In the cannabis world, the smell of Skunk sure is sweet. Originating in the 1970s on America’s West Coast, Skunk is a potent hybrid that remains a perennial favorite parent strain. From Jack Herer to UK Cheese, the number of award-winning strains made with Skunk No. 1 is endless. Heck, Skunk is so commonly used that it has become almost synonymous with any variety of seriously dank weed. Whether you’re a novice or experienced grower, it’s a good idea to learn all about skunk and the best skunk weed strains.
Skunk – General Information and Genetic Heritage
Generally speaking, people don’t grow the original Skunk (aka Skunk No. 1) for recreational use. You could smoke Skunk No. 1 and get a nice effect, but cultivators primarily developed this strain to take advantage of an indica’s faster flowering time and a sativa’s energizing high. Because Skunk No. 1 has such a reliably fast grow rate, potent effect, and high yield, it remains one of the easiest strains to work with when experimenting with hybrids.
The indica genes found in Skunk No. 1 comes from Afghani landraces, while Columbian Gold and Mexican Acapulco Gold supply the sativa element. There’s usually 50 percent Acapulco Gold and 25 percent of Afghani and Columbian Gold each. Traditionally, Skunk No. 1 has a slightly higher indica to sativa ratio set at about 65 percent to 35 percent. THC content hovers between 15 – 20 percent while CBD is only around 1 percent.
In terms of appearance, Skunk No. 1 has leaves with a lighter shade of green or even yellowish-gold. Trichomes are usually tightly packed together and give the buds a nice, but not overwhelming, white sheen. You might also spy a few light orange pistils around your buds as your plant matures.
History of Skunk
Like many iconic ganja strains, the story of Skunk begins in the 70s in sunny Santa Cruz. During this era, American growers were feverishly experimenting with indicas and sativas in an attempt to create a high-yielding, high-inducing strain. After years of experimentation, the cultivators at Sacred Seeds hit upon Skunk’s winning genetics: Afghani, Columbian Gold, and Mexican Acapulco Gold.
In addition to its intense high, growers were instantly impressed with the ease and speed at which they could grow high yields of Skunk. Although Americans discovered Skunk's genetics, it took a little help from those devilishly dank Dutch to stabilize this strain. Shortly after Americans brought Skunk seeds into the Netherlands in the 80s, breeders at Sensi Seeds created the standard form of Skunk we now know as Skunk No. 1.
Growing Skunk No. 1
Skunk No. 1 is an excellent strain for novice home-growers for many reasons. First off, there’s the timeframe. You only need to put in about two months of work to be rewarded with a fully flowering Skunk No. 1 strain. As a bonus, this strain produces a generous yield of dense, terpene-rich buds to enjoy. Even experienced growers love growing Skunk No. 1 for its convenience, nostalgia factor, and ease of use in experimentation.
Remember that Skunk No. 1 was perfected inside Dutch facilities, which means it’s best suited for indoor growers. Indeed, as Skunk No. 1 was being developed, the Dutch were beginning to optimize indoor cultivation using high-intensity lights. That being said, Skunk No. 1 can be cultivated outdoors if you live in a consistently sunny and dry climate. Harvest time is usually in mid-October for the Northern Hemisphere.
As with many other marijuana strains, Skunk No. 1 has a nasty reputation with mold. Growers really need to be on guard for mold infestations once this plant reaches its flowering stage of development. If you’re growing indoors, be sure your ventilation, lighting, and temperature control systems are all functioning correctly.
Flowering Time & Yield
True to its fast-growing reputation, Skunk No. 1 has an average grow time between 8-9 weeks. While Skunk No. 1 might not be as fast as an autoflowering strain, you’re sure to get a higher potency product if you put in a few extra weeks of effort.
So, how many buds will you be trimming once your Skunk No. 1 reaches full maturity? Indoor growers typically get about 18 oz/m2 at the end of the flowering stage. Outdoor growers, on the other hand, could yield 16 ounces per plant.
Taste, Smell, And Effect
Skunk smells (surprise, surprise) pretty skunky. Usually, this musky odor is due to the presence of a prevalent terpene known as myrcene. Although often associated with tropical fruits like mangoes, myrcene can contribute to the distinctly funky aromatics in strains like Skunk No. 1.
In addition to the skunky smell, many people detect high earthy and woodsy notes when smelling this strain. Most often these earthy aromas come from the presence of terpenes like the woodsy alpha-pinene and the floral linalool. Skunk No. 1 could also have a hint of citrus from the terpene limonene.
When you actually smoke Skunk No. 1, you’ll most likely taste a mix of woodsy and fruity flavors. Some people report a powerful earthy aftertaste with just a subtle sour taste.
When inhaled, Skunk No. 1 has a relaxing effect on the entire body typical of indica-heavy strains. Unlike pure indicas like Northern Lights, however, this hybrid won’t necessarily put you to sleep. Sure, there is the sedating quality from the myrcene, but there’s also a bit of a boost from the sativa element. While you’ll feel uplifted and euphoric, you’ll also feel calm and chill. This strain won’t make you chatty, but it also won’t put you to sleep. For this reason, Skunk No. 1 has been a great template to develop hybrids.
Some people say Skunk No. 1 is great for conditions like generalized anxiety, nausea, and even sleep disorders. If possible, use Skunk No. 1 later in the day for the best results.
Best Skunk Weed Strains
Honestly, there are way too many hybrid strains with traces of Skunk to consider in one piece. Below, we’ll do our best to go through some of the most popular and critically acclaimed Skunk-related strains. These five famous names will give you a glimpse into the incredible diversity of Skunk-derived ganja.
Amnesia
Breeders created the sativa-heavy Amnesia by crossbreeding Skunk No. 1, Jack Herer, and Cinderella 99. As its name suggests, Amnesia has a tendency to leave its users in a daze after ingestion. For this reason, it’s typically not recommended for people who are already suffering from memory issues or cannabis newbies. People who are having a difficult time with obsessive thoughts, however, tend to respond well to Amnesia’s relaxing effects. Indeed, many patients with issues like depression, anxiety, and PTSD often use this strain to combat negative thought patterns.
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Genetics Type: Sativa-dominant
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Average THC: 20 percent
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Average CBD: Less than 1 percent
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Flavor: Citrusy, sour, gasoline
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Effect: Forgetful, relaxed, head buzz
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Grow difficulty: Easy
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Height: High
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Yield: Moderate
UK Cheese
First introduced in the 1990s, UK Cheese is one of the muskiest Skunk strains on the market. As the name suggests, this strain is well known for its pungent cheese-like aromatics and its strong earthy taste. The “UK” part of this strain’s name refers to the British team that brought this strain into being. Interestingly, the genetics of UK Cheese are the same as Skunk No. 1, but the flavor profile is entirely different. People who take UK Cheese often describe the high as initially energizing and centering around the head. As the high wears on, however, some users might feel lethargic, so it’s best to use UK Cheese later in the day.
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Genetics Type: Sativa-dominant
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Average THC: 19 percent
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Average CBD: Less than 1 percent
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Flavor: Skunk, cheesy, musty
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Effect: Head-rush, initially chatty, relaxation
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Grow difficulty: Easy
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Height: Medium
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Yield: Medium
Island Sweet Skunk
First introduced in Canada, Island Sweet Skunk offers all the energizing effects of Skunk No. 1 without the pronounced skunk smell. Unlike Skunk No. 1, the aroma of Island Sweet Skunk tends to be on the sweeter end of the spectrum. Since this strain is a blend of Big Skunk No. 1 and Sweet Pink Grapefruit, expect pungent citrusy notes as you take a hit. The sativa to indica ratio on this strain is usually around 80/20, which means users will experience a pronounced energetic & creative high.
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Genetics Type: Sativa-dominant
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Average THC: 19 percent
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Average CBD: Less than 1 percent
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Flavor: Sweet, citrusy, skunky
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Effect: Stimulating, uplifting, euphoric
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Grow difficulty: Easy
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Height: High
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Yield: High
Green Crack
Anyone looking for an intense burst of energy can’t go wrong with some Green Crack. No, there’s no cocaine in this strain, but you’ll sure feel like you just snorted a line after tasting it. Green Crack shares the same genetics as Skunk No. 1, but it has been bred to produce a much stronger energetic effect. When asked to describe this sativa-heavy strain’s flavor, people usually point out strong notes of tropical fruits like mangoes with a noticeable layer of traditional skunk. Since Green Crack has such a potent stimulating effect, it’s never recommended for late-night use.
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Genetics Type: Sativa-dominant
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Average THC: 16 percent
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Average CBD: Less than 1 percent
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Flavor: Tropical fruits, tart, skunk
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Effect: Energizing, head buzz, euphoric
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Grow difficulty: Easy
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Height: High
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Yield: Medium
Shiva Skunk
Created with a blend of Skunk No. 1 and Northern Lights #5, Shiva Skunk is one of the more relaxing Skunk strains. With an indica to sativa ratio of about 85 to 15, it’s understandable why this hybrid has such a soothing effect on users. The aroma of Shiva Skunk is still distinctly skunky, but there are also detectable fruity and earthy notes. As you taste Shiva Skunk, you might pick up a hint of berries and refreshing mint. The indica-dominant quality of Shiva Skunk also makes it relatively easy to grow with high yields.
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Genetics Type: Indica-dominant
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Average THC: 16 percent
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Average CBD: 1 percent
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Flavor: Skunk, fruity, earthy
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Effect: Sedating, relaxed, calm
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Grow difficulty: Easy
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Height: Small
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Yield: High
