Looking into the back story of a cannabis strain is always fascinating, but every now and again, you study a strain and find a pedigree that pretty much guarantees success. Today, the Seedsman spotlight falls on one such strain – Super Silver Haze. You may have heard of this sativa-dominant strain, you may have tried it – but if you don’t know the background, you’ll want to read this article. There are levels to the breeding game, and Super Silver Haze came from the top. First Place at the Cannabis Cup three years in a row? Come on now. That doesn’t happen.
The Origin of Super Silver Haze
The story of Super Silver Haze begins back in the 1990s, a Golden Era of sorts for cannabis. At that time, stoners were lucky enough to witness the arrival of some of the greats. White Widow, Sour Diesel, OG Kush, and Jack Herer are just a few of the classic strains that emerged during this period, and the cannabis space was fertile for the advent of some truly legendary weed.
One man behind Super Silver Haze is someone well-known in the cannabis community: Nevil Schoenmakers. A quick scan of his CV will surely impress – Schoenmakers founded the first cannabis seedbank, The Seed Bank of Holland, in the 1980s, and carries the distinction of being the first seedbank to advertise directly to the public, via High Times magazine. In fact, High Times would go on to dub Schoenmakers ‘The King of Cannabis’ in 1985, and true to his title, he would become the first breeder to export cannabis seeds to the USA and around the world from The Netherlands.
In 1991, Schoenmakers sold The Seed Bank to Sensi Seeds, but remained the head breeder for a while. He would then go on to form The Green House Seed Company with Arjan Roskam, a Dutch breeder and entrepreneur. It didn’t take long for the partnership to pay dividends, as, in 1995, Green house’s White Widow would scoop first place at the Cannabis Cup. Oh, and in case the pedigree of Schoenmakers and Roskam isn’t impressive enough? Legendary breeder Scott Blakey, better known as Shantibaba, was the man behind White Widow.
Super Silver Haze was a different animal. As successful breeders know, a solid strain needs solid genetics from solid parents, but also remarkable traits. As genetic pedigree (there’s that word again) goes, SSH takes some beating. Arjan Roskam steered the ship on breeding, and composed Super Silver Haze from Original Haze, Northern Lights #5 and Skunk #1. No surprise, then, that the offspring would turn out to be remarkable. The lineage of Super Silver Haze is a trinity of cannabis royalty: Skunk, Northern Lights, and Haze. Each of these parent strains brought something unique to the table. Skunk contributed its robust growth characteristics and unparalleled resilience. Northern Lights, a legend in its own right, infused Super Silver Haze with its profound psychoactive potency and ease of growth, making it accessible to a broader range of growers. Haze, the third pillar, added the quintessential sativa high – uplifting, cerebral, and energetic. This combination created a strain that was not only potent but also had a remarkable growth profile and an exquisite balance of effects.
The Ascent of Super Silver Haze
With those incredible genetics in its corner, Super Silver Haze couldn’t miss. It didn't just rise to fame; it soared. Its popularity stemmed from its consistent quality, potent effects, and versatility. This strain became synonymous with a premium sativa experience, and would go on to be arguably the greatest sativa of the era. First capturing hearts in the Netherlands, the strain's acclaim quickly spread to every corner of the globe. In the late '90s, it became a staple in coffee shops and dispensaries, marking its territory from the winding canals of Amsterdam to the bustling streets of California and beyond. As word spread, Super Silver Haze became a must-have experience for connoisseurs everywhere. It became a frequent topic in cannabis publications, forums, and communities. Its influence extended beyond mere consumption; it inspired a generation of breeders and growers, leading to the creation of numerous hybrids and variants.
Public acclaim was matched by critical acclaim, as Super Silver Haze scooped first place in the most prestigious cannabis contest on the planet – The High Times Cannabis Cup – in 1997. But it wasn’t done yet. Proving itself to be as all-conquering as the legendary Chicago Bulls team of the early 1990s, Super Silver Haze would go on to bag an unprecedented championship threepeat, nailing down first place again in 1998 and yet again in 1999. It’s a feat that hasn’t been matched by a cannabis strain, and likely never will be. The Green House stable continued to produce cup winners, specializing in haze strains including Haze#1 in 2006 and Super Lemon Haze, which scooped back-to-back first place ribbons in 2008 and 2009.
Cultivating Super Silver Haze
The difficulty of growing SSH is medium to high. As a sativa, it prefers a higher temperature to flourish, which may mean taking extra care in terms of control and mold management. For these reasons, many find growing Super Silver Haze is easier to do indoors, where temperatures can be set and the plants can be left to thrive and perform without the need to worry about climate. The downside to indoor cultivation is that those with limited headroom may find additional challenges as SSH is a lanky sativa that can reach 6ft or more. Consider this beforehand and ensure you have adequate headroom to accommodate the stretch.
Indoor growing also gives you plenty of scope for plant training to help boost yields – Super Silver Haze offers good yields, but a degree of plant training will pump those final numbers up to the max. This is such a good strain, you’ll definitely want more of those big, chunky, resin-coated buds to go around.
Nute-wise, sativas generally require a little less feeding than indicas, so bear this in mind and you’ll stay clear of nutrient burn. The flowering period lasts around 9-11 weeks, and, on the plus side, Super SIlver Haze has a good resistance to pests and fungi.
Flavor and Aroma of Super Silver Haze
The flavor profile of this strain is an intricate blend, drawing from its Haze, Skunk, and Northern Lights ancestry. As you inhale, a pronounced Haze character emerges, beautifully complemented by undertones of pine and wood. The predominant terpenes, Myrcene, Limonene, and α-Pinene, are distinctly noticeable. The terpene profile of Super Silver Haze is a tapestry of scents and therapeutic benefits. Myrcene, with its sedative properties, brings a calming effect. Caryophyllene offers anti-inflammatory benefits, while Limonene adds a mood-elevating citrus burst. Together, these terpenes create a holistic experience that delights the senses and soothes the body.
Examining Super Silver Haze’s Effects
The Super Silver Haze experience is unique, with an initial woody fragrance followed by the Skunk's fruity sweetness and subtle metallic hints from the Northern Lights upon exhaling. The effect is immediate, euphoric, and potent, and Green House state Super Haze’s THC content as 26.5%. This highly psychoactive variety is ideal for various occasions, whether it's a party or a creative brainstorming session. It encourages activity and maintains its impact for an extended duration.
Final Thoughts
For a cannabis strain to stand the test of time, it has to offer quality in many areas. Some strains achieve status by name or by flavor alone, and some get a helping hand by being in the right place at the right time. Super Silver Haze has achieved its notoriety for all the right reasons – it's simply a remarkable strain, bred from a holy trinity of genetics. In spite of having been around nearly 30 years, it’s still in high demand, and still outperforms many of its contemporaries. If you haven’t tried one of the greatest sativas on the planet, you owe yourself an apology. Super Silver Haze is that good.
Try Super Silver Haze At Seedsman
If all that has whet your appetite, you’re in luck – Super Silver Haze seeds are available from your favorite seedbank.
Super Silver Haze Feminized Seeds
The original and best, from the place where it all began. Greenhouse Seed Co’s Super Silver Haze combines the storied genetics of Skunk #1, Northern Lights and the original Haze to provide the unmatched experience that started it all, gathering 3 Cannabis Cups along the way.
Hard-blasting, long-lasting, and with a flowering time between 9-11 weeks, Super Silver Haze has great mold resistance, high yields, and the legendary sativa power that keeps at it the top to this day.
Super Lemon Haze
Green House Seed Co incorporated the SSH genetics into their next cup-winning project when they crossed it with a lemon Skunk to create the sublime Super Lemon Haze. You get the best of both worlds here, ana incredible lemon taste experience to power up that killer sativa effect. Super Lemon Haze is a high-yielding, high-THC strain with incredible effects, flowering time is 9-11 weeks.
