Written by Ad OpsOverview and Naming
AUTO Dark Purple, also known as AUTO Jota Mayuscula Purple, is an autoflowering, purple-forward cannabis cultivar prized for its striking coloration and compact, easy-to-manage growth. The alias highlights its recognition in Spanish-speaking grower circles, where “Jota Mayúscula Purple” has been used colloquially to reference especially dark-purple phenotypes.
As an autoflower, it transitions from seed to harvest without photoperiod changes, making it friendly for beginners and efficient for perpetual harvest schedules. Growers choose it for reliable color expression, dessert-like aromas, and a relaxing, indica-leaning effect profile suitable for evening sessions.
History and Cultural Context
Purple cannabis lines surged in popularity during the late 2000s and early 2010s, with European breeders refining compact, cold-tolerant purple phenotypes for indoor rooms and balconies. Around the same period, autoflower genetics improved dramatically, moving from novelty status to mainstream production as yields and potency climbed.
AUTO Dark Purple AKA AUTO Jota Mayuscula Purple fits squarely into that wave, blending purple heritage lines with a stabilized ruderalis component for automatic flowering. In online communities, it became a niche favorite for growers seeking fast harvests with showpiece coloration, often showcased in 60–80 day grow journals.
Genetic Lineage and Breeding Strategy
While explicit, lab-verified parentage data for AUTO Dark Purple AKA AUTO Jota Mayuscula Purple is limited, the breeding logic is consistent with other purple autos: an indica-leaning purple heirloom or Afghan/Pakistani landrace descendant crossed to a ruderalis line. Purple Afghan, Pakistani Chitral Kush, or similar anthocyanin-rich stock are common sources used in autos to strengthen color traits.
Stabilized autoflower traits typically require several filial generations, maintaining just enough ruderalis genome—often estimated at 10–20%—to ensure photoperiod independence while preserving potency. The end result is a compact plant with a dominant indica architecture, rapid life cycle, and strong anthocyanin expression in cool conditions.
Appearance and Bag Appeal
True to its name, mature buds often show deep violet to nearly black hues, especially along calyx tips and sugar leaves. The contrast between dark pigments and frosty trichomes creates an eye-catching, silver-on-plum aesthetic.
Nug structure trends toward dense, golf-ball colas with short internodes and a high calyx-to-leaf ratio. Pistils range from pale peach to copper, and as curing progresses, the purple tones can intensify visually against the bright orange stigmas.
Aroma Profile
The aromatic profile leans confectionary with berry-forward top notes, commonly interpreted as blackcurrant, grape peel, or forest fruits. Beneath that, there is often a creamy, vanilla-laced sweetness with subtle cocoa or earthy chocolate.
A peppery, herbal backbone—suggestive of beta-caryophyllene and humulene—balances the sweetness and adds depth. When ground, many users report a flash of citrus rind and faint floral lilac, a sign of limonene and linalool interplay.
Flavor Profile
On the palate, expect a rich blend of dark berries, sugared plum, and grape skin acidity, finishing with a soft, pastry-like sweetness. The inhale tends to be smooth if cured well, often described as velvety with minimal throat bite.
The exhale may carry mild spice and cocoa, followed by a cooling, herbal aftertaste reminiscent of purple basil. Vaporization at 180–195°C preserves the fruity top notes, while combustion emphasizes the earthy-spice layer.
Cannabinoid Profile and Potency
Autoflowering purple cultivars like this commonly test in the mid-to-high THC band, with reported ranges of 14–20% THC under typical indoor conditions and skilled grows occasionally pushing 20–22%. CBD usually remains low, often below 1%, unless specifically bred for a balanced chemotype.
Minor cannabinoids are generally present in trace-to-moderate quantities: CBG in the 0.2–1.0% range and CBC commonly between 0.05–0.3%. Total cannabinoid content around 15–22% is consistent with modern autos, which have improved markedly compared with early 2010-era autoflowers that averaged closer to 8–12% THC.
Terpene Profile and Chemistry
Total terpene content for well-grown samples typically ranges from 1.5–2.5% by dry weight, with outliers above 3% in optimized environments. The dominant trio often features myrcene (0.5–0.9%), beta-caryophyllene (0.2–0.5%), and limonene (0.1–0.3%).
Secondary contributors like humulene (0.05–0.2%), linalool (0.05–0.15%), and ocimene/pinene in trace-to-moderate amounts round out the bouquet. This chemistry aligns with the sensory mix of berry sweetness, soft floral accents, citrus zest, and peppery-herbal undertones, with myrcene providing the soft fruit body and caryophyllene-humulene guiding the spice-earth base.
Experiential Effects and Use Patterns
Effects trend calming and body-focused, consistent with an indica-leaning profile. Inhalation onset is typically felt within 5–10 minutes, peaking around 30–45 minutes and tapering over 2–3 hours.
Users often describe mood elevation without edge, gentle muscle relaxation, and a gradual drift toward introspection. At higher doses, couchlock and appetite stimulation become more pronounced, making it best suited for late afternoon or evening use.
Potential Medical Applications
The moderate-to-high THC range supports analgesia for mild-to-moderate pain, with many patients reporting relief for musculoskeletal discomfort and tension headaches. Beta-caryophyllene’s CB2 activity may add a peripheral anti-inflammatory dimension, potentially complementing THC’s central analgesic action.
The calming, myrcene-forward terpene ensemble and low CBD typically skew the effect toward sedation rather than daytime functionality. Patients targeting sleep onset, anxiety tied to rumination, or post-exercise soreness may find value, while those seeking anti-epileptic or daytime focus effects may prefer a CBD-rich alternative.
Comprehensive Cultivation Guide
Life cycle and timing: Expect 65–80 days from sprout to harvest for most phenotypes, with some finishing as early as day 60 under high-intensity lighting. Autos cannot be reset with a light flip, so aim to optimize from day one and avoid major stress past day 21.
Plant size and structure: Height commonly reaches 50–90 cm indoors, with a compact, bushy form and short internodes. Training should be gentle; low-stress training (LST) in weeks 2–4 encourages multiple tops without stunting.
Lighting strategy: A common schedule is 18/6 or 20/4 throughout the run, maintaining daily light integral (DLI) of roughly 30–45 mol/m²/day once established. PPFD targets of 400–600 µmol/m²/s in early vegetative growth and 700–900 µmol/m²/s from early flower forward balance vigor and energy use.
Environment: Day temperatures of 24–27°C and night 18–22°C work well, with a 5–8°C drop at lights-off to encourage anthocyanin expression late bloom. Aim for 65–70% RH seedling, 55–60% veg, and 45–50% flower, keeping VPD around 0.8–1.2 kPa depending on canopy temperature.
Medium and pH: In soil, target pH 6.0–6.5; in coco/hydro, maintain 5.8–6.2. Well-aerated media with 25–35% perlite or coco fraction improves oxygenation and reduces overwatering risk.
Nutrition and EC: Early growth prefers gentle feeding (EC 0.8–1.2), rising to 1.2–1.6 EC in peak flower depending on cultivar response. Transition from higher nitrogen in early stages to phosphorus and potassium emphasis mid-flower, maintaining adequate calcium and magnesium, especially with RO water.
Watering: Favor consistent, moderate irrigations that allow for light dry-backs without wilting. Autos dislike heavy swings; aim for 10–20% runoff in inert media and avoid waterlogging that can slow growth during the critical first 3–4 weeks.
Training and pruning: LST and selective leaf tucking are the default; topping can reduce height but risks yield if done after day 18–21. Remove only small amounts of lower growth around week 4–5 to improve airflow, avoiding aggressive defoliation.
Color expression: Cooler nights in late bloom (15–18°C) can intensify purple without sacrificing yield if daytime temperatures remain optimal. Avoid inducing nutrient deficiencies to force color; targeted temperature management is safer and more predictable.
Pest and disease management: Maintain strong airflow and clean intakes to deter spider mites and thrips, the most common indoor pests. Keep leaf surface dry and RH controlled to minimize powdery mildew, especially on dense, purple-leaning colas.
CO2 and energy: If adding CO2, maintain 900–1200 ppm during lights-on for small tents and up to 1200–1400 ppm in sealed rooms, adjusting PPFD upward accordingly. Autos benefit from consistent environment over aggressive enrichment; stability often outperforms maximal intensity.
Expected yields: Skilled indoor growers frequently report 350–500 g/m² with optimized light and environment, while outdoors in temperate summers yields of 50–150 g per plant are common. Container sizes of 11–19 liters (3–5 gallons) balance root space and turnaround time.
Harvest timing: Start checking trichomes from day 55; many phenotypes finish in the day 65–75 window. For a balanced effect, harvest around cloudy with 5–15% amber trichomes; for more sedative qualities, allow 15–25% amber.
Phenotype Stability and Color Expression
Purple intensity is a function of genotype and environment, with anthocyanins accumulating in calyxes and sugar leaves late in flower. A diurnal temperature differential of 5–10°C, particularly nights at 15–18°C, reliably enhances pigmentation in phenotypes predisposed to purple.
pH, light spectrum, and nutrition also interact with color. Full-spectrum LEDs with strong 660 nm red and a modest 730 nm far-red input can improve flowering dynamics, while steady phosphorus and potassium support without overfeeding helps prevent chlorosis that can mute color.
Harvest, Drying, and Curing Best Practices
Flush or taper nutrients for 5–10 days if you prefer a cleaner finish and to let residual minerals drop in inert setups. Pre-harvest darkness is optional; data on cannabinoid gain is mixed, but some growers use 24–36 hours for convenience.
Dry slow at approximately 18–20°C and 58–62% RH for 10–14 days to preserve volatile esters and monoterpenes tied to the berry profile. Once stems snap, cure in airtight jars burped daily for the first week, then weekly for 4–8 weeks, targeting a final internal RH of 58–62%.
Final Assessment and Buyer’s Guide
AUTO Dark Purple AKA AUTO Jota Mayuscula Purple is best for growers prioritizing visual appeal, swift turnaround, and a relaxing effect set. It thrives in compact indoor spaces and balcony grows, delivering a photogenic purple finish without complex photoperiod management.
Expect THC-dominant potency, dessert-leaning aromatics, and an evening-friendly demeanor. If you enjoy berry, grape, and cocoa-spice notes wrapped in dense, dark nugs—and you want them in 9–11 weeks—this auto belongs on your short list.
