There’s no denying that purple weed has a striking appearance. Due of its distinctive color and intense mind-altering effects, many purple strains have become world-famous. Is being a different color, however, a sign that a strain is more potent? Alternatively, may it be more medicinally useful than others?
Why Does Cannabis Turn Purple?
The presence of pigments called anthocyanins in the leaves of some marijuana strains causes them to become purple. Anthocyanins are water-soluble pigments that occur naturally in many plants. They are the pigments that give blueberries their blue color, blackberries their black tint, and red grapes their red color.
They’re also found in some cannabis strains. The anthocyanin pigments are responsible for the wide range of colors found in plant buds.
Anthocyanins aren’t simply found in cannabis. They have the ability to change the color to red, gold, dark green, blue, or black. Cannabis’ color is determined by the genetics of the plant and how it is produced. The color and stability of anthocyanin pigments are affected by a variety of factors. Temperature, light, pH, and structure are all factors to consider. Temperature, light, pH, and structure are all factors to consider.
Cannabis leaves can change color as the plant matures, similar to how leaves change color in the fall. If you envision a cannabis plant developing in the wild, it would do so in the fall when the weather cools and the nights lengthen.
Natural high anthocyanin levels can be seen in some strains. These strains exhibit their gorgeous violet hues under particular circumstances, such as when they begin the “winter” flowering cycle. This is a natural phenomenon that is influenced by the plant’s genetics as well as external environmental conditions.
The Myths: Why Cannabis Doesn’t Turn Purple
By Depriving Cannabis Of Nutrients
Many people assume that when a cannabis plant is agitated, the leaves become purple. They believe that depriving the plant of nutrients like oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen will cause it to change color.
Plants, like us, require nutrients to survive. If you remove these, your plant will develop sick and eventually die.
Turn Cannabis Purple By Freezing It
Although some strains become purple when exposed to chilly temperatures, don’t use ice water flushes or flash freezing. While these treatments may affect the color of the plant, they are not recommended by specialists due to the risk they bring.
Your plant will be stressed if it is exposed to intense cold for an extended period of time. After all, how would you feel if a bucket of icy water was dropped on your head out of nowhere? Plant stress could lead to reduced THC levels, which isn’t ideal. In the worst-case situation, you might even destroy your plants.
As a result, you should do it gradually and only near the end of the flowering period.
Food Coloring For Puple Weed
You could try it if you really wanted to, but why would you? If you want to produce purple cannabis, this method will never satisfy you as much as producing it properly will.
Instead, concentrate your efforts on finding an appropriate purple strain. Then, properly set up your grow room or garden. As your plants begin to flower, you’ll need to gradually lower the temperature. You’ll reap the benefits later if you put in a little extra thought and effort at the start of your grow.
The Facts: Why Cannabis Turn Purple
Cannabis Turn Purple In The Cold
Chlorophyll is broken down by the cold, allowing anthocyanins to take over, giving the plant its purple tint. The leaves of your cannabis plants may change color if they are exposed to chilly weather. However, this is only possible if you have a strain that has been genetically engineered to do so.
“You must use extra caution since extreme cold will harm your plant and may possibly kill it.”
So, how do you get your marijuana to turn purple? As your plants approach harvest time, gently drop the temperature during the dark cycle. A nighttime temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) is excellent, but drop the temperature gradually to prevent scaring your plants. Keep a close eye on them, and only do so right before harvesting.
pH Levels Can Affect The Color
When anthocyanins are exposed to varied pH levels, they take on diverse hues. They can turn red when exposed to acidic circumstances (low pH). They may appear bluer in alkaline environments (high pH). A purple tone is more prevalent when the pH is neutral.
However, the pH of your growing medium has a variety of different effects on your plants. It’s critical to keep your pH within the ranges advised for your strain.
Choose The Right Strain
It takes a mix of environmental factors and genetics to turn marijuana purple. Some cannabis strains can quickly become a lovely purple color. Others, on the other hand, will remain green no matter how hard you try.
Choose a strain with a lot of anthocyanins if you want to cultivate purple marijuana. Finding one with the word “purple” in its name is an excellent place to start. Other purple strains have names that are less evident.
