Cannabis nutrients are divided into two types, macro and micro nutrients, although both are necessary to get a good marijuana plant
Cannabis nutrients are those elements of the periodic table that our marijuana plants need to provide us with the best version of themselves. Although both macro nutrients and micro nutrients are necessary to achieve a good marijuana plant, macro nutrients may be somewhat more important since without them the plant could not live.
In fact, there is an international fertilizer brand that many farmers around the world call triple 15. Why? Because they are blue balls that contain 15% nitrogen (N), 15% phosphorus (P) and 15% potassium (K), which are the 3 macro nutrients. It is important to explain that there is no plant on planet Earth capable of assimilating 15% of a nutrient, either macro or micro nutrient.
The cultivation fields of many countries have been devastated by the continued use of this triple 15 that kills microorganisms that live in the soil and how important they are for any type of plant in general, and for the cannabis plant in particular. In our article “Native microorganisms for your cannabis plants” we explain precisely the role of microorganisms in the good cultivation of any plant species, including marijuana.
Although cannabis nutrients are of the utmost importance to achieve a marijuana plant that is optimal, of the best quality, it is not easy to know precisely the amount of each nutrient that we must provide to our plants. The amount depends on several factors such as EC (electrical conductivity) of the water, the pH, the cannabis variety, the environmental temperature, the type of substrate and more. On the other hand, it should also be understood that some nutrients such as nitrogen (N), should be used in greater amounts during the vegetative growth phase. And phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) must be used in greater quantity during the flowering phase.
What would happen if during the flowering phase we gave our plants the same amount of nitrogen (N) that we gave them during the vegetative growth phase? We would get plants with less flowers and the flowers would be of worse quality and smaller. What would happen if we didn’t provide our cannabis plants with enough phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) during the flowering phase. We would obtain smaller flowers with little resin, which is where THC and CBD are located, in addition to all cannabis terpenes, as explained in our article “Terpenes in cannabis“. When we supply nutrients in our crop it is possible to fall into one of these two errors: give the plants too much or give them too little. Both errors are harmful to our plants, but it is worse to give them too much than to give them little. When we give them little the solution is to increase the amount and / or frequency of subscriber. But when we have poisoned our plants due to excess of fertilizers it is more complicated to return to normal. But it is important to know that cannabis nutrients allow us greater margin of error when they are organic. Those who are chemical leave almost no room for error before killing the plant.
THCV. The most hallucinogen cannabis cannabinoids
Deficiencies Vs Excesses of cannabis nutrients
Both the deficiencies and the excess of nutrients in cannabis plants will prevent us from getting marijuana plants of the best quality. Therefore, we must try to prevent plants from developing deficiencies or excesses. Let’s start by determining what the shortcomings are and what the excesses are.
What are the shortcomings? They are the lack of some nutrient. To avoid deficiencies, we must fertilize the plants with the nutrients needed.
What are the excesses? Excesses are accumulations of metal salts in the metabolism of plants. To avoid excesses we must make a balanced and appropriate payment to the type of crop, substrate and cultivated genetics. Each plant genetics will have certain nutrient needs.
Detecting deficiencies and excesses of cannabis nutrients
To detect an excess or a lack of nutrients you have to pay attention and observe the color and condition of the leaves. The leaves will show us what kind of lack or excess the plant suffers. As we have said, it is easier to correct a deficiency than an excess. Excesses are more difficult to solve because it is necessary to do a root wash, use a nutrient cleanser and provide enzymes to help break down dead roots.
All this implies a biological break in the development of the plant. The excesses will cause burns on the leaves and will alter the taste of the flowers. The larger the plant, the greater the amount of nutrients it will need. The deficiencies cause stress to the plant and we will cultivate weak specimens prone to be attacked by pests and fungi. The deficiencies will affect the final performance, obtaining flowers with less flavor, weight, size and power. To avoid nutrient deficiencies and excesses it is essential to measure, adjust and stabilize the EC (electro conductivity) and PH. By measuring the EC we will know the salt levels and we can adjust the amount of nutrients.
Keep in mind that sometimes the deficiencies and excesses are not only due to lack or excess of subscriber but also because of another type of problem that does not allow the plant to absorb the necessary nutrients.
Deficiencies and excesses of macro nutrients
NITROGEN (N)
Excess
Stems and leaves weaken
The green color of the plant intensifies
The inner leaves turn dark green
The internal water system (xylem and phloem) weakens
Marijuana tastes too much like vegetable
Lack
The plants are too small
The plant develops smaller and less bright leaves
The leaves turn yellow
Some leaves curl, discolor and fall
Premature flowering and low productivity
PHOSPHORUS (P)
Excess
The new leaves are too thin and develop chlorosis
The leaves have burns on the tips and edges
The plant has less space between the nodes of the branches
The lower leaves curl and develop spots
The flowers once dried have a chemical flavor
The tips of the roots die Harvest decreases
Lack
Deceleration of vertical and lateral growth
Weak plants prone to diseases and pests
Petioles turn a dark purple color
The leaves turn bluish-green or dark purple
The leaves that are most affected develop a dark metallic bronze color, curl, wilt and finally fall
POTASSIUM (K)
Excess
The new leaves are too thin and have chlorosis
The leaves show burns on the tips and edges
Less space between the knots
The lower leaves curl and develop spots
Root tips twist back
Deficiency
Old leaves turn pale and have chlorosis
The edges and tips of the leaves develop an oxide color and burn
The plant can develop more new stems
Flowering is late and less productive
The stems are weak and too thin in addition to fragile
Deficiencies and excesses of micro nutrients
CALCIUM (Ca)
Excess
New leaves wilt
Growth may show atrophy
The absorption of potassium, iron and manganese is blocked
Deficiency
Delayed plant growth and decreased harvest
The development of flowers is slow
Yellowish brown spots on the edge and surface of the leaves
The lower leaves begin to curl and curl
The roots begin to recede
MAGNESIUM (Mg)
Excess
Retarded growth
Dark green leaves
Deficiency
The plant seems weak
The deficiency already exists 4 to 6 weeks before it is evidenced externally
Brown / yellow spots and irregularities on older leaves
Old leaves dry, curl and fall
SULFUR (S)
Excess
The plant is smaller than it should be
The leaves turn dark green
When the excess is severe both the tips and the edges of the leaves discolor and burn
Deficiency
New outbreaks develop weak and very slowly
The new leaves acquire a yellowish lime color and the growth stagnates
The veins of the leaves turn yellow
The tips of the leaves can sometimes burn, darken and take the form of a downward hook
If the plant also has a general lack of nutrients, the new stems develop long purple spots
The stem becomes lignified and becomes woody
Boron (B)
Excess
Yellow leaves that just fall
Deficiency
New shoots and roots grow abnormally
The new shoots are burned and twist
Black spots develop between leaf veins
The leaves are too thick and brittle
The new stems acquire an oxide color
The tips of the roots swell, discolor and stop growing
Manganese (Mn)
Excess
The new leaves have chlorosis, turn dark orange and develop brown spots
Damage appears earlier in young leaves than in older leaves
Deficiency
Younger leaves have chlorosis
The very affected leaves have necrosis, pale and finally fall
The edges of the leaves remain dark green surrounding the chlorosis
Symptoms spread from the youngest to the oldest leaves
Zinc (Zn)
Excess
Excess Zinc does not usually occur but when it occurs it is extremely toxic
With much excess zinc plants die quickly
Excess zinc produces iron deficiencies
Deficiency
Young leaves have chlorosis
The plant generates smaller and thinner leaves with a tendency to curl and wrinkle
The central stem and the new shoots are piled up
The tips and edges of the leaves fade and burn
Atrophy occurs in the space between the new knots
Productivity falls dramatically
Iron (Fe)
Excess
The leaves turn a bronze-like color, and the smaller leaves have dark brown spots
Prevents phosphorus absorption and the signs appear on the lower leaves
Deficiency
Young shoots and leaves develop chlorosis
As the deficiency progresses, the larger leaves show chlorosis in the nerves
The leaves can develop necrosis and fall
Lack of iron impairs phosphorus absorption and signs appear on the lower leaves
Chlorine (CI)
Excess
The leaves turn yellowish bronze and are smaller in addition to taking longer to develop
The tips and edges of the young leaves burn
Deficiency
The leaves turn yellowish bronze and the tips and edges burn
Newer leaves turn pale green and wilt
Roots develop thick tips and become ineffective
Copper (Cu)
Excess
Slower growth
Iron Chlorosis between leaf veins
Less branches growth
Roots weaken and grow very slowly
Deficiency
Young leaves and buds wilt, twist and sometimes die
The tips and edges of the leaves turn dark green first and then grayish and eventually die
Plant growth is slow and production is low
Molybdenum (Mb)
Excess
Excess of molybdenum causes iron deficiency
The leaves fade
Deficiency
The leaves start to fall
In cold climates the leaves turn yellow and with possible chlorosis
In short, cannabis nutrients are of the greatest importance for obtaining the best marijuana. It doesn’t make much sense to buy some good cannabis seeds and grow them without a fertilizer protocol that includes all the cannabis nutrients.
