Pure white cannabis plants are the result of albinism (or White Weed), meaning it is an albino plant. As in animals, albinism occurs in the plant world and is the result of a lack of pigmentation. The pigment that makes the parts of the cannabis plant green is chlorophyll. This is an essential component for plants and is of vital importance for their photosynthesis process.
Chlorophyll is a vital compound for the life of all plants. Without it, plants cannot perform photosynthesis, the process by which they transform absorbed light into chemical energy. Thanks to this, they can make sugars to feed and survive. Without chlorophyll, marijuana plants couldn’t absorb light and would end up dying. However, it is not complete albinism but a partial one. In other words, due to the lack of pigments, albinism develops only in some areas.
In other areas, though, like green ones, photosynthesis takes place, which lets these White Weed plants grow. So, the plant won’t have to give its white parts any nutrients, and they will grow and thrive without any issues.
White weed is certainly eye-catching and intriguing, but is it real? Can cannabis plants actually produce pure white buds? As cannabis enthusiasts and growers we’re always fascinated by exotic colors like purple, blue, and now white cannabis. But what causes this unique pigmentation? Is natural white weed legit or just a myth?
In this article, we’ll uncover the truth about white cannabis to determine if it really exists or is simply a product of breeding and growing techniques
What Causes White Weed: Albinism, Light Bleach, Mildew, or Strains?
So what leads to white weed – real albinism, light issues, mold, or purposeful breeding? Let’s analyze the potential reasons behind white cannabis.
Albino Weed – Fact or Fiction?
Albinism causes a loss of pigmentation and chlorophyll in plants Since chlorophyll is essential for photosynthesis and nutrient absorption, albinism is often fatal for cannabis True albino weed with absolutely no chlorophyll would likely die before producing much bud.
While vibrant albino weed photos circulate online, 100% albino cannabis surviving to maturity is practically impossible. Any all-white “albino” buds you see likely had some chlorophyll and green leaves to sustain growth.
So purely albino white weed is basically a myth. But certain growing conditions can produce mostly white buds on otherwise normal green plants.
Light Bleach – When White Weed Goes Too Bright
Intense direct light can bleach cannabis buds to a lighter hue, especially with hot temperatures. This “light bleach” typically impacts top colas under strong indoor grow lights. Outdoors, shading usually prevents bleaching.
Light-bleached weed isn’t true albino white, but it does lighten parts of the plant. Excess light intensity is the culprit, not albinism.
Powdery Mildew – A Fuzzy White Mold
Powdery mildew is a common cannabis pest – a white fuzzy mold that covers leaves, buds, and stems. To the naked eye, mildew can resemble white weed buds. But its unpleasant odor gives it away.
White mold isn’t natural albino genetics – it’s a fungal disease. Mildewy weed shouldn’t be smoked due to health risks.
White Strains – Intentionally Bred White Buds
While true albino weed is rare, breeders have selectively cultivated strains with a white appearance. The legendary White Widow strain produces frosty white crystals and hairs on green buds. Other white hybrids like White Russian, White Rhino, and The White also exist.
These strains aren’t albino – they have green leaves and chlorophyll. But selective breeding isolates the white traits over generations, resulting in light buds covered in white trichomes and pistils. So white weed is possible with intentional hybridization.
Real-Life Cases of White Weed – Albino, Bleached, or Molded?
Let’s examine some real-world examples of white cannabis to deduce their true origins.
All-White Outdoor Plant – True Albinism?
Photos circulate of entirely white pot plants growing outdoors. Since outdoor light isn’t intense enough to cause bleaching, could these be real albino specimens?
Probably not – a genuine albino would lack the nutrients and energy to grow that large. Partial green leaves are likely hidden or cropped out. An all-white mature plant is virtually impossible in nature.
Bright White Top Colas – Light Bleach
Indoor colas directly under LEDs sometimes appear glowing white. With no green or other pigments visible, it resembles albino buds.
But the cause is likely intense light bleaching the tops. Lower buds remain naturally green with chlorophyll. So it’s not genetic albinism.
Fuzzy Grayish Mold – Powdery Mildew
Leaf surfaces coated in a fuzzy grayish-white substance point to powdery mildew, not natural white coloration. The mold penetrates buds too, leaving a pale cheese-like appearance.
No question here – fuzzy mold is clearly not albino genetics. Do not consume moldy weed.
Snow-White Crystals on Green Buds – White Strains
Vibrant green buds stacked with snow-white crystals are a trademark of White Widow and other white strains. The green shows they aren’t albino.
Selective breeding over generations yields genetics predisposed to developing white trichomes, hairs, and resin heads on budding sites.
This distinct white-on-green contrast defines quality bred white strains.
How to Grow White Weed Strains for Dazzling Trichome Cover
If you want eye-catching white weed colas, growing purpose-bred white strains is the solution. Here are some tips.
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Choose renowned white strains like White Widow, White Russian, The White, and White Rhino.
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Give plants 18+ hours daily light in bloom phase to swell white trichome heads.
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Lower temps to around 70°F late in bloom to maximize white crystals.
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Gently flush 2 weeks pre-harvest to fade leaves and highlight white trichomes.
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Harvest when most trichome heads turn milky white and a few amber.
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Wet or dry trim depending on your preference to preserve trichomes.
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Dry slowly around 60-65°F to retain terpenes and white resin heads.
With the right genetics and environment, you can cultivate cannabis as white as the driven snow.
The Verdict – Does Real Natural White Weed Exist?
After analyzing the possibilities – albinism, light, mold, and breeds – what’s the final verdict on legit white cannabis?
True albino weed is extremely rare. Any all-white pot plants likely have some underlying chlorophyll keeping them alive. While possible in theory, 100% albino white weed surviving is practically a myth.
Light bleach and powdery mildew can also generate white coloration. But this is abnormal, not natural genetics.
In reality, the only reliable way to grow true white weed is purposefully bred white strains. By isolating and stabilizing white trichome traits over generations, breeders have created dazzling legal hybrids that naturally develop covered in white crystals.
So while pure albino white weed is more legend than reality, anyone can legally cultivate stunning white buds using select specialty strains. With the proper genetics and grow techniques, you can harness cannabis in its highest crystalline form – as white as the driven snow.
Reasons for albinism in cannabis plants
Albinism can occur for various reasons, from genetic factors to environmental conditions. Among the environmental conditions, the culture substrate, light, and temperature stand out. Genetic factors are undoubtedly the most interesting and important. Albinism has been known to be a recessive trait.
This means that the plant doesn’t have the defect that stops it from making chlorophyll in the first generation of a cross. Instead, it needs to be crossed back with a plant that has albino traits for it to be shown. Even so, white or albino marijuana plants are still very rare. Most cannabis plants are variegated, which means they have a mix of green and white leaves because their chlorophyll production isn’t even.
Variegation is very common in many plant species. This process consists of a change in the color pattern of the green areas. It might be because of different things, and you can only see it in the plant’s green parts. This is because there are no chloroplasts at all in some places, which slows down the process of photosynthesis and the production of nutrients. This causes plants to have leaf edges that are white and spots of different colors in the middle. This is sometimes called “White Weed” when it happens to cannabis plants.
There is also the kind that is caused by the environment, which is also known as lacking albinism or forced albinism. An albino marijuana plant may owe its color to lighting. Overexposure to very high light intensity can cause whitening in the most exposed areas. It is usually common indoors when plants grow excessively and get too close to the lighting system. Both the buds and the leaves usually look whitish in these situations, which can help the plant develop White Weed traits.
Differences between albino plants and discolored cannabis plants
Of course, we must bear in mind that an albino or white marijuana plant is not the same as a discolored plant. What is the difference between them? Well, it’s very simple. A discolored marijuana plant, as its name suggests, is one that has lost its color because it has been too close to the focus or exposed to too much light intensity. In these cases, the grower is responsible for the paleness of the plant which has caused it to lose its chlorophyll photopigments and its quality. Of course, as a decorative plant, it has a really striking color effect, but when it comes to smoking it, it will have lost a lot of value.
People who grow albino plants aren’t very good at what they do; the secret is in the plant’s genes. Far from being plants whitened by excess light, what we find is a disconcerting natural phenomenon called variegation. Variegation is a rare, but absolutely real genetic abnormality.
There are genes in marijuana that control the production of chlorophyll. As you already know, chlorophyll is what gives your plants their green color. Variegation is a mutation that makes the plant lose chlorophyll, which causes it to have strikingly albino traits that can show up in two main ways:
In one part of the plant (like just the buds) or in different parts of the plant with colored spots strewn about (as if the green and albino patterns were mixed). People sometimes call this mutation “White Weed,” because parts of the plant or, in the worst cases, the whole plant turns white because it doesn’t have enough chlorophyll. One very rare case is where the plant’s white color comes from in the so-called “double albino gene.” In these situations, the marijuana plant would be completely white and would not be able to do photosynthesis (chlorophyll makes light), so it would die very quickly. And because of this, it would be very hard to find a plant with these traits that has grown.
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