Every plant needs fertilizer, and hemp is no exception. In the absence of nutrients, it will be easily susceptible to disease, hard to endure physical damage and insect attack, and will also take on mold and die.
Cannabis plants will give signals about which substances they lack and which are already too much in the substrate. They will signal through the color of the leaves.
How to fertilize cannabis
Important to remember!
The main hemp fertilizers are macro / micro elements:
- nitrogen
- phosphate
- potassium
- zinc
- sulfur
- magnesium
- manganese
- iron
Each variety of marijuana requires its own dose of fertilizer. Before you start feeding, you should carefully study the type of cannabis and its pedigree. When creating favorable conditions for a new green friend, do not overdo it. Overdoing it with fertilizers can burn it, and make the substrate unsuitable for life.
If you decide to grow cannabis for 2 years in a row on the same piece of land, or in the same pot, then do not be surprised if the yield is many times less than last year. After all, it is significant to know that during the year hemp depletes the soil for those elements that it needs for good development, and for the next season they may not be enough for new plants. Therefore, it is worthwhile in advance, since autumn, to take care of the acidity of the soil and the amount of nutrients.
Nitrogen
Excess nitrogen (N): leaves become dark green with a bluish tint;
Lack of nitrogen (N): the lower leaves turn bright yellow.
Phosphorus
An excess of phosphorus: the plant dies;
Lack of phosphorus: at an early stage, the leaves are dark green with characteristic dark veins, at an advanced stage, the leaf plate changes color to greenish and dark spots appear on it.
Potassium
Overabundance: quickly withers and dies;
Deficiency: the first signal will be a color change from green to yellow along the rim of the sheet, and the last stage - the entire surface will be repainted yellow with closely brown dots.
How many times to fertilize cannabis
Each macro element is responsible for its own period of cannabis development.
Nitrogen takes an active part in the growing season, gives strength for germination and full development without pathologies and for active photosynthesis. This fertilizer is applied in early spring, before planting.
Phosphorus fertilizer ensures that marijuana does not get sick with fungal and bacterial diseases, does not take on mold, does not wither after physical damage and insect attacks. However, it makes cannabis very persistent and hardy, which is very important in its development. Apply before flowering and before planting.
Potash fertilizer gives strength to high-quality flowering without pathologies. The plant becomes more resistant to weather conditions, it also takes an active part in metabolism. Apply before flowering.
The acidity of the soil plays a significant role, it depends on how marijuana will feel and how much the crop will bring. Before adding organic matter, check the acidity of the substrate.
How to fertilize cannabis
There are three types of hemp fertilizers:
- Soluble;
- insoluble;
- Slightly soluble.
Each of them requires its own approach. Carefully read the dosage for any fertilizer so as not to overdo it. Soluble can be sold in liquid form and sublimated. They dissolve easily in water, and you can not bother with them, but simply water them with a small amount, diluted with water, about once a week. Insoluble sublimated fertilizers are evenly mixed with the soil, and the plant itself feeds useful substances from it during its life. Slightly soluble can also be diluted with water or evenly mixed with the soil.
Hydroponics
A method of growing cannabis without a substrate. This method is very common for growing medical varieties around the world because it is a little easier than maintaining a huge plantation. It is also used by breeders to create new varieties.
Only feminized cannabis varieties can reproduce vegetative, and high-quality clones are obtained from them.
With this method, only fertilizers and water are involved. The plant lives a full life cycle and gives excellent results.
We remind you that the germination and sowing of hemp seeds is prohibited in Ukraine. The Smartshop-smartshop® online store warns you against breaking the law.