Purple stems from genetics or bigger problems?

Southernuncle21 · Jul 30, 2022

I have a bag seed that is what is supposed to be Carolina blue. If I'm not mistaken from a seedling, it had nice healthy green stock and stems. Throughout the grow. I noticed maybe one or two leaves had a couple purple stems but all in all she grew very healthily. Now. Granted the fan leaves are not super big which could be genetics. She is kind of short. I'm going into flower and it's only 4 ft tall. Of course I have it bushed out which that is due to LST. I've never had this problem where it had regular green stems and right here at pre flower going into flower. My fan leaf stems and some of the stocks are turning purple. My plants leaves are not dark green but they never have been. They've been like a medium green. There's no dead on the plant. I inspected all of the plant and I see no other signs of stress or damage. Not too sure if the low height or growth on this plant is genetics because this is a first time I've grown it. Like I said it's from bag seed so I have no idea about the genetics. I also can't find much on the Carolina Blue dream strain online so I have no references. Can you guys please take a look at some of the pictures I'm about to upload and see if y'all can see any type of deficiency with this plant? I have grown for the last 5 to 6 years outdoor and indoor and believe it or not. This is the first time I've ever had a plant turn purple going into flower like this. Usually the purple strains I have grown typically have purple stems at a very young age and veg. I have seven more plants outside with this plant in the same ground. These are all planted in ground. Exact same compost I used for planting them in the ground. All of them get the exact same nutrients exact. Same water on my other plants. Besides one are all healthy and green. The one other plant I have out here with purple stems. I do know is by genetics. Before my plant goes into full flower. Can anybody see if this is a deficiency or a mold problem pathogen problem or if you think it's genetics?

Moshmen · Jul 30, 2022

Some are genetic , in your plant I would add 1 gram of epsom salt to a gallon of water for a few feeds and see if she greens back up .

Southernuncle21 · Jul 30, 2022

Moshmen said:
Some are genetic , in your plant I would add 1 gram of epsom salt to a gallon of water for a few feeds and see if she greens back up .

Thanks for the tip. Fortunately I haven't had to deal with much deficiency or bad genetics. I've always used high quality organic material and carful to fix any stress very quickly. I'm hoping it's genetics, purple strains are beautiful and tasty.

Deadstill · Jul 30, 2022

Moshmen said:
Some are genetic , in your plant I would add 1 gram of epsom salt to a gallon of water for a few feeds and see if she greens back up .

You can foliar feed the epsom salt, too. I find this works very well and very quickly!

MIGrampaUSA · Jul 30, 2022

Southernuncle21 said:
Thanks for the tip. Fortunately I haven't had to deal with much deficiency or bad genetics. I've always used high quality organic material and carful to fix any stress very quickly. I'm hoping it's genetics, purple strains are beautiful and tasty.

A quick web search came up with this:

Why are my plants stems turning purple?

While purple coloration on stems and petioles can be one of the signs of magnesium deficiency in plants, it is also a sign that the plant is producing natural purple pigments (anthocyanin) in response to ultraviolet (UV) light.

The good thing about epsom salts is its cheap, it dissolves fairly easily and it's difficult to give your plants too much (within reasons). I use about a tablespoon per gallon as needed.

Potfairy · Jul 30, 2022

Almost definitely genetics bud. When I’ve seen stems change color from deficiency, the main stem and supporting branches show the color first. When I have seen red/blue/purple genetics, its usually the petiole that shows the color first. Im not saying this is law, but definitely consistent enough that I have noticed.

MIGrampaUSA · Jul 30, 2022

Potfairy said:
Almost definitely genetics bud. When I’ve seen stems change color from deficiency, the main stem and supporting branches show the color first. When I have seen red/blue/purple genetics, its usually the petiole that shows the color first. Im not saying this is law, but definitely consistent enough that I have noticed.

@Southernuncle21 what has your night time temps been? Colder nights or even a 15f-20f drop in temps between daytime highs and night time lows can bring out the purples.

Southernuncle21 · Jul 30, 2022

MIGrampaUSA said:
@Southernuncle21 what has your night time temps been? Colder nights or even a 15f-20f drop in temps between daytime highs and night time lows can bring out the purples.

I live in New England. We have very bipolar weather. Our temperatures range from day to day. One day I might say it's 80° and it turns out to be 90 and the weather might say it drops down to 70 but it's really down to 65. There is huge temperature fluctuations. But if the temperature fluctuations do that to that plant, I would assume that the temperature would do that to the rest of my plants. I'm going to pay a little bit more attention to the temperatures as we're heading closer to fall and New England seems to get cooler faster than where I'm from, which is the south. I am going to try the Epsom salt and see if it makes any difference. If it doesn't make any difference after a couple weeks then I'm going to mark it off as genetics. Like I've said previously I'm just never had any plants. Go from healthy, green and healthy growth and change over to purpling like that. All the purple strains I've ever grew always started off with purple in seedlings/veg.

Potfairy · Jul 30, 2022

I would like to point out that color change in response to exogenous temperatures is in fact a display of genetic variance. Though I would be remiss not to point out that severe temperature changes in the SOIL can lead to pH shifts and lessening of internal osmotic pressure of the plant’s roots, this often leads to changes in nutrient uptake and availability.

Potfairy · Jul 30, 2022

Southernuncle21 said:
I live in New England. We have very bipolar weather. Our temperatures range from day to day. One day I might say it's 80° and it turns out to be 90 and the weather might say it drops down to 70 but it's really down to 65. There is huge temperature fluctuations. But if the temperature fluctuations do that to that plant, I would assume that the temperature would do that to the rest of my plants. I'm going to pay a little bit more attention to the temperatures as we're heading closer to fall and New England seems to get cooler faster than where I'm from, which is the south. I am going to try the Epsom salt and see if it makes any difference. If it doesn't make any difference after a couple weeks then I'm going to mark it off as genetics. Like I've said previously I'm just never had any plants. Go from healthy, green and healthy growth and change over to purpling like that. All the purple strains I've ever grew always started off with purple in seedlings/veg.

C. Sativa ‘var.’ can also change color similar to how a tree changes color in the fall. Especially C. Sativa Sativa var ‘Thai’ genetics and other sativa landrace genes, as well as C. Sativa Indica var ‘Kush’ genetics. This response to temperatures is due to migrations of certain chloroplasts and plant sunscreens normally present. In a tree these migrate to the roots so that they can recolonize the new leaves in the spring. On a cannabis plant, I have no idea where they would go. Or in cannabis maybe they just break down due to the cold, but I digress. In the end the purple coloration is anthocyanins that are not normally visible due to the other cellular constituents reflecting more light. Not all plants will shift, as you have mentioned most have the color from young, but if your plant has certain genes this is a common situation.

MIGrampaUSA · Jul 30, 2022

Potfairy said:
I would like to point out that color change in response to exogenous temperatures is in fact a display of genetic variance. Though I would be remiss not to point out that severe temperature changes in the SOIL can lead to pH shifts and lessening of internal osmotic pressure of the plant’s roots, this often leads to changes in nutrient uptake and availability.

Purple characteristics are much more pronounced in some strains than in others. So, yes, its a genetic expression that can be amplified by the cold. As for soil temps, I don't think his night time temperatures are low enough yet to cause pH shifts in the soil. I'm in Michigan and we've had some night time lows in the mid to upper 50's. My plants have so far remained healthy.

@Southernuncle21 As fall approaches that schizophrenic weather WILL play more with your grow. It's when Michigan farmers begin the race to finish before the bud rot and WPM sets in. I'm using "fast" strains in my greenhouse this year. I'd like to have them all done and drying by the first week of Oct. Most years, that's enough to avoid problems in my area.

Potfairy · Jul 30, 2022

MIGrampaUSA said:
Purple characteristics are much more pronounced in some strains than in others. So, yes, its a genetic expression that can be amplified by the cold. As for soil temps, I don't think his night time temperatures are low enough yet to cause pH shifts in the soil. I'm in Michigan and we've had some night time lows in the mid to upper 50's. My plants have so far remained healthy.

@Southernuncle21 As fall approaches that schizophrenic weather WILL play more with your grow. It's when Michigan farmers begin the race to finish before the bud rot and WPM sets in. I'm using "fast" strains in my greenhouse this year. I'd like to have them all done and drying by the first week of Oct. Most years, that's enough to avoid problems in my area.

Of course! Personally I have no idea why his plants are changing as I have not been involved in his grow. Im just putting sound information out there based on horticultural knowledge and wisdom. I prefer sound scientific methodologies and enjoy making facts and traditional wisdom known to more than myself. Please do with the information what you will

AirHammer · Jul 30, 2022

it can be a sign of some phosphorous deficiency but more often its genetic. I have more than the usual purpling this time. no worries and everything checks out alright

Ill try to remember a close up, parts of the main stem are thick with purple. first time I seen this much. itx x with purple kush, I can assume its within the genetics.

Southernuncle21 · Jul 30, 2022

AirHammer said:
it can be a sign of some phosphorous deficiency but more often its genetic. I have more than the usual purpling this time. no worries and everything checks out alright

Ill try to remember a close up, parts of the main stem are thick with purple. first time I seen this much. itx x with purple kush, I can assume its within the genetics.

Your girls are beautiful! See it's supposed to be Carolina blue dream, but I'm under suspicion if it isn't a type of purple strain. I cannot find any references online picture wise or grow characteristics on Carolina blue dream. There's only one or two forms out there that has anything about Carolina Blue dream. One fellow put down his experience with smoking it and how it tasted and smelled etc. But one thing I noticed about your plants compared to mine is for some reason mine hasn't gotten really tall like the others. I have two Carolina blue dreams. One has no purple in whatsoever at all and it's well over 7 ft tall in preflower about to hit first week of flower very soon. The leaves are way larger and deeper green than the Carolina blue dream that has the purpling stems. I should have mentioned that earlier in my original post. I have two Carolina blue dreams. One shows no signs of purpling. The plant is huge and the leaves are as big as my hand. The one that is purpling is roughly about 4 ft. Tall is fairly short bushing out, but the leaves are small in comparison. Of course I understand that when you grow seeds it could be from the same mother plant and it would show different results because they take on different characteristics. But I feel like if the weather has anything to do with it, I would feel like the other plant would be showing some similar signs. I'm not too sure. I've never dealt with the situation before. Any blue or purple strains usually show stems with color very young and seedling or veg. I could be overthinking it. I was hoping for a large large yield this year, so I'm definitely being very meticulous and extra attentive to all my plants to try to ensure a big big big yield. Of course, the style I'm growing them in is because I want a big yield and I've been doing everything I possibly can to try to score. Hopefully a couple pounds per plant. So seeing it being shorter almost like it's growth is stunted and the small leaves. I just didn't want that to affect the yield or the quality. Never dealt with this before so I appreciate all the help.

AirHammer · Jul 30, 2022

Southernuncle21 said:
Your girls are beautiful! See it's supposed to be Carolina blue dream, but I'm under suspicion if it isn't a type of purple strain. I cannot find any references online picture wise or grow characteristics on Carolina blue dream. There's only one or two forms out there that has anything about Carolina Blue dream. One fellow put down his experience with smoking it and how it tasted and smelled etc. But one thing I noticed about your plants compared to mine is for some reason mine hasn't gotten really tall like the others. I have two Carolina blue dreams. One has no purple in whatsoever at all and it's well over 7 ft tall in preflower about to hit first week of flower very soon. The leaves are way larger and deeper green than the Carolina blue dream that has the purpling stems. I should have mentioned that earlier in my original post. I have two Carolina blue dreams. One shows no signs of purpling. The plant is huge and the leaves are as big as my hand. The one that is purpling is roughly about 4 ft. Tall is fairly short bushing out, but the leaves are small in comparison. Of course I understand that when you grow seeds it could be from the same mother plant and it would show different results because they take on different characteristics. But I feel like if the weather has anything to do with it, I would feel like the other plant would be showing some similar signs. I'm not too sure. I've never dealt with the situation before. Any blue or purple strains usually show stems with color very young and seedling or veg. I could be overthinking it. I was hoping for a large large yield this year, so I'm definitely being very meticulous and extra attentive to all my plants to try to ensure a big big big yield. Of course, the style I'm growing them in is because I want a big yield and I've been doing everything I possibly can to try to score. Hopefully a couple pounds per plant. So seeing it being shorter almost like it's growth is stunted and the small leaves. I just didn't want that to affect the yield or the quality. Never dealt with this before so I appreciate all the help.

If everything checks out I wouldnt get over concerned about it for now keep an eye on things.

Thanks for the props. Last year some of its siblings grew into the second story and with fan leaves a couple feet across. they are mules.

Nice growing and happy harvesting to everyone upon us soon.

AirHammer · Jul 30, 2022

the pictures I try taking in the open sun dont show up as clear which is strange.

Interestingly the large patch of dark purple shown here occurred during injury, massive stem splitting and I suppose whatever stress went with it. its almost like the thing was bleeding and saying hey man, wtf are you doing to me lol. But all if fine now, that happened over 1.5 months ago. the purple continues to develops throughout. they were tied up during some very high winds that lasted through entire night. these dont like to me LST'ed to begin with. this is as much as I chose to tie them back or Ill snap more stems....

6 feet atm, not factoring in the few feet they are tied down along the ground and not including flower stretch wich should be coming in a few weeks yet.

I wonder how tall they get this time....

the skunks are a big and crazy wild breed, everyone should try that iconic strain at least once.

Southernuncle21 · Jul 30, 2022

AirHammer said:
the pictures I try taking in the open sun dont show up as clear which is strange.

Interestingly the large patch of dark purple shown here occurred during injury, massive stem splitting and I suppose whatever stress went with it. its almost like the thing was bleeding and saying hey man, wtf are you doing to me lol. But all if fine now, that happened over 1.5 months ago. the purple continues to develops throughout. they were tied up during some very high winds that lasted through entire night. these dont like to me LST'ed to begin with. this is as much as I chose to tie them back or Ill snap more stems....

6 feet atm, not factoring in the few feet they are tied down along the ground and not including flower stretch wich should be coming in a few weeks yet.

I wonder how tall they get this time....

the skunks are a big and crazy wild breed, everyone should try that iconic strain at least once.

I have only grew autoflower skunk. I'll plan on trying to find the super skunk was really good genetics and try it next year along with blueberry muffin from Humboldt along with a couple of seeds from fastbuds. I appreciate the help. I'm going to show a picture of the other Carolina Blue dream so you can kind of see what I'm talking about with the comparison of it being super big, healthy bushy with no purple compared to what pictures I showed earlier today.

MIGrampaUSA · Jul 30, 2022

My experience with modern skunk strains is all fruity, no skunk. It's good, but not the road kill variety skunk we used to find. That's been hard to find. If you find it, there's many on this board who will be exploring the same genetics. Keep us posted on that when the time comes.

Southernuncle21 · Jul 30, 2022

MIGrampaUSA said:
My experience with modern skunk strains is all fruity, no skunk. It's good, but not the road kill variety skunk we used to find. That's been hard to find. If you find it, there's many on this board who will be exploring the same genetics. Keep us posted on that when the time comes.

If I can find genuine seeds from the same or very similar genetics of the super skunk from the '70s and '80s and '90s, I will definitely let you know. I was born in the mid-80s and I didn't start discovering cannabis until the 2000s. So having a comparison of what skunk was originally to what skunk was when I came up to what skunky is today. I'm unsure. I do have a couple of older hippie friends from the error skunk was popular in. They might be able to let me know if it's true skunk or not. But if I am able to find the skunk genetics and it's very similar or the same as the original skunk, I will definitely let you know where to get the seeds.

MIGrampaUSA · Jul 30, 2022

Southernuncle21 said:
If I can find genuine seeds from the same or very similar genetics of the super skunk from the '70s and '80s and '90s, I will definitely let you know. I was born in the mid-80s and I didn't start discovering cannabis until the 2000s. So having a comparison of what skunk was originally to what skunk was when I came up to what skunky is today. I'm unsure. I do have a couple of older hippie friends from the error skunk was popular in. They might be able to let me know if it's true skunk or not. But if I am able to find the skunk genetics and it's very similar or the same as the original skunk, I will definitely let you know where to get the seeds.

Original skunk smelled like a skunk just sprayed something near by. It's acrid and a smell you cannot hide. When you hit it, it expands. It hits hard and lasts long. You'll know it if you find it.

Purple stems from genetics or bigger problems?

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