One of the intriguing aspects of the cannabis plant is the appearance that it displays. While it does carry a negative stigma around the community, the sight of a prolific cannabis garden is something that every marijuana enthusiast would appreciate. The dark, vibrant shades of green that radiate all throughout the colas and leaves make it a much more enjoyable cultivation experience. Of course, it is also hard to ignore the dank, frosty buds protruding from each node of the purple marijuana strains that you would wish so dearly to smoke.
Of course, another thing that people frequently recognize is the subtle purple hues that some marijuana strains display. What causes this discoloration? Why do some marijuana strains have this unusual trait? There is more to this phenomenon than what most people know. In this article, we are going to discuss the causes of certain marijuana strains turning purple as well as the best purple marijuana strains that are available in the market today. Let’s get going:
Why do Marijuana Strains Turn Purple?
Marijuana strains actually contain a certain pigment in their leaves and buds called anthocyanin. This particular compound, however, isn’t exclusive to just marijuana plants. The redness that you see in strawberries and the blue that you get from blueberries are also attributed to the anthocyanins, which are naturally present in many forms of agricultural products. With that being said, certain marijuana strains (particularly Indica strains) contain higher doses of anthocyanin than others.
The influence of anthocyanins can also be observed in other parts of the cannabis plant other than its leaves. You will notice pistils and hairs that sprout out from the nodes of the cannabis plant that are colored red, amber, orange, white, or even gold in some instances.
What are Anthocyanins?
Anthocyanins are chemical substances that belong to the Flavinoid class of compounds. Together with cannabinoids and terpenes, flavinoids make up the chemical composition of cannabis plants. Despite the name indicating a link to a cannabis plant’s “flavor”, flavinoids actually do very little to influence the tastes that marijuana strains produce. As a matter of fact, they lean much more towards the color pigments and hues of cannabis plants.
Of course, it didn’t take long for people to start researching about the pigment in order to scour any medical properties that anthocyanin can provide. And as a result, scientists did find that anthocyanins can, in fact, impact the health. It turns out anthocyanins can help cleanse the body and get rid of any wastes and bacteria found in a person’s system. It also gives marijuana strains the ability to reduce any inflammation in a person’s muscles and regulates the development of diabetes symptoms.
Factors affecting the development of anthocyanins:
Many myths and theories surround the development of purple hues in marijuana. Beliefs such as stopping the nutrient absorption of a cannabis plant and freezing it are all known to be false techniques that will turn the cannabis plants purple. Of course, there are some other factors that can help bring out the purple colors, including:
- Choosing a naturally purple strain is the best way to go
- pH levels will affect the shade of your cannabis plant. Neutral levels work the best in bringing out the shades of purple.
- The temperature of a growing environment will also help the development of anthocyanins in a cannabis plant. A temperature of 10 degrees Celsius works best.
- The amount of sunlight also impacts the way a cannabis strain’s color turns out. Cannabis plants use anthocyanin to absorb light. More light will typically lead to more vibrant and deeper colors.
What are the differences between purple marijuana strains?
Purple marijuana strains are something that many people sought after. It’s because they are, in fact, much more intriguing to look at due to the unusual array of mixed colors. But one thing that people do not try to understand is how it actually differs from other marijuana strains. Does the purple color have anything to do with a marijuana strain’s potency? Does it give more medical benefits?
While purple marijuana strains are better in terms of appearance, they hold little to no advantage in terms of effects and medical value. This is because every cannabis plant does contain anthocyanins, albeit in different amounts. Of course, the higher levels of anthocyanin will give users more of the medical benefits stated above but the difference that it makes will most probably be immaterial with regards to the overall impact of the cannabis strain’s performance.
Best Purple Marijuana Strains:
- GRAND DADDY PURPLE – Perhaps the most iconic purple marijuana strain ever developed is the Grand Daddy Purple or the GDP. It is an Indica-dominant hybrid that is known widely for its purple hues and distinguishable flavor. Grand Daddy Purple produces a very chunky and frosty marijuana plant which is typical for Indica-dominant hybrids. The purple shades of GDP manifest itself towards the end of the flowering period when the plant is almost fully matured. In terms of effects, the THC level of 17% to 23% do wonders for anyone who wants to experience a very relaxing and calm high that lasts for long hours. It gets your body stoned to the point where you will want to lie down for the rest of the day.
- PURPLE KUSH – This Indica-dominant marijuana strain first originated in California, much like all the members of the Kush family. Purple Kush sets itself apart from the rest because of the extremely potent and neutralizing high that it gives. The 22% THC level will keep users sedated and bring them into a deep trance of euphoria and haziness. Because of the heavy-hitting effects, all it takes is one hit of the Purple Kush to get your mind rolling with trippy ideas. The plant of the Purple Kush strain is certainly eye candy to any cannabis grower out there. Deep shades of purple coat almost every inch of this strain’s plant, giving it a very unusual and unique appearance in its leaves, buds, and pistils.
- PURPLE BUD – Purple Bud is widely famous for its, well… purple marijuana buds. This strain emits an insanely dark purple color which can easily be mistaken for deep black if you do not look closely. The uniqueness of this trait spreads all throughout the plant, giving even the stems and leaves an almost pure black color. This strain is mainly cultivated in cooler places such as Colorado, where the Rocky Mountains provide the necessary temperatures to bring out this amazing color. While this may look intimidating, the effects of this strain are actually quite mellow. Purple Bud carries a THC level of around 20% which is enough to induce a smooth and subtle cerebral high that places smokers into a state of couch-lock.
- SHAMAN – Shaman is a Sativa-dominant marijuana hybrid that comes from crossbreeding the Early Skunk and Purple #1 marijuana strains. Often being cultivated in places with unpredictable weather conditions, the Shaman marijuana strain is famous for being very longevity and high resistance to molds. The strong stems and branches are often developed due to the rather cool temperatures that it is exposed to. Additionally, this also leads to the development of bright and vibrant shades of purple in its colas. While the leaves of this strain maintain the green color, the contrast of purple gives it a very pleasing and amazing look that is unique to itself. It is often termed as a social strain, frequently being used during parties and smoking sessions due to the mix of physical relaxation and upbeat euphoria in every hit of Shaman.
- PURPLE HAZE – Perhaps the most famous marijuana strain on this list is the classic Purple Haze, a hybrid strain that provides the perfect mixture of beautiful looks and astonishing highs. The deep and vividly detailed purpleness that this strain gives is something that every grower would wish to achieve in their marijuana gardens. The solid colors of green and purple impart a very frosty and dank feel to the whole strain, often making users salivate over the rich and potent buds that it produces. With a THC level of around 20%, Purple Haze will cause a wide array of cerebral effects. The strong boosts of energy and creativeness will get users feeling much more talkative and sociable than usual.
The purple hues found in a marijuana strain definitely make up half of the growing experience. It gives a nice touch to your whole cannabis garden and makes users crave for its buds even more. Of course, the science behind as to why marijuana strains turn purple is something quite simple to understand. Knowing why definitely gives users more opportunities to cultivate their own batches of purple marijuana any time that they want.
