Weeds seem like the easiest plants to grow. They seem to grow anywhere without much effort. For this reason, it’s easy for beginners to think that marijuana is as easy to grow. While the name weed suggests that marijuana can grow anywhere, this couldn’t be further from the truth, especially if you aim for top quality.
If you’re not careful, you’re going to face pest problems and other challenges along the course of the plants’ growth. The good news is that cannabis plants are resilient to harsh conditions. Therefore, when you notice a problem, you’ll have ample time to identify the root cause and find a solution. We’ve provided practical tips for identifying and fixing some of the common cannabis plant problems. Let’s jump right in.
Nutrient Deficiencies
Cannabis deficiencies can hurt your plants so much that recovery is impossible. However, if you identify the problem early enough, you can remedy the situation and get your plant back to a healthy state within no time. Some of the common nutrient deficiencies to look out for include:
-
Magnesium Deficiency
Magnesium deficiency in cannabis is among the most common deficiencies you may face. If your cannabis plant has this deficiency, you’ll notice that the leaves are turning yellow. However, the leaves don’t change color.
The solution to this problem is to provide the plant with enough magnesium. You have several options to choose from. These include:
-
Epsom salts
-
Worm castings
-
Dolomite lime
-
Magnesium sulfate
-
Zinc Deficiency
Cannabis zinc deficiency is also quite common. To identify this deficiency, you need to observe the leaves. Some symptoms of zinc deficiency to look out for include:
-
Yellowing leaf tips
-
Crumpling leaf blades that form a gnarly look
-
Leaves twisting and clumping together
A plant must have the correct pH balance for it to use zinc properly. Therefore, if you lack the right balance, it doesn’t matter how much zinc you give your plant. Start by adjusting the pH, then give your plant additional zinc. The best sources of zinc include:
-
Zinc oxide
-
Zinc sulfate
-
Chelated Zinc
-
Phosphorus Deficiency
It’s hard to miss a phosphorus deficiency because the plant shows many symptoms if it’s suffering from this deficit. For this deficiency, you need to observe the leaves and stems. Check if any of the older leaves are dark green, yellow, blue, or shiny. If the leaves have any of these colors and are stiff, there’s a great chance you’re dealing with phosphorus deficiency.
If the stems are red or purple, the plant lacks sufficient amounts of this nutrient. The solution to this problem is to give the plant enough phosphorus. Cannabis plants need more phosphorus during the flowering stage. Therefore, choose nutrients intended for the flowering stage or those with an N-P-K ratio of 6-15-10.
-
Iron Deficiency
Iron is a central element in chlorophyll production. As a result, a deficiency of this nutrient affects the leaves first and starts at the tips. If left untreated, it progresses down the plant. The best approach for this deficiency is to restore the soil pH balance before refeeding your plant because the plant cannot absorb iron if the pH is off balance.
-
Copper Deficiency
If you’ve noticed that your cannabis plant has a slow growth rate and is taking longer than expected to get to the maturity stage, chances are the plant has a copper deficiency. In severe cases, the areas near the leaf veins may start turning bluish or purplish.
To solve the problem, use pH-balanced water to flush out everything, then refeed the plant with a mix containing the right micronutrients.
-
Boron Deficiency
If the plant has boron deficiency, you’ll notice slow growth, and the plant will appear wilted. This deficiency happens when the soil pH is off or due to over-fertilizing. Make sure this doesn’t happen, and you won’t have to deal with this deficiency.
If the damage is already done, adjust the soil pH to 6.0-6.5 and ensure your soil mix has boron in trace amounts.
Underwatering and Overwatering
Underwatering and overwatering are among the most popular mistakes among beginners. The good news is that they’re the easiest to fix as well. If you’re underwatering your cannabis plant, the leaves will appear droopy, and growth will slow down. If you’re having this problem, all you need to do is water your cannabis plants more often.
If you’re overwatering your plants, they’ll start curling up and may seem rigid because they have too much water. Overwatering may also cause slow growth, and if not fixed, it may eventually cause root rot. To fix the problem, reduce the frequency of watering your plant. An excellent way to tell if your cannabis plant needs water is to check how dry the soil is.
Light Burn
Light burn is a common problem among growers who rely on grow lights. When the plant is too close to the light, the leaves will start yellowing. You’ll first notice this problem in the leaves closest to the lights.
As soon as you’ve spotted the issue, move the lights 6 inches to 1 foot higher from the plants. It’s also advisable to check the manufacturer’s instructions because they always include instructions on how far the lights should be. Also, note that how far or close the lights should be to the plants depends on your plants' growth stage.
pH Imbalance
Growing cannabis plants at the wrong pH lead to a host of problems. It’s crucial to mix your nutrients and water at the correct pH because it affects how the plants absorb nutrients. If you do it in the wrong pH, the plant can go into nutrient lockout, where it will not be absorbing any nutrient in the time being.
In most cases, growers who suspect their cannabis plants have a nutrient deficiency have a pH problem. Therefore, before attempting to fix any nutrient problem, you suspect, adjust the pH and observe first.
Heat Stress
If the temperature in your grow room is too high, your plants may experience heat stress. The temperature should always be close to 75F. If it goes above 80F, the plant will begin to slow down. The leaves will start folding up longways as the temperature gets higher. All you have to do to fix this problem is to maintain the temperature at the appropriate levels.
Wrapping Up
Even the most experienced marijuana growers face some of the challenges mentioned above. So, don’t lose hope when you start noticing problems with your plants. With the right approach, you can revive your plants and get them back to health. Remember to adjust the pH balance before fixing any nutrient deficiency.