Cannabis albinism affects a wide range of plants, including cannabis. Albinism in plants is characterized by a fractional loss of chlorophyll, the pigment that gives plants their green color. It’s also defined by yellow and red pigmentations. When a plant lacks chlorophyll, it affects how photosynthesis works and lowers its chances of survival. Looking to try something new? Check out this.
Cannabis albinism is a rare condition. The plants with cannabis albinism have a snow white color because the chlorophyll has been severely decreased. Cannabis plants are either completely albino or only partially albino, such as the leaves, buds, or branches.
New York White Strain
The New York White cannabis strain is perhaps the most famous example of cannabis albinism. This variety has been credited to having originated in the city’s subterranean sewage system, according to reports. Experts believe that this plant developed as an albino marijuana growing in sewers and sprouting from seeds flushed down a toilet at a home busted for narcotics.
Because of the lack of light in the underground sewage system, the seeds mutated over time. The development sneaked into the sewage system and generated a high-potency harvest with snow white buds, hence earning it the moniker “New York White” strain.
This may be a lovely tale; it’s not clear that everything is accurate. Cannabis plants do not grow without sufficient nutrients or light in nature. However, the tale appears to be a creative method of telling cannabis folklore.
Busting Myths
According to some cannabis aficionados, albino cannabis plants don’t really exist, and all photographic evidence of this phenomena is either fraudulent or depicts other diseases instead of albinism. This reasoning has its merits; after all, how can a plant that is unable to photosynthesize survive long enough to grow large?
Cannabis albinism is a condition in which the afflicted person has little or no pigment in their hair. Some people believe that cannabis albinism isn’t real albinism and is simply chlorosis. Chlorosis is an illness that can develop as a result of a food shortage. True albinism, on the other hand, is an ailment characterized by extremely limited amounts of chlorophyll from the start.
It is exceptionally improbable for a completely white cannabis plant to thrive due to obvious reasons. Partial albinism, as seen in variegated plants, is only mild. These simply have isolated areas of white leaves and buds devoid of the green pigment. The rest of the plant is truly green, rich in chlorophyll, and capable of photosynthesis.
The Cause of Cannabis Albinism
Albinism is caused by a variety of factors. Both external and genetic influences may contribute to the condition. Plant albinism might be induced by environmental variables such as growing medium, light, and temperature.
However, according to reports, genetic factors play a considerably larger part in this uncommon ailment. Albinism has been proven to be a recessive condition, with the pigment defect most likely originating from conflicts between nuclear and chloroplast genomes.
It is also thought to be a major cause of albinism. Cannabis cultivators and breeders occasionally backcross strains in order to identify desirable recessive characteristics present in certain strains. This technique might lead to albinism traits emerging.
Is White Cannabis a Good Thing?
The answer to this question is a straightforward “no.” White cannabis plants are unable to use the energy from the sun in the same way that green (or purple or red) cannabis plants can. Because light bounces off of white surfaces, grow room walls are frequently painted flat white or covered in Panda Paper.
The plant’s ability to photosynthesize is hindered without the necessary chlorophyll. The plant cannot live without the chlorophyll needed to convert light into carbohydrates. While extra nutrients might assist, the overall quality of the crop will deteriorate.
What Do I Do if My Cannabis Plant Turns White?
There are a number of techniques for saving a plant that has begun to exhibit white coloration because of a lighting mistake or an unforeseen breeding problem. Feeding plants sugar in the absence of light was found in early studies to aid them develop and expand in size. Plant development, on the other hand, may be irregular, and the increases modest.
If you add extra nutrients and sugars to albino corn samples, they will grow better and have a greater weight than normal. However, the white plants died without these additives. If your cannabis crop begins to turn pale or exhibit symptoms of albinism, supplementary feedings may help preserve it from being a total failure if there is still some green coloration visible.
Another thing to try is changing the light’s settings. Another alternative is to use different types of lights, such as LEDs or florescent tubes, instead of HID bulbs. Lighting adjustments are an excellent idea. Consider switching to a LED grow light with a lower wattage for your plants. Heightening the light’s position may also assist. Lights should be closer than necessary but not too close so that plants become heat stressed.
It’s usually a bad idea to throw out a white plant if it’s from the seedling stage. Some claim that white cannabis plants produce less THC and CBD than green ones. This seems like a reasonable assumption, as a white plant will be less able to create the energy it needs to create cannabinoids.