How to Grow Gorilla Glue #4?
The Gorilla Glue cannabis strain, also known as Original Glue or Gorilla Glue 4, is well-noted for its extra potency and strong fragrance. While it’s easy to find Glue in nearby dispensaries, you can always try growing it at home and learn from the process. In this article, we have you covered with everything you need to know about cultivating Gorilla Glue, the problems that might occur while growing this cannabis strain, and other tips that can help you get the biggest and stickiest buds.
Gorilla Glue #4 or GG4 is an award-winning strain that no cannabis veteran should miss. The strain took the accolades in multiple Cannabis Cups in 2014, and later also in the High Times Jamaica World Cup. What’s more, there’s an interesting story behind the strain’s sticky name.
The strain was initially named as Gorilla Glue, but it had to be changed to Gorilla Glue #4 after the adhesives company by the same name sued Las Vegas cannabis cultivator GG Strains over wrongful name use. Following the lawsuit, similar name adjustments applied for other GG varieties, such as Gorilla Glue #5 or New Glue, and Gorilla Glue #1 or Sister Glue.
Why did the strain get the word ‘glue’ in the name in the first place? Because Glue buds are heavily coated with resin. When its breeders, Joesy Whales and Ross Johnson, tried trimming the buds in an early harvest, hands got sticky as if there’s glue on them. So, they named it Gorilla Glue or simply Glue.
Genetics: Gorilla Glue is a hybrid cannabis strain with three super cool parents: Chem’s Sister, Sour Dubb, and Chocolate Diesel. GG4 is around 40% sativa and 60% indica. Chem’s sister borrows the uplifting effect of the GG4 strain, while Sour Dubb balances by generating a relaxing and calm effect. GG4’s rich olfactory profile owes to Chocolate Diesel. GG4 can have anywhere between 24% and above 30% THC in its contents.
Varieties: Other GG strains are generally scarce to find around, but it’s good to know them. There is GG1 or Sister Glue which is dominant Indica; it’s similar to GG4 but less potent, with 20-25% THC. Same potency is with GG2, but its smell is more earthy. GG3 produces the same dense foliage as GG4, has a similar chemical and sweet fragrance, and it’s quick to give a head buzz. Last is GG5, a cross between GG1 and GG4, and it’s a dominant Indica hybrid with an average THC level of 27%.
Taste and flavor: Gorilla Glue has a rich profile of tastes and aromas. It’s spicy, woody, sweet and citrusy all at the same time. The combo of these smells produces a unique and captivating skunky, diesel-like, almost chemical scent that it’s hard to miss.
Terpenes: Caryophyllene is the most abundant terpene found in GG4, but the strain also has D-Limonene, ocimene, and humulene.
Effect: Gorilla Glue #4 users can anticipate solid cerebral high with a lingering hazy and relaxing after-effect that lasts for several hours. Though, it might be a “head fry” for inexperienced users. It's a beautiful uplifting feeling in the beginning, before it brings a sense of calm and tranquility. GG4 will probably also make you hungry and sleepy.
Medical uses: Given its balanced effect between cerebral high and body peacefulness, Gorilla Glue cannabis is helpful for melting stress and combating mood disorders, anxiety, chronic pain, and poor sleep.
Side effects: Some of the adverse reactions are commonly seen with marijuana. Dehydration from smoking Gorilla Glue #4 can lead to dry mouth and dry eyes, which requires sipping more water and other liquids. Users might also experience a headache, which owes to the intense head high.
Lifestyle: It’s a must-try cannabis strain for everyone who loves cannabis. But it’s definitely not for those with low tolerance to THC. If you are little practiced with weed, proceed with caution when your friend starts grinding those gummed Gorilla Glue buds in front of you.
Growing Difficulty: Gorilla Glue #4 is noted for its fast growth and generous yield. A major challenge that growers may face with GG4 is the extraordinary height that this cultivar can reach. Which is why applying the SCROG method or similar training techniques may be necessary if you are growing indoors. But other than that, it’s fairly easy to grow Gorilla Glue cannabis.
Flowering: Growers may anticipate a great harvest and a lot of sticky buds within 9-10 weeks of flowering. The flowering time outdoors is mid-October.
What Should You Know About Growing Gorilla Glue #4 Cannabis?
The average price of Gorilla Glue typically ranges from $10-$15 per gram, but you can always grow it yourself. GG4’s dense and chunky fruits are pure joy for every seasoned grower. The green-colored buds of the strain are enshrined with winsome orange pistils. Buds are also enveloped with a sticky layer of resin, which sticks on the fingers like glue. The extra potent effect of GG4 is attributed precisely to its high resin content. Besides that, this is a really generous cultivar. A single indoor plant will usually produce around 18 ounces of weed. Outdoors, it’s around 21 ounces per plant.
Gorilla Glue #4 wants warm and sunny climates, and it can thrive pretty well in temperate mountainous regions, too. The strain can tolerate dry periods as well as a bit of wind. If August and September are a little dry and sunny where you live, it may soothe GG4 plants greatly.
Glue plants also want slightly cooler temperatures over the night, although it’s not recommended to leave them outside when the weather gets dreary. In that case, it’s better to shelter the plants in a greenhouse or elsewhere inside.
Another characteristic of this cannabis cultivar is its ability to reach about four and half feet in height when allowed to vegetate. Of course, that could be a problem when growing indoors. The canopy can get too close to the grow lights and cause burns.
If you seed autoflowering GG4, it will take the plants around twelve weeks to reach full height, and there would be no need for light switching. Autoflowers are less vulnerable to infestations, but that doesn’t mean you should skip regular inspections on the leaves and the colas. That viscid resin is pretty attractive for various aphids and bugs, so it’s good to make routine checks on your plants. Early detection is key to a successful pest control.
What Is the Perfect Grow Environment for Gorilla Glue #4 Cannabis?
It’s always good to provide the ideal growing conditions for whichever marijuana strain you’re trying to grow. The same goes for Gorilla Glue. The better the environment where it grows, the more bountiful the harvest. Below are the key environment factors to take care of when growing the Gorilla Glue #4 cannabis strain.
Lighting
Gorilla Glue #4 needs extra exposure to light so it can grow as tall as it can. A minimum of 18 hours is recommended during vegetation, after which you can switch to 12-12 when plants enter flowering. There would be no need to readjust the light arrangement when planting autoflower GG4 seeds.
Temperature
The perfect temperature range for growing GG#4 is between 70-85°F (21-30°C). At night, it’s okay to keep it cooler and decrease the grow room temperature by around 10°F (5°C).
Humidity
Keep humidity levels at around 50-60% during the vegetation period. Set humidity in the 40-50% range when the GG4 plants enter flowering, and therefore avoid mold and mildew presence.
Air flow
Outdoor plants can benefit from a little breeze. Same with indoor plants. Using fans and ventilation systems will facilitate a better air circulation in the grow area, and reduce chances for any disease outbreak.
How to Address Common Problems with the GG4 Cannabis Strain?
Sticking to the ideal grow conditions for Gorilla Glue #4 will lower the odds for any problems occurring. Still, it’s good to know what might go wrong and how to proceed further.
Pest infestations
The thick resin that coats the GG4 flowers may lure different types of little critters. Therefore, make regular inspections of your plants, and apply organic pest solutions to deter any spiders, mites, aphids or other bugs that might be after the cannabis plants.
Mold and mildew
High humidity can lead to the appearance of mold and mildew in GG4 plants. It’s good to be flexible if you grow Gorilla Glue plants outside. Better start them in pots so that you can arrange easy transfer in case of high air humidity weather. If your operation is inside, don’t forget to regulate humidity levels in the grow room, and use a proper ventilation system to improve air flow.
Nutrient deficiencies
Because GG4 can be a hungry beast, it’s important to avoid malnutrition. If your plants present with stunted growth or strange colorations on the leaves, that’s likely a sign of nutrient deficiency. If you are using commercial fertilizers there shouldn’t be any issues with your plants. If there’s stunted growth, check and correct the pH levels to make sure plants absorb nutrients properly.
Other Important Things About Growing Gorilla Glue Marijuana
Growing Gorilla Glue #4 means growing big cannabis plants. The whole journey would be much easier if you use larger pots. This will enable GG4 to spread a good root system, which can then support the plants during vegetation. Stick to feminized seeds or autoflower and enjoy the process!
It’s important to check soil moisture before watering your GG4 plants. If it’s moist then you don’t need to add water, as otherwise you are creating a humid environment which may create unwanted problems that will require extra efforts to solve.
Although Gorilla Glue #4 can take in a lot of nutrients, feed it moderately and stick to fertilizer instructions for healthy growth.
Growing indoors might be a greater challenge than growing outdoors because the plant will shoot upward. Apply the SCROG method by placing a net over the plant and help out the lower branches to grow higher and the higher branches to go lower. The technique will help you manage height and avoid potential canopy damage when growing Gorilla Glue #4 indoors.
Outdoors, make sure that all your plants are females. You should be able to notice male plants early on. Male cannabis plants grow sturdier stalks and develop fewer leaves compared to females. If you let the male plants grow in, they can quickly pollinate the females, which will cause serious plant stress and affect the potential harvest considerably.
Happy growing!
Also read on Soft Secrets:
- What Do I Need to Think About for an Indoor Set Up?
S
Stephen Andrews
