818 Headband

Several user reports on 818 Headband describe the same physical sensation: a light pressure around the forehead and eyes that recalls a headband or swimming goggles and that some consumers perceive as a loosening of the facial muscles. The cross of Sour Diesel and SFV OG Kush was bred by The Cali Connection of Los Angeles, which also lists it under the name Sour OG. The number in the name refers to the telephone area code of the San Fernando Valley.

Community Experiences:

The reports disagree about the effects. Some describe the strain as stimulating and mood-lifting, with euphoria, tingling, giddiness or increased concentration; several reports emphasize an arousing effect. Others found it relaxing to sedating, and in one case drowsiness-inducing. A grower who had grown the strain personally reports a strong and long-lasting effect that was relaxing up to the point of couchlock. Side effects mentioned are dry mouth, dry eyes and dizziness; the consumer concerned did not find the latter bothersome.

Impressions of flavor also differ. Mentioned are diesel with lemon on the exhale, woody-earthy tones with a subdued citrus note, and mint with hints of rose and cedar wood. Other reports describe the taste as metallic and oily or as sharply chemical; the grower mentioned noted cheese, sugar and butter.

Genetics and Origin:

According to a magazine report from 2016, The Cali Connection was founded by Swerve in 2008; a retailer description also gives 2008 as the start of breeding in Los Angeles. The breeder description lists a cutting of the original Sour Diesel as the mother of 818 Headband and a male of the breeder's own SFV OG Kush in the F4 generation as the father. Retailers describe the father as SFV OG Kush IBL, that is, an inbred line. Pedigree information traces SFV OG Kush back to SFV OG and Afghani #1, and Sour Diesel to Original Diesel and DNL.

According to a seed retailer, the strain won 1st place in the Hybrid category at the 2010 High Times Medical Cannabis Cup in Michigan.

The ratio of indica to sativa can be read in 2 ways. Retailers list 818 Headband as a balanced hybrid with 50 % indica and 50 % sativa, while one strain description gives 60 % sativa and 40 % indica. That description also distinguishes 2 phenotypes: a sativa-leaning one that grows tall and stretched and flowers longer, and an indica-leaning, compact one with a shorter flowering period. As a parent, the strain is documented in Hoosier Headband by Strain Reign, a cross of 818 Headband as the mother and Purple 710 Gum as the father.

Aroma and Flavor:

The breeder description speaks of a sour, kerosene-like fuel smell, a retailer description of diesel and sour notes. Other strain descriptions list lemon, pine and earth, or rose, diesel and mint respectively. Myrcene, caryophyllene and limonene are listed there as the dominant terpenes.

THC and CBD Content:

One strain description gives 19 % THC and 1 % CBG. Two US producers reported 21.54 and 22.3 % THC for their flowers of this strain, with 0.08 and 0.4 % CBD respectively. Values vary by batch, cultivation and phenotype.

Cultivation:

The Cali Connection offers 818 Headband as feminized seeds and states a flowering time of 65 to 75 days and a yield from 600 g/m². According to the breeder, the offspring show good structure and solid main colas. The strain is regarded as suitable for indoor and outdoor cultivation. One retailer description rates the difficulty as medium, while another considers the strain suitable for beginners.

In a documented indoor grow, flowering took 60 days. The plant grew from 25 to about 80 cm, which the grower stated as a stretch of around 220 %, and needed supports during flowering. The dried buds turned out rock-hard and very compact, with a good ratio of flowers to leaves. No mold or fungal infestation occurred, and the plant tolerated temperature fluctuations and deviations in feeding. According to this report it tolerated topping of the main shoot poorly, whereas a retailer description rates topping, LST and SCROG as well tolerated.