Marijuana plants, much like animals, need food. A common misconception is that all a marijuana plant needs to thrive, and grow is sunshine and water. However, marijuana plants also need a healthy amount of nutrients in the soil to make them grow strong and healthy.
Without the proper 'food' for your plant, there is a higher chance of it developing diseases and dying--or failing to grow entirely. That is why choosing the right fertilizer is essential to a healthy and happy marijuana plant. PS. Have you checked out our newest article on Organic Weed Vs. Nonorganic Weed?
Let's talk about marijuana fertilizers, and which ones you should be looking at for when you begin to grow your own marijuana plants.
What is Fertilizer?
Fertilizer is simply a blanket term for nutrients that are introduced into soil in order to make it more beneficial for the plant. Fertilizers come in all different varieties with a host of different nutrient and mineral combinations. It is very important, before buying, that you always make sure the fertilizer you are using is good for marijuana plants. Marijuana plants are very particular about what sets of nutrients and minerals they like, and when they like them.
Commercial Fertilizers
For beginner growers, it might be easier to simply go with a specialized marijuana fertilizer compound that will take a lot of the guesswork out of the process. There are tons of amazing options out there for marijuana safe, pre-made nutrient supplements that can be added to the soils.
For example:
- FoxFarm's Liquid Bloom Trio
- Osmocote Smart Release Plant Food
- Maxicrop Soluable Powder
These are not marijuana specific necessarily, but they do offer all of the valuable nutrients that marijuana needs. Choosing pre-made fertilizers makes it easy to mix with water and without having to worry about the deep intricacies of the process of mixing your own fertilizers.
Using Mineral Compounds Like Perlite & Vermiculite
Perlite and vermiculite are two separate mineral compounds that are tried and true in the marijuana cultivation community. While often mentioned synonymously, they are actually two separate compounds. Perlite (volcanic glass) and vermiculite (mica) are both made by super heating different starting compounds until they transform into the porous, nutrient dense soil additives that they are.
Both perlite and vermiculite are excellent sources of potassium, calcium, and magnesium. These are three core nutrients that marijuana plants need to thrive and grow. When going with a hydroponics set up, mixing 50% perlite or vermiculite with peat moss and water is the perfect ratio. When using natural soil, all you need is about 10% perlite or vermiculite.
Composting Takes Time but It’s Worth It
Many marijuana cultivators like to make their own compost. While this takes the 'buying' aspect out of it, you can generate a more connected feeling to your crop this way.
Composting can take a very long time, and a lot of effort--but it might be the most effective. Composting allows you to precisely mix and create the perfect marijuana superfood YOUR way. Just remember that marijuana needs potassium, magnesium, and calcium when thinking of what to add into your compost mixture.
Making sure that your marijuana plant gets the nutrients it needs is always the most crucial step towards cultivating cannabis. It's not enough to simply plant and water it. It needs all the right little touches of nutrients and conditions in order to thrive--just like the human body. Make sure to feed it well no matter what source of nutrient delivery you choose. In the end, you will have a tall, thick, and healthy marijuana plant to enjoy!
Original Content Source: discountpharms.com