BEST WAY TO WATER PLANTS: TIPS FOR YOUR CANNABIS PLANTS

If you’ve purchased some seeds, then you should familiarize yourself with the watering methods for plants. All plant organisms need water to grow healthily and produce flowers and fruits. Monitoring the quality and quantity of water will aid in the processing of minerals and vitamins, ensuring consistent and reliable results.

The Importance of Watering Cannabis Plants

Water carries essential nutrients to the plant and aids in the dissolution of minerals, creating space in the substrate for roots to absorb oxygen. However, excess water can lead to plant drowning as roots cannot extract oxygen from the surroundings.

Therefore, it’s crucial to know when and how much to water marijuana plants. Infrequent watering can lead to dehydration and plant death. The exact amount depends on substrate density and ambient temperature. In a hot and dry environment, you’ll need to water more frequently, while in a humid and cold environment, water will evaporate more slowly.

It’s also essential to use water with low salt content, as high levels of salts can block root absorption. Try to use filtered water to prevent additional minerals found in pipes and nature from contaminating the substrate where the plant grows.

Watering Marijuana Plants: Factors to Consider

Typically, a marijuana plant is cultivated to produce flowers, and for this, plants need to develop a significant root system. Achieving this goal requires alternating cycles of drought and humidity. Water nourishes the plant, and drought stimulates root growth. Consider the following points:

1. Regulate humidity and watering amount

Only water when moisture is disappearing from the substrate. Avoid waterlogging the pot or having excess water, allowing oxygen to enter the substrate and roots to continue growing. Excessive humidity facilitates the reproduction of parasites and diseases.

Ensure proper fertilization and nutrient supply to the substrate. Nutrient-rich soil helps the plant generate new roots. However, do so in moderation and reasonable amounts. If the plant produces flowers, it has strong and abundant roots, so focus on creating watering cycles that promote root growth.

2. Use clean and minimally contaminated water

Water quality ensures healthy plants and prevents diseases. Urban water supplies are typically treated with chlorine, but the treatment may not remove salts and other minerals that can harm plant substrates. 

It’s recommended to use osmotic water, filtered to resemble rainwater or river water. If you have rainwater or water from an underground tank, consider using tools to oxygenate it, such as a diffuser stone or an air pump.

3. Make sure to regulate pH and electrical conductivity

A nutrient mix with fertilizers is commonly used in water to stimulate specific qualities in plants. Even if using normal water, it’s wise to measure the ionic concentration of minerals present, known as electrical conductivity (EC). EC represents the water’s ability to transmit nutrients from the substrate to the plant.

Detailed monitoring of EC is necessary for hydroponic cultivation in inert substrates. Soil-based crops usually have the right minerals and EC. However, it’s a variable element that can be managed by adding minerals or osmotizing water. The ideal situation is stable and suitable liquid levels for the specific cultivation.

Additionally, the water pH in soil cultivation should be in the range of 6.2 to 6.5. In contrast, hydroponic crops are recommended to have a pH between 5.2 and 5.5. It’s crucial to note that artificial crops can yield better production results but are also more sensitive. Imbalanced water pH can ruin a crop in a few hours.

4. Imitate nature and regulate watering quantity and intensity

Water should filter into the substrate without ruining or disturbing it too much. If you water plants hastily with a constant and strong stream, you’ll damage the habitat and make nutrient absorption more difficult. In nature, rain is constant and usually falls dispersedly. This natural flow doesn’t ruin the substrate or plants.

From this perspective, mimic nature and use tools that achieve a constant and dispersed flow. Of course, there are days of more intense rain, but controlled cultivation involves seeking the best results by controlling the environment. Take the time to buy watering cans and be patient so that the substrate receives enough water without harming it.

When to Water Marijuana Plants?

The amount of water a plant needs varies depending on the cultivation stage and the size of the bush. In the early days and weeks, less water is needed for the root to grow fully. Excessive watering can drown the root and prevent proper development.

As the plant develops more leaves and stems, it will need more water. However, growth capacity is also limited by the size of the pot or the place where the plant’s substrate is. The most crucial criterion is to maintain the substrate at an appropriate moisture level—not waterlogged but also not allowed to become dry and arid.

Another criterion to consider is the vitality and color of the leaves. Marijuana plants tend to droop and turn yellow when they are dry or the water is inadequate. Frequently check the substrate’s moisture and control environmental conditions. Using white pots can keep the roots cool if the plants are in a very hot area.

Some Tips for Watering Your Marijuana Plants

Lastly, remember to keep the plants in a controlled environment. Plants can yield a good production if the temperature remains stable, and watering cycles are consistent. Heat and cold also change the ambient humidity and substrate moisture levels.

The warmer it is, the more water plants will need, and in the cold, they will need less watering. On the other hand, don’t forget to care about water quality, imitate rain when watering, manage water pH and EC, and water with the right frequency. With these recommendations, you can keep your plants healthy and productive.