Ice #2: The Frost Factory
Ice #2: The Frost Factory
Strain Overview
Type: Indica-Dominant Hybrid
Breeder: Nirvana Seeds
Lineage: Skunk #1 x White Widow x Shiva x Northern Lights (Phenotype Selection)
Market Status: Old School Legend; The high-yielding father of Papaya.
THC Content: 18% – 22%
Dominant Terpenes: Myrcene, Caryophyllene, Pinene
Key Effects: Heavy Physical Sedation, Narcotic Stone, Couch-Lock, "Chemical" Euphoria
In the late 90s, the goal of Dutch breeding was simple: create the most resinous plant possible. Ice #2 was the answer to that challenge.
Bred by Nirvana Seeds, Ice (and its specific phenotype selection, #2) was engineered to be a "White Strain" killer. The breeders took the best genetics available in Amsterdam at the time—Skunk, White Widow, Northern Lights, and Shiva—and smashed them together to create a plant that didn't just grow buds, but grew icicles.
While it is a powerful strain on its own, its greatest contribution to modern cannabis history is being the father of Papaya. Ice #2 provided the density, the massive yield, and the overwhelming trichome coverage that allowed Papaya to become the hash-making legend it is today.
History and Lineage: The 90s All-Stars
Ice #2 is essentially a "greatest hits" compilation of 1990s cannabis genetics. It was designed to outperform the White Widow in resin production while yielding like a Skunk.
The Foundation (Skunk #1 x White Widow): This provided the commercial viability—fast flowering, high yield, and a thick coat of white resin.
The Stabilizers (Shiva x Northern Lights): These two legendary Indicas were added to shorten the height, increase the density of the nugs, and add a heavy, narcotic "stoned" effect.
The Selection (#2): The #2 phenotype was selected specifically for its fuel-heavy aroma and its ability to pass on massive trichome heads to its offspring—a trait that defines the Papaya strain today.
Terpene Profile: Diesel and Menthol
Unlike its fruity offspring, Ice #2 has an aggressive, industrial aroma. It smells like a mechanic's garage in winter.
Dominant Terpenes
Myrcene (The Heavy): Dominates the profile, providing the sedative effects and an earthy, dank base.
Caryophyllene (The Fuel): Gives the strain a strong smell of diesel fuel and spicy black pepper.
Pinene (The Chemical): A sharp, solvent-like note that cuts through the heavy earthiness, often smelling like turpentine or mint.
Flavor Notes:
The Aroma: A pungent mix of diesel fuel, wet earth, and chemical cleaner. It is not sweet; it is dank.
The Smoke: Thick and expansive. It tastes of hash, spicy earth, and menthol. It has a heavy lung expansion that often triggers coughing (the "cough to get off" effect).
Strain Effects: The Ice Age
Ice #2 is a heavy-duty Indica. It is designed to stop you in your tracks.
The Experience
The Freeze: The high hits quickly with a numbing sensation in the face and neck.
The Stone: This is not a "high"; it is a "stone." Your thoughts slow down, your eyelids droop, and your body feels incredibly heavy.
The Lock: Couch-lock is almost guaranteed. This is a strain for sitting still. It dissolves motivation and replaces it with a comfortable numbness.
The Munchies: Like its parents (Northern Lights/Skunk), it triggers a ravenous appetite.
Best For: Pain management, ending a long work week, insomnia, and experienced users who want to be "knocked out."
Medical Benefits
Ice #2 is a favorite among medical patients for its raw physical power.
Chronic Pain: It is one of the most effective strains for numbing the body. The combination of White Widow and Northern Lights genetics creates a powerful analgesic effect.
Insomnia: The "crash" from this strain is severe. It effectively forces the body to sleep.
Muscle Spasms: The heavy sedation relaxes tight muscles and stops twitching.
Anxiety: While it can be too heavy for some, the complete shutdown of racing thoughts is helpful for severe anxiety or panic attacks.
Growing Ice #2: The Winter Wonderland
This strain was built for production. It is a workhorse in the garden.
Growth Structure
The Yield: Massive. It produces large, football-sized colas that are incredibly dense. It significantly out-yields most "White" strains.
The Frost: True to its name, the resin production is extreme. The trichomes extend far out onto the fan leaves, making it excellent for extraction.
The Smell: It is a high-odor strain. You will need good filtration. The smell of fuel and skunk is penetrating.
Flowering Time: 8 to 9 weeks.
Grower’s Tip: Ice #2 loves a "cool finish." If you drop the temperatures in the final 2 weeks of flower, the resin production kicks into overdrive, and the plant may develop purple hues (a trait it passed to Papaya).
Final Verdict: The Frost Factory
Ice #2 is a relic of an era when potency and yield were king. It doesn't care about fruity terpenes or "bag appeal" colors; it cares about getting you stoned and covering your scissors in hash. It is the stoic, strong father that gave Papaya the genetic tools to succeed in the modern market. If you want to experience the raw power of 90s Dutch genetics, or if you simply need a strain to erase physical pain, Ice #2 is the cold comfort you need.
You should choose Ice #2 if:
You are tracing the lineage of Papaya.
You need heavy physical sedation (Pain/Sleep).
You want to make Old School Hash (High resin return).
You appreciate Fuel and Earth flavor profiles.
Score: 8.7/10 (The Heavyweight)