How to grow California Haze
Hey there, cultivator! Are you ready to grow a strain that embodies the bright, creative, and energetic spirit of the Golden State? Then let’s talk about California Haze. This legendary sativa-dominant strain is all about that classic Haze high, uplifting, euphoric, and laser-focused, with a signature West Coast citrus twist. This is the strain you grow when you want to get inspired, make art, or just have a great, energetic day.
Growing a Haze strain is a rite of passage for any serious cultivator. It demands patience and skill, but the reward is a harvest of top-shelf, connoisseur-grade homegrown cannabis that is absolutely worth the effort. Let’s get to it!
Recommended Strains
California Haze
THC: 22% - 24%
Type of seed: Feminized
Phenotype: Mostly Sativa
Day to flower: 8 - 10 weeks
California Dream
- THC: 13% - 17%
- Type of seed: Feminized
- Phenotype: Mostly Indica
- Day to flower: 8 - 10 weeks
From Seed to a Sun-Kissed Harvest: The Full Grow-Along
California Haze is a true Sativa at heart, which means it loves to grow tall and takes its sweet time to flower. But trust me, patience is a virtue that this plant rewards handsomely.
Germination: The First Ray of Light
Every epic California journey starts with a single step. For us, it’s a single taproot. The paper towel method is simple and reliable.
- Soak: Give your seeds a 12 to 24-hour soak in a glass of room-temperature water.
- Wrap: Place the hydrated seeds between two paper towels that are damp, but not dripping wet.
- Keep it Warm & Dark: Put your paper towel setup inside a Ziploc bag or between two plates.
- Sprout!: In 24-72 hours, a tiny white root will emerge. It’s go-time! Carefully plant it about a half-inch deep in your starter pot, with the root pointing down.
Common Mistake to Avoid: Being too rough. That tiny new taproot is incredibly delicate. Use tweezers to handle the germinated seed and be very gentle when planting to avoid any stress.
The Vegetative Stage: Reaching for the Sky
During the veg stage, your California Haze is going to do what Sativas do best: stretch! It’s focused on building a tall, elegant frame.
- Light Cycle: Long “days” are a must. An 18/6 light cycle (18 hours of light, 6 of darkness) will give it all the energy it needs for this vigorous growth phase.
- Nutrient Needs: Your plant will need a balanced “grow” fertilizer with a good amount of Nitrogen (N) to support its leafy development.
- Training is MANDATORY: I can’t stress this enough. This is a tall plant. To manage its height indoors and to dramatically increase your yield, you must train it. Topping the plant early and using a SCROG (Screen of Green) net are the best techniques. This will tame its vertical stretch and create a wide, even canopy of buds.
The Flowering Stage: A Long and Beautiful Bloom
This is where your patience is truly tested and rewarded. To trigger flowering, you MUST switch your lights to a strict 12/12 cycle (12 hours of light, 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness).
The flowering time for California Haze is long, typically 10 to 12 weeks. This is the Haze genetics at work. During this time, the plant will stretch even more, then slowly develop long, elegant colas that will fill your grow space with an incredible citrus, earthy, and spicy aroma.
When you flip your lights, switch to a “bloom” fertilizer that is higher in Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) to support all that amazing flower and resin production.
Common Mistake to Avoid: Impatience! Don’t get antsy and harvest early. A Haze needs its full flowering time to develop its complex flavors and potent cerebral effects. Let the plant tell you when it’s ready.
Promos & Deals
Indoor vs. Outdoor: Where to Grow This California Dream
This strain can be grown in any setting, but you have to plan for its specific needs.
Growing Indoors This is where you can create the perfect environment, but you need to be prepared for its size.
- Height: This plant gets TALL. Even with training, you can expect a final height of 3 to 5 feet (around 100-150 cm). If you don’t train it, it will easily outgrow your tent. Vertical space is a major consideration.
- Ventilation: Good airflow is key to preventing mold on those long colas and to manage the strong, pungent aroma. A good carbon filter is non-negotiable.
Growing Outdoors If you have the right climate, you can cultivate a true cannabis tree.
- Height Potential: Unrestrained outdoors, California Haze can become a monster, easily reaching over 6.5 feet (200 cm).
Best Climates & Cities (USA): This strain needs a long, hot, and sunny season to finish its long flowering cycle.
- California (Los Angeles, San Diego): This is its namesake for a reason. The long, sunny seasons are absolutely perfect. You can let it grow into a massive tree and harvest in late October.
- The Southwest (Phoenix, Las Vegas): The intense sun and dry heat are great, but you will need a robust irrigation plan to keep this thirsty plant happy.
- Florida: The long, hot season is great, but the high humidity can be a major challenge. This is best left to experienced outdoor growers in this region who can manage mold prevention.
Pro-Level Playbook: Cloning and Epic Extractions
Cloning: Keep the Good Vibes Going
Find a specific California Haze plant with that perfect energetic high? Clone it!
- Select & Snip: Take a healthy 4-6 inch cutting from a lower branch of a mother plant in her vegetative stage. Use a sterile razor for a clean cut.
- Hormone Dip: Immediately dip the cut end in a rooting hormone to inspire vigorous root growth.
- Plant It: Place the cutting into a moist starter cube like Rockwool.
- Keep It Humid: Cover your new clones with a humidity dome to keep them from wilting.
- A New Generation: In about two weeks, you’ll have a new plant that is a perfect genetic copy of your prized mother!
What to Do With Your Trim? Capture That Haze Essence!
A sustainable grower knows that the trim is where the flavor is. With a strain as aromatic as California Haze, making a terpene-rich extract is the best way to honor it.
This is the perfect strain for making high-quality live resin or BHO (Butane Hash Oil). These methods capture the fresh, volatile citrus and spicy terpenes that define the strain’s amazing aroma and taste. It’s the ultimate way to experience what makes this plant so special.
The Grand Finale: Harvest, Dry & Cure
You’ve made it! Get a jeweler’s loupe and look at the trichomes. For that classic, energetic Haze high, you want to harvest when the trichomes are all cloudy, with very few (if any) amber ones.
- The Chop: Cut down your plants and trim away the large fan leaves.
- The Slow Dry: Hang the branches in a dark room with good airflow, a temperature around 60-70°F (15-21°C), and humidity around 50-55%. This takes about 7-10 days.
- The Cure: This is the most important step for Haze strains. A long, slow cure of at least 3-4 weeks (and ideally longer) is what will break down the chlorophyll and allow that complex citrus and spice flavor to fully develop. Be patient—it’s the secret to top-shelf Haze.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is California Haze a good strain for beginners?
Honestly, it’s more of an intermediate to advanced-level strain. Its long flowering time and its need for training to manage its height can be challenging for a first-time grower. But if you’re an ambitious beginner ready to learn, it will innovate your skills!
What are the effects really like? Will it make me anxious?
For most people, it’s a very “clean” and happy high. It’s known for providing energy, focus, and creativity without the racy, anxious feelings that some other strong sativas can cause. It’s a “get things done” kind of strain.
Is the long 10-12 week flowering time really worth it?
100% yes! That long flowering period is what allows the plant to develop its incredibly complex terpene profile and its signature clear-headed, long-lasting cerebral high. True Haze can’t be rushed, and the quality of the final product is why it’s a connoisseur’s favorite in our community.
What’s the best way to train this plant indoors?
A SCROG (Screen of Green) net is the absolute best method. By tucking the growing branches under the screen during the vegetative stage and the first couple of weeks of flowering, you can create a wide, flat, even canopy. This turns the plant’s vertical energy into a horizontal sea of top-shelf buds.
How big will my yield be?
If you manage its height with training and let it finish its full, long flowering cycle, California Haze is a massive yielder. Those long Sativa colas really stack up, rewarding your patience with a very bountiful harvest.
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