Cannabis Breeder Insights: Zeclair

Cultivar Details

Zeclair
Lineage: Cold Heat x Zonuts
Father Lineage: Runtz x (Zkittlez x (Biscotti x Froyo))
Mother Lineage: Runtz x Triangle F2
Bred by Umami Seed Company 

Plant Physiology 

Due to the presence of OG Kush in the lineage, the structure of Zeclair has a similar growth pattern to Skywalker OG. It displays almost vertical branching but with tighter node spacing than a traditional OG Kush varietal. The morphology of Zeclair shows dominant auxiliary branching leading to a Menorah-shaped plant when left unpruned. Selected clones of this cultivar root fully eight days after cutting shoots.

The leaves are standard, OG style: five-bladed , wavy and rippled with dark, highly serrated and unusually long 4- to 6-inch petioles. Zeclair seems to have a very active root system, and guttation, when water secretes from the leaves, is common. Reduce water content in the root system during the night and early morning may help to reduce root pressure within the plants.

During flower, the stems are slender and green with purple veins, reminiscent of its OG Kush lineage. The buds are large, greasy, heavy and need a lot of support during flower. Zeclair has dark purple flowers with green streaking, which is in line with observed trends in the contemporary flower market.

Average Yield

Indoors, the selected clone/best phenotype used yields 60 to 80 grams per square foot of canopy.

Flowering Time

Most favorable Zeclair selections mature 60 to 63 days after onset of a 12/12 photoperiod. Grown under natural light, Zeclair matures early to mid-October.

Environmental Conditions

Umami grows Zeclair at 1,200 ppm CO₂ until week five or six before cutting CO₂. At six weeks, they reduce fertilizer electrical conductivity (EC) by 0.1 millisiemens per centimeter (mS/cm) per day for two weeks until finish, with a substrate EC of 1.5 to 2.0 mS/cm.

Zeclair is very tolerant and performs well using a standard flowering vapor pressure deficit (VPD ) running 80 degrees F during the day with HPS lighting and 82 to 83 degrees F with LED, with relative humidity at around 60% for most of the flowering period. If temperatures are reduced later in flower, then humidity also needs to be reduced to prevent diseases such as botrytis and powdery mildew.

Recommended Input Conditions

Zeclair can handle high EC levels without any issues and runs well in a modern cultivation environment using LEDs and a high input EC level of 3.0 or above, although the cultivar doesn’t do well if substrate EC rises above 8.0. Pushing the crop hard like this will enable the grower to increase yields past those stated, although end quality may suffer if all the parameters are not controlled exactly. For Zeclair to fully express its yield potential, lighting levels should remain at 1,100 to 1,200 PPFD and not drop below 800 PPFD throughout flower. Zeclair is a calcium-loving plant; in conventional grows, switching to calcium chloride or calcium silicate in the last three weeks helps to enhance color and flavor in the flower.

Integrated Pest Management Notes

Very tolerant to powdery mildew and botrytis. Standard susceptibility to common pests.

Cannabinoid Profile

Highest THC tested is 36%, but 33% to 34% is average.

Terpene Profile

Terpene levels test at around 2%. Zeclair fits in the candy gas category, although with the kick and potency from the OG side. The smoke is described as thick with OG Kush-type lung expansion, and the flavors are a combination of earthy Kush to chocolate gas, vanilla frosting, toffee, and saltwater taffy.

Quality of High

Described as calming, euphoric and relaxing, like waves that wash over you, not weigh you down. Some report it is an appetite stimulant with the added benefit of not leaving the smoker with cotton mouth.

Breeder Notes

"Zeclair is a very special smoke and one of the most sought-after cultivars from Umami Seed. One of the things that makes her special is the Cold Heat in her lineage,” says Chase of Umami Seed Company “Cold Heat was bred by Watson Supply Co. and is one of the best cultivars in production. Zeclair has flavor, yield, potency and bag appeal, a true representation of Umami’s motto: ‘Flavor > Everything.’”