How to Grow Critical Regular
Critical Regular is a fast, high-yielding, mostly indica strain built from a cross of Critical Mass and AK47. It pairs a bright citrus and sweet flavor with a medium 15-20% THC and a happy, relaxed and talkative effect, finishing in just 7 to 9 weeks. As a regular strain it comes in both sexes, which makes it a natural choice for breeders and growers who want to work with original genetics.
This is a regular photoperiod strain and a 70% indica, so it grows into a sturdy, medium-sized plant of around 1.5 m with a strong yield. Being regular rather than feminized means the seeds produce both male and female plants, exactly as they occur in nature, which is the key thing that shapes how you grow it.
Recommended Strains
Critical Regular
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THC | 15% - 20% (Medium) |
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Type | Regular |
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Yield | High |
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Phenotype | 70% Indica / 30% Sativa |
Critical Auto
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THC | 10% - 14% (Low) |
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Type | Autoflowering |
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Yield | Medium |
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Phenotype | 70% Indica / 30% Sativa |
Productive, quick and genetically stable, Critical Regular is a rewarding way to grow a classic indica from original seed. You can see the full genetics and buy Critical Regular seeds on the strain page, and browse the rest of our regular seeds alongside it.
Strain Profile at a Glance
| THC | Medium (15-20%) |
|---|---|
| Lineage | Critical Mass x AK47 |
| Type | Regular (photoperiod) |
| Genetics | 70% Indica / 30% Sativa |
| Climate | Temperate |
| Flowering time | 7-9 weeks |
| Harvest (outdoor) | September |
| Height | 4.92 ft / 1.5 m |
| Yield indoor | 1.47-2.13 oz/ft² (450-650 g/m²) |
| Yield outdoor | 15.87-22.93 oz/plant (450-650 g/plant) |
| Grow difficulty | Intermediate (regular seeds, sexing needed) |
| Flavors | Citrus, Sweet |
| Effects | Happy, Relaxed, Talkative |
Promos & Deals
Growing a Regular Strain
The defining feature of Critical Regular is that it is a regular strain, not a feminized one. That means the seeds are the original, natural form of the plant and produce both males and females, roughly in half. For most growers aiming only for a harvest of buds, that means you need to identify the sex of each plant early in flowering and remove the males before they pollinate the females, which would otherwise fill your crop with seeds.
For breeders, that same trait is the whole point. Regular seeds are what you use to make your own crosses, preserve a genetic line, select standout phenotypes and keep a healthy mother to take cuttings from. Because of the sexing step, a regular strain is better suited to growers who are comfortable spotting pre-flowers and managing a population, rather than a first-ever grow. It is a photoperiod plant, so indoors you keep it under long days of around 18 hours while it grows, then switch to a 12/12 light cycle to trigger flowering.
Climate and Where to Grow It
Critical Regular does well in a warm, temperate climate with good sun and steady airflow. Its Critical Mass and AK47 heritage makes it a resilient, adaptable plant, and its quick 7 to 9 week flowering means it finishes early, around September outdoors, before the wetter and colder weather of late autumn arrives. That early finish is a real advantage in regions with a shorter or less predictable season.
It is a strong producer both indoors and out. Outdoors it yields around 450-650 g per plant given room and sun, while indoors it returns a reliable 450-650 g/m² in a well-managed tent. As a 70% indica it stays a manageable medium height of about 1.5 m, so it suits a tent without demanding much vertical space.
Whichever way you grow it, keep humidity under control through flowering to protect the dense buds: around 55-60% early on, nearer 40-45% in mid-bloom and lower still toward harvest. The heavy indica colas that Critical is known for can trap moisture, so steady airflow and sensible humidity are the keys to a clean finish. Aim for daytime temperatures around 68-80°F (20-27°C).
Feeding Schedule (EC Guide)
Critical Regular is a vigorous feeder through its short flowering window, but it still pays to build nutrients up gradually and read the leaves rather than overfeed. Taper right off for the final flush so the citrus and sweet flavor comes through clean and the smoke finishes smooth. The ranges below are a starting guide; adjust them to your water and medium.
| Stage | EC (mS/cm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Seedling | 0.4-0.6 | Light feed while the roots establish |
| Vegetative growth | 0.8-1.2 | Raise nitrogen as the plant builds structure |
| Early flower | 1.2-1.4 | Shift toward bloom nutrients (P and K) |
| Full flower | 1.4-1.6 | Peak bloom feed while the dense colas swell |
| Flush | 0.0-0.4 | Plain water for the final 1-2 weeks |
Flowering and Harvest
Critical Regular flowers fast, in just 7 to 9 weeks, which is quick even for an indica. The most important point in the flowering stage is timing the sexing: watch for pre-flowers at the nodes early on and remove any males before they open, unless you are deliberately breeding. Once the females are on their own, they fill in dense, resin-heavy colas up a compact, 1.5 m frame.
Yields are a real strength. Outdoors it produces around 450-650 g per plant, with the harvest window landing near September in the northern hemisphere, while indoors it returns a similar 450-650 g/m² under good light and a well-managed canopy. Keep the lower growth tidy so energy goes to the main bud sites, and harvest when most trichomes have turned cloudy for the fullest, most balanced expression.
Drying and Curing
Dry whole plants or branches in a dark room at around 60°F (15-18°C) and 55-60% humidity for 7-14 days, until the thin stems snap rather than bend. A slow, even dry is important with buds this dense, since it stops the thick inner flowers staying damp while the outside dries out, which protects both the aroma and the trichomes.
Then cure the trimmed buds in sealed jars, burping them daily for the first week and letting them settle for three to four weeks. A proper cure is what brings the citrus and sweet notes forward and smooths out the smoke, which is well worth the patience on a harvest this size.
What to Do With Your Trim
Don’t bin the sugar leaves you remove while manicuring. Critical Regular is a resinous, trichome-heavy plant, so its trim works well for dry sift, bubble hash or rosin. On a yield this size that adds up to a meaningful bonus run of citrus-sweet concentrate from material most growers would otherwise throw away.
Flavor and Terpenes
Critical Regular has a clean, approachable profile: a bright citrus note over a sweet, earthy base. It is a moreish, easygoing flavor rather than a sharp or gassy one, and a good cure really brings that citrus-and-sweet character forward in the jar and on the inhale.
Its terpene profile backs that up. Myrcene lays down an earthy, musky indica base, while limonene brings the bright citrus lift that defines the aroma. Caryophyllene adds a warm, peppery spice and linalool a soft, floral sweetness, with alpha- and beta-pinene giving a fresh, piney edge on top. Together they shape the citrus-sweet, earthy character Critical is known for.
Effects and Best Use
With its medium 15-20% THC and 70% indica make-up, Critical Regular delivers a classic, body-forward experience. It is reported as happy, relaxed and talkative: a good-natured, sociable lift that settles into a comfortable body relaxation. The medium THC keeps it enjoyable and approachable rather than overwhelming.
That balance makes it a versatile strain, relaxing and sociable without being heavy enough to shut you down, so it works well for unwinding with company in the afternoon or evening. The combination of a fast, high-yielding grow, stable original genetics and a clean citrus-sweet flavor is exactly why this Critical line stays a reliable favourite.
Common Problems and Pro Tips
The main thing to manage with Critical Regular is the sexing. Because it is a regular strain, you have to watch for pre-flowers at the nodes as flowering begins and remove the males promptly, before they release pollen and seed your crop. Give yourself the space and the light to inspect plants closely, and plan for the fact that roughly half your seeds may turn out male unless you are breeding.
Watch the humidity through flowering too, since the dense indica colas can trap moisture and are prone to mould in a damp finish. Keep the air moving, bring humidity down as the buds mature, and open up the canopy with a little training so air can get through. The compact 1.5 m height makes this easy to manage in a tent.
As a pro tip, make the regular format work for you: keep a healthy male or a standout female aside and you can breed your own seeds or preserve the line, which is something feminized seeds cannot offer. Run a clean plain-water flush at the end, then follow the trichomes rather than the calendar and cure for three to four weeks to bring the citrus-sweet flavor forward.
FAQ
What does regular mean for Critical Regular?
Regular means the seeds are the original, natural form of the plant and produce both males and females, rather than being feminized. For a bud harvest you need to identify and remove the males early in flowering. For breeders, that same trait is valuable, since regular seeds are what you use to make crosses and preserve a genetic line.
How long does Critical Regular take to flower?
Critical Regular flowers fast, in about 7 to 9 weeks, which is quick even for an indica. Grown outdoors in the northern hemisphere it is usually ready to harvest around September, finishing before the colder, wetter weather arrives. Time your sexing early so the males are gone well before the females mature.
How much THC does Critical Regular have?
It is a medium-THC strain, testing at around 15-20%. That gives it a strong but approachable, body-forward effect rather than an overwhelming one. Combined with its 70% indica genetics, the result is a happy, relaxed and talkative experience that works well socially in the afternoon or evening.
What does Critical Regular taste like?
It has a clean, bright flavor: a citrus note over a sweet, earthy base. Myrcene drives the earthy indica base, limonene adds the citrus lift, caryophyllene a peppery spice and linalool a soft floral sweetness, with pinene giving a fresh, piney edge. A good cure brings the citrus-sweet side forward.
How much does Critical Regular yield?
It is a strong producer, giving around 450-650 g/m² indoors and 450-650 g per plant outdoors. Results depend on pot size, light and canopy management, and in a regular grow on how many females you keep after sexing. Keep the canopy open and humidity in check to get the biggest, cleanest harvest.
Is Critical Regular suitable for beginners?
It is a fast, resilient and forgiving plant to grow, but the regular format adds a step: you must sex the plants and remove the males. That makes it better suited to growers who are comfortable identifying pre-flowers, or to breeders, rather than a first-ever grow. If you are happy to sex plants, it is straightforward.
