When you’re growing a marijuana crop, making sure those plants have everything they need to thrive is essential. They need the proper types and amounts of light at just the right times to foster photosynthesis. They also need plenty of water. Though it’s important to avoid drowning the plants, it’s also crucial to ensure they have enough water to keep them plump and healthy. At the same time, cannabis plants need ventilation to reduce the risk of mold growth and provide plenty of air flow. Ensuring the roots are aerated properly is important as well.
Bringing Nutrients into the Mix
On top of all those factors, marijuana plants need the right types of nutrition to allow them to thrive. Like all living things, those plants need certain nutrients to keep them healthy. Nutrients also play a critical role in allowing plants to make their own food for energy. Of course, figuring out just which vitamins and minerals the plants need isn’t always easy. If you’re concerned about feeding your plants the right way, follow these tips for marijuana nutrition to make things simpler and eliminate some of the guesswork.
Understanding Plants’ Nutritional Needs
It’s no secret that plants need certain types of vitamins and minerals. Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals plants require in small amounts. These include zinc, boron, copper, iron, manganese, chlorine, and molybdenum. Those micronutrients may only be needed in small quantities, but they’re just as important to plants as other elements. They boost plant growth and production while helping to use other nutrients more effectively and efficiently. A deficit of micronutrients can have a noticeable negative impact on the plants.
Plants also need macronutrients. Those are the vitamins and minerals plants require in larger quantities. Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen are among the vital macronutrients, but plants glean them from the environment in most cases. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are the remaining three. Keep in mind that your marijuana plants need those three primary macronutrients in different amounts during different stages of their lives.
During the vegetative stage, the plants need more nitrogen than phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen is a major component of the chlorophyll that helps plants carry out photosynthesis, and it’s present in the proteins the plants need to stay strong and healthy. When the plants transition to the flowering stage, they need more phosphorus and potassium. Phosphorus promotes energy and nutrient distribution whereas potassium fosters the transfer of water, sugars, and other components inside the plants to produce high-quality buds.
Giving Your Plants the Nutrients They Need
If you’re growing marijuana plants outdoors, the soil they’re grown in may give them all the nutrients they need. If the plants start showing signs of stress, such as withering, brown or yellow spots, and drooping leaves, it’s time to give them a little boost with fertilizers or plant foods. Indoor plants tend to require a great deal more attention to their nutrients, so be sure to keep an eye out for all those indications that they’re not getting enough vitamins and minerals. Give them liquid nutrient solutions as needed.
Fertilizers and other plant nutrition mixes generally provide information about their nutrient content on their labels. Macronutrients are typically listed as N-P-K, and their ratios are shown in the same order. During the vegetative stage, look for a mix that’s higher in nitrogen than phosphorus and potassium. During the flowering phase, look for options that are lower in nitrogen and higher in the other two nutrients.
