by Nebula Haze
A lot of cannabis growers give nutrients in the water, every single time they water their plants. But is that necessary? What if you start with good soil, do you still need extra nutrients?
Too popular or the perfect combo? Coco Loco soil plus Fox Farm Soil trio nutrients may be the most popular soil + nutrient combo for growing weed. Let us know what you think! (used in our recent grow journal).
There are different schools of thought on the “best” way to grow cannabis, and as many ways to grow weed as there are growers.
The truth: The best way to grow weed is the way that you enjoy and get the results you want. Today, learn which method might suit you best.
After experimenting with different nutrients and watering schedules over the years, I’ve learned some previous “standards” don’t live up to scrutiny.
For example, when I started growing marijuana, I was taught the best way to water plants is to give nutrients every other watering, with plain water in between. This supposedly was necessary to ensure nutrients don’t build up in the grow medium.
Does this work well? Yes. I did it for years and grew lots of great harvests. But is it the most productive option? After trying various methods, I don’t think it is.
Here’s the deal with nutrients.
Option 1: Plant Gets All Nutrients From the Soil
- Pros: Easy, just add water, like nature. Less change day-to-day.
- Cons: Plants tend to grow a bit slower. If cannabis plants use up nutrients in the soil, they may not have enough during the crucial bud-building phase.
Unless you use special soil (and plenty of it), or grow very small plants, you usually need to add extra nutrients for the best yields, smell, and bud density.
Option 2: Give Nutrients Only Sometimes
- Pros: This can be a great choice in soil, where the soil provides nutrients between waterings. Plants grow faster if they get nutrients in the water, and it’s less work than giving nutrients every watering.
- Cons: Occasional doses of nutrients may get less consistent results, even in soil. In coco and especially hydro, receiving plain water can cause yellowing after just a day or two during periods of fast growth.
The less nutrients in the grow medium, the more dependent the plant is on fertigation (nutrient water) for healthy, fast growth.
A battery-powered water transfer pump makes it easier to water plants with nutrient water.
Option 3: Always Give Nutrients in the Water
- Pros: Plants tend to grow faster overall when they get nutrients every watering, in any grow medium. Less likely to see yellowing, especially in coco or hydro.
- Cons: Easy to get nutrient burn unless you take precautions. Lower overall nutrient levels, regularly remove runoff water, and think about how much nutrients you’re “adding to the system” vs what is being removed or used by the plants.
Put plants on thick 1020 trays on a tiny incline (a few pennies under the tray in the back is all it takes). That makes runoff water pool forward.
That makes it easy to collect with a big syringe or a wet vacuum.
Regular runoff removal runoff helps prevent the grow medium from getting overloaded with nutrients over time.
Just watch out for nutrient burn and pull back if you see it.
Ultimately, any strategy works as long as your cannabis plants get the nutrients they need.
With good soil, you can give nutrients much less, and still get great results.
If you are pressed for time, it might make your life easier to grow in soil and mix up nutrients only as needed. Fast, healthy growth in regular soil is plenty fast for most growers.
On the other hand, if you’re growing in an inert medium like coco or hydro (which do not naturally contain nutrients), regular fertigation is necessary for healthy growth. It also can push soil plants to their max during budding.
Keep in mind that you will need to adjust the strength of nutrient water based on your strategy.
- If giving nutrients every watering, start at half the recommended dose as the bottle or nutrient schedule. Remember how much nutrients you’re adding to the system. Always remove runoff water.
- If giving nutrients every other watering (or less often), you may be able to give the full recommended dose.
Watch plants for signs of needing more or less nutrients…
Too Much Nutrients – Nutrient burn is the biggest sign of too much nutrients. If you see this you should lower the amount of nutrients overall.
Too Little Nutrients – Nitrogen deficiencies makes plants appear pale or lime green all over and is a key signal saying “feed me!”
All base nutrient systems for cannabis contain nitrogen. If you see all-over yellowing, you should increase nutrients overall.
There is no right or wrong way to grow weed, but now you’re prepared to decide the best choice for you when it comes to using nutrients.
What are recommended nutrients for growing weed?
