Ortega Feminised

Germination & Early Veg (Days 1-14): Ortega seeds typically crack within 48 hours using the damp paper towel method and break soil by around day 3. Early growth was squat and vigorous — broad cotyledons followed by wide, dark-green fan leaves typical of the indica heritage. By day 14 expect around four established nodes with tight internodal spacing. Damping off is uncommon at around 70% relative humidity during this phase.

Vegetative Growth (Weeks 3-6): Lateral branching exploded after topping at the fourth node. The plant filled a 60cm x 60cm footprint by week 5, staying under 40cm tall — ideal for growers working in compact tent setups.

Flower (Weeks 1-9): This is where the 75/25 genetics of Ortega truly revealed itself. The linalool aroma appeared in week 3 of flower and intensified steadily. Trichome coverage became visually striking from week 5 onward. Final indoor yield: 500-750g/m2. Plant height: Short. THC testing at 14%. Difficulty rating: easy.

Mid-Flower (Weeks 4-6): The transformation accelerated dramatically. Bud sites that were wispy clusters at week 3 swelled into properly defined colas. Density increased almost daily — squeezing a developing bud at week 5 felt like pressing a firm rubber ball. Fan leaf removal at the start of week 4 improved airflow through the lower canopy, critical since the ambient humidity outside the room sat near 80% through a damp Irish autumn.

Late Flower and Ripening (Weeks 7-9): Nutrient input dropped to plain water with a splash of molasses for the final 10 days. The linalool aroma became powerful enough that carbon filtration was essential — our neighbours would have noticed otherwise. Trichomes progressed from clear to milky across the final fortnight, with amber heads appearing on sugar leaves first. A common harvest window is around 15% amber on the calyxes.

Dry and Cure (Post-Harvest): Whole-plant hang dry in a darkened room at 17°C and 58% humidity for 12 days. Stems snapped cleanly rather than bending, confirming the moisture content was appropriate for jarring. After 4 weeks of glass jar curing with twice-daily burping (first 2 weeks) then daily burping (weeks 3-4), the bouquet fully developed. Final weight confirmed the 500-750g/m2 yield estimate. The myrcene secondary terpene became far more pronounced after curing than it was at harvest — a reminder that the drying and curing process genuinely creates flavour rather than merely preserving it.

Flowering: 9 weeks. Indoor yield: 500-750g/m2. Outdoor yield: 500–700 g/plant. Plant height: Short. Rated easy difficulty. Feminised seeds.

Irish users report relaxed, sleepy, happy as the defining characteristics, and our experience aligns with that consensus. At 14% THC, this indica sits in a potency bracket where dosage control genuinely matters. A single bowl in a vaporiser at 185°C produces a manageable, pleasant body relaxation with intact mental function — perfect for winding down after a long day in the summer sun. Increasing the dose shifts the experience firmly towards physical sedation, and many users find this their preferred nighttime cultivar during the cooler months. The Linalool/Myrcene terpene combination imparts a flavour that lingers on the palate — complex and shifting, revealing new notes across the session.

Ideal settings: quiet evenings, film nights, post-exercise recovery, and sleep preparation.

Primary: Linalool · Secondary: Myrcene · Tertiary: Caryophyllene. Together these three compounds construct an aromatic signature that evolves throughout the curing process. Freshly dried flower leads with linalool presence, but after three to four weeks in sealed glass jars at 16-18°C, the caryophyllene undertone strengthens and the overall bouquet develops a layered complexity. Vaporisation between 180°C and 195°C captures the broadest spectrum of these terpenes — higher temperatures degrade the more volatile caryophyllene molecules first.

Ortega suits growers with fundamental skills already established. You should understand pH management, basic nutrient ratios, and light cycle requirements before committing to this cultivar — it will not hold your hand, but it will not punish minor mistakes harshly either. Photoperiod genetics give you complete control over plant size and harvest timing — extend the vegetative phase for larger plants or flip early for a quicker turnaround in compact spaces. The Irish growing season (September through May) accommodates the 9 weeks bloom period comfortably for outdoor growers in the warmer, frost-free counties. Shipped discreetly within Ireland with sourced grow figures on every strain page.