Cannabis Nutrients

Fertilization is essentially the food of the plant.

Nutrients (fertilizers) are chemicals provided to crops to increase their productivity. These are used by farmers daily to increase crop yields. Fertilizers contain the essential nutrients needed by plants, such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Nitrogen (N) is perhaps the most widely recognized nutrient, known mainly for its ability to make the plants green . Nitrogen mainly affects stem growth and general health. Chlorophyll, the green substance in plants that is responsible for photosynthesis, is largely made up of nitrogen. It is also widely used in young shoots, buds and leaves.

Air contains about 78% nitrogen, but atmospheric nitrogen is not readily available to plants. They have to absorb it through the soil. Ammonium and nitrate are both readily available forms of nitrogen and are common in chemical fertilizers and are rapidly and rapidly leaching from the soil.

Nitrogen deficiency is recognized by the yellowing of older leaves, the light green color of the whole plant, and the slowing down or cessation of growth. The leaves may fall earlier than expected. Excess nitrogen is recognized by extremely fast growth, resulting in long, dormant, weak shoots with dark green leaves.

Phosphorus (P) is important for healthy roots and is used more during flowering. Phosphorus easily becomes unavailable to plants when the pH is slightly unbalanced. It is released into the soil through the decomposition of organic matter.

Phosphorus deficiency is recognized by dull green leaves and purple stems. The plant is generally unhealthy, sometimes yellowing. Lack of flowering with lush green foliage may also indicate a lack of phosphorus.

Potassium (K), is important for the overall health of plants. It is essential for the formation of chlorophyll and other plant compounds. Potassium is also known to help fight disease.

Potassium deficiency is difficult to diagnose, but it does make the plants generally sick, with small fruits, yellowing from the older leaves upwards and diseased flowers.

Calcium (Ca), is an important nutrient that helps the cannabis plant build a strong structure and withstand stress such as heat.

Lack of calcium causes the cannabis plant to have brown or copper spots or spots on the leaves. It is also often associated with yellowing (although the leaves do not always turn yellow). Occasionally spots may appear purple, especially under LEDs. Calcium deficiencies are often caused by low pH in the roots, irregular watering, and occasionally by growing in soft / filtered water.

Magnesium (Mg) is one of the elements found in the chlorophyll molecule, so if the plant does not have enough magnesium it will not photosynthesize! It is essential for the health of your plants.

Magnesium deficiency will cause a light green or yellow color to appear on the veins and edges of the lower and older leaves – this is one of the classic signs of hemp magnesium deficiency. You may also see red stems.

Magnesium is a mobile nutrient, which means that the plant can move it from the old leaves to the new leaves, so in its absence the lower leaves will fall first.

Sulfur (S) is a component of important amino acids for the formation of proteins.

Its deficiency, although rare, manifestes as total chlorination (yellowing of the leaves), usually starting from the younger leaves and at first may seem like a lack of nitrogen.

The parts under the leaves may take on a pinkish red or orange color. The buds on a flowering plant may begin to die. Unlike most other deficiencies that cause the leaves to turn yellow, a sulfur deficiency will start at the back of the leaf and move to the front rather than the edges.

Cannabis Nutrients for Beginners

If you are growing cannabis for the first time, finding the best nutrients for your cultivation can be very confusing. There are many fertilizer companies and each company creates its own nutrition schedule with fertilizers and supplements for different purposes.

As a novice grower, your goal is to give your plants the right amount of nutrients at the right time. There are two main stages of life for cannabis plants (vegetation stage and flowering stage). Each stage has different nutrient requirements. Fortunately, many fertilizer companies produce excellent products, although they all use different formulas and techniques.

Nutrient ratio in fertilizer: Every company has different nutrient ratios that they believe are best for each stage of development.

Nutrients: There are many different combinations of chemical and organic compounds that work well for plant growth. These ingredients determine whether the fertilizer is considered organic or synthetic.

Method of cultivation: If you choose to grow in soil, on a coconut substrate. in hydroponic / aeroponic system.

Do not confuse supplement fertilizers with the essential nutrients listed above. If the NPK ratios on the front of the bottle are really low (like 0.2-0.2-0.1), it means that this product is some kind of supplement. Essential nutrients provide all the necessary NPKs and micronutrients (trace elements) for healthy growth, so supplements are not necessary for plants to thrive. Some supplements are helpful, but overdosing can cause side effects or burn your plant.

Plant Vegetation Period

Vegetation Fertilization (Grow)

In this cultivation period we add fertilizers that are made for vegetation (grow) and have a high content of nitrogen (N). Fertilization starts when the plants produce their first basic leaves and always at the lowest dosage recommended. We start with a fertilizer for the rapid growth of the root, and after 2 waterings we add to our solution a basic fertilizer for vegetation.

Pre-Flowering Stage

By the fourth week of its life the cannabis plant will show if it is a male or female. We are interested in female plants because male plants are used only for the fertilization of the flower. The female plants will pull out the white hairs that will develop into our favorite buds. As soon as we see the hair, we are in the stage of pre-flowering that lasts 7-10 days. At this stage we must reduce the fertilizer of the vegetation and start to apply the fertilizer for flowering (bloom).

Fertilization during Flowering Period (Bloom)

During the flowering phase the plant needs more nutrients and you will need to add fertilizers for flowering. They need less nitrogen (N), since the plant stops giving its strength to the growth of its green parts, and need more phosphorus (P) and potassium (K).

The exact NPK recipe you will use is up to you. Just be careful to use half the dose of flowering fertilizer you have chosen at this early stage to avoid burning your plants. At what stage you decide to increase your nutrients also depends on you, but we recommend that you do so from the third week of flowering.

From the third week of flowering your plants grow their precious flowers and their need for water and nutrients increases. Again, the exact nutrient solution you will use at this stage of flowering is up to you, but be sure to pay close attention to how your plants react to any changes in feeding (fertilization).

The 5th and 6th week of flowering is considered the peak time for most cannabis varieties. Be sure to monitor your plants very carefully and watch for any signs of nutrient deficiency or excessive fertilization. Depending on the size of your flower, you may want to increase your nutrients once again to help them produce the best possible crop. Remember that, at this stage, your plants will not need much nitrogen, which is more important for stem growth than for flowering. In addition to phosphorus and potassium, flowering plants have higher requirements for calcium.

In the last week of the plant life, which is usually the 8th, we stop the fertilization and do the rinsing. This means that we stop putting any nutrients and pour 3 times the water that we normally water. This will flush out the fertilizers from the plant and we will have our hemp with a cleaner taste and aroma.

 

SCHEDULES – FERTILIZER RECIPES

BIOBIZZ Nutrient Schedule

Biobizz Nutrient Schedule for Automatic Plants and Photoperiod Plants for all types of Substrates: Lightmix, Allmix, Coco.

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Advanced Nutrients Nutrient Schedule

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Canna Nutrient Schedule

Terra Aquatica GHE Nutrient Schedule

Cannabiogen Nutrient Schedule

Cannabis Watering 

Water your plants only when they need it. Never overdo it. Less is more… While the plants are in their Vegetation Period, water about 300ml Water in an 11 liter pot every day. When the Plants enter the Flowering Period water, water 600ml day by day or more when the Plants are big enough. Do not water at all before harvest!

τα φυτά σας μόνο όταν το έχουν ανάγκη. Μην το παρακάνετε Ποτέ. Less is more… Όσο τα φυτά βρίσκονται στην Βλάστηση ποτίστε περίπου 300ml Νερό σε μια γλάστρα 11 λίτρων κάθε μέρα. Όταν τα Φυτά μπουν στην Ανθοφορία ποτίστε μέρα παρά μέρα 600ml ή και περισσότερο όταν τα Φυτά είναι αρκετά μεγάλα. Πριν την συγκομιδή ΜΗΝ ποτίζετε καθόλου!

Nutrient temperature

The temperature of the nutrient solution should be between 20-22 °C or 68-71 °F. A small aquarium heater (50W) is ideal for cold winter days. Just set the thermostat to the desired temperature and you are ready.

Changing the Nutrient Solution

Change the nutrient solution every two weeks for seedlings and young plants. As the plants grow, it is recommended to change the nutrient solution every week for better results in terms of harvest and plant health.

Καλές Συγκομιδές!