Ever since it was released in the 1990s, Super Silver Haze has become one of the cannabis industry’s star sativas. Beloved for its euphoric effects, Super Silver Haze is an attractive strain for many home growers thanks to its relatively short growing time and high yield.
Super Silver Haze – General Information and Genetic Heritage
Super Silver Haze usually has a sativa to indica ratio of roughly 80:20, but the indica part of this strain plays a crucial role in both the high effect and growth cycle. Interestingly, many people describe Super Silver Haze as an “indica amongst sativas” for this very reason.
The High
Yes, the high produced by Super Silver Haze is all you’d expect from a sativa: euphoric and energizing. THC content is usually pegged at 19 percent with less than 1 percent CBD and CBN. However, the indica element helps produce a unique calming sensation that can be felt throughout the body. Users often describe tingling and a sense of relaxation after inhaling Super Silver Haze.
Look and Feel
In case you were wondering how Super Silver Haze got its name, all you have to do is look at one of these buds. A distinguishing feature of this strain is that it’s loaded with sticky trichomes. You’d be forgiven for thinking a spider just crawled all over these marvelous marijuana buds! To explain the second part of this name (“Haze”), we need to take a closer look at this strain’s history and genetics.
History of Super Silver Haze
Before exploring the growing aspects Super Silver Haze, it’s important to go over the origins of the Haze strain briefly. In the 1970s, two Cali brothers referred to as R. and J. Haze started experimenting with sativas from Thailand, Mexico, Columbia, and India. This four-fold mix eventually resulted in the 100 percent sativa now known as Haze As Haze seeds made their way into the Netherlands (mainly via the Haze brothers’ friend Sam “The Skunkman”), growers started to experiment with numerous Haze-based hybrids. The idea was to tamper back Haze’s intense euphoric high with more mellowing strains to produce a balanced high.
Eventually, the cultivators at Amsterdam’s Green House Seeds took 50 percent Haze and mixed it with two other strains: the indica Northern Lights and the hybrid Skunk No. 1. Released in the mid-90s under the name Super Silver Haze, this hybrid was an instant hit with customers and critics. As of today, Super Silver Haze is the only strain to win three consecutive Cannabis Cups between 1997 and 1999.
Growing Super Silver Haze
Super Silver Haze is considered moderately difficult to grow at home. People who want to take on this legendary strain should already have some experience successfully cultivating cannabis plants. However, due to its indica-like properties, Super Silver Haze is more forgiving than many other sativas and tends to grow quicker than most Haze hybrids. Bottom line: Super Silver Haze is a great transition strain for people who want to move from indicas to sativas.
Height
In the height department, Super Silver Haze is often tall (depending on the unique phenotype of each seed). It’s not uncommon for Super Silver Haze to soar about 4 feet with long branches once it has reached full maturity. To achieve its optimal height, however, you must use low-stress training methods to apply some healthy pressure to your plant.
Environment
While Super Silver Haze might be more forgiving than other sativas, you need to keep an eye on its nutrition and environment. This strain enjoys warmth and humidity, so be sure the temp is set between 70-80ºF (21-27ºC). While most growers see the best results growing indoors, it’s possible to grow Super Silver Haze outdoors (especially in tropical climates). Growers in the Northern Hemisphere can expect harvest times in mid-October, while Southern Hemisphere breeders can harvest in mid-April.
Flowering Time & Yield
Average grow time for Super Silver Haze is between 9 – 11 weeks. That’s significantly shorter than most sativa hybrids, some of which take a whole five months to reach maturity.
In terms of yield, the World of Seeds has found that indoor growers usually get around 450 gr/sqm. With proper training, however, you could get a batch of 800 gr/m2. Outdoor growers, on the other hand, should expect a yield of about 1,500 gr/plant.
Taste, Smell, and Effects
As noted above, Super Silver Haze is most distinguished for its mix of citrus and skunk. When you actually taste Super Silver Haze, however, you’ll most likely get a hit of that distinctive Haze spice. Limonene, beta-caryophyllene, and myrcene are common terpenes found in the Super Silver Haze strain.
In terms of aroma, Super Silver Haze has strong citrusy notes that are complemented by earthiness, skunk, and gasoline. Primary terpenes that appear in Super Silver Haze include pungent limonene and tropical myrcene. You might, however, be able to pick up subtle traces of the spicy beta-caryophyllene and the earthy alpha-pinene. Typically, the sharper and more pungent flavors are easier for users to detect when they actually ingest Super Silver Haze.
Turning to the effects, Super Silver Haze has a typical Haze high. Users generally report feeling uplifted and euphoric after taking a hit of Super Silver Haze. The euphoria here, however, isn’t likely to make you feel all tensed up and jittery. Thanks to the indica effects of Northern Lights, Super Silver Haze provides a bit of mellowing action to help you feel clear headed and calm.
This mix of high energy and calm makes Super Silver Haze a great success with people experiencing depression or anxiety. There are also anecdotal reports Super Silver Haze helps with appetite issues, nausea, and even migraines.
Strains Similar to Super Silver Haze
Considering Super Silver Haze’s immense popularity, it’s no wonder many other strains are mimicking this Cannabis Cup winner’s flavors and effects. Anyone looking for an effect similar to Super Silver Haze might be interested in the five strains listed below. Each of these strains offers slightly different effects, but they all share genetic traces with Super Silver Haze.
Super Lemon Haze
One of the most influential hybrids made with Super Silver Haze is known as Super Lemon Haze. Also created at Amsterdam’s Green House Seeds, this blend of Super Silver Haze and Lemon Skunk has already won two Cannabis Cups of its own between 2008 and 2009. Unlike Super Silver Haze, the energizing effects of Super Lemon Haze are far more pronounced and can be deleterious for people with conditions like anxiety, panic attacks, or insomnia. THC content can get upwards of 25 percent, so this is definitely not for the faint of heart.
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Genetics: Super Silver Haze and Lemon Skunk
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Type: Sativa-dominant
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Average THC: 25 percent
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Average CBD: 1 percent
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Flavor: Citrusy, sweet, fruity
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Effect: Head-rush, creative buzz, energizing
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Grow difficulty: Difficult
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Height: High
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Yield: High
Northern Lights
A pure indica strain, Northern Lights is what gives Super Silver Haze its mellowing effects. There’s some debate over where Northern Lights originated, but it was formally developed in the Netherlands by crossing two different landrace strains: Thai and Afghani. Taken on its own, this strain is exceptionally sedating and ideal for people living with insomnia. Some people also use Northern Lights’ numbing effects to counter chronic pain conditions and PTSD. This piney strain is definitely a favorite for those who enjoy a nighttime couch-lock session.
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Genetics: Afghani and Thai landraces
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Type: Indica
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Average THC: 33 percent
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Average CBD: Below 1 percent
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Flavor: Pine, earthy, sweet
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Effect: Sedating, relaxed, calm
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Grow difficulty: Easy
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Height: Low
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Yield: Low
Shiva Skunk
In many ways, Shiva Skunk is an indica-dominant variant on Super Silver Haze. Created with a blend of Skunk No. 1 and Northern Lights No. 5, Shiva Skunk shares a great deal of lineage with Super Silver Haze. On the flipside, Shiva Skunk doesn’t have the energizing effect of a Haze hybrid. The strong indica heritage in Shiva Skunk causes a sedating high, ideal for evening use. As for taste, the fresh fruity and earthy aromas of Shiva Skunk are often likened to pine trees and fresh berries.
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Genetics: Skunk No. 1 and Northern Lights No. 5
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Type: Indica-dominant
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Average THC: 10 – 20 percent
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Average CBD: 1 percent
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Flavor: Pine, berries, mint
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Effect: Relaxing, sedating, sleepy
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Grow difficulty: Easy
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Height: Low
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Yield: High
G13 Haze
Supposedly developed as a super-secret CIA mission, the exact genetics of G13 Haze are shrouded in mystery. We do know, however, that this sativa-heavy strain has strong citrusy notes, an energetic high, and extremely high THC levels. The taste of G13 Haze is predominantly citrusy, but watch out for a bit of a kick. Experienced users looking for an intense head-rush will certainly enjoy G13 Haze. As a final warning, it’s never recommended newbies start with G13 Haze.
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Genetics: G13 and Haze
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Type: Sativa-dominant
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Average THC: 22 percent
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Average CBD: 1 percent
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Flavor: Orange, citrus, grapefruit
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Effect: Energetic, trance-like, uplifting
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Grow difficulty: Moderate
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Height: Moderate
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Yield: Moderate
Purple Haze
Ever wonder what Jimi Hendrix was singing about all those years ago? Yep, Purple Haze is a very real (and very popular) marijuana strain. Made with a blend of Purple Thai and Haze, Purple Haze is instantly recognizable thanks to its dark leaves. As a sativa-dominant strain, this earthy & berry-flavored strain produces an energizing and long-lasting high. Although they're oldies, both Purple Haze the strain and the song are goodies!
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Genetics: Purple Thai and Haze
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Type: Sativa-dominant
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Average THC: 20 percent
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Average CBD: 1 percent
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Flavor: Sweet, berries, spicy
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Effect: Energized, stimulating, creative high
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Grow difficulty: Easy
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Height: Medium
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Yield: High
