Here, you can pick other strains, too. There are virtually countless strains that beginners like yourself can grow without any issues. 

You do need to keep some things in mind when picking such strains. Here are some ways you can spot beginner-friendly strains. 

• Choose Stable Genetics 

Cannabis strains come in vast varieties — some strains are as old as paper while others are younger than a fly annoying you at night. And this matters because newer strains may not always be so stable. The same applies to strains produced by hobby breeders. 

Instead, pick cannabis strains that are tried and tested by breeders and growers over generations. Such strains are much more stable and don’t bring many surprises for new growers. 

• Pick Pest and Disease Resistant Strains 

One thing that makes beginner-friendly strains easier to grow is that they are just more resilient. With such strains, you don’t have to worry about pests and other common diseases affecting your plant so much. 

Pest and disease-resistant strains are less likely to fail due to unforeseeable circumstances, which is what makes them so suitable for beginners. That doesn’t mean you can just forget about caring for your weed — they are just more forgiving of mistakes. 

• Find Forgiving Strains 

Speaking of forgiving strains, beginner cannabis strains are in general more forgiving for growers. For example, if you forget to feed it once or over-train it, your plant won’t suddenly die or reduce its yields drastically. 

Such forgiving strains are not only resistant to pests and diseases, but they are also pretty resistant to training, fluctuations in temperature and pH levels, and are more adaptable to a variety of environmental conditions. 

• Pick Those with Short Flowering Times 

Ideally, you should pick cannabis strains that have a short flowering time. Yes, the main benefit of this is that you get to enjoy your harvest much sooner, but there’s another advantage for beginners. 

Strains with shorter flowering times require less maintenance and effort during the flowering stage. Instead of spending many weeks taking care of the plant, where the chances of errors are higher, you only spend a couple of weeks. You also don’t get bored with these. 

• Choose Compact Plants 

If you’re growing cannabis for the first time, you should grow more compact cannabis plants. The smaller stature ensures your plant does not grow unexpectedly — especially during flowering stretches. Additionally, the smaller plants are also much easier to manage and train.                                          

• Or Pick Autoflowering Strains 

If you want to save even more time and effort, pick autoflowering cannabis strains. These strains don’t rely on the light hours to transition from vegging to flowering — they use their internal genetic clock. 

As a result, you don’t have to think much about taking care of the lighting cycle and other variables that may otherwise affect a plant’s growth. And don’t worry, most popular cannabis strains have an autoflowering variety these days. 

• Pick Popular Strains 

As you start growing cannabis, you'll quickly discover that the internet is often your best friend. You'll run into various problems, whether it's dealing with pests, nutrient deficiencies, or environmental issues, and, more often than not, forums are where you'll find the best answers. 

Seasoned growers are constantly sharing their experiences and troubleshooting tips, making these online communities invaluable resources for beginners like you. And, of course, check out the Grow Diaries!

Picking a popular strain is a smart move because it's likely that others have encountered and solved the same issues you'll face. When you choose a well-known strain, you'll find a wealth of information and advice readily available. 

On the other hand, if you opt for a less common strain, you might struggle to find solutions to your problems, as fewer growers will have shared their experiences. By starting with a popular strain, you can tap into a vast pool of collective knowledge, making your growing journey smoother and more successful.

• Buy Cheap Seeds 

As tempting as it is to jump straight into growing the crème de la crème of cannabis strains, it's smart to start with more affordable varieties. Let's face it, the chances of making mistakes are higher when you're just starting. 

So, by choosing cheaper strains, you can learn the ropes without worrying about wasting a ton of money. It's all about getting some hands-on experience and figuring out the basics, like watering, nutrients, and pest control, in a low-pressure setting.

Starting with budget-friendly strains not only saves money but also builds your confidence. Once you’ve got the hang of things and feel more comfortable with your growing skills, you can gradually move on to the higher-end strains. 

This way, when you do invest in premium seeds, you'll know how to take full advantage of their potential. In the end, starting small and learning as you go can lead to a more successful and cost-effective growing experience.

• Choose High-yielding Plants 

Let’s make one thing clear — yield shouldn’t be your priority when you’re new to growing cannabis. However, we do understand that spending time and effort on your plant and only getting a handful of flowers can be a bummer. 

And when you’re just starting, bummers can put a wrench in your motivation to keep growing. So, it’s still a good idea to have a good yield at the back of your mind. 

Summary: Best Cannabis Strains for Newbies

Starting your cannabis growing journey with the right strains can set you up for success. By choosing beginner-friendly options, you'll navigate the challenges of cultivation with ease and enjoy the fruits of your labor, quite literally. 

These strains mentioned above are resilient, easy to manage, and forgiving, making them perfect for first-time growers. Each strain has its unique growing requirements and characteristics, and mastering these will make you a more versatile and knowledgeable grower. 

Remember, it's all about learning and enjoying the process. Don't be discouraged by minor setbacks; every challenge is an opportunity to improve your skills. As you gain experience and confidence, you'll be ready to tackle more advanced strains and techniques. 

Growing cannabis can be a rewarding and therapeutic hobby, and with the right approach, you'll be enjoying your homegrown buds in no time. The satisfaction of nurturing a plant from seed to harvest is unparalleled, and the quality of homegrown cannabis can often surpass store-bought products.