Snow Bud

Dutch Passion selected Snow Bud for outdoor sites in the mountains, with the selection taking place in the Swiss Alps. The feminized variety, a cross of Afghani and an unnamed South African line, belongs to the breeder's High-Altitude series, which the breeder specifies for cold and wet locations. The breeder traces the name to the many white pistils and the thick layer of trichomes.

Cultivation:

According to Dutch Passion, Snow Bud grows sativa-dominant in a Christmas-tree shape, with long, full side branches and medium internodal spacing. Usually one large main cola dominates, surrounded by many smaller side buds. The large, narrow leaves carry 11 fingers on average, occasionally 13. The breeder describes the buds as open in structure, with small gaps preventing them from growing together.

Dutch Passion gives the flowering time as 7 to 9 weeks; outdoors the plants flower until late September or early October. On average they reach 1.5 to 2 m in height, and after an early start indoors they reach 2.5 to 3 m outdoors. For indoor cultivation the breeder states 350 to 400 g/m², up to 450 g/m² under optimal conditions, and concedes that this is somewhat below many other varieties. It attributes good resistance to mold, powdery mildew and bud rot as well as cold tolerance to the variety and rates it as suitable for beginners. Topping and FIM are tolerated accordingly, and it does well in a SCROG; for SOG the lower 2 to 4 branches should be removed. Another strain description gives a somewhat shorter flowering time and a later harvest in October.

Community Experiences:

The results of 2 documented grows are contradictory. In an indoor grow the plants stretched from 30 to 160 cm after the switch to flowering, an increase of 433 %. Yield remained very low there, 2 plants turned hermaphrodite, 2 others formed leaves with 15 or more fingers, and no plant resembled another. The plants in this grow also proved susceptible to fungal infestation, needed a lot of fertilizer and at the same time reacted sensitively to over- and underfeeding. The outdoor report, by contrast, describes a high yield with many thick buds on the side branches, no problems with mold or low temperatures and a low fertilizer demand. The two reports agree in describing the dried buds as hard and compact, which contradicts the breeder's account. Another grower reports outdoor plants 2.6 m tall.

Genetics and Origin:

Dutch Passion puts the sativa share at 60 to 75 %, another strain description at 60 %. Snow Bud appears as an ancestor in varieties from Dynasty Seeds: a cross with Pineapple, listed as Snapple, is, alongside Kali Mist, a parent of Kali Snapple. Dynasty Seeds in turn crossed this with Ms. Universe #10 to create Pineapple Fields.

Versions from Different Breeders:

The name Snowbud is also carried by Akorn from TH Seeds, according to the breeder a predominantly indica-leaning cross of Snowbud and Afghan Kush. Its roots lie accordingly in the northwestern USA, from where it was brought back in 1995; consumers gave it the nickname because of its strong resin production. For Akorn, 9 weeks of flowering and 400 to 500 g/m² are stated. Whether the Snowbud parent is the Dutch Passion variety cannot be determined from the information; one report equates the two names.

Aroma and Flavor:

In aroma, Snow Bud combines spice and earthiness with skunk, according to Dutch Passion. For flavor the breeder lists a pine note alongside spice, sometimes also sweetness, plus hints of cinnamon and honey. Other strain descriptions also list cinnamon and skunk, supplemented by nutty tones. In user reports pine and skunk recur, and one describes a flavor reminiscent of coffee; one grower, by contrast, noticed mainly lemon instead of the announced spice. A producer and other strain descriptions name myrcene, caryophyllene and limonene as the predominant terpenes, in each case without quantities.

Effects:

Dutch Passion describes a distinctly head-focused effect with a small body component, said to relax and keep one alert at the same time; another strain description rates it only as medium in strength. In user reports, creativity and concentration are mentioned in some, relaxation up to sleepiness in others. One grower found that the effect left them nervous and driven. Dry mouth and dry eyes are also named, occasionally headaches and lightheadedness, and in one report also anxious restlessness and paranoia.

THC and CBD Content:

Dutch Passion rates the THC content in its key data as very high, without giving a figure. Another strain description states 16 % THC and 0 % CBD; further figures deviate clearly from this, upward as well as downward. The two grow reports also judge differently: in the indoor grow the buds turned out weak, outdoors medium to strong.