Ruderalis

Cannabis ruderalis was considered not worth growing for a lot of years. However, for some years breeders have been crossing Ruderalis to Indicas and Sativas to produce one of the strongest THC-rich strains.

What is Cannabis Ruderalis?

While once thought to be an ancestor of other Cannabis varieties, it is now accepted that Cannabis ruderalis is in itself its own species. Ruderalis is a wild, hardy species of cannabis that currently grows wild throughout Central Asia and Russia. It’s also an important species for marijuana breeders, who have been known to cross breed ruderalis with other species to create hybrids that possess some of ruderalis’ characteristics, such as autoflowering.

Cannabis ruderalis is significantly smaller than indicas and sativas, typically growing just 1 to 2.5 feet high. Of the three primary cannabis species, ruderalis plants are stalkier, featuring a smaller number of side branches and narrower palmate-shaped leaves.

Because of its small size and limited branches, ruderalis produces a smaller yield of flower compared to other cannabis species. While for some this may be a disadvantage, the smaller size of ruderalis plants make them a good choice for medical marijuana patients who are interested in growing their own plants at home, but have limited space indoors. Also, unlike other species, ruderalis plants don’t have special lighting needs, which means they’re also ideal for those interested in growing plants outside at any latitude.

Origins of Cannabis Ruderalis

Cannabis ruderalis is thought to have originated thousands of years ago throughout areas in Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, and specifically Russia, where it continues to grow as a weed.

The term “ruderalis” derives from the root word ruderal, which in the plant world refers to a species that is the first to colonize land that has been disturbed by humans. Even today, wild ruderalis can be found growing near high traffic areas like roadways.

Cannabis ruderalis was first classified in 1924 after Russian botanist D.E. Janischewsky was studying cannabis and noticed a plant with distinct differences in shape, size, and seed than other previously classified cannabis plants.

Ruderalis is Autoflowering: What Does That Mean?

Unlike other cannabis species, Cannabis ruderalis is “autoflowering,” which means that it will transition from the vegetative phase into the flowering phase regardless of whether there’s a change in light cycle.

For medical marijuana patients, the flowering phase is significant, as it’s when cannabis plants produce the flowers that contain high levels of cannabinoids and other beneficial compounds. No matter the light-to-dark ratio, modern ruderalis plants will begin to flower on their own 3 to 4 weeks after they sprout from seeds.

Indicas and sativas are not autoflowering. Rather, they’re “photoperiod,” a characteristic that means they will only begin to produce flowers once they’re introduced to at minimum 12 hours of dark each day. Growers must often trigger the flowering phase with photoperiod plants by changing the lighting settings.

It is generally believed that ruderalis adapted the ability to autoflower after originating far north of the equator, where light cycles are limited and regularly changing.

This means that while photoperiod plants like sativas and indicas will only flower under strict indoor conditions where hours of lightness and darkness are controlled, or during the winter season when light is limited, autoflowering ruderalis plants can grow anywhere and produce flowers throughout the entire year.

The History Of Ruderalis

In the botany world, a ruderalis plant is one that can grow despite the environment, being able to withstand harsh conditions.

This makes sense as this subspecies of cannabis is highly resilient and enduring. Native to the harsh climates of Russia, central Europe, and central Asia, ruderalis was officially identified in the wild regions of South Siberia by Janischewski, a Russian botanist, back in 1924.

A ruderalis plant grows despite the environment, being able to withstand harsh conditions. 

Some scientists believe ruderalis may have started with Indica genetics, although it is not confirmed. Either way, the characteristics that made this subspecies so famous don’t have anything to do with Indica or Sativa genetics. 

Characteristics of Ruderalis

Ruderalis’ characteristics may have developed from their exposure to really harsh climate conditions, including extreme heat or cold, inadequate humidity levels, and weak or excessive light, among others.

These conditions can cause deficiencies in cannabis Sativa or Indica. Since ruderalis starts the flowering stage on its own, it is not a photoperiod plant and doesn’t need a particular light cycle to be able to flower.

The difference between Sativa, Indica and Ruderalis plants. 

This occurred because ruderalis needed to be able to completely mature and reproduce before it would freeze to death, so generally ruderalis will begin flowering between 3 – 5 weeks into its life cycle.

Main Characteristics:

• Grows between 30 – 120cm, being much smaller than most Indicas and Sativas.
• Small and dense buds.
• Stocky plant with thick stem and branches.
• Resistant to pests and harsh climates.

The Effects of Ruderalis

The original ruderalis landraces contain very low to nothing THC level. Naturally, ruderalis strains are high in CBD. Just like our CBD Auto 20:1, purely medicinal strain with an extremely high level of CBD 20%.CBD Auto 20:1.

Even though it can provide medicinal properties, it will not get you high.

For this reason, ruderalis has been crossed with THC-rich Sativas, Indicas, or Hybrids to be able to have a plant that will deliver an effect while also maintaining the non-photoperiodic characteristics it has.

Ruderalis: The Beginning Of Autoflowers

Because there was no effect when consuming it due to its low THC levels, ruderalis wasn’t popular among recreational users. But when its characteristics became known, ruderalis became of high interest to cannabis breeders.

Breeders started developing ruderalis hybrids that had high THC or CBD levels and only needed around 9 weeks to completely mature.

This ruderalis hybrids became known as Autoflowering cannabis, for its ability to flower automatically without needing anything else, like normal photoperiodic strains.

A ruderalis plant grows despite the environment, being able to withstand harsh conditions. 

Nowadays there’s no much difference between photoperiodic and auto strains (other than their flowering conditions, obviously). You can find strains with the same THC and CBD levels in both versions (auto and photoperiod).

There even are autos that can be stronger than some photoperiod strains, like our Gorilla Cookies Auto, that has 27% of THC.

In Conclusion

Ruderalis was believed to be of no use to recreational users due to its low levels of THC. But breeders did their best to put together the best of both worlds, developing both medicinal and recreational autoflowers that can grow from seed to harvest really quick.

The Fast Buds team has a wide selection of autoflowers for every taste, from original old-school strains to our new autoflowering crosses, all of them being top-quality cannabis plants.