Indica Dominant · Terphogz / 3rd Gen Family
Zkittlez
Zkittlez is the Terphogz/3rd Gen Family cross of Grape Ape and Grapefruit, with an undisclosed third parent that the breeders have never publicly identified. The strain swept the High Times Cannabis Cup circuit in 2015 and 2016, taking first place in the indica category at four different events. Plants finish in eight to nine weeks and produce dense, multi-colored buds that lean pink and purple under cold nights, with a candy-fruit terpene profile that does not match anything else on dispensary shelves. The high is calm and sociable rather than sedating, which is unusual for a strain at 70 percent indica.
Reviewed 2026-05-23· Sources: seedfinder.eu, Terphogz interviews, Cannabis Cup archive
Potency
- THC range
- 18–23%
- Typical THC
- 20%
- CBD
- up to 0.2%
Flowering
- Indoor weeks
- 8–9 wk
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Climate
- Mediterranean, cool nights
Yield & size
- Indoor
- 400-500 g/m²
- Outdoor
- 450-650 g/plant
- Height
- 90-120 cm
Indica / sativa ratio
Terpene profile
The aromatic compounds below shape how Zkittlez smells, tastes, and ultimately feels in the body.
- dominant
Caryophyllene
Peppery and spicy — the only terpene that binds CB2 receptors, studied for anti-inflammatory action.
- secondary
Humulene
Hoppy and earthy — appetite-suppressing and shared with hops and sage.
- secondary
Linalool
Floral and lavender-like — calming, often noted for sleep and anxiety support.
- minor
Limonene
Uplifting citrus — typically associated with mood elevation and stress relief.
Reported side effects
Lineage
Zkittlez traces to Grape Ape × Grapefruit. The cross sits in the Zkittlez family, which influences both the terpene profile and the flowering structure described above.
Genetic family tree
Documented parents for Zkittlez based on breeder catalogues. Library entries are clickable; ancestors not yet documented on this site appear in a lighter, non-linked box.
Strains crossed with Zkittlez
Zkittlez is a parent of 4 strains in the broader catalogue. These are crosses that carry Zkittlez genetics on at least one side of the cross.
Grow profile
Grow profile
- Indica / sativa
- 70% / 30%
- Flowering days
- 56–63 days
- Stretch
- Low
- Pest resistance
- High
- Mold resistance
- Moderate
- Training methods
- topping, lst, scrog
Feed schedule for Zkittlez
These EC and NPK targets are starting points calibrated for the strain's Indica lean and moderate difficulty rating — not gospel. Drop 15-20% off any EC ceiling on your first run and let the plant tell you where it actually wants to feed.
Suggested feed schedule
- Late veg
- 1.4-1.6 EC
- Early flower
- 1.5-1.7 EC, NPK 2-3-4
- Mid flower
- 1.8-2.0 EC, NPK 1-4-6
- Late flower
- 1.6-1.8 EC
- Final week
- Plain pH-balanced water for the last 7-10 days; light flush if you ran nutrients on the higher end.
Full breakdown of feed math, runoff testing, and salt buildup in our nutrient guide.
What to expect through the grow cycle
Zkittlez is documented with a 9-week flower and a compact stretch typical of indica-leaning structure. The visual below maps a documented 13-week cycle built from 4weeks of vegetative growth and the strain's published flowering window.
Published grow reports for Zkittlez concentrate the most observational notes on the late-flower ripening window. This timeline is descriptive — it reflects what reports document, not a how-to. Actual week-to-week behaviour varies with phenotype, light intensity, pot size, and environment.
Phase details
- Veg (weeks 1-4)
- The documented vegetative period for Zkittlez. Plants establish root structure, leaf canopy, and node count before flower triggering, with a moderate difficulty rating shaping how forgiving the early canopy work tends to be.
- Stretch (weeks 5-7)
- Zkittlez is documented as having low stretch. Reports describe the plant roughly doubling in height during this phase as the indica-leaning structure establishes its final flowering frame.
- Bud sites (weeks 8-9)
- Pre-flowers form at the nodes and calyxes begin to develop. Grow reports for Zkittleznote this as the window where the canopy's eventual bud distribution becomes visible.
- Bud development (weeks 10-11)
- Flowers thicken and calyxes fatten through this phase. Documented Zkittlez runs show the bulk of visible flower mass accumulating here, with resin production accelerating toward the end.
- Ripening (week 12)
- Trichomes transition from clear toward cloudy and amber. Reports for Zkittlez describe the Caryophyllene-led terpene profile maturing through this window, with aroma sharpening week over week.
- Final (week 13)
- Calyx swelling is documented as complete and the harvest window opens. Published Zkittlez runs end here, within the 8-9 week flowering range reported by the breeder.
Flavor & aroma
Reported effects
Awards
- 2015 · High Times Cannabis Cup Michigan — 1st (Indica)
- 2016 · Emerald Cup — Top 10
Common questions about Zkittlez
What is the third parent in Zkittlez?
The Terphogz collective has never publicly disclosed the third parent. Most rumors point to a heirloom Mendocino cut from the original breeder's stash, but nothing has been confirmed.
Why are most Zkittlez seeds counterfeits?
The original genetics circulated as clone-only for years before any seed was released. Most packs labeled Zkittlez before 2018 were sister-line crosses or outright fakes.
Breeder of record
Terphogz / 3rd Gen Family
View breeder profile and other strains →
More from Terphogz / 3rd Gen Family
Strains similar to Zkittlez
These picks lean on the same terpene profile and parent genetics as Zkittlez — shared dominant terps, overlapping lineage, and matching indica/sativa lean. No star ratings or popularity contests, just overlap on the traits that actually drive a similar grow and smoke.