Sativa Dominant · DNA Genetics
Pineapple Express
Pineapple Express is the G13 Labs and DNA Genetics cross between Trainwreck and Hawaiian that picked up mainstream name recognition from the 2008 Seth Rogen film of the same title. Despite the Hollywood association, the genetics predate the movie and were already on Dutch coffeeshop menus in the mid-2000s. Plants stretch hard, finish in roughly nine weeks, and throw bright lime-green buds with orange pistils and a tropical fruit terpene profile. The high comes on quick and stays cerebral for the first hour before settling into a mild body warmth that does not put most users on the couch.
Reviewed 2026-05-23· Sources: seedfinder.eu, DNA Genetics catalogue, leafly
Potency
- THC range
- 18–24%
- Typical THC
- 21%
- CBD
- up to 0.2%
Flowering
- Indoor weeks
- 8–9 wk
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Climate
- Mediterranean, warm temperate
Yield & size
- Indoor
- 450-550 g/m²
- Outdoor
- 500-700 g/plant
- Height
- 130-160 cm
Indica / sativa ratio
Terpene profile
The aromatic compounds below shape how Pineapple Express smells, tastes, and ultimately feels in the body.
- dominant
Caryophyllene
Peppery and spicy — the only terpene that binds CB2 receptors, studied for anti-inflammatory action.
- secondary
Limonene
Uplifting citrus — typically associated with mood elevation and stress relief.
- secondary
Pinene
Alert and pine-forward — associated with mental clarity and bronchodilation.
- minor
Ocimene
Sweet and herbal — light, tropical, with a decongestant character.
Reported side effects
Lineage
Pineapple Express traces to Trainwreck × Hawaiian. The cross sits in the Trainwreck x Hawaiian family, which influences both the terpene profile and the flowering structure described above.
Genetic family tree
Documented parents and grandparents for Pineapple Express based on breeder catalogues. Library entries are clickable; ancestors not yet documented on this site appear in a lighter, non-linked box.
Strains crossed with Pineapple Express
Pineapple Express is a parent of 3 strains in the broader catalogue. These are crosses that carry Pineapple Express genetics on at least one side of the cross.
Grow profile
Grow profile
- Indica / sativa
- 40% / 60%
- Flowering days
- 56–63 days
- Stretch
- High
- Pest resistance
- Moderate
- Mold resistance
- Moderate
- Training methods
- topping, scrog, supercropping
Feed schedule for Pineapple Express
These EC and NPK targets are starting points calibrated for the strain's Sativa lean and moderate difficulty rating — not gospel. Drop 15-20% off any EC ceiling on your first run and let the plant tell you where it actually wants to feed.
Suggested feed schedule
- Late veg
- 1.2-1.4 EC
- Early flower
- 1.3-1.5 EC, NPK 2-2-3
- Mid flower
- 1.6-1.8 EC, NPK 1-3-4
- Late flower
- 1.4-1.6 EC
- Final week
- Plain pH-balanced water for the last 7-10 days; light flush if you ran nutrients on the higher end.
Full breakdown of feed math, runoff testing, and salt buildup in our nutrient guide.
What to expect through the grow cycle
Pineapple Express is documented with a 9-week flower and a longer stretch phase typical of sativa-leaning hybrids. The visual below maps a documented 13-week cycle built from 4weeks of vegetative growth and the strain's published flowering window.
Published grow reports for Pineapple Express concentrate the most observational notes on the stretch window. This timeline is descriptive — it reflects what reports document, not a how-to. Actual week-to-week behaviour varies with phenotype, light intensity, pot size, and environment.
Phase details
- Veg (weeks 1-4)
- The documented vegetative period for Pineapple Express. Plants establish root structure, leaf canopy, and node count before flower triggering, with a moderate difficulty rating shaping how forgiving the early canopy work tends to be.
- Stretch (weeks 5-7)
- Pineapple Express is documented as having high stretch. Reports describe the plant roughly doubling in height during this phase as the sativa-leaning structure establishes its final flowering frame.
- Bud sites (weeks 8-9)
- Pre-flowers form at the nodes and calyxes begin to develop. Grow reports for Pineapple Expressnote this as the window where the canopy's eventual bud distribution becomes visible.
- Bud development (weeks 10-11)
- Flowers thicken and calyxes fatten through this phase. Documented Pineapple Express runs show the bulk of visible flower mass accumulating here, with resin production accelerating toward the end.
- Ripening (week 12)
- Trichomes transition from clear toward cloudy and amber. Reports for Pineapple Express describe the Caryophyllene-led terpene profile maturing through this window, with aroma sharpening week over week.
- Final (week 13)
- Calyx swelling is documented as complete and the harvest window opens. Published Pineapple Express runs end here, within the 8-9 week flowering range reported by the breeder.
Flavor & aroma
Reported effects
Common questions about Pineapple Express
Did the Pineapple Express movie invent the strain?
No — the genetics were circulating in Amsterdam and California for several years before the 2008 film. DNA Genetics released its seed version after the movie raised name recognition.
Is Pineapple Express really tropical-tasting?
The dominant phenotypes carry a real pineapple-and-mango note from the Hawaiian side. Phenotypes that lean Trainwreck-heavy lose some of that fruit and pick up more pine and cedar.
Breeder of record
DNA Genetics
View breeder profile and other strains →
More from DNA Genetics
Strains similar to Pineapple Express
These picks lean on the same terpene profile and parent genetics as Pineapple Express — shared dominant terps, overlapping lineage, and matching indica/sativa lean. No star ratings or popularity contests, just overlap on the traits that actually drive a similar grow and smoke.
