Cannabis Strain Hunt 2022: Seven-Plant Case Study

Short answer: in my 2022 strain hunt, the prettiest flower was not automatically my favorite smoke—and the strongest overall keeper was not the winner in every category. Running several selections together made structure, stability, finish time, aroma and actual cured experience much easier to compare.

Video chapters

1. 0:19 — Why I waited for the cure
2. 0:47 — Clones and Selfie Seeds™ selections
3. 1:02 — Soil, tent and light used
4. 1:49 — Vegetative growth and feed
5. 2:07 — Why I flipped early
6. 2:22 — Structure, stability and feeding differences
7. 4:31 — Pollinated lower branches and staged harvest
8. 5:12 — Ten-day dry and four-month cure
9. 5:51 — Selections 1 and 2
10. 6:24 — Selections 3 through 5
11. 7:02 — Selection 6 wins the overall score
12. 7:47 — Final takeaways

Timestamp links open the standard HWGrow pop-out player at the selected moment without losing your reading position.

What I was actually testing

This was a keeper hunt, not a yield-max run. I started with clones from two growers plus three selections from Selfie Seeds™, then ran them together in fabric pots. I flipped earlier than I normally would because the goal was to expose differences without spending extra months filling the tent.

Every plant sharing one program is useful for comparison, but it is also a limitation. Different cultivars can prefer different feed strength, light intensity and irrigation timing. I adjusted when the plants showed problems, which helped the run finish well but means this was not a perfectly controlled experiment.

What separated the selections

The biggest lesson: define “best” before you start

If flavor matters most, Selection 2 could have won. If fast finish mattered most, Selection 5 deserved more weight. Selection 6 won because my scorecard prioritized the strongest overall combination. Decide what you are selecting for before the flowers impress you, then keep notes so the goal does not move after harvest.

Use the strain-selection guide before starting and the drying and curing workflow before making the final comparison. A rushed sample can make the wrong plant look like the winner.

Useful strain-hunt tools

Selfie Seeds™ geneticsStart with a documented line that fits the traits and room you want to test.Browse Genetics
Matching fabric potsKeep container size and root-zone structure consistent across selections.Check Current Options
Waterproof plant labelsA keeper decision is useless if the plant number gets separated from the cutting and notes.Check Current Options
Separate curing jarsKeep every selection labeled and cured under comparable conditions before judging it.Check Current Options

Affiliate disclosure: HWGrow may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you. Selfie Seeds™ is HWGrow’s in-house genetics source. Equivalent supplies can replace the linked products without changing the comparison method. Verify local laws before ordering or growing cannabis.

New to the full grow workflow? Continue with the complete beginner guide from seed to harvest. For a room-specific selection question, Ask HWGrow.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a strain hunt and a pheno hunt?

A strain hunt compares different genetic lines; a pheno hunt compares multiple individuals from the same line. Both need clear labels and a scorecard.

Which selection won the 2022 HWGrow strain hunt?

Selection 6 won the overall project score because it combined yield, visible resin, potency experience and performance. Selection 2 was still my personal favorite smoke.

Why wait until after curing to choose a keeper?

Aroma, harshness, moisture balance and the subjective experience can change during curing. Judging immediately after drying can reward the wrong plant.

Does visible frost prove high THC?

No. Visible resin is useful observational data, but only validated laboratory testing can quantify cannabinoid content.

Related HWGrow guides: Follow the project decision trail in the late-flower elimination update, then use the cannabis smoke-report template to compare the finished flower consistently.