Strain Review: ICE

As the name suggests, the ICE strain of cannabis by Royal Queen Seeds is all about resin, and the bubble hash, wax, and Buddha that can be made from it! It was created by breeding a pure Afghan strain with the legendary Northern lights, and then a further Skunk. The resulting hybrid, whilst not an overly massive yielder, produces some of the frostiest crystal covered bud we have ever seen.

THE ICE EXPERIENCE

ICE hits hard. The smooth smoke instantly reaches throughout the body, numbing with its icy tendrils. It’s a classic couch-lock strain, and exactly what we would expect from such an indica dominant hybrid. As a result, we would recommend its use as an end of day treat, when you don’t expect to be up and active. As long as this is the case, then ICE is an excellent choice, irrespective if used alone or with others.

In terms of medical potential, ICE has a fairly low CBD content combined with a high THC content. So whilst it can certainly help those suffering from an array of ailments relieve a bit of their burden, there are much better suited medical strains out there.

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Ice (Royal Queen Seeds) feminized

(11)

Parents: Afghan x Northern Light x Skunk

Genetics: Indica-dominant

Flowering Time: 9-10 weeks

Potency: 18%

CBD: Medium

Flowering Type: Photoperiod

ICE IN THE GROW ROOM

We found that in the grow room, ICE grew pretty much as would be expected of a classic indica – staying fairly small in stature and with large, lush fan leaves. Its solid build makes it quite a treat to work with, and can be pinched, pruned and trained to encourage extra growth. In our eyes, this makes it an ideal candidate for anyone wanting to experiment or hone their advanced growing techniques.

ICE has a flowering time of roughly 8 weeks, but leaving it an extra couple will give it enough time to really boost its resin output – which is ideal for anyone planning to make hash. When it comes to full fruition, it quite a magnificent plant to behold. As we stated at the beginning, ICE is one of the frostiest strains of cannabis we have ever seen, and when you have a few of them, it’s like entering a winter wonderland!

In terms of yields, you can expect around 55-56 grams per plant when grown under an experienced hand. It’s not the most bountiful of yields out there, but for the time it takes to grow, and the quality of the end product, we think it is well worth it – especially if you are a hobby grower.

When it comes to outdoor growing, despite its name, ICE prefers warmer climates, like those found in Spain and Italy.

The actual end product is ideal for ice bubble hash production (hence its name), and is certainly going to be a favourite of hash and concentrate lovers.

CONCLUSION

Despite its average yields, ICE is a well bred genetic powerhouse, and the ideal strain for recreational indica lovers, and those who worship good quality hash. Its solid growth traits and pliability make it a pleasure to work with in the grow room, and offer a lot of versatility to novice/veteran growers looking to hone their growing techniques.

Luke Sholl

Luke Sholl has been writing about cannabis, the wellness potential of cannabinoids, and the positive influence of nature for over a decade. Working with several cannabinoid-centric publications, he publishes a variety of digital content, supported by strong technical knowledge and thorough research.

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