Understanding Mobile & Immobile Nutrients for Optimal Plant Health
Cannabis plants require 17 essential nutrients for healthy growth and development. These nutrients are divided into macronutrients (needed in large quantities) and micronutrients (needed in trace amounts).
Function: Protein synthesis, chlorophyll production, vegetative growth
Deficiency: Yellowing of older leaves first, stunted growth
Excess: Dark green leaves, delayed flowering, weak stems
Function: Root development, flowering, energy transfer (ATP)
Deficiency: Purple/red stems, slow growth, poor root development
Excess: Nutrient lockout, reduced uptake of other nutrients
Function: Water regulation, disease resistance, overall plant health
Deficiency: Brown leaf edges, weak stems, poor bud development
Excess: Nutrient burn, calcium/magnesium deficiency
Function: Cell wall structure, enzyme activation, pH buffer
Deficiency: Brown spots on new growth, weak stems
Excess: Reduced uptake of K and Mg
Function: Chlorophyll center, enzyme cofactor
Deficiency: Interveinal chlorosis on older leaves
Excess: Rare, but can cause Ca deficiency
Function: Protein synthesis, oil production, terpene development
Deficiency: Light green new growth, reduced terpenes
Excess: Rare in soil, possible in hydro
Function: Chlorophyll synthesis, electron transport
Deficiency: Interveinal chlorosis on new growth
Function: Photosynthesis, enzyme activation
Deficiency: Interveinal chlorosis, brown spots
Function: Hormone production, protein synthesis
Deficiency: Stunted growth, small leaves
Function: Enzyme systems, reproductive growth
Deficiency: Wilting, blue-green leaves
Function: Cell wall formation, sugar transport
Deficiency: Thick, brittle leaves, poor root growth
Function: Nitrogen fixation, nitrate reduction
Deficiency: Similar to nitrogen deficiency
Definition: Can be transported from older to newer plant parts when deficient
Deficiency Pattern: Symptoms appear on older, lower leaves first
Definition: Cannot be easily moved within the plant once deposited
Deficiency Pattern: Symptoms appear on newer, upper leaves first
Yellowing from bottom up, pale green color, stunted growth
Purple/red stems and leaves, slow growth, dark green leaves
Brown leaf edges, yellow between veins, weak stems
Brown spots on new growth, weak stems, stunted roots
Yellow between veins (older leaves), red/purple stems
Yellow between veins (new growth), white/yellow new leaves
The pH level of your growing medium dramatically affects nutrient availability. Different nutrients are absorbed optimally at different pH ranges.
Optimal pH Range for Cannabis: 6.0-7.0 (soil) | 5.5-6.5 (hydro)
NPK Ratio: 1-1-1 (very light feeding)
NPK Ratio: 3-1-2 (nitrogen heavy)
NPK Ratio: 1-3-2 (phosphorus heavy)
NPK Ratio: 0-0-0 (water only)
Water only or very light feeding (200-400 PPM). Focus on establishing healthy root system. ( I use a syringe for I do not over water )
Begin light nutrient feeding (400-600 PPM). Nitrogen-rich formula for leaf development.
Increase feeding strength (600-900 PPM). Continue nitrogen focus with balanced NPK.
Peak vegetative feeding (800-1200 PPM). Prepare for flowering transition.
Transition nutrients (600-900 PPM). Reduce nitrogen, increase phosphorus.
Flowering nutrients (800-1100 PPM). High P-K ratio for bud development.
Peak flowering feed (900-1200 PPM). Maximum bud development period.
Begin flush (0-200 PPM). Water only to improve final product quality.