What is the role of nitrogen in growing cannabis?
Nitrogen is an important substance when growing cannabis. Plants need it to grow, but a shortage or excess can hinder growth. Fortunately, with a little extra knowledge about nitrogen, you can ensure a good balance. In this blog, we discuss the importance of nitrogen and how you can recognize shortages or excesses.
What is nitrogen?
All plants need nitrogen (humans too, by the way). Green plants contain chlorophyll in the chloroplasts and nitrogen is important for the formation of chlorophyll. Furthermore, it is a component of amino acids, stimulates the process of cell division and nitrogen is the most important control mechanism during the growth phase of the plant.
It is therefore important that weed plants have sufficient nitrogen. However, there may be a shortage of this element. As a grower, it is therefore wise to keep an eye on your plants and pay close attention to the signs of a nitrogen deficiency. These are clearly visible in any case. When there is a lack of nitrogen, the leaves lose their green color and start to look sickly yellow. The plant also forms smaller leaves and there is slower growth. If the deficiency is not addressed, the plant may stop growing.
Do you see any of these signs? Then your weed plants probably have too little nitrogen. And what can you do about it? It is good to first know what the causes are.
The causes of a nitrogen deficiency when growing weed
Too little nitrogen can cause many problems. There can be several factors that play a role in the development of a deficiency. The cause is often the pH that is not properly balanced. If the pH in the soil is low, your cannabis plants will be less able to absorb nitrogen, even if there is sufficient nitrogen present. If the soil has a pH that is too low, you can use Plagron pH to restore it.
Furthermore, there may also be a shortage of microbes or a lack of nutrients in the soil. Another cause may be poor cation exchange capacity (CEC). Cations are positively charged ions. The soil can normally retain them well. Then, ionic forms of nitrogen are available for the roots to take up. This is not the case with a bad CEC.
Growing weed and nitrogen deficiency: what can you do?
Have you now kept a close eye on the signs, and do you see that there is a nitrogen deficiency? Then it is time to intervene quickly. You can do this by administering nutrients to remedy any deficiencies. With Plagron Starter Set 100% Natural add extra nitrogen (and if necessary also potassium and phosphorus) to the soil. This allows the roots of your plants to absorb extra nutrients, and it supports healthy growth. Before you know it, you will see your plants come back to life with fresh green leaves.
Preventing nitrogen deficiency
It is of course best to ensure that your cannabis plants do not suffer from a nitrogen deficiency. That is why it is good to keep an eye on how your beloved plants are doing during growth. To prevent problems, you can provide nitrogen-rich nutrition throughout the entire growth cycle. This will continuously support your plants.
But there are even more ways to control the growth and development of your plants. For example, you can adjust the pH in the soil. You can also use fertilizers that provide your plants with extra nutrition. In the package Plagron Top Grow Box Terra you will find minerals for every growth phase and also fertilizers. It contains nutrients that are easily absorbed by the roots. They also provide support for healthy soil life.
Finding the right balance
Growing weed is not difficult, cannabis is a hardy plant which can take quite a lot. But problems can still arise and if that happens, it is good to know what the cause is and how to solve it. Nitrogen is an important element to take into account when growing cannabis. The amount of nitrogen needed depends on the growth stage of the plant (seedling, growth or flowering stage). Always follow the instructions on the packaging so that you give the right amount.
Fortunately, a nitrogen deficiency is easy to treat. Do you see that your plants are turning yellow and losing their leaves? Then you now know what to do. Always make sure you have extra nutrients and fertilizers on hand so that you can give your cannabis plants what they need. And do you want even more tips and tricks for growing cannabis? For example, read more about what to do with toprot, which insects can be useful and which hulpmiddelen can be useful when growing.
