Candy
Earthy
Fruity
Sweet
Depression
Fatigue
Sleep
Stress
Energy
Euphoria
Relaxation
Sleep/Sedation
The highlight of any childhood trip to the fair was a big bag of cotton candy. Now that we’ve grown up, the Cotton Candy cannabis strain can provide the highlight of many a smoke session, too.
This weed is known for being super sweet, super beautiful, and super popular. Cotton Candy is a strain particularly loved by smokers in Washington State, but it is easy to find in most locations. The herb is renowned for providing a strong head high that sets the mind racing, yet can sedate the body into couch-lock.
Does this strain induce a sugar rush, or is it as fun as tooth rot? What can you expect from Cotton Candy in terms of smell, taste, and looks? And what about its effects? We cover all of this and more in this article.
What Is the Cotton Candy Strain?
Cotton Candy strain is one of the sweetest sativas available. This hybrid was created a long time ago by the breeders at Delicious Seeds. They took the South African landrace, Power Plant, and crossed it with Caramelo. The result was this sugary sweet strain. Delicious Seeds certainly lived up to their name with this one.
Before you head down to the dispensary, be aware that there is also another similarly-named strain out there – Cotton Candy Kush, which is a cross of Power Plant and Lavender.
Rest assured, though, the Cotton Candy strain we are reviewing here takes the best aspects of its parents and is one hell of a strain. You get one of the sweetest smell and flavor profiles around, high yielding plants, and fantastic effects. If all that wasn’t enough, it also looks incredible with a real rainbow of color on show.
This sativa has lovers all over the West Coast, particularly in Washington State and Oregon, and equally in Arizona and Canada. Around these areas, it is a fairly common find, but you should be able to track it down almost anywhere. Another bonus is that Cotton Candy tends to be priced towards the lower end of the scale in dispensaries. The low cost and great taste make it a favorite for those looking to make their own edibles.
Now we go into a bit more detail about the different aspects of Cotton Candy strain, starting with the aroma.
Cotton Candy Strain Aroma
One of the things the Cotton Candy marijuana strain is most famous for is its sweet aroma. The cannabis has a smell just like the cotton candy it is named after. Close your eyes, take a big whiff, and let the scent transport you back to the carnival.
Underneath this candy-like scent, there are soft floral tones that come from its Power Plant parent. This mingles with citrusy, grapefruit-like odors.
Cotton Candy is particularly pungent, and the smell hangs in the air even after you seal the weed away. This doesn’t lend itself to covert smoking, but in all honesty, a fragrance like this shouldn’t be hidden away.
The aroma truly is mouth-watering and will have you begging to taste this sweet strain. Does the flavor live up to these expectations, though?
Cotton Candy Strain Flavor
The taste of Cotton Candy is just as sweet as its fragrance. There is a flowery aspect to the flavor upon first inhaling, which adds a sense of freshness.
Upon exhale, the sugary, flowery flavor is joined by an underscore of earthiness with hints of cedarwood. The taste lingers on your palate for a minute or so afterward. It is almost as if the sweetness of the smoke has stained your tongue.
It is a hugely enjoyable taste sensation, similar to smoking your favorite, fruitiest bubble gum.
Does Cotton Candy look as good as it tastes?
Cotton Candy Strain Appearance
The Cotton Candy strain is a simply gorgeous plant to look at. The flowers are a psychedelic mix of vibrant greens, vivid oranges, and positively pulsating purples.
As well as offering a kaleidoscope of color, the buds are big and fluffy. There is a layer of crystal trichomes which give the plant a super sticky texture. Combine this stickiness with the fluffiness of the shape, and it is impossible not to be further reminded of the fairground cotton candy the strain takes its name from.
This is undoubtedly one of the more eye-catching strains I’ve seen in a while.
With all this praise for Cotton Candy’s looks, aromas, and flavors, we have probably convinced you to try growing some of your own. All the information you could need for a successful grow comes next.
Cotton Candy Strain Grow Info
You can try finding Cotton Candy seeds by visiting Homegrown cannabis seeds website or you could try growing a clone of this strain from a clipping obtained from a healthy Cotton Candy plant.
In terms of growing difficulty, Cotton Candy isn’t the most challenging crop to get right, but it isn’t the easiest either. If this is your first attempt at growing cannabis, it may be wiser to start with an easier breed. Cotton Candy does require a little bit more time and effort than other, easier strains. With that said, if you can manage it, you will be rewarded with a beautiful plant.
The strain can be grown successfully indoors, but it really flourishes outside. For a successful outdoor harvest, you will need daytime temperatures consistently around 70 degrees Fahrenheit and a humid climate.
Be sure to trim the leaves regularly. This plant likes to grow tall, and if you give it the opportunity, its bottom branches will get to be almost as long as the height of the herb. The height can nearly triple during flowering, too. Thankfully, it is easy to prune due to few leaves being between the buds.
If you give Cotton Candy the right conditions, it is a hardy plant, and you should gain an abundant yield.
Indoors, it usually takes around eight to nine weeks to flower. You can expect an average of 16 ounces of bud per square meter.
Outdoors, you can expect a yield of a whopping 35 ounces of stinky bud from each plant. Your plants should be ready for harvest sometime around mid-October.
Follow those guidelines, and you won’t go far wrong with growing Cotton Candy. After all that effort, what kind of a THC content can you expect?
THC Content of the Cotton Candy Strain
Cotton Candy cannabis has a decent concentration of THC. Tests on samples regularly put the THC content anywhere from 13-20% with the strongest even hitting the 22% mark.
How does Cotton Candy’s CBD content fair?
CBD Content of the Cotton Candy Strain
The CBD content of the Cotton Candy strain is low. The highest it has tested for CBD content is a fraction of one percent.
If you are looking for a strain to provide you with a higher concentration of CBD, you would be best advised to look somewhere else. Although Cotton Candy contains some CBD, other strains will give you more. Specialist CBD strains frequently measure around 20% CBD, which Cotton Candy cannot compete with.
What sorts of medical benefits could Cotton Candy offer ,then?
WAYOFLEAF’S CHOICE – Homegrown Cannabis Co.
Want to grow your own cannabis at home? Visit Homegrown, where you can buy high-quality cannabis seeds of classic strains like OG Kush, Blue Dream, and more.
Medical Benefits of the Cotton Candy Strain
With such low levels of CBD, Cotton Candy cannot be expected to provide any of the therapeutic benefits associated with the cannabinoid. With respectable levels of THC it could provide some benefit here, mainly focused on mood-related issues.
Users report an intense feeling of relaxation from the strain. Any worries you have will evaporate into the wind. As such, Cotton Candy can help alleviate stress, at least for a little while.
Often, this relaxation is joined by immense feelings of happiness, and it is common for smokers to catch a fit of giggles. People feel euphoric and uplifted as a result of using Cotton Candy. Thanks to these effects, the strain could help with symptoms of depression and fatigue as you feel generally more upbeat.
One area where the jury is out is insomnia. Cotton Candy often gives users the couch-lock sensation where your limbs feel heavy, and you can’t be bothered to move off your sofa. This can give way to sleepiness, and some find it helps with insomnia.
However, other users will not consume before bedtime as it gets them too mentally active meaning they struggle with sleeping as a result. With this in mind, it may be best first to try Cotton Candy in the day to see what sort of effect it has on you.
The different effects on sleep patterns is a prime example of how you can’t guarantee Cotton Candy will be an effective way to manage the symptoms of your condition. Even if you suffer from one of the conditions Cotton Candy is known for helping, you can’t be sure how it will affect you. Everyone is different and what works for one may not for another, as evidenced by some finding Cotton Candy good for insomnia and others the complete opposite.
What about the possible side effects of Cotton Candy?
Possible Side Effects of the Cotton Candy Strain
There is one side effect Cotton Candy is notorious for. Fittingly, it is “cotton mouth” where your mouth becomes drier than the Sahara desert. Along with this, users report dry eyes too. These are the most common side effects, and all types of marijuana share them.
Occasionally, users also report feelings of anxiety, paranoia, and dizziness, but this is rarer. These side effects are typically brought on by excessive smoking of THC-heavy strains. It makes sense, then, that they are rare with Cotton Candy, which has a reasonable concentration of THC but not too much. Still, to avoid these adverse side effects, it is best to consume Cotton Candy in moderation.
WAYOFLEAF’S CHOICE – Homegrown Cannabis Co.
Want to grow your own cannabis at home? Visit Homegrown, where you can buy high-quality cannabis seeds of classic strains like OG Kush, Blue Dream, and more.
Final Thoughts on the Cotton Candy Strain
Everything about this strain is cotton candy-related, from its looks, smell, and taste to even the “cotton mouth” effect it brings on. It lives up to its name more than any other strain you can think of.
You get a lush scent and flavor combined with a dazzling look. The effects are strong but not so strong as to be a barrier for less experienced smokers. Take it in reasonable amounts, and you can’t go far wrong. The strain is a champ in just about all categories.
So what are you waiting for? Try some Cotton Candy marijuana for yourself today. It will have you smiling like a kid in a candy store.
What do you think about Cotton Candy strain? Have you tried this sweet weed? Let us know in the comments below.
