Master Kush is an authentic Kush cannabis variety from Dutch Passion.
This strain won 1st prize in the Kush category at the prestigious Highlife cup in 2017, also receiving the ‘Overall Cup Winner’ at the same event. The judges were blown away by the combined effects of the powerful high and the rich old-school taste and aroma.
Master Kush is famous for her legendarily enjoyable and satisfying Kush effects. Master Kush genetics have been used extensively for breeding since she was first introduced by Dutch Passion in the 1980’s. Master Kush genetics are thought to have been used in numerous closely related strains including Grandmaster Kush, Purple SoCal Master Kush and High Rise.
What kind of strain is Master Kush?
Master Kush is an indica dominant Kush strain with high THC levels and large yields. She is part of the acclaimed pungent & potent Afghani Kush Cannabis Seed collection. These strains tend to be tough, resilient and compact with firm frosty buds. Master Kush is supplied as photoperiod feminised cannabis seeds with a rapid bloom time of around 8 weeks.
Master Kush is a resilient, flexible strain which grows well on any type of cannabis grow system or grow medium. The long, thick blooms are easy to cut and trim. Like many authentic Afghani originals, Master Kush can reek with intense pungency – the rich, maxed-out terpene profile is one of the main attractions alongside calming, soothing and blissfully pleasurable Kush effects.
If you’re looking to grow a genuine Kush strain with earthy, citrus-dominant notes and deliciously pleasurable buzzing Kush effect then there are few better strains available. Kush connoisseurs take note!
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Who bred Master Kush for the first time?
Master Kush genetics were found during some Kush selection trials in the 1980’s at a time when Dutch Passion were focusing heavily on elite Afghani strains.
She is a tough, easy-to-grow Afghan Indica strain. Master Kush originally came from the Hindu Kush Mountains in Northern Afghanistan. She is a pure Indica cannabis strain and is one of the oldest original Kush varieties still available today. The early Dutch Passion team fell instantly in love with the powerful effects, massaging both body and soul with instant relaxation.
Master Kush was a firm Dutch Passion customer favourite decades before today’s modern Kush strains (such as OG Kush) became mainstream choices. In that time it is thought that Master Kush genetics have been used extensively by other cannabis seed banks to produce many of todays high-THC Kush variants. Master Kush is a powerfully psychoactive strain that is cherished by medical and recreational users alike, with a surprising number of repeat growers.
What does Master Kush look like?
Master Kush tends to produce short, bushy, typically indica-looking plants. When grown in good conditions with powerful lights she can produce squat plants with numerous heavy, well-proportioned blooms. This compact strain is easy to take cuttings from and grows with a wide latitude, making her suitable for less experienced growers as well as serious Kush specialists who will be able to push these Kush cannabis genetics to the max.
Especially in cool bloom conditions you may note some autumnal hues with flecks of colour in the buds as harvest approaches. The buds are large, firm and dense with long pistils that range from bright orange to brownish. The buds have a striking appearance and a powerful, penetrating Afghani bouquet. The internodal distance is short, ensuring that the buds can stack nicely together in long blooms. She has a short stretching phase of about 2-3 weeks but grows forcefully once the clock is set to a 12/12 cannabis light cycle.
The long heavy blooms usually have few leaves, making Master Kush easy to cut/trim. This, in combination with the short bloom period and universally enjoyable Kush effects, makes her a particularly popular choice with both commercial cannabis growers and home cultivators.
What are the best tips to grow Master Kush?
Master Kush is a high-strength, powerful Afghan Indica which grows more-or-less on her own. She is one of the most robust and psychoactive Kush strains for indoor growing. Master Kush prefers a stable and dry climate. Those seeking premium quality results and heavy yields should note that Master Kush likes a generously sized grow container with sufficient root space, especially when you work with low numbers of plants per m2.
She doesn’t like wet roots and would rather be a little drier than over watered. She will thrive in air-pots, felt sacks or other well-aerated large grow containers. Master Kush does particularly well when grown in a Hydro system. In combination with LED lamps and possibly a supplemental UV light (UVB and UVA) the buds reach maximum stickiness and potency.
Providing adequate ventilation and low humidity allows the buds to harden off and ensures they don’t suffer from rot/mould. Master Kush is an indica which can appear to grow with the characteristics of a compact hybrid photoperiod. This means that you can work with a shorter pre-growth (veg) period than those required by many other Indica-dominant strains.
How long does Master Kush take to flower?
Most Master Kush plants are ready to harvest after an average of 8 weeks of bloom. Some phenotypes take a week longer to fully mature. These are often the somewhat larger plants which can bloom for 60-65 days on a 12/12 light cycle.
Hard-core Kush enthusiasts that seek the very heaviest Kush effects may prefer to lean towards an extra few days of bloom to ensure maximum indica impact.
In optimised grow conditions, Master Kush needs around 56 days of bloom. Master Kush can stretch a little bit more during bloom than some Kush strains. This ensures that you can work with a slightly shorter period of veg growth. Master Kush can also be grown by outdoor cannabis growers. However growers should be aware that she does not like humid conditions.
In general, Master Kush is a strain that grows well outdoors with the proviso that she does better in a dry climate. Temperature swinging between day and night extremes are not a problem, but excessive rain/moisture from morning dew can risk bud rot during late bloom.
Where possible, grow her in a warm, sunny and dry climate. If you want to grow her in a temperate climate, ensure you have a shelter and sufficient ventilation. A greenhouse that can be darkened with blinds is often also a good solution.
Outdoors, in the Northern Hemisphere, she will be ready for harvest in late September to mid-October (depending on latitude and climate).
How to tell when Master Kush is ready to harvest?
Many growers buy an inexpensive magnifying glass to examine trichome appearance. The precise time to harvest may be swayed by your own personal preferences for late harvested vs early harvested weed. With Master Kush we recommend harvesting when the trichomes are mostly cloudy with a few hints of amber. This ensures the famously euphoric and chilled Kush high. But many home growers also find that allowing their indica strains a week or so beyond the normal harvest date allows heavier harvests and more pronounced effects.
Under optimised grow conditions many would harvest Master Kush after 8-9 weeks of bloom. Some medical growers seeking stronger physical effects may opt to leave their plants a few days longer. If you are looking for more in-depth expert tips on when/how to harvest, dry & cure cannabis then the pro-tips in the guides below be useful reading.
How much THC does Master Kush have?
THC levels tend to be around 15%, pushing up nearer 20% in good conditions. This classifies her as a high THC strain. Note that the average THC levels in Dutch coffeeshop weed, as confirmed by Government surveys is around 15%.
So Master Kush will feel stronger than the average strain with a long lasting high. Note that the strongest cannabis strains with THC levels around 25% are not always the most suitable or enjoyable for all cannabis users. Many cannabis lovers find that strains with THC levels similar to those of Master Kush deliver the best balance of potency, enjoyability, joy and peace. Master Kush delivers those qualities in abundance.
Decades after her original release many Dutch Passion commercial and home growers have become Master Kush repeat growers. It’s no surprise, with routinely heavy yields, genuinely blissful effects, predictably easy to grow and with one of the best taste/aroma combos around.
Yes, you can find other Dutch Passion strains with higher THC levels (though not that many people necessarily need higher THC levels) but you would be missing out on a unique strain that offers a taste of yesteryear.
Master Kush isn’t just a recent major cannabis cup winner, she is a heritage strain with pure unadulterated Kush genetics and her scandalously enjoyable buds are adored by connoisseurs.
How potent is Master Kush and what are the effects?
Well cured Master Kush is a real treat either smoked or vaped. Take a moment to inhale the aroma as soon as you open the jars and admire the frosted, sticky bids as they glisten with a generously dense trichome coating. The rich, thick aroma delights your sense of smell and hints at the pleasure to come.
Light a joint and your home will soon smell like a bustling Dutch coffee shop of the 1980’s when tourists flocked following word-of-mouth recommendation to enjoy the thrills of the first Kush strains. The indica Kush effects arrive rapidly, euphoria sweeps your mind free of cares, anxiety and concerns. A well cured bud with a few amber trichomes will produce a particularly powerful sense of physical relaxation, melting away aches and pains.
You may feel like relaxing, unwinding and chilling out. Many report strong aphrodisiac qualities. Like all good Kush strains, the effects last a long time and many find the experience is especially suited for evening use.
New growers should be aware that Master Kush is still a personal Kush favourite for several members of the Dutch Passion team, despite many seriously good alternatives which have come along in the decades since she was first introduced!
What does Master Kush taste like?
Master Kush buds have a classic old-school cannabis aroma. They are pungent, hashy and earthy with lip-smacking herbal, spicy, citrus tones in the background. The aroma becomes even better after a good cure, more complex and satisfying.
Master Kush is definitely a stinker. A small dense bud can fill the room with a powerful cannabis stench. The taste is what exactly as you would expect from such a great Indica dominant Afghani cannabis strain. It’s earthy, slightly sour on the inhale and more herbal and piney on the exhale. Roll a fat joint or fill your vape and prepare for a great night!
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