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Step #1 Root & Habit Check
The roots of cannabis plants are vital for their overall health. When roots encounter problems, it can negatively impact the entire plant. Symptoms of watering or root issues include drooping, wilting, yellowing, nutrient deficiencies, leaf spots, brown edges, curling, and more.
1. Signs of Overwatering:
◉ Droopy plants, especially after watering
◉ Nutrient deficiencies despite proper care
◉ Brown spots on leaf edges
◉ Burn or brown markings after watering
◉ Unexplained yellowing or bleaching
◉ Slow-growth or stunted leaves
◉ Green algae growth on the soil surface
◉ Heavy feel and overly saturated grow medium
◉ Lack of proper drainage or slow drying between waterings
◉ Presence of fungus gnats (little black flies)
◉ Smell the root area for a potential "stinky" odor indicating root rot
2. Signs of Under-watering:
◉ Droopy or wilted plants
◉ Temporary improvement after watering
◉ Nutrient deficiencies despite proper care
◉ Dark green coloring
◉ Slow growth
◉ Dry or dusty appearance of the growing medium
◉ Lightweight feel of the plant due to low water content
2. Root Rot:
◉ Mushy and smelly roots in excessively wet grow medium
◉ Similar symptoms to over and under-watering
◉ Prevention and treatment methods are crucial, especially in hydroponic setups
4. Tips for Healthy Roots:
◉ Start with a quality grow medium like super soil, good potting soil, coco, or hydroponic mediums (avoid low-quality options).
◉ Properly water potted plants, ensuring free drainage and avoiding excessive watering.
◉ Provide ample oxygen to the roots through loose grow mediums or hydroponic bubblers.
◉ For non-standard growing mediums, understand their specific care requirements.
◉ Maintain a balance between moisture and oxygen for healthy root growth.
◉ Consider using root supplements like Hydroguard (a root-building bacteria booster) or kelp extract (provides nutrients and protection).
Cannabis nutrient problems often stem from pH imbalances at the root level. When the root pH is off, plants can exhibit signs of nutrient deficiencies, even if the necessary nutrients are present in the soil.
To achieve optimal growth and plant health, it is crucial to monitor root pH. Cannabis plants prefer a slightly acidic root environment, and maintaining the correct pH helps ensure proper nutrient absorption. While some growers may have naturally suitable water pH, most will benefit from monitoring and adjusting pH levels for better results.
Here's what you can do to ensure your plants receive the nutrients they need and maintain the appropriate pH:
1. Check Nutrients:
◉ If providing nutrients, ensure they contain all the necessary elements and minerals for healthy growth. If you're unsure, consider using nutrient systems specifically formulated for cannabis, such as Fox Farm Liquid Nutrient Soil Trio for soil or General Hydroponics Flora Trio for coco or hydro setups.
2. Understand Nutrient Requirements:
◉ Learn about the nutrients needed by cannabis plants during different stages of growth. Many nutrient systems designed for cannabis eliminate guesswork and provide plants with the precise nutrients they require.
3. Monitor and Adjust pH:
◉ Even with proper nutrient provision, monitoring and adjusting pH is crucial to prevent nutrient deficiencies. Learn how to check and adjust pH levels specifically for cannabis cultivation.
4. Ensure Correct Watering:
◉ Once you've confirmed the correct watering technique, nutrient provision, and pH adjustment, nutrient problems should start resolving quickly. Look for the cessation of problem spread and the emergence of new growth that appears green and healthy. Keep in mind that damaged leaves may not recover fully, but the focus is on preventing further issues and promoting healthy new growth.
◉ Remember, maintaining the proper balance of nutrients and pH at the root level is essential for thriving cannabis plants. By following these steps, you can address nutrient problems and deficiencies effectively.
Step #2 To Feed Or Not To Feed?
Step #3 Could It Be... Inhospitable?
A suitable growing environment is crucial for the health of your cannabis plants. Temperature and humidity levels play a significant role, and imbalances in these factors can hinder proper growth and lead to various issues.
1. Temperature:
◉ Extreme heat or cold can negatively impact plant growth and bud development.
◉ High temperatures can cause wilting, nutrient burn, drooping stems, and slow growth.
◉ Hot spots near heat sources can wilt leaves and cause browning.
◉ Proper air circulation and ventilation, including exhaust systems and fans, help maintain optimal temperatures and prevent heat-related problems.
2. Humidity:
◉ Humidity affects plant growth, and imbalances can lead to slow growth, nutrient deficiencies, and issues like white powdery mold and bud rot.
◉ Humidity levels between 40-70% RH are ideal for vegetative cannabis plants, while humidity should be kept below 55% in the flowering stage to prevent mold.
◉ Low humidity can cause slow growth and leaf curling, while high humidity promotes bud rot and mold growth.
◉ Maintaining humidity levels may require using humidifiers, dehumidifiers, fans, and proper air circulation.
3. Air Circulation:
◉ Proper air movement is essential for preventing heat spots, strengthening stems, reducing pests, preventing mold, and ensuring adequate CO2 supply.
◉ Fans should be positioned to create gentle air movement without causing windburn to plants.
◉ Air circulation helps prevent high humidity pockets and aids in maintaining optimal growing conditions.
4. Controlling Environment:
◉ Use temperature and humidity monitors to keep track of conditions.
◉ Employ tools such as exhaust systems, fans, humidifiers, or dehumidifiers to adjust temperature and humidity as needed.
◉ Ensure adequate air circulation and avoid leaves touching each other during periods of high humidity.
◉ Defoliation (removing lower/middle leaves) can help reduce humidity in leafy plants.
◉ Consider evaporative coolers (swamp coolers) to add humidity and reduce the temperature in dry environments.
◉ By monitoring and controlling the growing environment, you can create optimal conditions for your cannabis plants, promoting healthy growth and minimizing the risk of issues related to temperature and humidity.
Step #4 The Light Giveth & The Light Taketh
Proper lighting is crucial for the healthy growth of cannabis plants. While providing sufficient light is essential, it's important to strike a balance and avoid both insufficient and excessive light.
1. Providing Adequate Light:
◉ More light generally leads to better growth and higher yields.
◉ Cannabis plants require a minimum of 100W of electricity for a few ounces of harvest, but more light is often better.
◉ The amount of light influences growth speed and bud production during the flowering stage.
◉ Different types of grow lights have varying yields per watt, with HPS and LEDs typically providing higher yields.
2. Avoiding Light Burn:
◉ Too much light can cause light burn, especially when grow lights are positioned too close to the plants.
◉ Light burn is characterized by sunburn-like symptoms on the leaves closest to the lights.
◉ Young plants, seedlings, and clones are particularly susceptible to light burn.
◉ Heat-generating lights like HPS and powerful LEDs can cause light burn.
◉ It's crucial to monitor plants for signs of light stress and adjust the distance between the lights and the plants accordingly.
3. Testing for Light Intensity:
◉ Use the "back of your hand" test for HPS, Metal Halide, CFLs, and T5 grow lights.
a. Set up the lights and turn them on.
b. Gently place the back of your hand above the tallest part of the plant.
c. Wait for 10-15 seconds.
d. If the heat feels too warm, it indicates excessive light for the cannabis plants.
◉ LED grow lights generate less heat but can still cause light stress. Follow the manufacturer's recommended distance guidelines.
4. Maintaining Lightproof Conditions:
◉ Ensure that the grow space is lightproof, especially when growing photoperiod plants.
◉ Photoperiod plants require complete darkness during their dark period to initiate flowering.
◉ Light leaks during the dark period can lead to hermaphroditism (seedy buds) or re-vegetation (reversal to the vegetative stage).
◉ By providing adequate light while avoiding light burn and maintaining lightproof conditions, you can optimize the growth and development of your cannabis plants.
Step #5 Bugs, Sacs & The Unseen
Pests can be a common issue when growing marijuana in soil. Some pests, like thrips and broad mites, may not be visible, but their damage can be seen on the leaves. Other pests, such as spider mites, fungus gnats, and leafhoppers, are more noticeable.
1. Identifying Pest Problems:
◉ Some pests, like thrips and broad mites, may not be easily visible, but their damage appears as markings or twisted growth on the leaves.
◉ Spider mites can be observed moving under the leaves, and their presence is indicated by webbing and bite marks.
◉ Fungus gnats are tiny flies that buzz around the soil, often resulting from overwatering.
◉ Leafhoppers are colorful insects that feed on cannabis plants.
2. Taking Prompt Action:
◉ When signs of bugs or mold are noticed, it's important to take immediate action.
◉ Spider mites, known as "the borg," can quickly infest a grow room and destroy a crop.
◉ To treat pest problems, it is necessary to identify the specific type of pests present.
◉ Use safe cannabis insecticides recommended for treating the identified pests.
◉ Maintaining good air circulation and creating a slight breeze can help deter pests and make it more difficult for them to establish themselves on plants.
◉ By promptly identifying pests and applying appropriate treatments, such as safe insecticides, you can effectively manage and control pest infestations in your marijuana garden.
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