If you are a first-time marijuana grower then this could be a very valid question. You could be flummoxed with all the terms and abbreviations that you would confuse where to start. So here we lay out the basics and not so basics about marijuana soil nutrients for you.
Why Does Soil Nutrients Good To Your Growing Marijuana?
From the Periodic Table
First off, let us talk about the elements needed by a marijuana plant to grow. Your marijuana plants need both organic and inorganic elements to grow the right way. There are also two things called macronutrients and micronutrients that you need to take note of. Macronutrients are the nutrients needed by your marijuana plant in large quantities. On the other hand, micronutrients are those needed in really, really small quantities but are still essential for survival.
For organic macronutrients, marijuana plants need carbon (C), oxygen (O), hydrogen (H) and nitrogen (N). And the inorganic macronutrients required include phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (C), magnesium (Mg) and sulfur (S).
Fertilizers
When choosing fertilizers, you could be confused about the presence of three varying numbers on the label. These numbers stand for the three essential elements when it comes to fertilizers. The three numbers stand for Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium, respectively. So there are lots and lots of choices depending on your growing needs. Therefore if a fertilizer says 10-4-4 then it contains 10% Nitrogen, 4% Phosphorus and 4% Potassium.
Then there are the micronutrients which include iron, zinc, chlorine, cobalt, manganese, molybdenum, boron, copper and silicon. You as a grower should not neglect your marijuana plants’ need for these micronutrients as they are incredibly vital to their survival. It is also helpful to buy organic nutrients online, compost, and soil blends for your garden
Hydroponics
Hydroponic growing is a technique for growing marijuana that doesn’t require the need for soil at all. There are lots and lots of ways to grow marijuana without soil. One way is to use coco coir, pebbles and others which also contain nutrients needed for marijuana growth. Another method is to use flowing water which could also be quite a bit complicated for beginners.
When using hydroponics, you would sometimes need to supplement your growing medium with nutrients that may not be present or present but in a lesser quantity.
Soil and Organic Nutrients
When you are not using hydroponics, you are most likely using soil together with organic nutrients. When using soil, you are sure to have a useful organic matter on your growing medium. Some organic mediums you could use include hummus, some animal manure, compost that you could also make, worm castings and more. These are good choices because they contain the natural organic nutrients that plant your marijuana plants need so they could fatten up and produce great smelling and potent buds. Also, using organic nutrients and soil will lead to less harm to your plants as compared with synthetic ones.