Orion F1

Orion F1: A Stellar Variety Promising Exceptional Growth Traits

Bred by Royal Queen Seeds, Orion F1 is a novel F1 hybrid named after a giant huntsman from Greek mythology, and one of the world's most famous stellar constellations. The offspring of a strong, inbred genetic line combining Blue Mammoth Auto, Blue Dream, and Amnesia, Orion F1 is a compact plant that promises high yields, a fast flowering time, and unique F1 hybrid vigour—something you won't find in most regular strains.

Aptly named after the ancient Greek figure for strength and skill, Royal Queen Seeds markets Orion F1 as its highest-yielding F1 variety. Thanks to her excellent genetics, however, Orion F1 stays nice and compact, making her a simple variety to grow in virtually any setup. And, like any strain from RQS, Orion F1 doesn't skimp on aroma and potency either—she delivers big, dense flowers riddled with trichomes and rich aromas of candy, fruit, and pine.

Genetic Background of Orion F1: Hailing from Strong IBLs

Orion F1 has very unique genetics when compared to traditional cannabis strains. Most modern strains are hybrids that stem from a fairly simple cross of two or more cannabis plants. Royal Queen Seeds F1s, however, stem from what breeders call inbred lines (or IBLs). The process of creating these genetic lines itself takes several years, as breeders use special inbreeding techniques to create parent plants with distinct genetic information.

Without getting too technical, this process essentially condenses a plant's genetic information and produces varieties with high homozygosity, stable traits, and distinctly different genetic information—something that's very unique in the cannabis world, where most strains are actually very closely related.

When breeders cross two IBLs, the resulting offspring are called F1s; that is, the first filial generation. These plants inherit very specific genetic information from their parents and, due to a marvel of nature, boast “hybrid vigour” or “heterosis”, a generalised increased biological function that translates into better resilience, more vigorous growth, heavier yields, and increased potency.

Orion F1 descends from a special inbred genetic line that combines Blue Mammoth Auto, Blue Dream, and Amnesia.

Blue Mammoth Auto

Originally created by Barney's Farm, Blue Mammoth Auto is an 80% indica-dominant autoflower combining genetics from Blueberry Skunk and Lowryder #1—arguably the first commercial auto cannabis hybrid. Transitioning into bloom just 35 days after germination, Blue Mammoth Auto can go from seed to harvest in as little as 70 days, growing to max heights of 150 cm and delivering very good yields. It's precisely these growth traits that RQS' breeding team stabilised and preserved in their creation of Orion F1.

Blue Dream

Created in the early 2000s, Blue Dream has earned itself a reputation as a classic hybrid, and continues to attract cannabis users from all walks of life. The strain is rumoured to have been created around 2003 in Santa Cruz, California, from a mix of two other classic varieties—Blueberry and Haze. The cross created a strain with well-balanced growth traits that suit both indoor and outdoor cultivation, high THC levels, and a deliciously sweet berry aroma/flavour profile. Moreover, Blue Dream is loved for its effects, which combine an elevating, clear-headed cerebral stimulus with a soothing physical stone.

Amnesia

Amnesia really is the cream of the cannabis crop. Bred way back in the 1990s, there are many theories about the origins of real Amnesia, most of which are based on hearsay. What we do know, however, is that Amnesia and crosses like Amnesia Haze have had a huge impact on cannabis culture, especially in Dutch coffeeshops. Rumoured to descend from a mix of landrace sativa and indica genes, Amnesia plants are well suited to indoor cultivation and produce flowers with euphoric effects and a distinct spicy yet earthy flavour.

Aroma and Flavour of Orion F1: Fruity and Floral With a Hint of Pine

Orion F1 produces long, thick flowers with large calyxes, rusty pistils, and a thick coating of resinous trichomes that pack plenty of flavour and aroma. Inheriting only the most sought-after traits from its three predecessors, Orion F1's terpene profile combines high levels of myrcene, ocimene, and farnesene, as well as small amounts of beta-caryophyllene and pinene. Together, these compounds lend Orion F1 sweet aromas and flavours with strong tropical fruit overtones. A trained palate or nose, however, may also pick up on the strain's subtler pine and floral undertones.

Potency and Effects of Orion F1: Strong, Creative Effects

Orion F1 is a very potent cannabis variety. While Royal Queen Seeds hasn't disclosed the exact cannabinoid levels for this cultivar, some growers and users suggest it produces at least 20% THC (and likely much more). Similar to Blue Dream and Amnesia, its effects produce an initial uplifting cerebral rush that users often describe as social, creative, and clear-headed. As the head buzz slowly subsides, Orion F1 starts to deliver more physical effects that gently warm and relax the entire body.

Recreational Uses

Thanks to its mix of cerebral and physical effects, Orion F1 makes for a very versatile recreational strain. Of course, everyone's experience with cannabis is different, but we've generally seen users enjoy this strain:

• In social settings
• As an evening treat
• After work or working out
• On weekends
• While gaming or watching movies
• While doing light creative activities like cooking, reading, listening to or playing music

Potential Side Effects

Orion F1 is generally a very well-tolerated strain. Nonetheless, like all cannabis, it may cause unwanted side effects in some people. For example, some users report that this strain can cause:

• Racing thoughts or paranoia
• Anxiety
• Overstimulation
• Dry mouth and eyes

Growing Orion F1: Exceptional Vigour at Every Stage

Orion F1 has been meticulously bred to give growers a simple, streamlined growing experience. Unlike normal strains, Royal Queen Seeds promises that its F1 hybrids offer uniform growth traits and flowering times, giving growers a more predictable and smooth growing experience.

Being an autoflowering variety, Orion F1 doesn't require light cycle changes to begin flowering—instead, she automatically transitions into her bloom phase after 30 days. Then, a total of 70 days after germination, Orion F1 plants can be harvest-ready, and deliver sizeable yields of long, sticky, and potent flowers. Best of all, Orion F1 grows to max heights of just 65–80 cm, making this an ideal strain for indoor gardens or stealthy outdoor grows.

Indoor Growing Tips

For the best results growing Orion F1 indoors, start your seeds off directly in their final pots. Once they've sprouted, give your Orion F1 seedlings 18 hours of direct, cool light to promote healthy and compact growth while minimising the risk of light stress.

After they've developed one set of true leaves, drive up the light intensity in your room to stimulate more growth. During their 30-day veg cycle, do not cause your Orion F1 plants any stress to avoid stunting their growth and make the most of their short growth stage (though defoliation and very light LST can be beneficial if applied properly).

Support your Orion F1 plants with a light, preferably organic fertiliser during veg, then transition to a good-quality bloom fertiliser as they begin flowering. Your plants will be harvest-ready a total of 70 days after germination.

Outdoor Growing Tips

To ensure a great harvest when growing Orion F1 outdoors, again make sure to start your seeds directly in their final pots. For the best results, consider starting your seeds off indoors until they've developed at least one true set up leaves, then bring them outside.

Outdoors, Orion F1 flourishes in warm climates and, thanks to her fast life cycle, makes a great choice for growers living in areas with short summers. Again, avoid stressing your plants during their brief veg phase, and ensure they're placed in a sunny spot early on to maximise their growth.

Use light doses of organic nutrients to support Orion F1 through her veg and bloom phase, and defoliate her gently to focus her attention on the most rewarding bud sites.

Should You Try Orion F1?

Orion F1, like all the F1 hybrids released by Royal Queen Seeds, promises growers a revolutionary experience that's well worth checking out. The fact that F1 hybrids produce such stable plants with uniform growth traits is a game-changer in the world of cannabis, where growing poly-hybrids with high phenotypic variation has so long been the norm. Besides its unique growth traits, Orion F1 also promises sweet, fruity flavours and a well-balanced high—which are always worth getting excited about!

Orion F1 Cannabis Strain: FAQ

Q: What strain is Orion F1?
A: Orion F1 is an F1 hybrid cannabis variety bred by Royal Queen Seeds from Blue Mammoth Auto, Blue Dream, and Amnesia genetic lines.

Q: What does F1 mean in cannabis strains?
A: F1 refers to "filial one", i.e. the first generation of offspring stemming from the cross of two genetically distinct plants. F1 cannabis hybrids offer increased stability, higher yields, and better potency than traditional strains.

Q: How long does it take for Orion F1 to grow?
A: Orion F1 is an autoflowering strain that goes from seed to harvest in 70 days. It veges for 30 days, then needs to flower for another 40 days to reach peak maturity.

Q: What are the effects of the Orion F1 cannabis strain?
A: Orion F1 is a hybrid cannabis variety that delivers an initial cerebral euphoria that is uplifting and clear-headed. This sensation is quickly followed by a relaxing body stone.

Q: What does Orion F1 cannabis taste like?
A: Orion F1 is rich in myrcene, ocimene, and farnesene, which give it a sweet, fruity flavour with subtle floral and pine undertones.