Nutrient deficiencies and excesses in Cannabis

The massive use of fertilisers on extensive crops over the last decades is leaving a pollution footprint, both in the soil and in the atmosphere, that is now beginning to be looked at with concern. While it is well known from numerous studies that the overuse of fertilisers (especially mineral fertilisers) damages the substrate for future crops, often - even if it works against them - growers only have one thing in mind: maximising yields in their fields and facilities.

However, it is not just about how we use these products, but also about how the fertilisers are manufactured, processed and transported. Because, as in many other areas and sectors, each and every one of these steps causes pollution. It's a curious paradox... shouldn't we growers be the first to take care of the environment where we intend to plant?

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If like us, you're a keen grower, then you'll be acutely aware of how the cold can affect your plants, whether we're talking about the slow growth of plants in an unheated indoor grow tent during winter or those last few outdoor plants that don't quite manage to mature before the first frost and end up succumbing to the cold. But, despite the negative effects it can have on cannabis, the cold is essential to the success of many plants and plays a fundamental role in their proper development and in key functions such as germination, growth and flowering.

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Cannabis needs a good number of macro and micronutrients to be able to develop without any kind of nutritional limitation. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) are probably the best known, present in most cannabis fertiliser formulas for both the vegetative or growth phase and the flowering phase, along with others such as iron, sulphur, boron and molybdenum, to mention just a few.

However, there is one very special element for the development of plants, and one that until a few years ago did not receive the attention it deserves. We are talking about silicon (Si), a nutrient that, although it is not necessary for the plant to grow and bear fruit properly, will greatly increase its defences against sources of stress such as pests, diseases or drought, while reinforcing the cell walls of plant tissues, strengthening their structure and favouring processes such as photosynthesis. Today we will talk about this interesting nutrient, see how to use it and examine its main characteristics.

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Autoflowering cannabis plants are great for several reasons. They have fast growth cycles (generally less than 11 weeks from seed), they do not depend on light schedules to trigger flowering, they have a high resistance to mould and pests... but, above all, due to their short life cycle and size, autos don't require large inputs of nutritional resources, meaning that growers can save money as they won't need to feed plants for as long to get great results.

Aside from their rapid development, autoflowers have a strong and resilient nature, so they aren't too fussy about the quality of the medium they grow in and can still do well with minimal nutrients.

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We receive many queries about the parameters included in the descriptions of the different cannabis strains, and more specifically, the traits section. While some aspects, like production per square meter or cannabinoid content, are very clear for the experienced grower, newcomers to the wonderful world of marijuana home growing can find them confusing.

Today, we are explaining in detail each of the attributes that can be found in the information provided by the cannabis seed banks in relation to the genetics they sell. This will help you to clear any doubts when checking the strains? index cards and descriptions, and to understand every trait of the plants outlined in their catalogues.

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It's inevitable that at some point, almost all cannabis cultivators will find themselves in the position of needing to apply a foliar spray of one kind or another to their plants. There are many potential reasons for this: you could be in need of a fungicide or an insecticide; or maybe you want to fertilise, correct a nutrient deficiency or just give lacklustre plants a bit of a boost.

Whatever the motive for spraying, we think it's worth doing the job properly, and there are some basic measures we should take every time to make sure we get the best possible results and avoid damaging our plants. We'll deal with these ten fundamental points first, then go on to talk in a bit more depth about foliar application afterwards.

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Nutrient imbalance in marijuana plants?

In this post we will focus on the macro and micro-nutrients necessary for the development of cannabis plants. These elements are available in the nutrients, so the chosen type of fertiliser and its correct use will lead us to a crop without deficiencies or excesses, thanks to a properly planned and balanced feeding.

There are different factors to take into account, so we'll try to explain them in a simple way so that all growers can dispel all the possible doubts which may arise relating to the nutrition of their cannabis plants.

What is a deficiency?

Deficiencies are often - although not as a general rule - a lack or inadequate supply of some nutritional element in a precise moment of the plant's life.

To avoid deficiencies plants must be fed with a complete fertiliser, specially designed for cannabis farming. PH level must be controlled, stabilised and adjusted depending on the type of crop, either in hydroponic or soil crops, and for both potted and in-ground plants.

What is an excess?

Excesses of nutrients are salt accumulations in the metabolism of the plants in a particular stage of their life. To avoid excesses when growing cannabis, we will have to use constant and balanced feeding adapted to each type of culture, substrate and genetics. Each phenotype has its own needs, and to know them ensures best results and avoids nutritional issues.

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Deficiency and excess of Iron in cannabis plants

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Functions of magnesium in cannabis plants

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The Phosphorus Cycle:

Before the phosphorus can be used as nutrient for plants, we must wait for Mother Nature to perform its vital functions in order to take advantage of the raw materials that it offers. Phosphorus is an element classified as macro-nutrient since it directly participates - in large amounts - in the metabolism of all plants and especially in cannabis crops.

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Potassium

There are many nutrients that influence in the development of marijuana plants; on this post, we are going to point out the most important functions of Potassium. We will tell you how to treat deficiencies and excesses of this element and the effect it has on the plant metabolism, especially in cannabis plants.

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Calcium and cannabis

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Micronutrients in marijuana plants

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Nitrogen (N):

Nitrogen as a nutrient is an important mobile element which is directly involved in the development of marijuana plants during all their life cycle. Depending on the stage of life at which these plants are, they need higher or lower amounts of nitrogen.

This element allows marijuana plants to produce proteins, amino acids, enzymes, chlorophyll, alkaloids and nucleic acids. It is the main cause of growth of the stem, leaves and branches, as well as being directly related to the plant's vegetative vigour.

It can be found in different forms: organic, ammonium and nitrate. The basic difference between these forms lies in the rate of absorption of nitrogen by the plant, being ammonium the fastest one and therefore the form that can cause an excess of this nutrient more easily.

On the other hand, nitrogen in the form of nitrate is readily absorbed by the plant, although the process is slower. It is for this reason that you can find a mix of both forms in nitrogen-based liquid fertilizers, to balance the nitrogen uptake of the plants and thus avoid an excess or deficiency of this nutrient in your plants.

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