All About Purple Punch Auto

At Green Nexus, we’re proud to carry a wide assortment of cannabis seeds from Amsterdam’s leading seed growers. However, with so many strains available, it can be difficult to determine the right one to match your growing skills, wellness needs, and even aroma preferences. To help you choose the best option, we’re providing in-depth looks at all the strains we carry, including Purple Punch Auto. 

Purple Punch Auto was cultivated by Barney’s Farm, a blend of Purple Punch, itself a cultivar of Grandaddy Purple X Larry OG X Big Bud X Skunk #1, and BF Auto Critical, an autoflowering strain. 

Growing Purple Punch Auto

Purple Punch Auto is an autoflowering strain, so you can expect a compact, wide plant that will only reach around 2.5 feet tall. This makes it great for growing on a balcony or indoors. Once it germinates, it grows rapidly, flowering within seven to eight weeks and ready for harvest at 10 weeks. You’ll appreciate the aesthetics of the plant as it grows with long, vibrant green leaves tinged in purple that contrast beautifully with bright neon-green and purple buds dotted with long, orange-red pistils and coated in thick, resinous trichomes. 

Autoflowering strains are generally robust and stable to grow but have smaller yields than their photoperiod cousins, and Purple Punch Auto is no exception. However, it’s a solid provider at around 350 grams per square meter indoors and as much as 600 grams per square meter when grown outdoors. 

About Autoflowering Plants

There are two ways a cannabis plant can grow: 

1. Photoperiod: In order for a cannabis plant to grow, it must receive 16 to 18 hours of light per day. However, it won’t go into the flowering phase until light is reduced, generally to around 12 hours of sunlight per day. This is why cannabis plants grown outside aren’t ready to harvest until mid-October, usually. 
2. Autoflowering: The plant will go through it’s growth phase for a set period of time then it will begin flowering automatically. The amount of light it receives each day doesn’t need to be reduced to trigger a flowering phase. 

Purple Punch Auto is an autoflowering strain of cannabis L. short photoperiod plant, so as long as it receives around 12 hours of sunlight a day or more, it will begin flowering around eight or nine weeks. 

How Does Purple Punch Auto Interact with the Endocannabinoid System?

All types of cannabis L. short photoperiod plant and cannabis L. long photoperiod plant interact with the endocannabinoid system in order to produce the euphoria, relaxation, and other effects commonly experienced. To understand how this occurs, let’s look at what the endocannabinoid system actually is. 

Understanding the Endocannabinoid System

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) works to keep your body in balance through a complicated network of neurotransmitters and receptors that send and receive messages from the body to the brain (Lu, Mackie; 2016). When your back hurts, your ECS sends messages to the cells to release pain relieving signals, and when your stomach is empty, it sends messages to your brain causing you to feel hungry. Studies have shown that the ECS regulates multiple responses throughout the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems (Komorowski, Stepien, 2007), including: 

The ECS is made up of three separate components: 

1. Endocannabinoids, which are neurotransmitters that send signals between the cells. 
2. Endocannabinoid receptors which sit on the surfaces of cells, “reading” the messages from endocannabinoids and stimulating a response. There are two types of receptors: 
   1. CB1: Endocannabinoids bind to these in the central nervous system to stimulate the appetite, relieve pain and discomfort, reduce stress, and improve mood. 
   2. CB2: Endocannabinoids bind to these in the peripheral nervous system to stimulate immune or inflammatory responses. 
3. Enzymes are released to break down the endocannabinoids after transmitting signals. 

The body produces these on an “as needed” basis, keeping the body in proper balance.

Phytocannabinoids and Purple Punch Auto

Phytocannabinoids are the active chemicals in cannabis L. long photoperiod plant and cannabis L. short photoperiod plant and have a near-identical structure to endocannabinoids created by the body. Two phytocannabinoids have a particularly strong effect on the ECS: 

1. Tetrahydrocannabinol (Potency) binds to CB1 receptors, sending signals through the body in a similar manner as endocannabinoids, increasing appetite, improving sleep, and relieving pain. This is also the main psychoactive ingredient that causes you to feel “high” or cause feelings of euphoria.
2. Cannabidiol (CBD) doesn’t bind to CB1 or CB2 in the way Potency does, nor does it promote a psychoactive effect. Instead, it prolongs the life of existing endocannabinoids, extending the natural responses of increased appetite, better sleep, and pain relief (Laprairie, Bagher, et al. 2015). 

The amount of Potency and CBD in a strain plays a key role in the potency of its effects. Purple Punch Auto contains around 18 to 19 percent Potency and around 1 percent CBD, so it is quite potent in both its psychoactive properties and its support for the endocannabinoid system. 

The Terpene Profile of Purple Punch Auto

In addition to phytocannabinoids, cannabis contains terpenes. In fact, all plants, fruits, and vegetables have these chemical compounds, as they are what create a unique aroma and flavor profile. Terpenes can also play a role in affecting the endocannabinoid system, creating an entourage effect on the role of cannabis and enhancing how your ECS responds. Each terpene has a unique chemical make-up and with over 150 terpenes in cannabis, each strain will have a unique aroma and flavanoid profile along with differences in how it affects the ECS. The three dominant terpenes in Purple Punch Auto are: 

• Caryophyllene: This spicy aroma compound is also found in  black pepper, cloves, and cinnamon. It also contributes anti-inflammation properties and calming properties (Scandiffio, Geddo, Cottone, et al. 2020). 
• Limonene: A lemony scent found in fruit peels. This terpene triggers serotonin release and can improve relaxation and uplift the mood (Eddin et al. 2021)
• Pinene: A sharp, pine scent and is found in evergreen trees, pine trees, and rosemary. Recent studies show pinene offers analgesic effects to relieve pain as well as anti-inflammatory properties (Salehi, et al. 2019). 

The terpene profile of Purple Punch Auto works together to create a sweet, fruity scent with earthy, spicy notes. This strain also creates a pleasantly sweet smoke that has an almost pastry-like flavor making it appealing and enjoyable. 

Type of Strain: Short Photoperiod Plant vs Long Photoperiod Plant

The type of strain plays another important role in the effects you can expect. Cannabis L. short photoperiod plants tend to provide both a physical and psychological response, including deep physical relaxation (a “couch-locked” feel), euphoria, and intense calmness, both in your mind and muscles. Cannabis L. Long Photoperiod Plant offers a more cerebral experience, often energizing and motivating the user with feelings of creativity and spirituality, though it also provides an enjoyable euphoria. 

Purple Punch Auto is a combination between short and long photoperiod plant, meaning it’s a blend of both short photoperiod plant and long photoperiod plant. In this strain, it’s 75 percent short photoperiod plant, 20 percent long photoperiod plant, and 5 percent ruderalis, which is what allows it to be an autoflowering plant. 

The Physical and Psychoactive Effects of Purple Punch Auto

By looking at the Potency and CBD content, terpene profile, and the type of strain this is and comparing this to user feedback and responses, we have found that Purple Punch Auto is most likely to provide the following effects: 

• Deeply relaxing
• Happy, euphoric mood
• Relief from inflammation
• Relief from muscle pain
• Relief from stress, worry, or anxiety
• Improved sleep
• Increased appetite
• Increased thirst
• Dry eyes

Purchase Purple Punch Auto Seeds Today

If you feel that Purple Punch Auto is the right strain for you, order your high-quality cannabis seeds today. To learn more about it or our other varieties available, reach out to our customer service team today at [phone] or fill out the form below to get started. 

Author

Mo Smyth, BSN, RN Cannabis Nurse Educator

References

Eddin LB, Jha NK, Meeran MFN, Kesari KK, Beiram R, Ojha S. Neuroprotective Potential of Limonene and Limonene Containing Natural Products. Molecules. 2021;26(15):4535. Published 2021 Jul 27. doi:10.3390/molecules26154535

Komorowski J, Stepień H. Rola [The role of the endocannabinoid system in the regulation of endocrine function and in the control of energy balance in humans]. Postepy Hig Med Dosw (Online). 2007;61:99-105. Polish. PMID: 17369778. (originally published in Polish)

Laprairie RB, Bagher AM, Kelly ME, Denovan-Wright EM. Cannabidiol is a negative allosteric modulator of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor. Br J Pharmacol. 2015;172(20):4790-4805. doi:10.1111/bph.13250

Lu HC, Mackie K. An Introduction to the Endogenous Cannabinoid System. Biol Psychiatry. 2016;79(7):516-525. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.07.028

Salehi, Bahare, et. al. Therapeutic Potential of α- and β-Pinene: A Miracle Gift of Nature. Biomolecules. November 2019. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6920849/

Scandiffio R, Geddo F, Cottone E, et al. Protective Effects of (E)-β-Caryophyllene (BCP) in Chronic Inflammation. Nutrients. 2020;12(11):3273. Published 2020 Oct 26. doi:10.3390/nu12113273