What are the differences between StarRyder & Polar Light ?
Polar Light uses genetics from a different photo variety called Dutch Haze. StarRyder uses the Isis line. Dutch Haze and Isis are based on broadly the same genetics but are quite different in style and effect. That is why we have had (and other seedbanks also) a few Haze varieties and pure unhybridised sativa's in their collections. Some growers grow nothing other than them.
Allow me to give a bit of background, and forgive me if I go into a lot of detail here as (especially for sativa fans) this is an interesting topic.
The first thing to say is that the true haze connoisseur will be able to tell you quite a lot about the differences between the different haze lines, and the many differences between the pure sativas. Those of you that have been around all the various dutch coffeeshops over the years will have found some that specialise in haze and sativa versions. The coffeeshop owners themselves can be quite a wealth of information on the subject of Haze/sativa varieties . Some people think a pure sativa, or pure Haze is a fairly closely knit group of varieties with little if any variations between them. But to the sativa fan it is a whole world of difference.
There are traditional long flowering sativa/Haze varieties which can take 15 weeks or more to flower. Even within this category the connossieurs will explain the differences and have their own personal favourites which often vary from person to person. Then you have all the numerous variations which the seedbanks have found. Sometimes from literally hundreds of seed-grown sativa's you will find a few that are quite different, they may bloom in half the normal time but still have a pronounced sativa effect. Sometimes the leaves of these plants even look like indica leaves especially in the first few weeks of flowering. We are about to launch a new Sativa haze photo variety called OutLaw, this is a 12 week flowering variety. Some people say that is way too long, but we have had numerous requests from the sativa community for a pure sativa/Haze which has been bred for the high , these guys do NOT like to see such varieties selected for fast-flowering, they want a different type of sativa/Haze with what they feel is a genuine old school high. The market for these sativas really is that specific.
Some quality sativa's used to get unfairly criticised for light yields, and that prompted a lot of seedbanks to look for faster blooming and heavy yielding specimens. A whole new field of sativa breeding opened up there. Our original Power Plant is the heaviest yielding (alongside The Ultimate) photoperiod strain yet is typically just an 8 week bloom time for a 100% sativa.
One of our guys loves a 'staff sativa' with a wicked high yet the yields are so poor we would never be able to commercialise it. Some people I know only smoke Sativa varieties and thrive on having the choice of several haze and sativa varieties in their personal stash, they see a world of difference between them in a way that the average guy perhaps doesn't. Personally i struggle to cope with the stronger ones and these days prefer Indica's or hybrids. Isis is a great smoke but for me personally I would take it in moderation, and I know other people like me.
A soaring Thai sativa is loved by some sativa fans whilst others would strongly prefer a Kali-mist style longer flowering haze. To some that are not fans of the sativa/haze genre they would be scratching their heads thinking that they were all the same.
By the way, have you noticed how many of the good auto's have some (or a lot) of sativa in them?
So it is a long answer to a short question, but I felt I had to give a longish answer as their are lots of sativa fans out there that feel that the sativa/haze varieties have been unfairly 'lumped' together and ignored a little over recent years while attention has focussed on quick flowering indica's or specially selected Haze which has been bred for quicker harvests. They are all good, they are all different, it is often down to personal preference.
The sativa/haze varieties are themselves a whole specialised world with different types of high, different effects, yields, appearance, aroma's, duration (of stone) and taste. Within this group there are ample genuine variations to work with. Some coffeeshops, smokers and even some seedbanks concentrate on nothing but these sativa/hazevarieties. They are all quite different.
