Your cannabis plants can naturally get all the nutrients needed for their development from the environment. However, for a better yield, you may want to provide them with fertilizers that are rich in concentrated nutrients.
Read on for a complete guide on how to adequately feed your cannabis plants – from understanding macro and micronutrients to feeding schedules and fertilizer types.
Understanding Cannabis Macro and Micronutrients
The primary nutrients required for healthy cannabis plants are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Typically, these three are present in fertilizers with an NPK ratio, where a higher number means a higher concentration of the nutrient.
Aside from the primary nutrients, cannabis plants also rely on secondary nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and sulfur for growth and development. These nutrients play crucial roles in plant metabolism, cell wall formation, and disease protection.
The cannabis plant also needs various other micronutrients, which are equally essential in promoting overall plant health.
Not All Cannabis Fertilizers Are the Same
There are numerous cannabis fertilizers on the market with significant variations in four aspects:
- Nutrient ratio: Distinct brands use varying nutrient ratios they believe will work best.
- Ingredients: Some brands use chemical components, while others are purely natural.
- Soil or Hydro: Different fertilizer types work well with either soil or hydroponic setup, but not necessarily both.
- Supplements: Fertilizer brands often produce supplements that contain low ratios of NPK and other minerals meant to boost growth aspects such as molasses.
It’s essential to focus on the primary and secondary nutrient requirements of your plants first before adding any supplements. Overfeeding supplements can cause nutrient burns, which will adversely affect yield quality and size.
Nutrient Requirements for Seedlings, Vegetative and Flowering Plants
In estimating the nutrient requirements of cannabis plants, their developmental stage plays a pivotal role.
Nutrient requirements for seedlings
Cannabis seedlings rely on nutrients from their seeds and absorb moisture through their leaves during the early growth stage. They don’t need any feeding until they are about four weeks old or have fully developed three to four leaves.
Nutrient requirements for vegetative plants
During the vegetative stage, you can begin feeding your plants with a light fertilizer solution with a 2:1:2 NPK ratio. This step helps to introduce your plants to their fertilizer without causing nutrient burns.
By mid-vegetative phase, adopt fertilizer with a higher NPK ratio such as 10:5:7 to give your plants a sufficient supply of nitrogen. This step encourages lush foliage and helps develop more buds during flowering.