Nitrogen deficiency in cannabis plants is one of the most common problems for cannabis growers. Cannabis plants use a lot of nitrogen, especially during the vegetative stage of their growth cycle. It is an essential nutrient for cannabis plants, and a deficiency in nitrogen can lead to stunted growth, yellowing leaves, and poor yields.
In this article, we’ll discuss the causes of nitrogen deficiency, how to identify it, and what you can do to fix it and prevent it. This guide will cover everything you need to know about nitrogen deficiency in cannabis plants. But, if you need any extra help, feel free to start a new thread in our cannabis growers forum with some pictures of your plants. We will be able to help you diagnose and fix the problem.
What is Nitrogen Deficiency in Cannabis Plants?
Nitrogen is one of the primary macronutrients that cannabis plants need to grow and thrive. It is necessary for the production of chlorophyll, which is responsible for photosynthesis. It also plays a crucial role in the formation of amino acids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
Nitrogen deficiency in cannabis plants occurs when there is a lack of available nitrogen in the soil or growing medium. This can happen for a variety of reasons. The most common being poor soil quality or an incorrect feeding regime. But it may also occur because of overwatering, or pH imbalances.
Before treating your plants for a nitrogen deficiency, you should make sure you have correctly identified the issue, and you’re 100% sure nitrogen deficiency is the problem. Take a look at the symptoms of nitrogen deficiency in cannabis plants. If you need extra help, head of the diagnosis section of our cannabis plant care section. Start a new thread and show us some pictures of your sick plant. We will then be able to help you diagnose it correctly.
Symptoms of Nitrogen Deficiency in Cannabis Plants
The first signs of nitrogen deficiency in cannabis plants are usually visible in the leaves. Especially leaves at the bottom of the plant. You see, nitrogen is a mobile nutrient. This means it can move around the plant to places where it is needed the most. So it will move from leaves at the bottom of the plant to feed the new leaves that are growing at the top.
The leaves on the lower section of the plant will start to turn yellow. They will start by fading in color and turning from a healthy green, to a light green and then gradually to yellow. The leaves may also become thin and brittle, and growth will slow down. As the deficiency progresses, the leaves may start to wilt, and the plant will become stunted.
If your plant has these symptoms, you can be pretty sure they are suffering with nitrogen deficiency. Before you begin to treat them, you need to figure out what caused this to happen in the first place. This will help prevent it from happening again.
Causes of Nitrogen Deficiency in Cannabis Plants
Nitrogen deficiency can be caused by a variety of factors. Some of the most common causes include:
- Poor soil quality: Nitrogen is naturally present in the soil. But if the soil is of poor quality or has been overused, it may be depleted of nutrients, including nitrogen.
- Incorrect feeding regime: A cannabis plant will need a lot of nitrogen throughout its life cycle. But it will need much more in the vegetative stage then it does in the flowering stage. Make sure you’re using a high nitrogen fertilizer during the vegetative stage to prevent nitrogen deficiency arising
- Overwatering – Overwatering can lead to nutrient leaching, which can wash away nitrogen from the soil, making it unavailable to the plant. This is very common in soil grows. Do not over water your plants when growing cannabis in soil.
- pH imbalances – Cannabis plants prefer a slightly acidic root zone pH. This can be between 6.5 and 7.5 when growing in soil, and 5.8-6.2 when growing in hydroponics mediums. If the pH is too high or too low, the plant may not be able to absorb nutrients properly, including nitrogen.
Pretty much, if your cannabis plants are suffering from nitrogen deficiency, it means there is either not enough nitrogen available in the medium, or the pH of the medium is incorrect. Both of these are easily fixable. But how you do it will depend on what medium you are growing in.
How to Fix Nitrogen Deficiency in Cannabis Plants
If you suspect that your cannabis plant is suffering from nitrogen deficiency, there are several things you can do to fix it.
Check the pH of the Grow Medium
The first thing you should do is ensure the pH of the grow medium is within the correct range. That means between 6.5 and 7.5 for plants grown in soil, and 5.8-6.2 for plants grown in hydroponics mediums.
If the pH is not within the correct range, adjust it by watering the plant well with water or a nutrient solution that is within the correct ph range. However, if the pH is correct, you need to add more nitrogen to the grow medium
Bottled Nutrients
One of the easiest ways to fix nitrogen deficiency in cannabis plants is by using salt based, bottled nutrients that contain nitrogen. There are many different types of bottled nutrients available on the market, including synthetic and organic options. Adjust the dosage slightly to ensure that you’re not overfeeding your plants. Monitor the progress of the plants over a few days and increase gradually if necessary.
Organic Nutrients
Another option is to use organic nutrients to fix nitrogen deficiency. Organic fertilizers like fish emulsion, blood meal, and bone meal are all rich in nitrogen and can help to replenish the nitrogen in the soil. Just make sure you do not use too much! Add small amounts at a time to the soil when you water your plants. Monitor their progress over a few days. Increase the amount gradually until you see improvement.
It is very important to remember to increase the nutrients gradually. This goes for organic grows or grows with salt based nutrients. The last thing you want to do is add too much and cause a toxicity problem or nutrient burn.
It is much easier to fix an underfed plan than it is to fix an overfed one, so take it slow and monitor the progress over a few days. Don’t forget, if you need help, start a thread in the plant care section of our cannabis growing forum. We are always happy to help.
Within a few days the plant should start looking much happier. You should take note of when the nitrogen deficiency occurred, how you fixed it, and how long it took to get back on track again. You can do this in a grow diary if you need to, it will help prevent the problem arising in future grows.
How to Prevent Nitrogen Deficiency in Cannabis Plants
Preventing nitrogen deficiency in cannabis plants is much easier than fixing it. Here are some tips to help you prevent nitrogen deficiency.
Use High Quality Soil
If you’re growing in soil make sure you use a high quality soil in the first place. Even the most basic soils bought from the grow shop should have enough nutrients in them to last a couple of weeks. You should not have to add any nutrients at all, at least at the start. The better the soil is, the longer the plant can go without any additional feeding. So make sure you use a good soil and watch out for signs of nitrogen deficiency as the plants grow.
Avoid Overwatering
Over watering can wash away nutrients from the soil, including nitrogen. Make sure to water your cannabis plants only when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Additionally, make sure your pots have adequate drainage to prevent water from accumulating in the soil. However, this only applies to cannabis plants grown in soil, hydroponics mediums work a little differently.
Choose Nitrogen-Rich Fertilizers
When using bottled nutrients, make sure to choose a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen, especially in the vegetative stage of growth. Look for fertilizers that have a higher NPK ratio, such as 3-1-2 or 4-1-2. This will ensure that your cannabis plants receive enough nitrogen to grow healthy and strong.
Monitor pH Levels
Nitrogen uptake by cannabis plants is affected by the pH levels of the grow medium. If the pH of your medium is too high or too low, it can affect the availability of nitrogen to your plants. Cannabis plants thrive in a slightly acidic grow medium. For soil grows, try to keep the pH within the range of 6.5-7.5. For hydroponic mediums, aim for a pH running from 5.8 to 6.2. Make sure to monitor the pH of your grow medium regularly and adjust it as needed.
In conclusion
Nitrogen deficiency in cannabis plants is a common issue that can be easily prevented and fixed with the right approach. By testing your grow medium’s pH and keeping it in range, plus using nitrogen-rich fertilizers, you can ensure that your cannabis plants receive the right amount of nitrogen to grow healthy and strong.
Whether you choose to use bottled nutrients or organic nutrients, always increase the amount of nutrients you give to your plants gradually. It is very easy to over feed cannabis plants. If you give them too much, you may cause more damage. So take it slow, increase gradually, and you should see your plant pick up and get back to full health within a few days.
And of course, if you need any more help just ask! Start a new thread in our cannabis growing forum and let us know what the problem is. We have hundreds of members who are always happy and eager to help our fellow cannabis growers get the best out of their grow.
Thank you for reading, and I hope this article has helped you and you know what you need to do now to fix your sick cannabis plants. But again, if you need help, just ask, it would be good to see you in the forum. Stay high!
Great info
@macky I just love these they give enough information but it doesn’t overwhelm my public school 3rd grade education level . 🙂
@macky Looks good to me 🙂
Did an update to this guide, please take a look and let us know what you think 🙂
Yes Yes Yes so true the best info out there from the percysgrowroom 10/10..
Great easy to find information thanks Percys!