Fact Checked by Doctor NameWhat is a Cross?
In cannabis cultivation, crossing refers to the breeding of two different strains of plants to create a new hybrid strain.
The practice of crossing strains has led to an enormous variety of marijuana hybrids expressing different characteristics of their parent strains.
Crossing begins with selecting two existing pure or hybrid strains as the parents. The female of one strain is pollinated by male pollen from the other strain.
The resulting seeds inherit genetics from both parental lineages.
For example, a grower might cross a Blueberry strain with Jack Herer to create a new Blue Herer hybrid combining traits from both. The offspring plant phenotypes express a blend of the height, flowering time, aroma, effects, etc., inherited from each side.
Hybridization allows breeders to handpick desirable traits from different strains to breed into new genetic combinations.
Yields, potency, terpenes, and other properties can be tailored by strategic crossing. Popular hybrid strains like OG Kush, Sour Diesel, and Girl Scout Cookies resulted from iterative cross-breeding over many generations.
While crossing can produce highly appealing new strains, it also limits genetic diversity over time. With so much hybridization, few pure cannabis landrace strains still exist.
However, intentional cross-breeding has also allowed more consistent effects and experiences for cannabis consumers in a largely unregulated market.
Overall, crossing stands out as one of the most influential techniques advancing cannabis genetics and enabling countless distinctive strains.
Nearly all widely available cannabis today inherits DNA from multiple crossed strains. Blending genetics expands the diversity of flavors, aromas, and highs sought by breeders and enthusiasts.
