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Marijuana, like all living things, needs certain elements to survive.
BUT..
We don't just want our plants to survive, we want them to THRIVE!
All the essential nutrients marijuana plants need can be found in good soil. Combine that with a proper environment, water, and the right amount light, and the plant will surely bloom and produce flowers.
Now, if you plug a good fertilizer at the right ratios and the right amounts, at the right time, into the above equation, that's when we go from a plant that is just surviving and produces a mediocre yield, to a big healthy plant that is absolutely freaking thriving and exploding with fat juicy-tasty buds so heavy you'll have to tie up your stems to keep them from falling over!
Sound good?
Keep reading!
"What exactly do marijuana plants eat?"
PRIMARY NUTRIENTS
Remember these letters, N P K.
The N, stands for Nitrogen, the P, stands for Phosphorus, and the K stands for Potassium.
NPK are the primary nutrients or macro nutrients that every plant needs to live.
Nitrogen (N), is most important in the earlier stages and vegetative stages of growth, weeks 1 - 8, and helps plants turn light (sun or artificial light) into energy.
Phosphorus (P) is vital to all stages of growth, but extremely important in the later and blooming phases (weeks 9 - 16) as it promotes big bud growth, helps with nutrient uptake, and supports the overall structure of the plants including the roots.
Potassium (K) is your overall helper that assists in controlling, managing, and balancing all of the plants systems that allow your plants to grow big and strong and continue doing so.
SECONDARY NUTRIENTS
There are lots of secondary or micro nutrients your plants will need, but for the most part the most important are Calcium, Magnesium, Sulphur, Iron, Boron, Copper, Zinc, and Manganese.
You will see almost all of these in the majority of fertilizers out there in various quantities.
Just because they are called micro, that doesn't mean they aren't important. Micro nutrients support several functions that are key to the overall health and growth of marijuana plants.
NPK RATIOS
When talking about fertilizer N-P-K ratios, I'm referring to the 3 numbers listed on the package that look like the photos below circled in red.
The number on the left is Nitrogen (N), the middle number is Phosphorus (P), and the number on the right is Potassium (K).
I told you to remember NPK!
These numbers indicate how many parts of each of these macro nutrients there are in the fertilizer.
For example, the Jack's classic fertilizer shown above, has an NPK ratio of 20 parts of Nitrogen, 10 parts of Phosphorus, and 20 parts of Potassium or it can be reduced to 2-1-2.
The ratio will change throughout the grow cycles, as the plant will require more or less of each macro nutrient depending on what part of its life it's in.
For example:
During the vegetative stage, your NPK ratio should be around 2-1-2 or 2-1-3 (Higher Nitrogen, Lower Phosphorus, Potassium Constant)
During the flowering or blooming stage, your NPK ratio should be close to 1-2-2 or 1-2-3 (Higher Phosphorus, Lower Nitrogen, Potassium Constant)
HOW MUCH FERTILIZER
Fertilizer companies will give you a chart to follow (usually located directly on the package) with the recommended amounts to feed your plants that start with feeding less in the beginning and feeding more towards the end of the plants life cycle.
These guidelines provided by the fertilizer brands are great, especially if you are using a slow release fertilizer that you add directly to your soil or grow medium, but what you really need to be paying attention to is your PPM.
PPM
PPM stands for parts per million.
PPM measurement lets you know how much stuff in the form of minerals, and micro and macro nutrients, is in your water or feeding solution that you can't see.
Measuring PPM is important because when you add liquid or water soluble fertilizer into water to feed plants it will tell you whether or not you are giving plants the correct amount of fertilizer.
In order to measure the PPM of your water and/or nutrient solution, or your watering runoff you will first need a PPM meter like the picture below
If the PPM is too low the plants aren't receiving enough nutrients. They will definitely still grow, but they won't reach their maximum size and yield potential.
If the PPM is too high (this is usually the case) they are receiving too many nutrients. This will burn the plants, cause nutrient lockout where the plants won't be able to uptake or absorb and more nutrients, and can in some cases even kill the plants if the overfeeding/high PPM is not corrected ASAP.
Getting the correct PPM, at the right stage of growth is absolutely vital to the success or failure of your crop!
There are a ton of PPM charts out there that you can follow, but I have found that the chart I created below get great results for growing in soil.
The PPM of your water/fertilizer solution needs to measured before the plant is watered and after the plant is watered.
From previous experience of getting way too excited and using way too much fertilizer when I was first learning how to grow, always remember this when it comes to feeding your plants, LESS IS MORE! Trust me, you will only end up hurting your plants if you try to pump them with too much fertilizer and nutrients.
For more detailed information on watering and feeding plants, check out this article below!
WHAT KIND OF FERTILIZER
Now that you hopefully understand a little bit more about what makes up fertilizer, NPK ratios, and how you should measure the correct amounts for feeding, I'm going to talk about what kind of fertilizer is needed for growing marijuana plants.
Base Nutrients
First you will need base nutrients for your plants fertilizer.
These are the foundation of your plants diet, and will be given to them through almost the entire life cycle of the plants.
Some base nutrients have a fixed NPK ratio, and others come with a 2 or 3 part system where the NPK ratio fluctuates depending on the growth phase. Both work just fine, the 2 or 3 part systems are a little better suited for finer adjustments throughout the different growth stages, but ultimately it really just depends on what you feel more comfortable with.
An example of a base nutrients fertilizer with a fixed NPK ratio would be Jack's Classic 20-10-20.
An example of a 2 part system fertilizer with a fluctuating NPK ratio is Blue Planet Nutrients BlueMax 2 part fertilizer.
An example of a 3 part system fertilizer is General Hydroponics Flora Series.
Secondary Nutrients and Supplements
You will also need some additional nutrients to fill in the gaps of your base nutrients. The supplementary nutrients listed below will help protect your plants against nutrient deficiency and disease, aid in nutrient uptake and overall growth, increase yields, and maximize terpene and trichome production.
Calcium and Magnesium
Calcium is important because it helps build strong cell walls and structure, aids in the nutrient transport process, and assists in root growth and development.
Without enough magnesium plants are not able to perform the process of photosynthesis, and therefore wouldn't be able to make enough food to survive.
If you're growing in soil, CalMag is optional, but recommended to avoid calcium and magnesium deficiencies.
If you're growing in coco, you will definitely need to add some CalMag into your nutrient repertoire.
SILICA
Silica is not an essential element when it comes to plant growth, but it is an extremely beneficial additive that helps strengthen cell walls, allows plants to thrive is harsh or imperfect environments, increases plants ability to uptake water and nutrients, and helps shield plants from fungal outbreaks that can occur such as rust, rots, mold, and the dreaded powdery mildew.
Silica can be added in liquid form to your fertilizer nutrient solution as shown below.
Or, you can add some vermiculite into your soil or coco, an example shown below.
MYCORRHIZAE
Mycorrhizae is actually a fungus that has a wonderful symbiotic relationship with a plant's root system. The microbial activity of mycorrhizae actually attaches itself to the roots of plants, connecting the roots one to another and then spreads out with things called hyphae that more than double the size of the actual root system.
The benefits of mycorrhizae include allowing plants to drink up more water and nutrients, and it boosts plants ability to better tolerate environmental stressors that are bound to occur throughout a grow cycle.
BLOOM BOOSTER
Bloom boosters are exactly what they sounds like, they are fertilizer additives that have an NPK ratio and a nice blend of secondary nutrients created with one purpose in mind, to maximize flower production and increase yields.
The best bloom boosters for marijuana fertilizer are going to have a NPK ratio that typically contains little to no Nitrogen, and high amounts of Phosphorus and Potassium.
A good example is shown below.
If you are using a base nutrient fertilizer with a fixed NPK ratio then I would highly recommend using a bloom booster in conjunction with your base nutes. Your plants will need the extra P and K once those flowers start coming in!
If you decide on going with a 2-part or 3-part base nutrient fertilizer system with a fluctuating NPK ratio, then the bloom booster is optional. If you do decide to go with a bloom booster, follow the feeding instructions closely, and more importantly keep a close eye on your PPM, You've already gotten this far in the process, don't want to screw it up by overfeeding and harming your plants.
TERPENE BOOSTER
Terpene boosters are formulated to increase the production of terpinoids and plant oil producing glands.
Basically, in using a terpene booster, your plants are going to be more fragrant and have more flavor because of the excess oil and resin that these products help produce.
BEST MARIJUANA FERTILIZER SETUP EXAMPLES FOR BEGINNERS
Option A
Base Nutrients Fixed NPK Ratio
Jack's Classic 20-10-20
Secondary Nutrients & Supplements
Botanicare Cal-Mag Plus
Botanicare Silica Blast
Great White Mycorrhizae
Flower Fuel Bloom Booster (only used during the flowering stage)
Terpinator Terpene Booster
Option B
Base Nutrients 2 part system Fluctuating NPK Ratio
Blue Planet Nutrients BlueMax
Secondary Nutrients & Supplements
Blue Planet Cal-Mag
Blue Planet Gold Shield Silica
Root Magic Mycorrhizae
Blue Planet Early Bloomer Bloom Booster (Optional)
Blue Planet Liquid Blue Bloom Booster (optional)
Terpinator Terpene Booster
Option C
Base Nutrients 3 part system Fluctuating NPK Ratio
General Hydroponics Flora Series - Grow, Micro, & Bloom
Secondary Nutrients & Supplements
CaliMagic
General Hydroponics Amor Si Silica
Great White Mycorrhizae
General Hydroponics Liquid KoolBloom Bloom Booster (optional)
General Hydroponics Floraliscious Plus Terpene Booster
Although I do recommend the exact setups above, your fertilizer setup doesn't need to have these exact products, but you should contain at least these 4 nutrients and supplements listed below to get solid results from your crop:
Base Nutrients
Calcium and Magnesium
Silica
Mycorrhizae
Happy Growing!
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