How To Prevent Cannabis Nutrient Deficiency

Cannabis plants are always in need of a varied and healthy diet to offer the best yield. So it is necessary to follow certain steps to prevent nutrient deficiencies in your marijuana plants. The marijuana plants require the right amount of nutrients to fulfill their normal physiological functions, and in case they lack any of these nutrients, they might have a shunted growth and offer lower yields. 

Various signs can help you understand that your plant has a nutrient deficiency. This includes the wilting, discoloration, and curling of leaves. So let us look at the five nutrient deficiencies and the techniques to prevent them. 

Nitrogen

Nitrogen plays a significant role in aiding photosynthesis, and it helps with the formation of vital plant proteins. The nitrogen deficiency can lead to the yellowing of the leaves and discoloration of the plant that can reduce the yields. 

Prevention

The different tips of preventing nitrogen deficiency in the plant include:

• Keeping a neutral pH level of 6.0 to 6.5.
• Starting with a nutrient-dense potting mix compositing to ensure a nutrient-dense medium in the future. 
• Use mycorrhizae which are nitrogen-fixing bacteria that can boost the nitrogen levels in the soil. 

Phosphorous

It acts as a macronutrient for the cannabis plant. It is a mobile nutrient, and the plants can direct it to the areas required. This nutrient plays a significant role in photosynthesis and protein synthesis. It is also a crucial component of DNA, so the phosphorus nutrient deficiencies in your marijuana plants can lead to red or purple stems and brow stops on the leaves. It may also lead to the drying of leaves. 

Prevention

• Utilizing soil with high organic matter,
• Increasing the absorption rate by offering well-aerated soil 
• Using mycorrhizal fungi to improve the nutrient uptake of the plant. 

Potassium

It is a macronutrient that helps regulate carbon dioxide uptake and plays a significant role in photosynthesis. It also helps with ATP production, and the potassium deficiency in the plants shows the appearance of brown and yellow leaf tips and edges along with curled up leaves and stretching. 

Prevention

• Not overwhelming the plant with fertilizers very often as it might lead to salt build-up.
• Bolstering the compost with hardwood ash and kelp metal can also help with the potassium uptake. 
• Overwatering can cause adverse effects. 

Calcium 

It is another critical nutrient that helps to prompt the healthy growth of plants. They are immobile, and it helps to golf the plant's cell walls together. The deficiency of this nutrient may lead to the deformed growth of plants and the root tips, and the young leaves may form incorrectly and become warped. 

Prevention

• Try adding dolomitic lime to the growing medium
• Keep a pH level of 6,2 for better calcium intake
• Add eggshells to the organic compost
• Keep a worm farm to add more nutrients to the soil 

Sulfur

These are required in small amounts but are among the most vital contributors for forming vital enzymes and proteins. Sulfur deficiency leads to yellowing of the new growth and discoloration of the underside of leaves. 

Prevention

• Bolstering your compost pile with manure
• Employing techniques like no-till to release sulfur into the soil and adding mycorrhizae

Conclusively these are some of the top nutrients required for proper yield, and these nutrient deficiencies in your marijuana plants can lead to shunted growths and lower yield.