Vortex by TGA Subcool
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The late, great Subcool (Dave Bowman) of TGA Genetics was an absolute madman when it came to breeding, and Vortex is one of his wildest creations. Dropped in the mid-2000s, this sativa-leaning hybrid is a genetic collision between Space Queen and Apollo 13. Subcool never bothered with feminized seeds, pushing a purely open-source Dank philosophy that encouraged real growers to pop regular beans and hunt for the magic themselves. When Vortex took home the High Times San Francisco Medical Cannabis Cup in 2010, everyone realized this chaotic genetic soup was something truly special.
In the grow room, Vortex is not for the faint of heart. She throws down aggressive, vine-like sprawling growth with long internodal gaps and weak stems that basically demand a heavy SCROG net to keep her from flopping over. But the payoff is ridiculous. The buds swell up into these weird, dreadlocked, almost seeded-looking structures completely caked in resin. The terpene profile is absolutely bizarre and pungent—growers constantly report smells ranging from sweet mango and lemonade to straight-up rotting fruit and baby poo. It’s a polarizing stink that you either obsess over or can't stand.
After the tragic 2017 Tubbs Fire wiped out the TGA facility and their seed stock, original Vortex genetics became the holy grail for old-school collectors. Today, the preservation community works overtime on forums and seed hubs, doing open-pollination runs to keep F2s and F3s alive. Finding a true keeper phenotype from these remaining lines is a badge of honor for craft growers. It’s a raw, unpolished piece of cannabis history that reminds us what real pheno-hunting used to look like before the market got watered down.
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Similar strains
| Breeder | TGA Subcool |
|---|---|
| Type | mostly sativa |
| Flowering time | ±50 days |
| THC | 16.75% |
| CBD | 0.20% |
| Environment | Indoors |
| Lineage | Apollo 13 × Space Queen |
| Descendants | Jaffa Cake, Gaping Growler, Cinex, Sour Grape, Apollo 13 BX, Timewreck, Green Avenger, Apollo 13 Puffs Cut x TGA Vortex, C99 X TGA Vortex, Wizard Burial Ground, Thors Hammer, Timewreck, TGA Subcool Seeds - Apollo 13 BX, Kaboom, Jaffa Cake BX, TGA Subcool Seeds - Kaboom, AJ’s Sour Diesel x TGA Vortex |
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🧬 Explore the family: Apollo 13 · Space Queen · Jaffa Cake · Gaping Growler · Cinex · Sour Grape · Apollo 13 BX · Timewreck · Green Avenger · Apollo 13 Puffs Cut x TGA Vortex
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Growing Vortex: what to expect
As a sativa-leaning plant, plan for a big stretch after the flip (often 100–200%) — flip earlier than feels natural and keep training options ready. Sativa-leaning plants also generally prefer a lighter feed than heavy indicas. Growers familiar with Apollo 13 or Space Queen will recognize much of its behavior. Whatever the listing says, the cut in YOUR tent is the ground truth: log feedings, readings, and photos, and let the trends — not the label — drive decisions.
Vortex FAQ
How long does Vortex take to flower?
Vortex typically flowers in around 50 days after switching to a 12/12 light schedule. Individual phenotypes vary, so judge harvest readiness by trichome color, not the calendar.
Is Vortex an indica or a sativa?
Vortex is listed as mostly sativa.
What are the parents of Vortex?
Vortex was bred from Apollo 13 × Space Queen by TGA Subcool.
How strong is Vortex?
Reported THC for Vortex is 16.75% and CBD 0.20%. Actual potency depends heavily on environment, harvest ripeness, and cure quality.
What environment does Vortex like?
Standard cannabis bands work well: VPD 0.8–1.1 kPa in veg and 1.0–1.4 kPa in flower, with humidity stepping down from 65–75% as a seedling to 40–50% in late flower. See the stage-by-stage table on this page.
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