Nutrients can broadly be categorised into Mobile and Immobile. Mobile nutrients are those that the plant can move around to where they are most needed while immobile nutrients cannot be relocated.
Macro Nutrients
Macronutrients are those nutrients that Cannabis requires in large amounts, the three main nutrients are Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium (often written as NPK). They typically come from the soil and are crucial throughout the plant's lifespan, although in differing ratios. Vegetating plants require more Nitrogen and less Phosphorus and Potassium, while flowering plants demand much less Nitrogen and much more Phosphorus and Potassium during the flowering stage. A rough guide NPK ratio:
Vegetative Stage
N P K
3:1:2
Flowering Stage
N P K
1:1:2
Final Flowering Stage
N P K
0:1:2
If you are trying to provide NPK organically you can check the NPK values of most organic materials at thenutrientcompany.com
Cannabis also obtains Oxygen, Carbon and Hydrogen from water and air.
Micro Nutrients
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Boron
- Copper
- Iron
- Manganese
- Sulphur
- Zinc
Deficiencies
Most deficiencies present as a colour change on the leaves, moving from the centre outwards or from the edge of the leaf moving inwards. Deficiencies can appear on older leaves first or newer leaves first. Mobile nutrient (such as NPK) deficiencies will show on older leaves first as the plant moves nutrients to the younger leaves. Deficiencies will remain in leaves that have already finished growing even after it is remedied in fresher leaves. This means you must be patient in remedying mobile deficiencies
The most common deficiencies that I have come across are Magnesium and Calcium. There are liquid nutrient solutions (e.g. CalMag) that provide both. This should be added to the soil before planting if possible. Alternatively, one can use organic additions (e.g Dolomite Lime) but note that some sources will change the pH of the medium.
Using too many nutrients can create a nutrient burn on the leaves, primarily on the apex
Sources of nutrients
Nutrients can be provided to a cultivar via concentrated liquid solutions, dry amendments, organic materials, and even other organisms living in the growing medium.
Liquid fertilizer solutions can roughly be broken into two categories: those for the vegetative stage and those useful in flowering.[1]
/* table of nutrients, supply, note*/
Methods of Nutrient delivery
The most simple method of nutrient delivery is by mixing with the water to be used for watering the cultivar. However, there are other methods;
Foliar Spray
Nutrients can be delivered to the plant when dissolved in water via a fine mist. The size of the droplets appears to be the limiting factor to efficacy[citation]. If possible the spray should be applied to the underside of leaves as this is where the most stomata reside. Lights should be turned off before foliar spraying to prevent the light lensing through droplets burning the leaf surface. Foliar spray should not be used to provide emergency nutrients to the plant