Red Pop

Red Pop takes its name from a red strawberry soda sold in Michigan under the brand name Faygo, and the name refers to the smell: according to Exotic Genetix, the original cutting smelled exactly like that drink. The hybrid from the breeder based in Tacoma in the US state of Washington descends from Strawberry and Cookies & Cream and is listed as 60 % indica and 40 % sativa. A line from Michigan with a different pedigree is also documented under the same name.

Aroma and Flavor:

Descriptions revolve around strawberry soda, berry candy and red fruit punch, with a creamy vanilla note added; a comparison with flavored cola also comes up. The Michigan line is additionally credited with earthy and spicy tones, the Exotic Genetix version more with vanilla cream and pastry sweetness. User reports also mention cherry, blackberry and a hint of diesel; one report found the smell weak. As terpenes, strain descriptions list myrcene in 1st position ahead of pinene and limonene, while retail product listings give caryophyllene, limonene and ocimene.

Genetics and Origin:

It started with a find within an existing cross. Strawberries and Cream, bred by Exotic Genetix from Strawberry and Cookies & Cream, produced a phenotype that a grower going by the name regiemillers selected and passed on to company founder Exotic Mike. Selfing this cutting produced the seed line Red Pop S1. Cookies & Cream comes from Girl Scout Cookies and Starfighter F2; a magazine report from 2021 names the F2 generation of Cookies & Cream as the crossing partner for Strawberries and Cream. Little is known about the Strawberry mother, and a Dutch origin is attributed to her.

Exotic Genetix then used the selection as a parent for its own crosses, including Red Runtz (with Runtz), Big Red (with Kimbo Kush), Cherry Cosmo (with Baker's Dozen) and Cream Pop (with Milk & Cookies). Compound Genetics crossed it with Apples & Bananas for Exotic². The breeder now lists the S1 seeds themselves as retired.

Versions from Different Breeders:

The Michigan line is attributed to 710 Savant, also circulates as Faygo Red Pop and is regarded as an indica from an Afghani cross whose other parent is not named. As live resin it won 1st place in the Best Indica Concentrate category at the High Times Cannabis Cup in Michigan in 2015. Exotic Genetix, by contrast, describes its feminized S1 line as a hybrid with 60 % indica from Strawberry and Cookies & Cream. In retail the lines blur: one product description combines the pedigree of Exotic Genetix with the Cup win of 710 Savant, and one strain description names Afghani × Strawberry as a cross by Exotic Genetix.

Cultivation:

For Red Pop S1, Exotic Genetix gives 56 to 63 days of flowering, a high yield and a medium to tall stature, and recommends training it as a multi-topped bush. A detailed strain description differs and puts the entire flowering cycle at around 10 weeks. It describes vigorous growth, moderate height indoors and a dense upper canopy that responds well to training; the dense flowers take on dark colors, partly with light violet edges, and carry heavy trichome coverage. There are 2 readings on stretch after the start of flowering: little according to this description, 1.5 to 2 times according to another. The strain is considered suitable for indoor and outdoor cultivation.

THC Content:

Strain descriptions give around 20 % THC, in some cases 20 to 26 %. 2 flower batches offered in US retail were declared at 21.74 % and 26.8 % THC, without the testing lab being named; such values vary by batch, cultivation and phenotype.

Effects:

Users describe physical relaxation with a clear head. Talkativeness and focus are mentioned, in other reports creativity and giddiness, along with euphoric and mood-lifting effects. One report deviates, describing heaviness behind the eyes and drowsiness. Listed side effects are dry mouth, dry eyes and headache.

Community Experiences:

One grow report on the S1 line describes a plant that, despite what the grower called poor conditions, reached harvest in 10 weeks without hermaphrodite flowers. The grower described its aroma as sweetish with propane and rubber notes rather than strawberry soda, and the other S1 plants also turned out differently. Another report notes that Red Pop is strongly dominant in crosses, where many phenotypes take after this parent.