Best Marijuana Fertilizers That Work  

Last Updated on September 27, 2021

When it comes to picking up the perfect fertilizer, it can be very tricky, especially for specific plants like marijuana. However, it’s essential to know that you will need a suitable fertilizer at some moments while growing some cannabis. Fertilizers are crucial, and these products help you develop a healthy and flourishing plant.  

No matter how many plants of marijuana you’re trying to grow, fertilizers can be your best friends on that journey. Of course, you need to keep in mind many more tips and tricks to ensure these fertilizers will do their job. Your plant won’t need the same nutrition at every stage in the growth process. Therefore, you have to be aware of every fertilizer nutrition valuable, so you can give your marijuana precisely what it needs.  

If you feel a bit confused about the best marijuana fertilizers that work, keep reading! We are here to help you with everything, even how to choose among numerous fertilizers on the market and much more. Moreover, we have prepared you a small guide on the matter! 

Now, to the fun part!  

When is the best time to start using Marijuana fertilizers?  

Have you ever wondered at what stage of plant development demands the most? Related to that, we all want to know when our efforts will be paid off in their growing process.  The flowering phase is the so-called most appreciative phase in the growth of marijuana. It’s because this is the moment when the results of your work and invested time begin to be seen. Unlike the vegetation phase, while the plant develops a stalk and leaves, the plant produces some flowers in the flowering stage. It’s important to know that only male plants can make flowers. That’s also the development stage when marijuana becomes extremely sensitive to the slightest environmental changes.   

Therefore, it is essential that, in the flowering phase,  you minimize the possibility of any mistakes in the growing process. Creating stress on the plant can be harmful and later affect the marijuana growing process’s final phase. To conclude, fertilizers are your best allies exactly in this flourishing phase, when the plant uses as much nutrition from the environment as possible.  

What are the best Marijuana fertilizers that work?  

Nutrients needed for plant growth are found in fertilizers. There are several types of Marijuana fertilizer, but they are mainly divided into two groups: organic and mineral fertilizers.   

Organic fertilizers contain a significant amount of organic matter. This matter has either plant or animal origin (these are usually called manure, slurry, compost, and others). These fertilizers contain various nutrients, either in the form of complex organic compounds or simple mineral salts. In addition to supplying the plant with nutrients, organic fertilizers also create the perfect natural conditions for many microorganisms. We refer to those tiny organisms that help speed the decomposition process of different organic matter. 

As you can see, these are some excellent options to help your Marijuana plant grow while preserving the natural environment. Another big plus when it comes to organic fertilizers is that they release nutrients slowly. In other words, there is no danger of excessive fertilization for your plant. In addition to all of that remarkable strategies, these fertilizers are renewable, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly. The only tricky thing about these products is their price – they are pretty expensive.  

Now, let us talk about mineral fertilizers. Mineral or inorganic fertilizers contain nutrients in the form of inorganic compounds. It’s important to know that there are no organic substances in their composition. Instead, they are composed of minerals and contain nutrients in an inorganic form, with different decomposition abilities and unequal accessibility to plants. Those mineral fertilizers are nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium, lime or calcium, and complex mineral fertilizers. We will tell you more about them in another chapter. These artificial fertilizers are specially designed to be easily absorbed as possible.  

Therefore, compared to organic fertilizers, plants absorb mineral nutrients much faster. That makes them ideal for giving your Marijuana plant many nutritions in a short time. The main pros of mineral fertilizers are that they are way more affordable and result in a much greater yield. Above all of that, they are way more comfortable to use and quickly start working. Therefore, mineral fertilizers are highly recommended for the internal marijuana growing process. 

Why are these fertilizers necessary in the Marijuana growing process?  

If you thought that fertilizers are just some extra help, but not so necessary – think twice! Without proper fertilization and nutrient diversity dosing, so-called heads (the flowers) will not reach their full size. This directly affects the final results’ quality and quantity – the yields you’ve so hard worked for. Therefore, it’s essential to know what these fertilizers do for our plants and how they help them develop. Nutrients for growing cannabis are divided into three groups: primary nutrients, secondary nutrients, and elements shown in traces. Let us explain to you furthermore.  

Every plant on Earth, including marijuana, needs a specific three essential nutrients. These are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Therefore, when you take a fertilizer package and look at the declaration on the back, it will usually say N-P-P fertilizer. So, these are primary nutrients. Next on the list are secondary nutrients that include magnesium, calcium, and sulphur. And finally, the Marijuana plant also needs the third group of nutrients – micronutrients or before mentioned trace elements. These can often be found in bare natural soil. Examples of micronutrients include several elements. The most important are zinc, manganese, iron, boron, chloride, cobalt, molybdenum, and silicon.  

Among these three groups of nutrients that cannabis needs to grow appropriately, some fertilizer producers add a few extra ingredients, additives, or enzymes. An excellent example could be adding molasses (a by-product of sugar production), which is very frequent. These additional ingredients make sure that the Marijuana flower grows more prominent and the final product more massive. Another specific fertilization product available on the market is so-called All-in-one (AllInOne) nutrient mixtures. These are usually not recommended due to the ratio of nutrients, which are not suitable for all Marijuana varieties. But, beginners can use them with extra carefulness when it comes to dosage. Always keep in mind that excessive fertilization can be deadly to your plant. Want to know more? We’ll explain everything in the following paragraph. 

Are there any consequences if you go over the board with fertilizers?  

Another significant part of the marijuana growing process is knowing when to stop with fertilizers. If you give your plant some extra nutrients every day, the so-called “nutrient burn” is very likely to happen. This scenario is the state of a plant when you give it way more nutrients than it needs. You can firstly note the nutrient burn on the plant as slightly burnt tops of the leaves. The burn climbs to the leaf roots as time passes: left unattended, the burnt also spreads to the heads of the Marijuana plant. Therefore, you could see the yellow spots on the dried flowers of marijuana. This is a clear sign that plant wasn’t healthy while growing and that the final product isn’t at that quality level we wished for.   

So, it is imperative to avoid excessive use of fertilization! They can do more harm than good if you go over the board with these products! On the other hand, while properly dosing the nutrients, your Marijuana plant will be just fine! These plants can cope very well with excessive fertilization if a grower reacts in time. As soon you notice these signs of nutrient burn, the better chances your plant has to recover on its own from this stress. 

But do we have to wait for our plant to become sick to know when fertilization is enough? Of course not! You can create a simple fertilization Marijuana plant based on their average need. We’ll show you how in the next chapter! 

How to know the exact amount of fertilization your Marijuana needs?  

Every plant doesn’t have the exact needs while growing. Therefore, the Marijuana plant changes its nutrient needs as its growth progresses. From the vegetative phase to the flowering stage, the requirements are different. We have already mentioned that the flowering stage is the needy stage. Still, it’s essential to know which nutrients are needed at every specific stage.  

During the vegetative season, Marijuana plants use a lot of nitrogen and small amounts of phosphorus and potassium. They need these nutrients to grow lush and green leaves. However, in the flowering phase, the plant needs more significant nutrients such as phosphorus and potassium and small amounts of nitrogen. That’s the main reason why the leaves gradually change their colour from green to yellow.   

Like any other plant, all of the nutrients are absorbed through the soil’s roots. In addition, the plant absorbs ions that have a positive or negative charge. These ionic charges affect the movement of nutrients through the plant. So, the Marijuana plant needs some mobile and immobile nutrients. Mobile nutrients include nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, chlorine, nickel, and molybdenum. Immobile or stationary nutrients for growing marijuana include calcium, sulphur, boron, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc.  

Now, you must be wondering how you can recognize what your plant needs at a specific moment. In case of a lack of mobile nutrients, the plant’s first signs appear on its leaves. But not all of them. You need to pay some extra attention to its lower, or in other words, more mature leaves. When it comes to stationary nutrients, immobile nutrients deficiencies tend to manifest in some younger growth areas. This refers to the area near the top of the plant and at the very tops of the Marijuana plant.  

Let’s simplify this information with a specific case. For example, nitrogen deficiency signs include a rapid change in colour from green to yellow in the lower leaves. On the other hand, a sulphur-deficient plant will show subtle yellowing in new growth areas. The plant will show you everything that needs – you have to look carefully and know how to recognize the signs as we have shown you. 

The most simplistic Marijuana fertilizer that works wonders  

We’ve saved the best for the end! This will blow your mind and make your life so much easier. If you are a beginner or want to grow a Marijuana plant indoors, we have a perfect solution for you. Besides commercial fertilizers, many growers also rely on a simple mixture of water and compost. This mixture is popularly called “the compost tea.” It contains an abundance of nutrients and beneficial microorganisms derived from humus. You can also use plain or red compost. It will have the same effect. This tea mixture is helpful for pests and fungi battling. It can also significantly improve the overall profile of your Marijuana plants.  

Now, we owe you the recipe for this magic potion! No worries, of course, we have this ace on our sleeve! To make the compost tea, you will need no more than several ingredients. The first step is to fill one-third of the bucket with high-quality compost. After that, Add pH-balanced water. This tepid water is essential for the Marijuana plant health and final product, so don’t skip this info. After adding water, allow the compost-water mixture to settle for three or four days, occasionally stirring. When these few days pass, strain the mixture through gauze or any other piece of cloth. What remains on the fabrics is the mixture you need to add to a compost bin. The remaining liquid part of the mix is the tea. Now, you need to add the tea to some clear water. The ideal ratio of water and tea is 10 to 1. In already developed Marihuana plants, compost tea is applied close to the roots.  

Well, we have nothing to add! Having all this information will be a piece of cake to choose the best Marijuana fertilizers that work. Always keep in mind to observe your plant, listen to its needs, and apply the right amount of fertilization. 

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