Plant growth regulators (PGR) are primarily synthetic hormones administered to cannabis plants to influence growth and development. PGRs vs no PGRs can be utilized to increase output. They can also be used to improve some traits while suppressing others. Here is what you require to know about PGR meaning, PGR vs organic, and how you can identify them in your plants.
An overview of PGR in weed
Most cultivators wonder what is PGRs weed. PGRs for weed are when a plant is cultivated using plant growth regulators. PGRs direct plant growth down to the smallest details, such as when buds form and how wide the plant and its roots may be. This is why cannabis cultivated with PGRs frequently has unusually large buds. Companies that employ PGRs often produce larger plants, which raises the price, even though PGR cannabis has no considerably greater effects than conventional weed. Compounds present in PGR cannabis can reduce the impact of cannabinoids. So, while a large and compact bud appears enticing, it will not deliver the robust and desired results you need.
Organic vs synthetic plant growth regulators
There are several healthy alternatives to these hazardous plant growth regulators. Kelp, for example, has natural plant hormones that can help you improve your production. Chitosan, a sugar found in oyster exoskeletons, and triacontanol, produced from alfalfa hay, are two more natural plant growth regulators.
Their main advantages are:
- Like their synthetic counterparts, the weed plants will have improved growth patterns, while the buds will get thicker.
- They pose no danger to human health.
- They are environmentally friendly, meaning their residual penetration into the soil or streams has no negative impact on biodiversity.
The most prevalent organic plant growth regulators for obtaining PGR weed include kelp, chitosan, and triacontanol. Organic PGRs are less useful than synthetic PGRs for gray and black-market producers and vendors. They are more expensive and do not yield large, plump, closely packed, dense, colorful, and profit-generating buds. Conversely, synthetic plant hormones generate dangerous and nearly worthless buds since they lack the recreational or medical cannabinoids you crave.
How growers apply synthetic hormones to make PGR cannabis
It is not difficult to create PGR weed. While responsible producers consider the demands of the plants, the least responsible use the following methods:
- Spraying plants.
- Drenching entails mixing the PGRs into water and then irrigating the plants’ soil to allow the roots to absorb the chemicals.
- “Sprenching” entails spraying a solution of PGRs and watering cannabis leaves and growing substrate of plants.
Chitosan
Chitosan, a chitin-rich substance, is used to construct the exoskeletons of insects, lobsters, shrimp, and other animals. As a PGR, Chitosan is an effective chemical that promotes quicker growth, more efficient photosynthesis, and improved nutrient absorption. NASA is interested in harnessing this naturally occurring PGR in weed to grow plants in space! And best of all, this chemical is non-toxic.
Triacontanol
Triacontanol is derived from beeswax, but it may also be found in sugarcane and alfalfa meals, and none of these are dangerous. This natural stimulant accelerates metabolic processes in plants, resulting in improved photosynthesis, nutrient absorption, CO2 assimilation, and other benefits.
Prevalent PRGs used in cultivating cannabis
Cannabis may be grown using various PGRs. The most popular PGRs include chlormequat chloride, daminozide, and paclobutrazol.
Chlormequat chloride
Chlormequat chloride reduces plant development in specific regions, which encourages blooming. Adding it to the plant might also make it shorter and more uniform in size. Even though there is no proof that this PGR bud is carcinogenic, testing is currently being conducted. There have been instances of organ damage, as well as skin and eye discomfort, as a result of consuming significant amounts of it.
Daminozide
Growers use Daminozide, often known as Alar, to increase bud yields by inhibiting the development of leaves and stems. However, like Paclobutrazol, it reduces the formation of terpenes and cannabinoids. Essentially, it drastically limits resin synthesis in the plant, resulting in fewer trichomes. The EPA classifies daminozide as a potential human carcinogen. It was prohibited in the United States for usage in edible plants in 1999 when experts discovered it might be categorized as a carcinogen at high dosages. It has been banned for human consumption since 1989, resulting in multiple agricultural recalls. As more tests have been conducted, more synthetic weed PGRs have been similarly outlawed. Researchers will not authorize it for food goods; thus, it should not be consumed.
Paclobutrazol
Paclobutrazol inhibits plant cell elongation, causing cells to pack considerably tighter and denser on the flower in cannabis. It also inhibits the formation of essential terpenes on the plant and lowers its capacity to create cannabinoids. When paclobutrazol-containing buds are smoked, they degrade into nitrosamines, the most carcinogenic component present in cigarettes. According to research, paclobutrazol can harm fertility and induce liver damage.
How to identify weed PRGs
The primary distinction between PGR weed vs natural is that PGR cannabis is cultivated with synthetic hormones, while natural cannabis is not. Plant growth regulators in PGR cannabis also give crops a new look. Here are several methods to tell the difference between PGR weed vs natural:
- PGR grown cannabis has harder, denser, and heavier buds.
- PGR cannabis may seem wet or spongey, while natural weed has a drier texture.
- PGR cannabis leaves have fewer crystals than natural cannabis leaves.
Another method for distinguishing PGR cannabis from natural cannabis is to break off a piece. Natural cannabis has a strong terpene whereas PGR cannabis has relatively little. Similarly, the quality of PGR bud is inferior to the complex quality of natural cannabis. A harsh, chemical-laced perception is a clear indicator of PGR cannabis. Furthermore, when you take PGR cannabis, you may feel different. This difference is due to PGR weed’s lower cannabinoid level and the PGR compounds themselves, which may swiftly intoxicate you and create a “crash.”
Health risks you can face when using PGR grown cannabis
PGR weed is extremely hazardous to your health. Despite the absence of research on the issue, it all boils down to common sense. Keep in mind the PGR compounds may still be present in and on the plant after harvest. When you consume PGR cannabis, you inhale those dangerous and poisonous compounds. Of course, these substances might be hazardous to your health. Even little exposure might impair breathing and cause chest discomfort. Furthermore, several weed PGRs are carcinogens or recognized cancer-causing agents.
Short-term impacts
You do not have to consume PGR grown cannabis to be exposed to the hazardous compounds. It is possible to come into touch with plant growth regulators by mistake. That brief exposure will quickly cause physiological reactions such as skin or eye irritation, respiratory difficulty, nausea, vomiting, and so on. Your immune system and genetic makeup determine the symptoms. When exposed to weed PGRs, you may experience one or a mixture of the symptoms or none.
Long-term impacts
This is where frequent cannabis users belong. Long-term intake of PGR cannabis has negative side effects that, in difficult situations, can lead to death. The following are some of the symptoms you may encounter:
- Lung damage.
- Low amino acid levels in your brain.
- Damage to reproductive health in both women and men.
- Low antioxidants in your brain.
- Prenatal health issues.
How to know a cannabis product contains PGR weed
PGR cannabis may be identified by its appearance and texture if you intend to consume it (or lack thereof). However, if you use PGR cannabis vapes or edibles, you will most likely discover that the product has a chemical-laced and a distinct chemical quality. Some people discover this after consuming a product and becoming dizzy, heavy-headed, or nauseous. For these reasons, and especially because of the carcinogenic and reproductive dangers, it is advised to avoid PGR cannabis and instead ingest the beneficial variety obtained from approved producers and accredited shops using your medical cannabis card.
What is PGR in plants?
Most growers wonder what are PGRs weed in the common plants. Also, PGRs are prohibited in many regions of the world due to potential health hazards and adverse effects. This is true not only in the cannabis industry but also in agriculture. PGRs plants are commonly employed to enhance or reduce plant growth, promote branching, stimulate shoots, accelerate blooming and flowering time, and adjust fruit maturity. However, several nations have outright banned PGRs from agriculture due to their negative impacts on human health. A typical rule of thumb is that if anything seems enormous, unusual, or too wonderful to be true, it was most likely developed with PGRs.
Is PGR weed legal in the United States, and how common is it?
Synthetic PGRs weed has been considered dangerous for human consumption and is no longer permitted in agricultural settings or on food crops. They are, however, still accessible as nutrients for decorative plants. Furthermore, illegal cannabis market operators continue using them for drug cultivation. Unfortunately, synthetic PGR plants are fairly popular in various forms due to a lack of unified national norms and legislation in cannabis cultivation.
The first step in combating PGR cannabis is raising awareness. The more individuals understand the effects of utilizing PGRs weed, the more likely a change toward more sustainable production techniques will occur. Public pressure may also compel cannabis farmers to publicize third-party test reports with PGR plant percentages. These improvements and a greater emphasis on regenerative growth techniques could enable the cannabis business to scale without toxic pesticides. We hope this article sheds light on what are PGRs, common PGRs, PGRs vs no PGRs, and how to identify them.