The science behind why your plants turn purple?

Double0verhead said:

yeah do it it works, then when your done tell me if it works

Click to expand...

Vasis said:

Wouldnt it make more sence that it just contains a mutated pigment that other plants dont that causes it to turn the plant purple in a certain condition?

Click to expand...

1982grower said:

its both pigment and temp. i just read that when you lower the temp for a couple days the plant can't photosynthize because of the low temp it thinks it should stop producing chloraphil(the green) after the green fades the glucose sugar that is left tends to be purple in most plants. If your plant doesn't have many pollutants in it it could turn bright purple. pollutants include city rain, other dust particles grown into the plant. i think this sounds logical

Click to expand...

chuckles420king said:

During flowering, with the passing of summer, days become shorter. The phytochromes, the light-sensing mechanisms in leaves, recognize the shorter day lengths. The shorter days and lower temperatures arrest chlorophyll production. Chlorophyll breaks down faster than it is replaced, allowing the yellow and orange pigments to be unmasked.

The molecules reflecting red wavelengths, anthocyanins, are water-soluble pigments that occur in the cell sap, creating the red, pink, and purple hues. These pigments may not be present during the summer, or vegetative cycle, but their formation is encouraged during a succession of cool nights and sunny days. During these days when photosynthesis and chlorophyll production are decreasing, an abundance of sugars accumulates in the leaf. The cool nights promote a separation layer of cells in the petiole—where the leaf attaches to the stem—that prevents sugar from flowing out of the leaf, and also arrests the flow of nutrients into the leaf. The formation of anthocyanin requires bright light, a diminishing water supply, and the accumulation of sugars trapped in the leaf.

Another factor that can cause purpling is nutrient deficiency, generally phosphorus. Although these stunted plants may bedazzle the novice, they are typically quite distinguishable from naturally occurring anthocyanin expression, due to the other visible adverse side effects of nutrient deficiency, such as leaf and bud malformation and low calyx-to-leaf ratios.

Click to expand...