If you enjoy growing cannabis, you might be tempted to grow a fantastic purple weed plant, whether to impress your friends and family or as an experiment to expand your growing experience. No matter the reason, we are here to help you learn how to grow purple weed.
Growing purple weed can be performed by beginning growers, but there are some factors that come into play when trying to grow a beautiful plant. We will explain a bit of the magic of purple weed (and busts some myths), and we will answer the question "how do you grow purple weed?". After reading this guide, you will be able to show off your breeding skills to your fellow weed enthusiasts. Weed with an appealing color never fails to attract attention in your grow room.
Is purple weed better than green weed?
The short answer is 'no'. If a seller of purple weed claims it's more powerful and better than normal cannabis, they are either lying or they don't know much about growing cannabis. Next time you pop into a coffee shop, pay close attention when asking why purple marijuana is so much more expensive. In reality, it is sometimes significantly weaker than a similar green strain.
Why are (weed) plants usually green?
Most plants use a pigment called chlorophyll to convert light into energy for growth. However, there isn't a specific destination for a green wavelength in the light spectrum. Chlorophyll appears green because it is able to absorb all colors but happens to reflect green, which is the reason why most vegetation is green.
However, you might be surprised to learn that green chlorophyll is not the sole pigment that plants use to make energy from sunlight. There is an additional pigment, known as anthocyanin, which is a purple pigment.
Why is some weed purple?
The interesting thing is that the purple section of the light spectrum contains the most energy. When your plant is purple for whatever reason, it reflects this high-energy light instead of utilizing it. This means that the plant does not use the light fully and optimally. It also means that your cannabis plant will not grow to its maximum potential. As a result, it may ultimately be less powerful than a green variety.
Some types of purple cannabis are stronger than others
Not all purple cannabis strains are weaker than green ones. Some species that grow purple flowers, such as Granddaddy Purple or Pinkman Goo, are known to contain a lot of cannabinoids. This makes them incredibly potent, despite their hue. In other words, potency depends on genetics.
Ways to cultivate a purple weed plant
But we know you are wondering, how do you grow purple weed? There are two ways of growing purple weed. You can choose a special species, such as Purple Kush, which can turn purple by herself, or you can let regular weed, which is usually green, turn purple. We'll explain how you can turn regular cannabis strains into purple cannabis.
How to prepare your purple cannabis?
If you are keen to grow purple plants, you don't have to do anything special at the start. Simply start with seeds or cuttings in the usual way. Put the seeds in a seed pot or in the pot in which you want to leave them. Allow your plants to germinate and grow as usual. The purple color comes later when your cannabis plants start to flower.
When your plants are mature and show the first signs of flowering, you can start the process that will turn them into purple beauties. The main thing is to perform a simple but effective action: lowering the night temperature for your flowering plants. Cannabis plants turn purple when they experience chilly nights! As a rule, your plants turn purple if the difference between the day and night temperatures is around 15 °C (27 °F) or more. However, make sure that the temperature is not too low because that will hinder the maturing process.
The mechanism that causes your cannabis plants to turn purple is the same that causes the trees to change color in the fall (or autumn for our British growers). Another explanation is that the lower temperatures cause the plants to produce less chlorophyll. However, they produce more purple (or red or brownish) anthocyanins.
It may not always be possible to lower the night temperature for your plants in such a way that they turn purple. Growers often start growing outside late in the spring and continue in the summer, when the nights are never cold enough to make the plants turn purple. They are ready for harvesting at the beginning of autumn before the nights get cold.
If you grow indoors in a tent, it is possible to grow strains in the autumn/fall photoperiod. You will then be able to control the vegetative and flowering stage of your plants by changing the light cycle. If you plan your grow schedule, the night temperatures will hopefully be low enough to color your cannabis purple. If it doesn't get sufficiently cold in your grow room at night, you could try and lower the temperature with air conditioning. But what should you do if you want to grow purple weed plants in the open air?
Tips for a magnificent purple harvest grown outside
It is not possible to start outside with a photoperiod type when it is autumn/fall or winter. This is mainly because there are fewer hours of daylight, which confuses the growth phase of your plants rather than the lower temperatures.
Choose to grow your plants indoors and put them outside when they have reached a good height. They should bloom at the end of autumn or the beginning of winter, when the days are shorter. This is assuming that it is not too cold and that it is not going to freeze. If there is a cold spell, bring your plants indoors quickly!
Autoflowers for beautiful purple 'winter weed'
In some climates, such as Southern Europe, it is possible to grow outside in the winter. The temperatures are pleasantly warm in the daytime and, while the nights are a bit chilly, there is no risk of frost. The perfect conditions for growing purple marijuana!
If you want to grow a nice stock of beautiful purple buds outside, choose autoflowering strains. Autoflower seeds are perfect for autumn/fall, winter, and the early spring. The amount of daylight is not enough for growing and flowering photoperiod cannabis plants. Autoflowers can be planted 'in-between seasons', meaning you can harvest beautiful crops of purple winter weed. At the end of spring, you can start growing photoperiod cannabis strains again.
Whether you grow strains that turn purple by themselves or transform normal cannabis plants into purple beauties; growing purple cannabis is very interesting and enjoyable. Use this guide to show off your horticultural skills and amaze your friends with your beautiful purple tops!
What have we learned?
Purple weed plants are a sight to behold, and their beauty lies in the dominance of the pigment 'anthocyanin'. You now know the main component of how to grow purple weed: the difference in temperature. With this trick up your sleeve, you can now start growing purple weed in your own cannabis garden. If you want this journey to purple weed to be as smooth as possible, you can choose any of our top 5 best purple weed strains.
In case you want to refresh your memory on how to grow weed plants in the first place, it never hurts to read our beginners grow guide (again). Are you confident in your basic grow skills, and want to try out new techniques for bigger and better yields? Just check out our advanced grow guide and become a master of your own grown room!