What Marijuana Plants Need

The most confusing part in growing marijuana plants is knowing exactly what they need and how much they need it. In fact, most growers experienced many failures in this area before they start growing healthy weed. Indeed, it takes a lot of time and effort to achieve this positive result. But the right knowledge helps to make the process move along faster.

The first thing to know about the cannabis plants is that they are generally fast-growing and extremely independent. However, they still benefit from a well-balanced nourishment. As a result, this strengthens the plant, increases their resistance to diseases, and accelerates their growth. All in all, it makes them much easier to cultivate. But best of all, this stimulates them to produce high yields and potent buds that we enjoy.

As such, marijuana plants flourish when they receive all the necessary elements to help them thrive. But what are the specific ingredients that they crave? For first time growers, learning about these basic marijuana needs is essential. Not only are they required for growth, but a lack or excess of these things can be a cause of stress for the plants. Thus, we have more reasons to be familiar with them.

So, in this article, we will cover the various requirements of the cannabis plants and how to make sure that they are met. In essence, the best way to get a satisfying harvest is to provide a nurturing and hospitable environment.

6 Key Elements to Grow Healthy Marijuana Plants

The first step to getting the best results in growing marijuana plants involves getting to know the key factors that directly affect its growth. This includes familiarity with specific amounts and values that are suitable for the plants. To make this step easy to accomplish, here is a quick guide on how to optimize these variables.

• Adequate Water

Water is the foundation of life. As we know, all living things depend on this element for nourishment. This is especially true in marijuana plants as water plays a variety of crucial roles for sustainability. To name a few, it lends vigor and flexibility to the stems and regulates internal temperature.

So, no wonder that plants will most likely suffer a lot when they get too much or too little of this element. In overwatering, the roots can get choked with the overabundance of water that they will struggle to get oxygen. On the other hand, underwatering can get them too thirsty and unable to control the heat.

Thus, it pays to know the correct watering practices. Learning about the proper ways of watering helps to avoid committing these newbie mistakes. Fortunately, there are easy ways to remedy these problems and help the plants recover in no time.

• Correct Temperature and Humidity

The right temperature and humidity play a huge role in the growth of healthy cannabis plants. In germination, a gentle heat is crucial in root formation. As the plant grows into maturity, the ideal temperature floats between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius to optimize growth.

In hot temperatures, the plant can lose a significant amount of moisture which can lead to stress. In contrast, very low temperatures can cause the plant to stop absorbing and circulating vital nutrients. The same goes for humidity. So, if we want happy and healthy plants, we must take the time to check and control both variables.

• Good Soil

One of the prerequisites in growing cannabis is to choose the best soil we can find. If we start with a bad one, we can end up with weak and sick plants. Look for the potting soil that has the following traits.

• Balanced pH Level

The right pH value in the soil helps the roots absorb more nutrients. For marijuana plants, the ideal acid-basic balance is anywhere that is close to 7. But even the best soil can exhibit imbalances in the pH level once it is overcrowded with nutrients. Therefore, growers must be vigilant in regularly checking this variable to make sure that is optimal for the roots.

• Good Drainage

In choosing the right soil, we must consider how well it drains water. As we know, the roots will have a hard time taking in oxygen when water pools in the grow medium. But at the same time, we don’t want the type of soil that easily runs water and leaving little for the plants to drink. Therefore, stay away from clay and sand-based soils. Most growers use a potting mix that has perlite to facilitate good drainage.

• Right Amount of Nutrients

Nutrients are crucial for marijuana plants to produce bigger and richer buds. Moreover, a lack of these elements slows down growth and makes plants susceptible to pests, molds, and diseases. On the other hand, an excess can alter the pH level of the soil or causes nutrient build up that prevents root absorption.

• Macronutrients

Marijuana plants consume a lot of these macronutrients to support their rapid growth. But more importantly, they are the basic needs for survival of the plants. These include nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium.

Each mineral plays a significant role throughout the life cycle of the plants during different times. So, to get the best results, growers must know how to adjust and balance their amounts.

• Micronutrients

Examples of micronutrients that the cannabis plants need are calcium, manganese, zinc, copper, and iron among others. While the plants consume only trace amounts of these minerals, a deficiency or excess can be a serious problem.

• Proper Light

To manufacture food, the plants require a good amount of light to convert carbon dioxide into sugars. Therefore, not enough light is detrimental to growth. Specifically, plants in this situation tend to stretch to get to the source of light. In effect, they become thin with very few leaves.

On the other hand, too much light can burn the leaves and weaken them. So, make sure to adjust the distance of the light indoors to avoid problems. Outdoors, this could be a little difficult to control, but we can always try to position the plant directly under the sun for optimal exposure.

Aside from nourishment, the light is also crucial for the transition of the plants to the flowering stage. Hence, the grower must fully understand the use of this element. 

Download the Free Harvest Guide here for more information about Harvesting. 

• Sufficient Air

A well-ventilated grow room is a must for growing indoor marijuana. If we want to grow healthy plants with huge buds, then we must make sure that they always get fresh air. As a bonus, this also helps in minimizing the powerful scent of the weed.

• Carbon Dioxide

After water, the plants require carbon dioxide to maintain their overall health. As mentioned, this element is converted to sugar which the plants convert to energy. Therefore, a good amount of carbon dioxide is essential for them to thrive.

To get sufficient amount of this element, most growers install CO2 generators in their grow area. This usually results to a high yield of large buds.

A Well-Balanced Environment Produces a Good Harvest

To get the best out of the marijuana crop, we must make sure that all the essential elements are available. Specifically, they must be in the right amount to positively affect the harvest. The good news is, it is easy to achieve this with the right knowledge and skills.

Therefore, when planning to start growing cannabis, always do the research first. The rest comes easily once we identify all the necessary variables. Of course, we still must hone the skills on how to make them suitable for the plants. But this is possible with patience and a lot of practice.

So, let’s start doing things right. To get the best results, study the basics about each element and learn to balance them to create the best harvest.

The founder of I Love Growing Marijuana, Robert Bergman, is a marijuana growing expert that enjoys sharing his knowledge with the world. He combines years of experience, ranging from small-scale grows to massive operations, with a passion for growing. His articles include tutorials on growing... [read more]

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