How to Grow LSD Strain: Award-Winning Indica
LSD is a Cannabis Cup-winning, 70% indica famous for its heavy, skunky punch and big, resinous yields. It pairs an earthy, skunk and sweet flavor with a high 19-24% THC, and a happy, relaxed, talkative effect, on a compact, high-yielding plant that finishes in a quick 8-9 weeks.
Built from classic genetics, LSD crosses the legendary Afghan indica Mazar with Skunk #1, giving a sturdy, 70% indica / 30% sativa hybrid. That heritage shows in the plant: a short, bushy, resin-heavy structure and the deep, earthy-skunk aroma that made it a favourite, backed up by genuinely large harvests.
Recommended Strains
It is a strong yielder and a forgiving, beginner-friendly grow despite its potency. You can see the full genetics and buy LSD feminized seeds on the strain page, and browse more of our high-THC seeds alongside it.
Strain Profile at a Glance
| THC | High (19-24%) |
|---|---|
| Lineage | Mazar (Mazar-i-Sharif) x Skunk #1 |
| Type | Feminized |
| Awards | Cannabis Cup 2008 winner |
| Genetics | 70% Indica / 30% Sativa |
| Climate | Tropical |
| Flowering time | 8-9 weeks |
| Harvest (outdoor) | September |
| Height | 3.94 ft / 1.2 m |
| Yield indoor | 1.97 oz/ft² (600 g/m²) |
| Yield outdoor | 21.16-28.22 oz/plant (600-800 g/plant) |
| Grow difficulty | Beginner-friendly |
| Flavors | Earthy, Skunk, Sweet |
| Effects | Happy, Relaxed, Talkative |
Promos & Deals
An Award-Winning Strain
LSD is not just a catalogue favourite, it is a proven winner: it took home a Cannabis Cup in 2008, a recognition of its potency, flavor and heavy yields. That pedigree is part of why it has stayed popular for so long, and it is a good sign for a grower that you are working with a stable, well-regarded genetic line rather than an untested novelty.
You can find it alongside our other decorated strains in the award-winning cannabis seeds collection. For a grower, a strain with a cup behind it tends to mean consistent results and a flavor profile that has already impressed expert judges.
Climate and Where to Grow It
LSD is a feminized photoperiod strain, so every seed grows into a flowering female and you control the cycle with light: a long day of around 18 hours through veg, then a switch to 12/12 to trigger flowering. There is no need to sex the plants, which is one reason it suits newer growers.
It does best in a warm, sunny, tropical climate with plenty of light and good airflow. As a 70% indica it stays short and bushy at around 1.2 m, so it fits small tents and discreet plots while still carrying a heavy harvest. Outdoors in the northern hemisphere it is typically ready in September, so it suits regions with a reasonable late-summer window.
Keep humidity in check to protect its dense, resinous buds: around 55-60% in veg, nearer 40% in flower, and down to about 30% by harvest. Those tight, chunky colas can trap moisture, so steady airflow and sensible humidity are the keys to a clean finish.
Feeding Schedule (EC Guide)
LSD is a vigorous, hungry, high-yielding indica, so feed it steadily, but still start low and build up as the plant asks for more. Taper right off for the final flush so the earthy-skunk-and-sweet flavor comes through clean and the smoke finishes smooth.
| Stage | EC (mS/cm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Seedling | 0.4-0.6 | Very light feed, focus on healthy root growth |
| Vegetative growth | 0.8-1.2 | Build the frame, raise nitrogen gradually |
| Early flower | 1.2-1.4 | Shift toward bloom nutrients (P and K) |
| Full flower | 1.4-1.6 | Peak bloom feed while the resinous buds swell |
| Flush | 0.0-0.4 | Plain water for the final 1-2 weeks |
Flowering and Harvest
Once you flip to 12/12, bloom runs a quick 8-9 weeks. As a 70% indica, LSD stays short and bushy while packing on dense, chunky, resin-soaked colas with that deep, skunky aroma. This is where its big-yield reputation shows, so some support for the main colas pays off as they fatten through the second half of bloom.
Yields are genuinely large: around 600 g/m² indoors and a big 600-800 g per plant outdoors in a strong season, depending on light, pot size and canopy health. Use a ScrOG net to open the canopy and spread those heavy colas, keep light reaching the lower buds, and harvest when most trichomes have turned cloudy for the fullest, skunkiest 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 stops the dense, resinous buds staying damp in the middle while the outside dries out, which protects both the skunky aroma and the heavy trichome coat.
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 earthy, skunk and sweet notes forward and smooths the smoke, which is exactly what this award-winning, resinous strain deserves.
What to Do With Your Trim
Don’t bin the sugar leaves you remove while manicuring. LSD is a very resinous, high-trichome plant, so its trim is excellent for making dry sift, bubble hash or rosin. That gives you a bonus run of pungent, skunky concentrate from material most growers would otherwise throw away.
Flavor and Terpenes
LSD has a bold, old-school profile: a deep, earthy skunk punch with a sweet undertone, the classic Skunk #1 character backed by its Afghan Mazar heritage. It is a pungent, full-bodied flavor rather than a light or fruity one, and a good cure really rounds out that earthy-skunk-and-sweet character in the jar and on the inhale.
It carries a broad terpene profile. Myrcene anchors the earthy, musky base, caryophyllene brings a warm, peppery spice behind the skunk, and humulene adds an earthy, hoppy depth. Pinene gives a fresh pine edge, linalool a soft floral sweetness and bisabolol a gentle, sweet-chamomile note, with farnesene, camphene, phellandrene and terpinolene filling out the complexity underneath.
Effects and Best Use
With its high 19-24% THC and 70% indica make-up, LSD delivers a strong, characterful experience. It is reported as happy, relaxed and talkative: a cheerful, sociable head lift paired with a heavy, comfortable body feel, a combination that keeps you chatty and content rather than fully couch-locked. This is a potent strain, so a little goes a long way, especially if you have a lower tolerance.
That balance makes it a versatile evening or weekend strain, good for unwinding while still feeling social. The mix of a cup-winning pedigree, a big yield, serious potency and that unmistakable skunk flavor is exactly why LSD has stayed a classic for so long.
Common Problems and Pro Tips
The main thing to manage with LSD is moisture in its dense, chunky buds. That tight indica structure can trap humidity and invite mould or bud rot, so keep humidity low through flower, run good airflow over and under the canopy, and inspect the fattest colas as harvest nears. Its skunky smell is strong, too, so a carbon filter is worth having indoors.
Its big yield is the other thing to plan for. Those heavy colas need support as they swell, so stake or trellis the main branches, and use a ScrOG net or light low-stress training to open the short, bushy plant and lift the lower buds into the light. Strong, even light over the canopy is what turns its potential into a full harvest.
As a pro tip, let this one finish properly to get the most from its 19-24% THC: follow the trichomes rather than the calendar. Keep the feed moderate rather than heavy so you don’t mute the skunk-and-sweet terpenes, run a clean plain-water flush in the final one to two weeks, then dry slowly and cure for three to four weeks for the richest flavor.
FAQ
Has LSD won any awards?
Yes. LSD is a Cannabis Cup winner, taking the title in 2008, which recognised its potency, flavor and heavy yields. That pedigree is part of its lasting appeal, and for a grower it is a good sign of a stable, well-regarded genetic line that delivers consistent, high-quality results.
How much THC does LSD have?
It is a high-THC strain, testing at around 19-24%. That gives it a strong, characterful effect rather than a mild one. Combined with its 70% indica genetics, the result is a happy, talkative head lift settling into a heavy body feel, so start with a small amount if your tolerance is low.
Is LSD an autoflower?
No. LSD is a feminized photoperiod strain, so it flowers on a light change rather than on age. You grow it under long days, then switch to a 12/12 light cycle to start flowering. Being feminized, every seed grows into a flowering female, so there is no need to sex the plants.
What does LSD taste like?
It has a bold, old-school flavor: a deep, earthy skunk punch with a sweet undertone, the classic Skunk #1 character over its Afghan Mazar base. Myrcene drives the earthy musk, caryophyllene a peppery spice and humulene a hoppy depth, with linalool and bisabolol adding a soft, sweet edge.
How long does LSD take to flower?
A quick 8-9 weeks once you switch to a 12/12 light cycle. As a mostly indica strain it fills in dense, resinous, chunky colas over that window. Outdoors in the northern hemisphere, plants are typically ready to harvest in September, so it suits regions with a reasonable late summer.
How much does LSD yield?
Yields are large: around 600 g/m² indoors and a big 600-800 g per plant outdoors in a strong season. Results depend on light, pot size and canopy health, so give it strong light, support the heavy colas and use a ScrOG net to make the most of a compact plant.
