Important Nutrients For Homegrown Cannabis

If you live in a state where medical cannabis is legal, you have the liberty to grow your own cannabis plants. That’s right. You can have a healthy harvest of cannabis at your home. No more visits to the dispensaries for a purchase. So if you haven’t started already, get your growers license in Santa Clara and sow the seeds for your homegrown healthy cannabis plants.

For growing cannabis in your home, you need to keep a check on a few important points. You must figure out the growing medium, the growing space (indoor or outdoor), the expense etc. But most importantly, it’s crucial for you to understand the right feed for your cannabis plants. Food is fuel for humans. It’s essential for growth and a healthy body. Similarly, your cannabis plants need nutrients to grow. And if you are expecting more yield and healthy buds, you have to make additions to the soil as the existing nutrient store may not be sufficient for a high yield.

So here’s a list of the important nutrients that you must feed your cannabis plants for it’s better growth.

The Macronutrients

Plants need nutrients in different quantities depending on the role they play. The nutrients that are essential and are required in large quantities are called macronutrients. The three most common macronutrients essential for cannabis are Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K). These nutrients are also the three main components of several fertilizers which are indicated by a series of numbers. So when you buy a fertilizer with the numbers 20-5-5, it indicates the value of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium respectively. Also, Calcium,

Nitrogen

The most important nutrient for proper growth of cannabis plants is Nitrogen (N). Nitrogen is essential for generating energy in the plant. It is a part of chlorophyll and helps in the process of photosynthesis. In addition to this, nitrogen is crucial for growth. It helps build RNA and DNA and the right proteins in the cannabis plant to help the cells multiply and grow healthier. Since Nitrogen is the main component of most of the plant tissues, its deficiency becomes evident very easily.

If your cannabis plant lacks nitrogen, you will witness a frail plant with stunted growth. The lack can also be identified by slow discoloration of the leaves that start from the tip and slowly moves inwards. Eventually, the green will fade away and the leaves will die out.

But, you can maintain the right level of nitrogen in your plant by following certain tips. One, make sure that you feed it at the right time. Cannabis plants need high nitrogen levels during the vegetative stage and low nitrogen levels during the flowering stage.

Two, nitrogen easily washes away from the soil. This is why it is necessary to replace it regularly and maintain the right levels. Three, make sure that you drain off any excess nitrogen from the soil before you harvest your healthy cannabis. High nitrogen levels affect the plants by ruining the taste of the buds and reducing their ability to burn better.

Potassium

The key role of potassium is water preservation by controlling the opening and closing of stomata. This movement is also responsible for the proper absorption of oxygen, carbon dioxide and water. Potassium also helps in storing the energy of the plant produced during photosynthesis in the form of glucose which is later used for plant growth.

Some common signs of potassium deficiency are slow growth of flowers and yellowing of leaves that eventually curl up and appear burnt. If your plant has any of these signs, add a fertilizer high in potassium into the soil. Potassium also needs to be fed according to the growth stage of the plant. The vegetative stage requires less potassium whereas the flowering stage requires more potassium.

Phosphorus

If healthy cannabis is what you desire, your soil should be rich in phosphorus. The most important aspect of a plant are the roots. If the root system isn’t healthy, the plant won’t be able to absorb the nutrients and will die eventually. Phosphorus promotes root growth and helps build a strong root system. It not only helps in better absorption of nutrients but also protects the plant against any diseases, bacteria and mold growth. Also, phosphorus makes it easier for the nutrients to travel across the plant. Since your plant has a healthy root system and is free of diseases, you can expect a healthy harvest with large buds.

Calcium

Calcium is just as important for your cannabis plant as it is for us. Also Calcium plays a key role in maintaining the structural integrity of the plants. It strengthens the cell walls and membranes and holds the plant together. It is also crucial in maintaining the growth of the plant and developing new parts. Lack of calcium will affect the development of new growth. The lack can also be identified with stunted growth and rust-colored spots on the leaves.

Magnesium

Magnesium is the most important element for photosynthesis. It is the central atom of chlorophyll and helps convert sunlight into sugars. In addition to this, it also helps regulate the metabolic processes that convert the sugar into energy for the plant’s proper growth. If your cannabis plant lacks magnesium, it won’t be able to perform photosynthesis properly and will lack in producing energy for itself. Discolored leaves and stunted growth often point at magnesium deficiency.

The Micronutrients

Micronutrients are needed by the plants in very low amounts. However, their low requirement does not mean that they can be ignored. Micronutrients help in growth and other essential functions.

Boron

Boron is required to maintain the structure of the cannabis plant. It keeps the cell walls strong and aids its growth. Boron is also essential for proper absorption of nitrogen and calcium. So a lack of boron can ultimately lead to several deficiencies and loss of structural integrity of the plant.

Iron

Iron has a main role to play in the process of photosynthesis. First, it helps in the production of chlorophyll which is the central chemical that converts sunlight into sugars. Secondly, iron is responsible for certain enzyme functions that convert these sugars into energy for the plant.

Manganese

The fundamental functions of respiration and photosynthesis will not work efficiently in the absence of manganese. It is also essential for the reproduction process in the plant. Manganese helps in pollen germination and pollen tube growth.

Copper

Copper is yet another nutrient that promotes photosynthesis. It is also a crucial element that helps produce and metabolize carbohydrates and proteins. Though needed in very small amounts, lack of copper can result in improper nitrogen fixation and oxygen reduction in your cannabis plant.

Molybdenum

This important element is most commonly used in the roots and seeds. It is a crucial element of the process that involves two major enzymes responsible for converting nitrate into ammonia which helps in the synthesization of amino acids.

Zinc

Zinc is required by the cannabis plant in very small quantities. It is crucial for growth hormone production and also helps in synthesizing chlorophyll and the essential proteins and sugar.

Conclusion

Now you have a better idea about the essential macro and micronutrients needed for homegrown healthy cannabis. Just remember to consult a professional about the right quantity of each nutrient that your plant requires because while the deficiency can cause problems, overfeeding isn’t healthy for the plant either.