GG4
Also known as: Gorilla Glue #4, Original Glue, GG#4
Breeder: Joesy Whales & Mardogg (GG Strains LLC)
GG4 is renowned for extreme resin production, pungent diesel-chocolate aromatics, and heavy-hitting potency. Created accidentally through a hermaphrodite pollination event, it became one of the most awarded strains of the 2010s. High Times named it 'the most powerful strain on Earth' in 2014. Both co-creators have since passed: Joesy Whales died in 2020 and Lone Watty in 2021.
Lineage & Genetics
Cross: (Sour Dubb x Chem's Sister) x Chocolate Diesel
Chem's Sister is a sativa-leaning Chemdawg phenotype. Sour Dubb is believed to descend from East Coast Sour Diesel and Sour Bubble. Chocolate Diesel is a cross of Sour Diesel and Chocolate Thai, adding the mocha/chocolate undertones that distinguish GG4 from other diesel-forward strains.
Terpene Profile
Beta-Caryophyllene — Peppery, spicy, gas
Myrcene — Earthy, musky, herbal; contributes to sedative effects
Limonene — Citrus uplift; bright counter-note
Aroma: Pungent diesel fuel, sharp pine, and an unmistakable mocha/dark chocolate undertone. Earthy musk fills in the base.
Flavor: Bold diesel and earthy pine on inhale. Coffee, bittersweet chocolate, and peppery spice on exhale with a lingering sourness.
Effects & Experience
Onset: Rapid — within 1–3 minutes. Immediate cerebral rush.
Within 15–30 minutes, the initial cerebral effects transition into heavy full-body relaxation. Users commonly report feeling 'glued to the couch.' Not a strain for beginners.
Duration: 2–4 hours
Commonly Reported Uses
Grower's Notes
Every GG4 grower remembers the first time the lights flipped. Within the opening three weeks of 12/12, this plant undergoes a vertical surge that routinely doubles its pre-flip height — and occasionally triples it. One widely documented grow journal records a plant that went from 16 inches at the flip to 68 inches at the end of stretch. Forum veterans concur: "GG4 tries to reach the stars." In a standard 2-meter tent, the consensus is to flip no taller than 50–60 cm, or risk running out of headroom entirely. SCROG is the preferred training method by a wide margin, and trellis netting, yo-yos, or bamboo stakes are structural necessities — not optional.
Yield
Across documented indoor grows, yields cluster around 500–600 g/m² under competent management with adequate lighting. Fully optimized rooms — dialed VPD, quality LEDs at 900–1100 PPFD, proper training, and CO2 — push that ceiling to 750 g/m². Home growers in tents without CO2 should realistically target 350–500 g/m². Outdoors in Mediterranean-type conditions, plants routinely produce 600–700 grams per plant. Coco generally outperforms soil on the scale by allowing finer EC control during the critical weeks four through seven bulking phase, though soil remains the most popular medium (63% of tracked grows) and produces excellent flower quality.
Bud Structure and Trichomes
GG4 is not a purple strain. Its flowers present in light to medium green with rust-orange pistils, blanketed so heavily in milky-white trichomes that buds appear almost silver under grow lights. Some growers have induced faint purple hues by dropping nighttime temperatures below 60°F in the final two weeks, but multiple sources caution that GG4 does not carry strong anthocyanin genetics. Cold-stressing it for color is more likely to cost yield and potency than produce vivid purples.
Nutrient Management
The strain is a moderate-to-heavy feeder that grows hungrier as it transitions into peak flower. During vegetative growth, an EC of 1.2–1.6 is standard; by mid-flower (weeks four through seven), multiple cultivation guides converge on a peak EC of 1.8–2.4 with a pronounced shift toward phosphorus and potassium. The plant is notably susceptible to magnesium deficiency — supplemental calcium and magnesium should be maintained throughout the entire cycle, not just when symptoms appear. pH at 6.0–6.8 in soil, 5.8–6.2 in coco. Flush one to two weeks before harvest.
Environment and Climate
Indoors is where GG4 earns its reputation. The strain needs controlled humidity more than anything else: 55–65% RH during veg, dropping to 45–55% in early flower, and pushed below 45% for the final two weeks. Its dense, resin-saturated buds are a textbook botrytis target. Temperature targets of 72–79°F lights-on and 64–68°F lights-off keep VPD in the productive 0.8–1.5 kPa range. Outdoors demands warm, sunny weather and stable autumn conditions — late-season rain on mature GG4 colas is a crop-loss event.
GG4 is a light-hungry cultivar: 400–800 PPFD during veg, 800–1000 during the stretch phase, and 900–1200 during peak flower with CO2 at 1200–1500 ppm. Without CO2, cap at 900–1000 PPFD. DLI targets: 35–45 mol/m²/d without CO2, 55–65 with enrichment.
Breeder Notes
GG4's origin story is itself a hermaphrodite event — a Chem's Sister plant self-pollinated. This lineage carries a higher-than-average tendency to throw pollen sacs or "nanners" under stress. Light leaks during the dark cycle, temperature swings exceeding 10°C, and aggressive late-flower defoliation are known triggers. Daily inspections of bud sites during weeks three through six of flower are standard practice.
Drying and Curing
For drying, hang whole branches at 60–70°F and 45–55% RH for seven to fourteen days. GG4's full terpene expression — the chocolate and pine notes that distinguish it from generic diesel strains — does not emerge until weeks five to six of a properly managed cure. Four weeks is the minimum; six is the target.
Wash and Extraction
For extraction, GG4 is a benchmark. Fresh frozen material routinely yields 3–8% bubble hash by weight, with GG4 specifically cited as a cultivar that "dumps" at 5% or above from whole-plant fresh frozen. The bulk of quality collects on the 73- and 90-micron screens. Pressing that hash into rosin yields 60–80% by weight at 155–165°F.
History & Origin
Born from an accident in Nevada around 2008–2010. Joesy Whales was growing Chem's Sister alongside Sour Dubb when a hermaphrodite pollinated the crop. He discarded the seeds, but friend Mardogg kept a handful. Years later, Mardogg popped six seeds — four females emerged, all stable. Phenotype #4 was the standout. The name was an inside joke about resin gluing their scissors shut. In 2017, a trademark lawsuit from the Gorilla Glue adhesive company led to the official rename 'Original Glue.'
Awards & Recognition
- ●2014: 1st Place — LA, Michigan, and Jamaica Cannabis Cups (triple crown)
- ●2015: 1st Place — World Cannabis Cup (Best Hybrid) and Patient's Choice Award
- ●2018: 1st Place — Spannabis Cannabis Championship Cup
Notable Crosses
Strains bred using GG4 as a parent:
Frequently Asked Questions
7 common questions about GG4
What is GG4 and what are its genetics?
GG4 is a hybrid cannabis strain (60% Indica / 40% Sativa) bred by Joesy Whales & Mardogg (GG Strains LLC). It is a cross of (Sour Dubb x Chem's Sister) x Chocolate Diesel, testing at 25–30% THC. GG4 is renowned for extreme resin production, pungent diesel-chocolate aromatics, and heavy-hitting potency. Created accidentally through a hermaphrodite pollination event, it became one of the most awarded strains of the 2010s.
What does GG4 smell and taste like?
GG4's dominant terpenes are Beta-Caryophyllene. The aroma is described as pungent diesel fuel, sharp pine, and an unmistakable mocha/dark chocolate undertone. earthy musk fills in the base.. The flavor profile features bold diesel and earthy pine on inhale. coffee, bittersweet chocolate, and peppery spice on exhale with a lingering sourness..
What are the effects of GG4?
Rapid — within 1–3 minutes. Immediate cerebral rush. Within 15–30 minutes, the initial cerebral effects transition into heavy full-body relaxation. Users commonly report feeling 'glued to the couch.' Not a strain for beginners.. Duration is typically 2–4 hours. Commonly reported uses include Stress and tension relief, Chronic pain, Insomnia, Depression.
How hard is GG4 to grow?
GG4 is rated intermediate difficulty. It flowers in 8–9 weeks, reaches short-medium (60–80 cm trained) in height, and yields 500–600 g/m² indoors. Best suited for indoor preferred environments.
What are the parent strains of GG4?
GG4 is a cross of Sour Dubb x Chem's Sister and Chocolate Diesel. Chem's Sister is a sativa-leaning Chemdawg phenotype. Sour Dubb is believed to descend from East Coast Sour Diesel and Sour Bubble.
What strains were bred from GG4?
GG4 has been used as a parent in several notable crosses, including Gorilla Cookies, Grease Monkey, Duct Tape, White Truffle. Its genetics contribute to a wide range of modern cultivars.
Has GG4 won any cannabis awards?
Yes. GG4 has received recognition including 2014: 1st Place — LA, Michigan, and Jamaica Cannabis Cups (triple crown); 2015: 1st Place — World Cannabis Cup (Best Hybrid) and Patient's Choice Award; 2018: 1st Place — Spannabis Cannabis Championship Cup.
Sources & References (11)
- Grower's Notes cultivation sources:
- GrowGuide.app — GG4 Grow Guide for Maximum Resin and Yield — https://growguide.app/blog/gg4-strain-grow-guide-for-maximum-resin-and-yield/
- StrainGuide.app — GG4 Effects, Terpenes, THC% & Grow Guide — https://strainguide.app/blog/gg4-strain-effects-terpenes-thc-grow-guide/
- DSS Genetics — Gorilla Glue Strain Complete Encyclopedia — https://dssgenetics.com/strains/gorilla-glue
- Weed KB — Gorilla Glue #4 Grow Journal Week-by-Week — https://weedkb.com/gorilla-glue-4-grow-journal-week-by-week/
- Green Avenger Seeds — History of Gorilla Glue #4 — https://www.greenavengerseeds.com/the-history-of-gorilla-glue-4-gg4/
- Herbies Seeds — GG#4 Original Glue Grow Report — https://herbiesheadshop.com/blog/gg-4-original-glue-grow-report-high-yields-and-resistance-to-heat
- 420 Magazine — Gorilla Glue #4 Height forum thread — https://www.420magazine.com/community/threads/gorilla-glue-4-great-white-shark-height.466986/
- The Press Club — Average Bubble Hash Washing Yields — https://thepressclub.co/blogs/tips-tricks/average-bubble-hash-washing-yields
- Hashtek — Strains that Wash: Selecting Cultivars for Hash — https://hashtek.ca/selecting-cultivars-that-yield-for-hash/
- Coco For Cannabis — How to Mix Nutrient Solutions — https://www.cocoforcannabis.com/mixnutes/
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