Colourful cannabis strains are now very popular and simply beautiful to look at. Many wonder where this colouring comes from and even suspect genetic manipulation behind it. Therefore, I would like to briefly explain to you why some varieties show colourful shades.
It is because the pH value of the cell fluid of the individual plants determines the colour variations. Some strains of cannabis become colourful, purple, red or bluish by producing anthocyanins, which use excess sugar in the leaves and the distribution of cellular fluid to produce the colours. Ultimately, the individual colouring of a plant is determined by the pH of the cell fluid. It is therefore through these cellular fluids that plants become colourful. The pH value of the cellular fluid is in turn genetically regulated. Thus, each variety (and also each plant) has its own unique combination of chlorophyll and carotenoids. Purple colour is dependent on an offspring receiving the recessive "colour gene" from both of its parents, so accordingly, genetically, a plant is much less likely to develop variegated hues than it is to turn green. Purple buds can be incredibly strong. Some strains develop pink, reddish or even magenta filaments when grown at an elevated pH of 6.8, while they get ordinary white filaments at a lower pH level.
 Red Poison |
 Sandstorm |
 Panama, Cannabiogen |
Since the recessive coloured gene of the plants is less common and coloured plants are correspondingly rarer, experienced growers select a beautiful coloured mother from several plants and thus have safely coloured offspring for a long time.
It is rare, but not uncommon for cannabis strains to develop colourful traits. Especially strains from the Hindu Kush region show these characteristics more often.
The variegated varieties are a variation of cannabis plants among countless expressions and phenotypes and show the genetic diversity of the plant. Furthermore, there are also cannabis strains that produce almost golden or white weed.
In addition to genetics and pH value, the colour shade is also determined by factors such as the amount of light, temperature and the available sugar.
 Orange Bud |
 Shaman Dutch Passion |
 Skywalker Kush (Reserva Privada) |
