Grow Report: Sensi Star

Superb Indica Champion

The legendary Paradise Seeds strain Sensi Star has left a lasting impression on the cannabis world since it gained worldwide popularity in 1999 by winning the High Times and Highlife Cups in the same year. Many awards have followed in the years since and this Paradise variety has parented many spin offs in its time.

It is a highly potent Indica with a distinctive growth pattern and a dynamic personality, illustrated by its dense and frosty buds and a unique spicy/minty flavor which sets it aside from other plants. Its indoor flowering time is 8-9 weeks indoors and will finish in early October outdoors with an estimated yield of 400g per m² indoors / 600g per plant outdoors. Sensi Star is a modern classic, so time to see what this strain can do in the grow room...

Mr. Power Planter germinated five Sensi Star seeds in small peat pots filled with seedling soil. and were raised under 18 hours of daily light (600 W HPS Osram Planta-T) in the vegetative stage. One week after germination, the plants were transplanted to six litre pots with ready-made soil mixture.

Mr. Power Planter knew that Sensi Star doesn't like high levels of nutrients and therefore restricted the EC to a maximum of 1.6-1.8 mS. The plants grew very homogeneously: When flowering was induced 24 days after germination by reducing the light regimen to 12 hours, the difference in height of the shortest and tallest plant amounted to merely 13 cm, with most of the plants having more or less the same height, between 40 and 53 cm. They exhibited indica-typical dark green leaves and moderate side-branching.

Flowering Stage

Flowering proceeded very well: As early as in the fifth week of blooming, the plants already appeared white with resin, definitely asserting Sensi Star`s reputation as the “white strain”. Another three weeks later, the buds were frosted all-over, also the flower leafs were completely coated with rich amounts of resin glands.

The flower structure and calyx-to-leaf ratio of the five plants was either identical or very similar, looking indica-like, but with hairy clusters and easily cuttable short indica flower leafs. And also in terms of density, the buds could convince Mr. Power Planter, being very solid and quite broad.

Their scent was quite unusual and corresponded to what breeder Luc says about his Sensi Star: “Her bouquet is strong and somehow fresh like mint, metal and oxygen combined, crazy, hard to explain.”
The plants turned out to be highly homogeneous, measuring 60, 66, 68, 72 and 74 cm in the end and matured within the 56-63 days span stated by Paradise Seeds.

Harvest Yield

When the buds had been dried, single plant yields turned out to be between 20 and 31 grams, what can be considered a good harvest from seed, especially in relation to the fairly small size of the plants.

Smell and Smoke Report

When it came to smoking, the Sensi Star buds could keep the promise of their look, delivering a strong body sensation, but also a certain degree of energetic cerebral effects, thanks to the slight sativa influence.

Smoked in a bong, these Sensi Star buds were a one-hitter that would last for hours, pretty damn strong stuff, presumably with a THC content of 16-20%, as measured in different Sensi Star THC tests in the past. The taste was complex, even sweeter than expected and quite mild, with minty and metallic undertones, highly enjoyable.

Verdict

Without a doubt, Sensi Star is as mighty as ever, maybe even stronger than ever, and an excellent champion variety to grow from seed.

Cultivation data:

Strain: Sensi Star
Pedigree: Afghani with a hint of sativa
Genetic type: Mostly Indica
Vegetative stage: 24 days
Flowering stage: 56-63 days
Medium: standard grow-mix
pH: 6.2-6.8
EC: max. 1.6-1.8
Light: 600 W HPS Osram Planta-T
Temperature: night: 18 °C
day: 24-28 °C
Air humidity: max. 60 % in the flowering stage
Watering: by hand
Fertilizer (veg. stage): House & Garden A + B
Fertilizer (flowering stage): House & Garden A + B,
PK 13+14 in the sixth week
Stimulators: “Exelent Explosief” bloom stimulator
Height: 60/66/68/72/74 cm
Yield: 20/24/22/31/25 grams