Written by Ad OpsOrigin and Historical Significance
Kees’ Old School Haze is a love letter to the original Haze era, curated by Super Sativa Seed Club, one of the Netherlands’ pioneering seed outfits from the late 1980s. The strain embodies a sativa-first philosophy that SSSC helped popularize, restoring a profile of bright, complex incense and soaring headspace that defined the earliest Haze releases. While modern markets often favor quicker-flowering hybrids, this selection proudly preserves the longer cycles and nuanced chemistry that made Haze a connoisseur benchmark.
Super Sativa Seed Club revived its catalog in the 2010s with an emphasis on foundational genetics, and Kees’ Old School Haze became a flagship for that mission. The strain’s name honors Kees, SSSC’s master breeder, who maintained and reselected Haze stock to reflect the late-70s and early-80s archetype. The project deliberately avoids trendy crosses, opting instead to stabilize the historical character that shaped early European and Californian scenes.
Haze as a family traces back to blends of tropical sativa lines, often attributed to combinations of Colombian, Mexican, Thai, and South Indian landraces. Those inputs were known for narrow-leaf morphology, elongated flowering, and a terpene signature heavy in terpinolene, citrus limonene, and various woodsy and spicy notes. Kees’ Old School Haze mirrors that mosaic, delivering the nostalgic incense-and-citrus halo breeders and historians associate with original Haze.
By resisting the push to compress flowering times or stack elite cuts for brute potency, SSSC preserved a strain that teaches patience and rewards precision. It offers growers a living archive in seed form, an opportunity to explore the longer, rangier growth patterns and electric cerebral effects of true sativa heritage. For many enthusiasts, it is less a commodity and more a cultural artifact.
In a legal landscape dominated by dessert terpenes and indica-leaning comfort, Kees’ Old School Haze stands apart by design. Its profile appeals to experienced consumers seeking complexity over immediacy, and to cultivators who want to master classic high-vigor sativas. That positioning has helped the strain earn a reputation as both a test and a triumph for dedicated growers.
Genetic Lineage and Breeding Philosophy
The genetic backbone of Kees’ Old School Haze aligns with the canonical description of Original Haze: a composite of Colombian, Mexican, Thai, and South Indian sativas. While exact parental selections remain proprietary, SSSC’s breeding notes consistently emphasize a return to the incense-heavy, citrus-woody architecture of 1970s Haze. This approach privileges chemotype fidelity over rapid turnover, aiming for stability around the desired terpene and effect profile rather than sheer speed.
From a breeding standpoint, the line shows polyhybrid heritage with traits that segregate into several recognizable phenotypic expressions. Growers commonly report 3 to 4 dominant phenotypes, varying primarily in flowering time, aroma intensity, and bud structure. The terpinolene-forward phenotype is frequently observed, alongside occasional more citrus-dominant or spicy-woody expressions.
SSSC breeders favored plants with elongated internodes, strong apical dominance, and the classic narrow leaflet sativa silhouette. Those morphological markers correlate with the airier, foxtailing calyx stacks that resist bud rot better than dense indica structures in humid conditions. Selection also targeted resilience against nutrient burn and hermaphroditic tendencies when environmental controls are tight and light leaks are prevented.
The line’s design favors adaptive vigor over uniformity, reflecting the breeding philosophy that classic Hazes should be explored through selection rather than masked by heavy hybridization. That means patient phenohunting can pay significant dividends, with top selections expressing layered aromas of church incense, cedar, citrus zest, and pepper. Such plants tend to deliver the clearest, longest-lasting sativa effects.
The long-cycle nature of Kees’ Old School Haze also encourages skill-building in growers, pushing mastery of canopy control, VPD, and nutrient timing. SSSC leans into this educational value, positioning the strain as a benchmark for understanding equatorial-influenced cannabis biology. In that sense, lineage and philosophy converge: keep what makes Haze Haze, and let the plant teach the gardener.
Botanical Morphology and Visual Traits
Kees’ Old School Haze grows tall and expressive, with narrow, serrated leaves that often show 9 to 13 fingers on mature fans. Internodal spacing can range from 5 to 12 centimeters under strong light, creating a layered, airy canopy. After the flip to flower, stretch of 200 to 300 percent is common, demanding preemptive training for indoor spaces.
Bud formation favors elongated, spear-shaped colas composed of stacked calyxes rather than compact golf-ball clusters. As flowering advances, foxtailing is normal and desirable, reflecting the sativa heritage rather than heat stress. Pistils shift from cream to orange and eventually to copper, while trichomes develop a sparkling frost that highlights the calyxes more than the sugar leaves.
The plant’s structure improves airflow, making it less susceptible to Botrytis than dense indica-leaning cultivars, especially in late flower. However, the open architecture requires thoughtful support; trellis netting or bamboo stakes are recommended once flowers gain mass. Stems are fibrous yet flexible and respond well to high-stress training if introduced early in veg.
Leaves often maintain a lighter, lime-green tone during mid flower due to the plant’s preference for balanced nitrogen tapering. Excess nitrogen retention can cause glossy leaves and delayed flower initiation, so most growers reduce N by 20 to 30 percent at the onset of bloom. Potassium and magnesium demands elevate mid-cycle, aligning with the plant’s accelerated metabolic drive.
In terms of resin presentation, trichome heads are typically medium-sized with long stalks, a hallmark in many Haze families. Mature resin often leans cloudy with a lower proportion of amber at the earliest optimal harvest window. This visual cue aligns with the strain’s signature uplifting effect, which diminishes if harvested overly amber.
Aroma and Bouquet
The aroma of Kees’ Old School Haze is a layered interplay of incense, citrus rind, and dry wood. A cracked bud can release a church-like scent reminiscent of frankincense with hints of cedar and sandalwood. Secondary tones of lemon peel, lime zest, and a whisper of pine lend brightness and snap.
As flowers cure, deeper spice and herb tones commonly emerge, including peppercorn, bay leaf, and anise. Some phenotypes display a metallic or ozone-like edge that sharpens the top notes, especially in jars sealed for two or more weeks. The overall bouquet is clean but penetrating, often filling a room within seconds of opening a container.
Freshly ground material amplifies the terpinolene-driven perfume, presenting as lively and almost effervescent. Many users describe a nostalgic, old-world Haze signature that distinctly differs from modern dessert or fuel profiles. This olfactory identity is an important selection target for SSSC and part of the strain’s cult appeal.
On the vine, late-flower plants can project a strong yet elegant scent that remains more aromatic than skunky. For growers concerned about odor, active carbon filtration is recommended beginning in week two or three of bloom. A well-cured jar retains complexity for months, with oxidative shifts often pushing the wood and spice facets forward.
Flavor and Consumption Notes
On inhalation, Kees’ Old School Haze presents bright citrus and herbal lift, often led by lemon-lime and dry pine. The mid-palate transitions into incense and cedar, with peppery sparkles that suggest beta-caryophyllene influence. Exhale is clean and persistent, leaving a zesty, woody aftertaste that lingers several minutes.
Combustion in a clean glass pipe produces sharp, high-definition flavor if the herb is dried slowly and cured for at least 3 to 4 weeks. Over-drying below 55 percent relative humidity can thin out the citrus and compress the spice notes, so a slow 60/60 dry is ideal. Vaporization tends to emphasize sweetness and nuance, particularly the floral side of terpinolene.
For vaporists, temperature bands around 175 to 185 Celsius accentuate citrus-zest brightness and herbal top notes. Moving toward 190 to 195 Celsius brings pepper, wood, and faint anise to the foreground and increases perceived potency. Above 200 Celsius, flavor can flatten and the experience may turn harsher, though extraction efficiency increases.
Edible preparations capture the chemotype’s uplifting character but can be deceptively strong due to THC-forward cannabinoid ratios. Because this strain’s headspace is energizing, some users prefer microdoses in the 2.5 to 5 milligram THC range for daytime clarity. Larger doses of 10 to 20 milligrams can deliver a more immersive and long-lasting sativa arc that remains functional for many experienced consumers.
Cannabinoid Profile and Potency Metrics
As a sativa-leaning Haze selection, Kees’ Old School Haze typically expresses a THC-dominant profile with minimal CBD. Surveyed reports of comparable legacy Haze chemotypes commonly fall between 18 and 24 percent THC in well-grown samples, with standout phenos occasionally testing higher. CBD is usually below 1 percent, and CBG can appear in the 0.3 to 1.5 percent range depending on phenotype and maturation.
Total cannabinoids in dialed-in environments often land between 20 and 28 percent by dry weight, though this reflects optimized cultivation and post-harvest practices. Nutrient balance, light intensity, and cure quality can swing results by several percentage points. For instance, improper drying can reduce measurable terpene content by 30 to 50 percent, indirectly affecting perceived potency and entourage expression.
The absence of meaningful CBD means the psychoactive arc is primarily driven by THC, terpenes, and minor cannabinoids like CBG and CBC. This composition supports the classic Haze clarity and prolonged focus but can introduce anxiety in sensitive users at high doses. For new consumers, titrating upward from 1 to 2 inhalations with a 5- to 10-minute pause is prudent.
Tolerance and set-and-setting play outsized roles with this cultivar due to its duration and mental brightness. Across user feedback, primary effects can last 2 to 4 hours, with the first 30 to 60 minutes characterized by rapid cognitive activation. A gentle taper follows, with creativity and upbeat mood persisting after peak intensity fades.
From a product formulation standpoint, flower and solventless rosin are popular choices because they showcase the terpinolene-forward personality without masking it. Hydrocarbon extracts can be potent but risk losing delicate top notes unless produced at low temperature with excellent purge control. In general, whole-flower experiences best convey the strain’s layered synergy.
Terpene Profile and Volatile Chemistry
Kees’ Old School Haze typically expresses a terpinolene-forward terpene stack, a hallmark in many vintage Haze selections. In lab aggregates for analogous Haze cultivars, terpinolene commonly appears in the 0.3 to 0.8 percent by dry weight range, with totals sometimes exceeding 1.0 percent in elite phenotypes. Supporting terpenes frequently include beta-myrcene, limonene, ocimene, beta-caryophyllene, and alpha-pinene.
Total terpene content for well-grown sativa-dominant Hazes often ranges from 1.5 to 3.0 percent, though curing practices can shift both totals and ratios. A slow dry at 60 Fahrenheit and 60 percent relative humidity for 10 to 14 days can preserve volatile monoterpenes that would otherwise evaporate. Jars burped during the first 2 weeks of cure show better retention, with data from post-harvest studies suggesting up to 20 to 30 percent improvement in terpene preservation versus rapid drying.
Terpinolene contributes the airy, citrus-floral and slightly piney sparkle that animates the nose, while limonene reinforces zesty brightness and mood elevation. Beta-myrcene, even at modest levels, can soften the edges and add depth to the herbal core. Beta-caryophyllene lends pepper and a subtle warming quality, interacting with CB2 receptors to potentially modulate inflammatory signaling.
Ocimene, when present, brings a sweet, green quality that ties the citrus to the floral spectrum. Alpha-pinene’s contribution to perceived alertness is well-documented in aromatherapy literature, and many users report a clear-headed effect consistent with pinene’s reputation for focus. Together, these volatiles help explain the strain’s energetic yet lucid profile.
Because terpenes are fragile, mechanical handling can reduce their expression. Trimming at lower room temperatures and minimizing agitation of dried flower can protect monoterpenes critical to Kees’ Old School Haze’s signature. Growers who dry-trim in climate-controlled rooms often report more pronounced incense and citrus layers in the final jar.
Experiential Effects and Use Patterns
Kees’ Old School Haze delivers a rapid-onset, cerebral-forward experience that many describe as sparkling, clear, and creative. The first wave often brings heightened sensory acuity and mental drift toward idea generation, music appreciation, or meticulous tasks. Unlike many modern hybrids, the body feel is light and unobtrusive during the first half of the arc.
At moderate doses, users commonly report improved mood and a focused, talkative sociability. The strain can be productive for daytime work such as writing, design, and technical planning when used thoughtfully. Overconsumption, however, may introduce a racy edge or transient unease due to the THC-dominant chemotype.
Physiologically, the cultivar tends to avoid heavy eyelid load or couchlock, matching its sativa heritage. Appetite stimulation is variable but generally milder than in many indica-leaning cultivars. Dry mouth and dry eyes are the most common side effects, with occasional light-headedness in sensitive individuals.
Duration typically runs 2 to 4 hours, with peak intensity within the first hour and a steady plateau thereafter. Experienced consumers often use smaller, more frequent inhalations to maintain a functional plateau rather than seeking a single apex. This pacing preserves clarity and reduces the odds of anxious spikes.
Pairings that shine include outdoor activities, brainstorming sessions, and music production, where the strain’s temporal and textural sensitivity feels amplified. For evenings, many blend a small amount of a myrcene-forward indica with Kees’ Old School Haze to round the edges without dulling creativity. Such combinations allow tailored effects across the day’s arc.
Potential Medical Applications
While formal clinical trials specific to Kees’ Old School Haze are not available, its THC-dominant, terpinolene-forward profile suggests several potential use cases. Users report mood elevation, energy, and cognitive engagement, aligning with anecdotal support for relief from low mood and fatigue. In survey data of sativa-leaning consumers, uplift and motivation are cited frequently as desired outcomes for daytime symptom management.
THC has documented analgesic potential in neuropathic pain, with meta-analyses showing small-to-moderate effect sizes relative to placebo. For some patients, the clarity of sativa chemotypes helps with task persistence during painful episodes, though the lack of sedative ballast can be challenging for others. Minor cannabinoids like CBG, when present around 0.5 to 1 percent, may add anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective contributions based on preclinical literature.
The strain’s alert profile can sometimes assist with attention drift or executive function challenges, especially at microdoses. Consumers have reported improved task initiation and flow at very low THC levels that minimize anxiety risk. However, because higher doses can become racy, measured titration is key for individuals with anxiety disorders.
As an appetite stimulant, the effect is moderate and inconsistent; patients seeking strong appetite activation may prefer indica-leaning chemotypes rich in myrcene and linalool. On the other hand, the uplifting headspace is often preferred by those who want to stay active during symptom relief. For nausea, inhaled THC remains one of the fastest-acting routes, with onset within minutes and relief often reported within 15 to 30 minutes.
Sleep outcomes are mixed. Early-evening microdoses can improve mood and reduce rumination, indirectly aiding sleep onset later, but late high doses may delay sleep due to stimulation. Patients with insomnia may do better reserving this strain for daytime and shifting to a sedative chemotype at night.
As always, medical use should be guided by clinician oversight, especially for individuals with cardiovascular risk, a history of panic attacks, or interactions with medications. Start low, go slow remains the gold standard. Vaporization at controlled temperatures can offer more predictable dosing than combustion and may be gentler on the respiratory system.
Cultivation Guide: Planning and Setup
Kees’ Old School Haze is a long-cycle sativa best suited to growers who can dedicate space and time. Indoors, plan for 12 to 16 weeks of flowering after a short veg, with total crop time commonly exceeding 16 to 20 weeks. Outdoors, the plant prefers Mediterranean or subtropical climates where autumn stays warm and dry.
Canopy management is essential due to 200 to 300 percent stretch after the flip. Most indoor growers top once or twice and deploy a SCROG net to spread growth laterally. Starting bloom at a shorter plant height than with hybrids prevents lights from being overwhelmed mid-cycle.
Lighting intensity in flower should target 800 to 1,000 micromoles per square meter per second of PPFD without supplemental CO2, and up to 1,200 to 1,400 with 1,000 to 1,200 ppm CO2. Daily light integral goals of 35 to 45 mol per square meter per day suit this high-vigor sativa when environmental controls are optimized. Keeping light distance consistent mitigates foxing from excess heat at the canopy.
Environmental targets that align with sativa physiology include daytime temperatures of 24 to 28 Celsius and nights of 18 to 22 Celsius. Relative humidity should run 55 to 65 percent in veg, 45 to 55 percent in early-to-mid flower, and 40 to 45 percent in late flower. VPD between 1.2 and 1.4 kPa in mid bloom supports robust transpiration without undue stress.
For media, both living soil and inert hydroponic systems perform well, though living soils provide a buffer against nutrient swings during the long bloom cycle. In coco or hydro, pH in the 5.8 to 6.2 range is ideal; in soil, 6.2 to 6.8 is the sweet spot. EC targets of 1.4 to 1.8 in early flower, 1.8 to 2.2 in mid bloom, and a gentle taper in the final two weeks are common starting points.
Odor control should be planned early because the aromatic signature becomes prominent by week three to four of flower. Sized carbon filters and strong air exchange will prevent terpene buildup in confined grows. In greenhouses, positive pressure and intake filters help maintain IPM hygiene while preserving airflow.
Cultivation Guide: Training, Nutrition, and Irrigation
For structure, topping at the fourth to sixth node followed by low-stress training shapes a broad, even canopy. A single SCROG layer set 20 to 30 centimeters above the pot rim can corral vertical growth while encouraging lateral bud site development. Supercropping pliable stems in late veg further moderates stretch without compromising vigor.
Defoliation should be moderate and strategic. Removing large fan leaves that heavily shade interior sites around weeks two to three of flower improves light penetration while preserving leaf area for photosynthesis. Over-defoliation can shock sativas and slow flower set, so a light touch is advised.
Nitrogen should be tapered prudently at the flip, as excessive N delays floral initiation and retains too much chlorophyll late. A common target is to reduce N input by 20 to 30 percent at transition while elevating phosphorus and potassium. Mid bloom, potassium demand often peaks at 250 to 350 ppm, with magnesium at 40 to 60 ppm to prevent interveinal chlorosis.
Calcium support is valuable in high-transpiration sativas, especially in coco and hydro. Aim for 120 to 180 ppm calcium through weeks two to seven of flower, delivered via cal-mag supplements or balanced base nutrients. Silica at 50 to 100 ppm strengthens cell walls, reduces stem lodging, and can enhance stress resilience.
Irrigation frequency should follow a wet-to-dry rhythm that preserves oxygen in the root zone. In coco, multiple smaller irrigations per day at peak flower can stabilize EC and prevent salt accumulation, while in soil, less frequent, deeper waterings promote thorough root exploration. Runoff EC monitoring helps maintain consistent feeding and catches drift before it becomes symptomatic.
Biostimulants such as fulvic acids, seaweed extracts, and amino chelates can support micronutrient uptake and stress tolerance. Beneficial microbes, including mycorrhizae and Bacillus species, increase root surface area and nutrient solubilization in soil-based systems. These supports are particularly helpful during the long arc of a Haze bloom.
If employing CO2 enrichment, keep leaf surface temperatures in the 26 to 28 Celsius range and ensure airflow maintains laminar exchange across the canopy. As PPFD rises beyond 1,000, balanced nutrition and irrigation must follow suit to avoid photoinhibition or localized deficiency. A uniform canopy under SCROG maximizes photon capture and yield potential without sacrificing quality.
Cultivation Guide: Environment, IPM, Harvest, and Curing
Airflow and climate stability are essential for this long-blooming cultivar. Use oscillating fans above and below the canopy to prevent microclimates and reduce condensation on narrow leaves. Maintain a slight negative pressure indoors to control odor and ensure consistent fresh air exchange.
Integrated Pest Management should begin before transplant with clean stock, quarantine, and prophylactic scouting. Because flowers are less dense, Botrytis risk is lower than with compact hybrids, but powdery mildew can still appear if humidity spikes. Weekly leaf inspections with a jeweler’s loupe and sticky cards for flying pests are simple, effective measures.
Outdoors, Kees’ Old School Haze thrives at latitudes with warm, dry autumns. In temperate regions, consider light-deprivation greenhouses to finish by early October; otherwise harvest may push into late October or November, risking cold and storms. Plant spacing of 1.5 to 2.0 meters allows airflow and reduces pest bridging between canopies.
Harvest timing is critical to preserve the strain’s uplifting character. Many growers target mostly cloudy trichomes with only 5 to 15 percent amber, as higher amber ratios can tilt the effect toward sedation. If harvested early, the flavor can be greener and the potency less complete; if too late, the electric edge softens.
For drying, the 60 Fahrenheit and 60 percent RH method for 10 to 14 days is highly effective at retaining terpinolene and limonene. Gentle air movement without direct wind on buds prevents case-hardening. Once stems snap rather than bend, move flowers into curing jars filled to 60 to 70 percent volume and burp daily for the first week.
A four- to eight-week cure deepens the incense-wood spice and refines the citrus zest. Terpene losses are minimized when jars are stored in the dark at 16 to 20 Celsius, with humidity maintained around 58 to 62 percent using humidity packs if needed. Data from post-harvest studies indicate that controlled curing can preserve 20 to 35 percent more monoterpenes compared to fast dry-only approaches.
Yield varies widely with technique and phenotype. Indoors, experienced growers using SCROG and 8 to 10 weeks of veg often report 450 to 650 grams per square meter, with outliers above when CO2 and high PPFD are dialed. Outdoors in ideal climates, single plants can surpass 700 to 1,200 grams, contingent on season length, soil fertility, and canopy management.
