What is Your Strain Guide System?

[caliwisp]

Hi Folks,

How do you keep track of the strains you have tried and the aromas/flavors/effects/source/cost etc.?

Several apps and websites have sprung up purporting to help do this.

They all have different virtues but I haven't seen one that is perfect.
-- they don't always have the strain in question
-- some will let you add a strain but then your data ends up online and you may not want that (you may just want your own guide)
-- you can add a strain in the web version but not through the app
-- the rating systems are all different (use different flavor/effect descriptors)
-- the genetics info may or may not be included, or be accurate

Does anybody know of a system (preferably iPhone app but perhaps otherwise) that:
-- allows you to make your data public or private
-- has a template but allows some customization of rating language/scales
-- will help you track the dispensary where you got it, date purchased and cost
-- can help you record and remember aroma, flavor, effects, etc.
-- has a place to record any testing notes (THC/CBD %, notable terpenes)
-- can help you remember the genetics

It just gets kind of mindboggling after awhile, trying to remember which ones have which flavors and effects, where they came from, and so forth. One dispensary might call it one name, and the other a different; or the same strain name from different dispensaries has different THC/CBD/terpene profiles, and effects.

Any insight is appreciated!

 

[CarolKing]

I guess my problem is I'm wondering if what we're getting is what they are telling us at the local dispensaries. This is all new to me, call me a skeptic. It's different if you personally know the grower. I don't want to grow my own either.

I am all for testing and labeling to make sure we know what we're getting such as THC and CBD levels ......

I want to be able to keep track of what I'm getting. I would like to see what works best for what I'm dealing with, pain or anxiety. Thanks for starting this.

I thought about just keeping a diary.

 

[caliwisp]

@CarolKing yes I am with you! I have a little notebook. It's doing the trick for the moment.

This is a wonderful problem to have -- which folks in CA and WA and CO know about -- all the different choices facing us.

Whether for medical or recreational use, it's helpful to know what percentages of what cannabinoids do the trick, what terpenes and other components assist, and what aromas and flavors give hints of those effects as well as provide enjoyment.

Strain names are just a general guide since there is so much variation between growers and dispensaries.

 

[syrupy]

Any spreadsheet program can track all this, sort by dispensary, condition, etc. It can be made public through google docs.

I notice some dispensaries sort their strains on web sites by condition, where something like ANXIETY can be selected and it lists recommended strains. I don't go by those recommendations. My body processes this substance its own way. For that I keep a notebook also. For me it's important to remember that everything is in flux, so when I evaluate a given strain for pain relief, to remember if my pain is 8/10 that day, to take that into account when grading the strain. A bad day can make medicine that is good appear less effective than average, and a good day can make all medicine feel effective.

The notebook ends up being a hybrid medical/strain journal, which is helpful in other places. My doctor was impressed on the condition-tracking side of things.

There are way too many strains available to try to catalog them all. I do keep a half/gram sample of each strain (long story) for reference. What has been more helpful is to just track strain parentage. I know how Blueberry strain affects me, and use that as a baseline when evaluating strains with Blueberry in them. I know how Haze affects me. I know Jack Herer strain. With this system, I can reduce everything down to about a dozen strain families. That works best for me, because frequently I will see the rarer strains only a few times a year, and it doesn't make sense to track those in fine detail.

 

[caliwisp]

Any spreadsheet program can track all this, sort by dispensary, condition, etc. It can be made public through google docs.

I notice some dispensaries sort their strains on web sites by condition, where something like ANXIETY can be selected and it lists recommended strains. I don't go by those recommendations. My body processes this substance its own way. For that I keep a notebook also. For me it's important to remember that everything is in flux, so when I evaluate a given strain for pain relief, to remember if my pain is 8/10 that day, to take that into account when grading the strain. A bad day can make medicine that is good appear less effective than average, and a good day can make all medicine feel effective.

The notebook ends up being a hybrid medical/strain journal, which is helpful in other places. My doctor was impressed on the condition-tracking side of things.

There are way too many strains available to try to catalog them all. I do keep a half/gram sample of each strain (long story) for reference. What has been more helpful is to just track strain parentage. I know how Blueberry strain affects me, and use that as a baseline when evaluating strains with Blueberry in them. I know how Haze affects me. I know Jack Herer strain. With this system, I can reduce everything down to about a dozen strain families. That works best for me, because frequently I will see the rarer strains only a few times a year, and it doesn't make sense to track those in fine detail.

Great idea on the "strain families". I'm glad more places are testing, too.

 

[cityslang]

You can keep your own reviews private on leafly.com app I use it for android not sure about the iphone version.

A lot of strains can produce pheno and poor breeding can make this really unpredictable so strains always aren't as they may seem.

I keep most of my notes in my head and have really fond memories of Swiss Bliss and Dairy Queen only ever had a 1/4 of each would love them again.

 

[caliwisp]

You can keep your own reviews private on leafly.com app I use it for android not sure about the iphone version.

A lot of strains can produce pheno and poor breeding can make this really unpredictable so strains always aren't as they may seem.

I keep most of my notes in my head and have really fond memories of Swiss Bliss and Dairy Queen only ever had a 1/4 of each would love them again.

I'll give Leafly a bit more of a chance. I had gotten frustrated because I tend to use the app on my iPhone mostly and to add your own strains you have to log on to the web version on a computer (but after that you can view on your iPhone and they are private -- but according to Leafly they keep track of the private strains folks are adding and if they get a critical mass they add the strain to the database).

Sure hope you find some Swiss Bliss and Dairy Queen again. I know what you mean about the phenos and breeding story . . . also whether it was grown outdoors in the sunshine or indoors, etc. It's an exciting time in cannabis science; I bet in the next few years we are going to learn a lot about how the different chemical components develop and what they do!

 

[SlinginPaint]

There's some Dairy Queen right around the corner.... Makin me wish I hadn't snagged some SFV this afternoon!

I admit Leafly has been my go to.

 

[luckypucky]

I'll give Leafly a bit more of a chance. I had gotten frustrated because I tend to use the app on my iPhone mostly and to add your own strains you have to log on to the web version on a computer (but after that you can view on your iPhone and they are private -- but according to Leafly they keep track of the private strains folks are adding and if they get a critical mass they add the strain to the database).

Sure hope you find some Swiss Bliss and Dairy Queen again. I know what you mean about the phenos and breeding story . . . also whether it was grown outdoors in the sunshine or indoors, etc. It's an exciting time in cannabis science; I bet in the next few years we are going to learn a lot about how the different chemical components develop and what they do!

Hands down Leafly is my go to app and thankfully they put the A-Z display of strains back in the menu bar. Also anything I don't find on Leafly I google and just find it elsewhere which is rare..

 

[CarolKing]

I wondering also how certain strains might work together, in harmony with one another and boost the medicinal qualities. I've just been taking notes. I have been getting small amounts of different strains.

I have gone to several dispensaries in my area just yo see what's available.

 

[luckypucky]

I wondering also how certain strains might work together, in harmony with one another and boost the medicinal qualities. I've just been taking notes. I have been getting small amounts of different strains.

I have gone to several dispensaries in my area just yo see what's available.

Lol I do the same thing! I have a strain box with little vials and I sometimes based on different experiences from each one sometimes like to mix them in my MFLB to get the best of both worlds for whatever mood or need I have at that moment. I get the nickname "the lab" from a friend because it is so organized with labels and everything and I am not an organized person! Lol but I LOVE science and that's what the strains are to me

 

[TriiKLe]

From my own experience as a grower and a consumer, I have realized that there are, at this point in time, too many variables involved with different strains/aromas/effects/flavors to create that reliable of a guide or reference system.

Strains can give you a general idea of what the story of your herb can be. But the variables involved can totally give you different effects, aromas, costs, etc. For example you must treat every harvest differently, there are good grows and bad grows no matter what strain you are growing. Variables can include growing environment, fertilizer, and grower experience with that particular strain. Not all strains grow the same, especially to their full potential.

Another thing that can vary is the user themselves. We all have our own unique homeostasis (diet,exercise,genetics, health history,etc.). So one person can totally be affected differently from another person after having consumed the same exact herb.

There are "studies" about how you prefer the smell of certain strains and aromas because your body can sense the necessary compounds it needs to maintain homeostasis.

Variety is the spice of life, there are more strains and growers than ever, savor the flavors.

 

[lwien]

^^ Well said and totally agree.

 

[SlinginPaint]

I found this place recently: BudGenius

Really in depth analysis and locations on testing.

 

[lwien]

I found this place recently: BudGenius

Really in depth analysis and locations on testing.

What's interesting about that site is you can plainly see the very wide differences in THC content as well as the overall profile from the exact same strain grown by different growers.

That fact almost make it impossible to compare one strain to another, eh?

 

[luckypucky]

There is no way to know how you will feel on a strain exactly (unless becomes like mcdonalds and genetically engineered to be all the same..gawd no!) but having a general idea gives you alittle bit on going in what you may expect if you are looking for that effect.. If I want more indepth I can read some comments and such nothing much but I like the discovery and lineage aspects. Of course not every harvest will be the same but you can tell the difference based on previous experience. It is about user experience here and how these sites get data. Like any wiseman catchphrase you should never think you are done learning so there is the possibility of something new in every experience, no? But you still have the foundation of the general description to start with and some people just like to keep things simple and see how it works on them.. Some people like to know the accurate detail of everything and unless someone makes that app resource we are just like Columbus expecting the the indies and sometimes finding the Florida keys instead lol

 

[SlinginPaint]

What's interesting about that site is you can plainly see the very wide differences in THC content as well as the overall profile from the exact same strain grown by different growers.

That fact almost make it impossible to compare one strain to another, eh?

Exactly, its all about how it was grown and in what medium, nutes, lighting etc. etc.

I like that site simply for the descriptions and photos, much more continuity than Leafly IMHO.

 

[luckypucky]

So what combinations do you try since we stated the subject of mixing and why you like or prefer the combinations

 

[nopartofme]

I found this place recently: BudGenius

Really in depth analysis and locations on testing.

I find it strange that when you filter by strains that treat anxiety you get strains with high CBD, but if you choose to instead filter out strains that cause anxiety, they all have super-high THC.

Apparently @BudGenius posted around here once upon a time in 2011. Any chance you guys are still around?

 

[Stu]

I have a spreadsheet for my own personal reference. I've cataloged over 50 strains so far and I make rankings in 5 categories. I also include the source as I've had at least 3 different versions of Girl Scout Cookies alone.

It's not a perfect system, but a good point of reference for my own personal needs. I don't think any type of universal reference will ever substitute for good ol' "what works best for me?"

 

[luckypucky]

Yea I feel the same way.. I base it off what my experience is or people I know.. But I like just a general idea as well going in on ones I have never tried before through those apps. I LOVE taking about strains with people and it blows my mind when someone says meh whatever my guy gives me I don't know..I'm like you could use it more effectively as a tool and not for getting blitz if you knew the differences and open up to a wider spectrum.. But again I go back to what I said earlier not everyone wants ALL the details and just wants to experience it like you would a video game with utter disregard of the manual on gameplay lol

 

[lwien]

I have a spreadsheet for my own personal reference. I've cataloged over 50 strains so far and I make rankings in 5 categories. I also include the source as I've had at least 3 different versions of Girl Scout Cookies alone.

It's not a perfect system, but a good point of reference for my own personal needs. I don't think any type of universal reference will ever substitute for good ol' "what works best for me?"

And then if you throw various salads into the mix, that can really fuck things up. Gotta go out and get one them Titan Supercomputers.

 

[caliwisp]

I have a spreadsheet for my own personal reference. I've cataloged over 50 strains so far and I make rankings in 5 categories. I also include the source as I've had at least 3 different versions of Girl Scout Cookies alone.

It's not a perfect system, but a good point of reference for my own personal needs. I don't think any type of universal reference will ever substitute for good ol' "what works best for me?"

Hi @Stu what five categories do you rank, just curious? This is great!

 

[Stu]

Hi @Stu what five categories do you rank, just curious? This is great!

Head effects, Body effects, Taste, Yield and Overall Rating.

I also nave a "notes" column for additional thoughts.

 

[caliwisp]

Head effects, Body effects, Taste, Yield and Overall Rating.

I also nave a "notes" column for additional thoughts.

Thanks @Stu and hooray for science!