General notions for growing Legal Cannabis: Use of fertilizers

The natural system surrounding the root system of plants is extremely complex and rich in information useful for discovering the health of the soil in which to germinate our cannabis seeds. In any case it is useful to follow the guidelines to improve the development of our plants and obtain a high concentration of resin and aromas: Good Reading;

Cannabis plants need nourishment to grow strong and healthy and to sprout the precious inflorescences , a complete diet will ensure that the plants have the strength to better defend themselves from diseases and parasites and that, at harvest time, they can be enjoyed. of buds rich in cannabinoids and terpenes. For those who are new to cultivation it may seem difficult to understand what substances the seedlings need at each stage of their life , to help you in this article we provide a practical guide on fertilizers.

The importance of having the right nutrients at the right time is essential to ensure not only good growth , but also better resistance to external aggressions, in fact a plant that has suffered from deficiencies may be more susceptible to invasions by parasites and the development of diseases. In the worst case, deficiencies can literally block development and lead to plant death if they are not treated promptly.

But let's start from the beginning and try to make a general picture of the nourishment needed to grow marijuana : it is mainly hydrogen, carbon and oxygen that are absorbed with water and nutrient elements that are found in the substrate and that can be integrated. . The soil in which the plant grows is therefore its food base, in nature these would sprout and grow only in the right substrate, but an artificial culture requires the need to program growth in a biochemically controlled environment. When extra substances are added to the existing soil, it is called fertilization.

What plants need to grow

In nature, cannabis plants do not need external contributions to grow healthily , so there is no need to bombard them with who knows what magical compound every minute if they grow on the ground. The truth is that only 3 macro elements are really necessary: ​​nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) which can be present in fertilizers or fertilizers in organic or mineral version and in different dosages. At each stage of growth you will have to resort to different dosages, so it is better not to improvise but to program the administration of fertilizer only when necessary and in the right proportions, this is especially true for those who grow in hydroponics or with other methods for which the plant does not absorb from the soil what she needs but it completely depends on the human hand.  

The fertilizers we are talking about in this article can be liquid or solid , there are those already dosed or those to be composed as needed. Nutrient mixes called complete nutrients usually contain basic macro elements but also some secondary ones (such as calcium, zinc, iron and magnesium). Among these, in particular, calcium is very important to keep under control, because although it can be useful to the plant, you must always be sure not to overdo it: too much calcium can cause serious damage and lead to chlorosis (appearance of brown spots on plants for calcium overdose). So pay attention to this signal if you use a fertilizer that is very rich in this substance.

Fertilizers useful in vegetative growth

In the first phase of the plant's life there will not be much need for phosphorus and potassium but nitrogen is essential  so in general the fertilizer to be used in the growth phase will ideally be with a proportion of 3 to 1 for nitrogen compared to the remaining macros. elements. By growing in soil and using qualitative cannabis specific soil you probably won't need to fertilize further for at least the first month. However, check for signs and symptoms of deficiencies and if necessary, provide nourishment with a fertilizer rich in nitrogen.

Useful fertilizers during flowering

When flowering begins, hemp begins to be less hungry for nitrogen and more for phosphorus and potassium . So it is important if you are using a fertilizer to reverse the nutrient ratio with a fertilizer at 3 to 1 concentrations of phosphorus / potassium versus nitrogen. In the very last stages of flowering nitrogen becomes even superfluous. If you cultivate on the ground, the same purpose is always valid, check that your plants are healthy and in case of manifestations of general debilitation, provide for integration bearing in mind this proportional indication.

The importance of rinsing

The use of fertilizers, pesticides and fertilizers (even completely organic) can negatively affect the aroma of the buds , for this reason it is very important to carry out a period of washing or rinsing before harvesting. 

-- Bongae