The OG #18: The Refined Heavyweight
The OG #18: The Refined Heavyweight
Strain Overview
Type: Indica-Dominant Hybrid (70% Indica / 30% Sativa)
Lineage: OG Kush (Selected Phenotype #18)
Market Status: The "Connoisseur's Cut"; often marketed as Private Reserve in dispensaries. This strain became legendary for fixing the two biggest complaints about the original OG Kush: low yield and finicky growth. The OG #18 retains the crushing potency of the original but adds a distinct "Sour" terpene profile and significantly improved production capabilities.
THC Content: 20% – 24% (High Potency)
Dominant Terpenes: Limonene, Caryophyllene, Myrcene
Key Effects: Sedative Relaxation, Mood Elevation, Appetite Stimulation, "couch-lock" potential.
For decades, OG Kush has been the king of California cannabis. But the King had a weakness: it was a nightmare to grow. It yielded poorly, stretched uncontrollably, and was fussy about nutrients.
Enter The OG #18.
Bred by the legends at DNA Genetics (Reserva Privada), this strain wasn't a cross; it was a discovery. During a massive pheno-hunt of OG Kush seeds, plant number 18 stood out. It grew faster, yielded bigger, and smelled distinctively more "Sour" and "Chem" than its sisters. DNA Genetics recognized the potential, stabilized the cut, and released it to the world. It swept the High Times Cannabis Cups (winning Best Hydro in 2009 and Best Indica in 2010), proving that you could improve upon perfection.
History and Lineage: The Chosen One
The story of The OG #18 is a lesson in the importance of selection (pheno-hunting).
The Origin: The breeders started with original OG Kush seeds (believed to be the "Chemdawg" lineage). Most OGs are clone-only, but DNA Genetics worked to bring the genetics to seed form.
The Selection: Out of 40 plants, phenotype #18 displayed unique traits. While others were lanky and low-yielding (typical OG), #18 was sturdier and had denser buds.
The Result: They feminized this specific cut. It is technically a "re-worked" OG Kush, but it is distinct enough to be considered its own entity. It is the genetic father of the famous Holy Grail Kush.
Terpene Profile: Sour, Chem, and Diesel
If standard OG Kush smells like pine and lemon, The OG #18 smells like industrial cleaner and sour fuel. It leans heavily into the "Chem" side of its ancestry.
Dominant Terpenes
Limonene (The Sour): The dominant terpene, but it presents here as sour, fermenting citrus rather than sweet lemon candy.
Caryophyllene (The Fuel): Provides the spicy, nose-burning diesel fume aroma that connoisseurs associate with high potency.
Myrcene (The Musk): Grounds the profile with a damp, earthy base note.
Flavor Notes:
The Aroma: It is incredibly pungent. It smells of sour diesel, ammonia, pine sol, and earthy kush.
The Smoke: Sharp and expansive. It tastes of sour lemon, chemicals, and spicy pine. It has a distinct "acidity" on the palate that lingers.
Strain Effects: The Private Reserve
The OG #18 is often sold as "Private Reserve" because it hits like a luxury product. It is potent, long-lasting, and deeply relaxing.
The Experience
The Impact: The high hits almost immediately upon exhale. It starts with a cerebral "headband" pressure that wipes away stress.
The Drop: Very quickly, the effects move to the body. It feels like gravity has increased. Limbs feel heavy, and muscles relax.
The Trance: It induces a meditative, zoned-out state. It is not a strain for productivity; it is a strain for video games, movies, or doing absolutely nothing.
The Sleep: If consumed in high doses, it is a guaranteed sleep aid.
Best For: Insomnia, chronic pain management, appetite loss (serious munchies), and unwinding after a stressful work week.
Growing The OG #18: The Grower’s OG
This is the selling point for cultivators. It offers OG quality without the OG headache.
Growth Structure
The Yield: Moderate to High. This is the main upgrade over the original. It produces about 30% more weight than a standard OG Kush cut. The buds are denser and less prone to "larf" (fluffy lower buds).
The Stretch: It still stretches in flowering (a trait of the lineage), but it is more manageable.
The Feeding: It is a hungry plant. It can take higher nutrient EC levels than the original, allowing growers to push for bulk.
The Finish: It finishes flowering in 9 weeks.
The Aroma: It reeks. Carbon filtration is non-negotiable.
Grower’s Tip: While it yields better than the original, it still benefits significantly from topping and training. Create a bush structure in veg to maximize the number of top colas. It is also sensitive to light leaks, so ensure your dark cycle is pitch black to prevent hermaphroditism (a common trait in Chemdawg genetics).
Final Verdict: The Refined King
The OG #18 is arguably the best "pure" OG Kush representation available in seed form today. It takes the legendary potency and flavor of the original and packages it in a plant that actually yields well. It is sour, it is strong, and it is a piece of cannabis history. If you are chasing that classic "Gas" profile but want a harvest that fills more than one jar, this is the number to dial.
You should choose The OG #18 if:
You love Sour/Chem/Fuel flavors.
You want OG Kush potency but better yields.
You suffer from insomnia or high stress.
You want to grow a Cannabis Cup Winner.
Score: 9.6/10 (The Yielding OG)