How to utilize nutrients and fertilizers to cultivate marijuana plants

A marijuana plant requires many nutrients, and extracts these from the earth. Left unattended, with rich soil, ample light and water, and a moderate environment, a cannabis plant will flourish well, but nutrients will assist the plant prosper and become robust and vigorous.

What are cannabis nutrients?

Cultivating high-quality cannabis demands more nutrients, or fertilizer, than most common crops.

Outdoor cannabis cultivators generally add powdered nutrients to soil when transplanting a cannabis plant outdoors. This will provide the plant all or most of the nutrients it requires for its entire lifecycle, and if you wish to introduce additional nutrients to plants later, you can add them to the surface of soil—called “top dressing.”

Indoor cultivators usually utilize liquid nutrients and combine them with water before hydrating plants. Using liquid nutrients is often more time-consuming, as you usually have to measure and mix them in water 1-2 times a week.

We suggest not utilizing nutrients designed for indoor growth for outdoor plants, as they are generally composed of synthetic mineral salts and can harm soil bacteria.

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What nutrients does a cannabis plant require?

Your cannabis plants need the following primary nutrients, collectively referred to as macronutrients:

• Nitrogen (N)
• Phosphorus (P)
• Potassium (K)

These micronutrients are needed too, but in much lower amounts:

• Calcium (Ca)
• Magnesium (Ma)
• Sulfur (S)

Other micronutrients that occur in very minor amounts and that you don’t hear about as frequently include: boron, chlorine, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc.

Additionally, cannabis plants derive these non-mineral components from air and water:

• Carbon
• Hydrogen
• Oxygen

Cannabis plants require different amounts of these nutrients throughout the various stages of development: more nitrogen during vegetative growth, and more phosphorus and potassium during flowering for bud production—also known as “bloom” nutrients.

Nitrogen

Nitrogen is primarily accountable for a cannabis plant’s development during the vegetative phase of its lifecycle. It’s a vital component of chlorophyll and without it, a plant can’t convert sunlight into energy and will struggle to grow.

Nitrogen is also part of amino acids that function as building blocks for proteins in a plant. Without the essential proteins, your cannabis plants will be weak and fragile. Nitrogen is further a component of ATP, which enables plant cells to manage the use of energy.

Nitrogen is also necessary for the creation of nucleic acid, a vital ingredient in DNA or RNA, and without it, cells won’t be able to grow and multiply.

Phosphorus

Phosphorus is crucial for forming large, robust buds. The primary function of this element is to aid in making nutrients available for the plant to absorb. These nutrients are utilized to construct the framework of a plant as it grows from its roots to its blossoms.

Without sufficient phosphorus, marijuana plants will display symptoms of underdeveloped roots and might not even bloom. Early indicators of phosphorus deficiency appear as a purple tint in the veins of leaves.

Potassium

Potassium has a variety of functions that mainly assist in regulating the systems that maintain a plant healthy and growing. It plays a significant part in osmoregulation, the passive management of water and salt concentrations in the plant. Potassium achieves this by governing the opening and closing of the stomata—the pores in the leaves—which is how a plant exchanges CO2, H2O, and oxygen.

Potassium also triggers the synthesis of ATP, which works to store energy generated in photosynthesis by creating glucose. This glucose is subsequently utilized as energy for the plant as it develops. Without adequate potassium, you will observe weak plants deprived of energy that appear scorched because they are unable to successfully regulate the exchange of CO2, H2O, and oxygen.

Calcium

Calcium is essential for maintaining the structure of cell walls in a plant. Without calcium, new growth won’t develop properly and the plant won’t function as it should.

Magnesium

Magnesium serves as the central component in chlorophyll and without it, plants aren’t able to produce glucose from photosynthesis. Absence of magnesium means no energy can be converted from sunlight.

Once magnesium has contributed to the creation of glucose, it assists in metabolizing glucose to make it accessible for the plant to develop. Without ample magnesium, you will observe yellowing leaves, with discoloration extending to the veins as well.

How to utilize and combine cannabis nutrients

Nutrient solution bottles and fertilizer bags will specify how much of the three primary nutrients are in the product, indicated by N-P-K: Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. For instance, a product that states “10-4-4” will contain 10% available nitrogen, 4% phosphorus, and4% potassium by weight.

A general guideline is that a vegetative fertilizer should have high nitrogen, low phosphorus, and moderate potassium: for example, 9-4-5. As a plant transitions into bloom, reduce the nitrogen and concentrate on phosphorus and potassium—aim for a ratio around 3-8-7, for example.

Products are also commonly classified into “grow” solutions, rich in nitrogen needed for vegetative growth, and “bloom” solutions, elevated in phosphorus for flower development. You can adhere to these general terms if you prefer not to be overwhelmed with numbers.

In the last week or so prior to harvest, ensure you provide your plants with only water to clear any nutrient accumulation in the buds—this is referred to as flushing.

Liquid nutrients

Liquid nutrients are typically utilized for indoor cultivation, but can also be applied outdoors. Liquid nutrients are used for marijuana plants in soil, hydroponics, and other cultivation media, and can be distributed through drip lines, misters, and hoses for convenient and efficient delivery.

Since liquid nutrients are readily accessible to a cannabis plant’s roots, they act quickly, meaning they can harm plants if you provide too much.

To use liquid nutrients, you’ll require a separate water tank, such as a dedicated garbage container, to mix them into water. You’ll also need to determine how much water is necessary for all your plants. Depending on the volume of water required, add the appropriate ratio of liquid nutrients as per the bottle’s instructions.

When utilizing liquid nutrients for cannabis plants, it’s essential to have a watering timetable to document and monitor:

• The amount of water you utilize
• How many and what type of nutrients you use
• How often you hydrate

You don’t want to utilize liquid nutrients every time you water—employ them every other watering, or two waterings on, one off. It varies based on the complexity of your soil and the condition of your plants. An overabundance of nutrients will harm your plants.

Providing cannabis plants with the correct quantity of nutrients necessitates careful observation. Many cultivators start with a solution dose lower than recommended and gradually increase until plants respond optimally. Insufficient nutrients will result in stunted growth, while excess can lead to nutrient burn and lockout.

Check your water pH levels

It’s critical to acquire a pH meter and pH test kit to evaluate the pH level of your water when mixing nutrients. Cannabis prefers a pH between 6 and 7 in soil, and between 5.5 and 6.5 in hydroponic media. Allowing the pH to stray outside this range can result in nutrient lockout, meaning your plants are unable to absorb the nutrients they require, so be sure to test your water frequently and ensure the nutrient mixture you provide falls within the desired range.

The significance of timing and frequency when using nutrients and fertilizers

Cannabis plants require a consistent supply of nutrients as they grow larger. It’s prudent to establish a feeding schedule, which outlines when to hydrate plants with nutrients, and the levels of nutrients needed at each watering.

Cultivators usually do not incorporate nutrients at every watering as this can lead to nutrient lockout. It’s best to hydrate with plain water as well.

When utilizing fertilizers for outdoor cultivation, they are typically mixed into soil before a seed germinates, or when a small plant is transplanted into fresh soil. Plants can be top-dressed with additional fertilizer as needed.

Can you fertilize cannabis seedlings or clones?

We do not suggest adding fertilizers or additional nutrients to seeds, clones, or seedlings. A plant is very delicate in its initial phases and only water will be sufficient.

Best nutrients for a marijuana plant’s vegetative stage

As cannabis plants advance, they will require different nutrients at various stages of their life. During the vegetative stage, cannabis plants need increased nitrogen. These are typically nutrients with “Grow” in their title, to assist the plant in developing stems, branches, and leaves.

In the N-P-K framework of nutrient ratios, this is represented by the first letter, “N.”

Best nutrients for a marijuana plant’s flowering stage

During flowering, a cannabis plant focuses its resources on producing buds, or flowers, instead of stems, branches, and leaves. When flowering, a cannabis plant requires more phosphorus and potassium, and less nitrogen. These nutrients are typically referred to as “bloom” nutrients.

In the N-P-K framework of nutrient ratios, phosphorus is indicated by “P” and potassium is indicated by “K.”