Nutrient Deficiencies in Cannabis plants will destroy their chance of growing into large, blooming buds. Growers use nutrients to grow big, beautiful, sticky buds. Whether you’re growing soil or hydroponic, plants need precise ratios and levels of properly configured nutrients or amendments to ensure your crop meets expectations. However, the mishandling and improper balance of them can have a negative impact on your grow.

Your garden will suffer when plants are given the wrong kind of nutrients, when they are fed nutrients at the wrong time, when they are fed too much of a given nutrient, or when they have not had enough of a nutrient. Here are some common problems associated with nutrient deficiency:

Nitrogen Deficiency in Cannabis Plants

Cannabis grows fast and requires generous amount of nitrogen as it matures. Nitrogen is part of a group of three primary nutrients for plant growth; the other two being phosphorus and potassium (more on this later). This nutrient can be found mainly in the leaves and shoot tips of the plant. Nitrogen is responsible for many of the healthy developments of the plant; including the production of enzymes, proteins and chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is the component responsible for the green color of leaves, seeing leaves turn yellow is a telltale sign of Nitrogen deficiency

Causes:

• Pests
• Undersized containers
• Poor Soil Quality
• pH Imbalance
• Lack of fertilizing

Symptoms:

The lower leaves yellow between the veins. Eventually, the whole leaf will become yellow. It will wither and die and plant growth will become inhibited.

The plants will stay short and underdeveloped if nitrogen deficiency is severe in the growth phase.

During the flower stage, nitrogen deficiency can lead to a decrease in your crop’s yield. Please keep in mind, during the last three weeks of flowering, healthy plants will not require nitrogen.

Yellowing and the shedding of leaves is a natural part of the final weeks of flowering.

 

Phosphorus Deficiency in Cannabis Plants

Phosphorus is required at all stages of plant development, especially during root and bud growth. This nutrient is necessary component of enzymes and proteins.

There are a lot of chemicals that contain high levels of phosphorus and in doing so, supposedly increase bud production.

This results in plants having extremely high dosages of phosphorus, making them overfed.

Causes:

• Poor soil quality; loamy or waterlogged soil
• A pH imbalance
• Lack of fertilizing
• Over-Fertilization

Symptoms:

In younger plants, a phosphorus deficiency will slow growth. This underdevelopment will lead to a poor root zone and small bluish-green leaves.

Plants in the flowering stage of development will have leaves turn reddish-purple. Bud growth and yield will be low if a phosphorus deficiency sets in during early to mid-flowering. Further, plants will have an overall lack of vigor and resistance to pests.

 

Potassium Deficiency in Cannabis Plants

Potassium should be made available to the plant through out the entire life cycle of the plant. Potassium is important for the generation of energy, as well as improving plant and root growth. As such, it plays an important part in regulating transpiration, the manufacture of chlorophyll, starches and sugars.

Causes:

• Poor soil quality
• Over-fertilization

Symptoms:

A potassium deficiency is similar to a nitrogen deficiency; the leaf deterioration shares a resemblance but one differentiation is the rust-colored spots. Potassium deficiency may turn healthy leaves brown; this is due to a disruption in transpiration. In severe cases, stems will become brittle. This deficiency is most common in flower phase and will dramatically impact yields.

 

Magnesium Deficiency in Cannabis Plants

This is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies in indoor cultivation facilities. This occurs because of factors that can inhibit the uptake or availability of Magnesium.

The purpose of magnesium is to encourage strong, healthy veins and stimulus of the creation of leaves. Also, it plays an important role in breaking down enzymes and producing chlorophyll.

Causes

• Acidic soil
• Over-fertilization
• High calcium content

Symptoms

First indications of this problem are similar to nitrogen deficiency, the lower to middle leaves yellow between the veins. Eventually, the entire leaves will become yellow.

The telltale sign of Magnesium deficiency are the rusty spots that appear dotted throughout the leaves. This will distinguish Mg deficiency from lack of nitrogen.

Also, leaf edges appear necrotic and curl up. Some leaves develop a whitish tinge.