How to turn my weed purple?

Having purple buds in our hands, paper or pipes is a fantasy we all have experience, maybe one or two times we have had the chance to have them but as they are delicious doesnt take too much for us to disappear those buds from their existance. Luckily if you are a home grower you can try yourself and get those beloved purple buds that everybody wants. We will explain and dig deeper into a few techniques you can try to get your purple buds without using colorant (which as easy as it sounds, its the worst option you can use)

Table of content

1. Why does cannabis turn purple?
2. The science of vibrant purple buds
3. Techniques to turn your weed purple
4. Harvest & Curing Process 
5. How not to turn your weed purple
6. Purple genetics

Why does cannabis turn purple? 

Purple cannabis strains have become increasingly popular in recent years. The vibrant hues, rich flavors, and potent effects make purple varieties highly sought-after. However, growing purple cannabis can be challenging for even experienced cultivators. 

We’ll explore the science behind anthocyanins, the pigments responsible for the purple coloration. You’ll learn how environmental factors like temperature, flushing techniques, and pH influence color development. We’ll also provide actionable tips on choosing the right strains, optimizing the growing environment, managing nutrients, and perfecting harvest and curing techniques.

Cannabis turns purple for various reasons. Generally is attributed to Anthocyanins, which is a water-soluble pigment that plants normally generate due to potassium deficiency, low temperatures or genes. Phosphorus and Nitrogen nutrients play a very important role when colorising your plants to purple, sometimes the excess or lack of these nutrients will make the plant show different colors, not only in leaves but also in stems and trunk. For this you have to make sure you are using the right substrates and fertilizers so you don’t have sad outcomes at the end and not a happy and tasty purple harvest.

The Science Of Vibrant Purple Buds

Anthocyanins are water-soluble pigments in the flavonoid family responsible for the deep purple, blue, and red hues in cannabis. There are over 400 identified anthocyanin compounds that can exhibit different shades based on their chemical structure. 

In cannabis, anthocyanins are not present in large quantities in normal conditions. But when exposed to certain stresses, anthocyanin production ramps up leading to purple coloration.

The key triggers for anthocyanin expression include:

• Cooler temperatures – 10-15°C
• Acidic soil – pH between 5.8 to 6.5
• Phosphorus abundance – crucial for anthocyanin synthesis
• Excess of Nitrogen – could be beneficial at some point but could be dangerous if not done properly
• Genetics – purple strains have higher anthocyanin potential

Maximising anthocyanin expression requires optimizing these environmental factors, which we’ll explore in detail now.

Techniques to turn your weed purple

Now that we understand the science, let’s look at how to optimize the growing environment to encourage anthocyanin production and maximize purple expression.

Choosing the Right Purple Cannabis Strains

Obviously, you’ll need to start with naturally purple or purple-leaning strains. There are many strain options, but we encourage you to select pedigrees with proven purple heritage and anthocyanin potential.

Controlling Temperature 

As mentioned earlier, cooler temperatures enhance anthocyanin production and purple pigments. During the flowering stage, maintain nighttime temp at 18°C in the beginning of the 53 day down to 15°C at day 63 before harvest to spur purple development.

Ice Cold Watering and Flushing Techniques

A full 10 day flushing technique starting at day 53 in a 9-week flowering period will make the plant thrive in colorful ways, being purple one of the outcomes. Also trying watering with iced water can also be beneficial for the anthocyanin production due to the fact that cold water will reduce the whole plant temperature, this should be applied 24 hours before harvest and last flush. Both methods are pretty uncommon, unknown and best kept secrets to promote purple colors. 

Soil pH Levels

Soil pH plays a critical role in anthocyanin production and overall color development in cannabis plants. Acidic soil conditions stimulate anthocyanin expression leading to vibrant purple coloration. 

Here’s a quick overview of how pH affects cannabis color:

• Acidic soil (pH 5.5-6.5) – purple color
• Neutral soil (pH 6.5-7) – green color
• Alkaline soil (pH 7-8) – yellow color

For strongest purple hues, aim for a soil pH between 5.8-6.5. Going below 5.5 can cause nutrient lockout issues. Use pH adjusting amendments like elemental sulfur or peat moss to lower soil pH. 

A soil pH in the optimal range also promotes robust plant growth and adequate nutrient absorption, setting the stage for colorful buds.

Managing Nutrients

Proper nutrients are vital for growing any cannabis, including purple varieties. Along with the base nutrients, pay special attention to phosphorus which directly impacts anthocyanin development and Nitrogen levels which at low points can boost colorized leaves, stems and trunks. 

Aim for slightly higher phosphorus levels in vegetative stage, but don’t overdo it. In flowering, a PK booster high in phosphorus and potassium can enhance colors.

Getting other nutrients like magnesium, manganese, and iron in optimal ranges ensures maximum color and potency potential.

Harvest & Curing Process 

Identifying Peak Harvest Time

Determining the perfect harvest window is both a science and an art. The trichomes offer the best indication of ripeness. Target amber to pink trichomes to know when to harvest. 

Also, examine the puffy calyxes for color intensity. The purple hues will be most vibrant at peak maturity. Harvesting too early or too late can negatively impact color.

Curing for Color Preservation

The curing process preserves and enhances the anthocyanins and other cannabinoids and terpenes. After drying the buds to around 60% RH, begin curing in jars. 

Cure for 2-4 weeks at 15-18°C and around 60% RH. Keep light exposure minimal and open the jars daily to allow gas exchange. This slow process locks in flavor, aroma, and color.

Bonus Tip: Consider a final trim after curing to remove any green leaves and showcase the purple calyxes.

Growing purple cannabis can be challenging but with the right techniques, you can unlock the full potential of these exotic colorful varieties. Use the tips in this guide to grow, harvest, and cure photogenic purple cannabis that stands out from the green crowd.

How not to turn your weed purple

Sneaky techniques come in hand when people are indeed crazy and desperate to get purple colored weed. The most common one is using food coloring chemicals which at the end will get the plant bad enough even to the point of killing it entirely. Another myth or misconception is offering plants oxygen or carbon dioxide deprivation which would not turn green plants into purple ones. Also changing your plant light cycle, watering schedule and/or growing medium will not increase the chances of turning purple.

Purple Genetics

The main reason your cannabis plants will turn purple is genetics, that’s why having a correct selection of seeds and genetics from the beginning. There are plenty of options in the market but we narrow them into 4 special genetics we now by experience bring the very best of purple exoticness to your crops. 

1. Purple Queen by Royal Genetics
2. Banana purple punch by 420 Fast Buds
3. Purple pineapple by Exotic Genetix
4. Purple Haze by Norden Seeds

In conclusion, growing vibrant purple cannabis requires optimization of key environmental factors to spur anthocyanin pigment production. By selecting suitable genetics, managing temperatures, soil pH and nutrients properly, and perfecting harvest and curing techniques, cultivators can unlock the full colorful potential of purple varieties. While artificial colorants may seem appealing, true connoisseurs value the natural dazzling hues and flavors of expertly grown purple cannabis. With the right techniques and a bit of patience, any grower can add a touch of purple magic to their garden.