How to fix calcium and magnesium deficiencies in cannabis plants, which are often common in grow lights led.
Correcting calcium and magnesium deficiencies is not as easy as cannabis growers have been led to believe. The usual tactic is to add calcium and magnesium to the root zone or as a foliar spray. This could work, depending on the cause of the deficiencies, but it can also create more nutrient absorption problems than it solves. Here is a better program to treat a suspected calcium or magnesium deficiency:
First, foliar spray a calcium and magnesium supplement mixed with a surfactant and vitamin B-52 enhancer at 240 parts per million and pH 5.7.
Rinse the root zone using reverse osmosis water and a full dose of Agrobeta’s Root Clean rinse formula, pH 5.9 for the rinse water.
After the root zone has been washed dry, feed the plants a moderate dose of quality basic nutrients, such as Connoisseur or Sensi. I recommend these base nutrients over all others because they automatically balance pH, are made specifically for cannabis, and contain the correct proportions and amounts of all essential elements.
Wait at least five days to see the effects of washing by examining the color and health of the leaves, along with the overall growth of the plant. Leaves that were already damaged will not heal, but new ones will look better and growth rate and overall vigor should improve.
If you continue to suspect that there is deficiencies of football/magnesium, feed the roots with a lime-mag formula made for cannabis, following the manufacturer’s instructions. In most cases, the cal-mag supplement should not be administered to the roots more than once a week, and only for a maximum of two to three weeks.
Use a Cal-Mag supplement made for cannabis.
There are many cal-mag supplements on the market, most of which are generic and ineffective. A very good one is the Cal-Mag de Agrobeta. Some are sold at discount stores, intended to combat flower rot in tomatoes, while others are available at hydroponic stores.
Sensi Cal-Mag Xtra is specifically made to feed cannabis plants and contains stable and absorbable forms of calcium and magnesium in the correct proportions. It also contains chelated iron – often undersupplied or marginally bioavailable in hydroponic root zones – which aids in the absorption and utilization of calcium and magnesium.
Sensi Cal-Mag Xtra doesn’t just contain extra calcium, magnesium and iron. There’s also the bioactive L-form of the 20 essential amino acids that plants use for metabolism, protein formation, and shoot building. These amino acids work in synergy with calcium and magnesium to help plants recover from deficiency, leading to a restoration of peak function that increases performance.
Keep in mind that solving the nutrient deficiencies in cannabis can be endless frustration. Many growers panic when they see leaf problems or plant growth failure, and then start pouring calcium and magnesium supplements and other materials onto their crops, compounding the problems. Be very cautious and vigilant when trying to fix what you think are nutrient problems.
By following our program, you will have the best chance to fix calcium and magnesium deficiencies in your crops so they return to optimal performance that provides you with bountiful harvests of the most potent buds.
Symptoms and Signs of Calcium and Magnesium Deficiencies in Cannabis
Deficiencies in any of these key nutrients can create unhealthy and vulnerable plants with slow or stunted growth, weak stems and leaves, and smaller, less potent crops. For example, cannabis research indicates that drought, extreme heat or cold, wind, pests, disease, and other stressors induce cannabis to defend itself by transferring calcium to affected areas of the plant. Calcium deficiency cripples this defensive response, making plants more susceptible to damage from garden attackers such as spider mites.
And just as calcium is an integral component of healthy human skeletons, it is also an integral component of plant cell walls and membranes. The lack of calcium weakens the structure of plants, reducing their ability to create new healthy tissues, such as roots, stems and shoots.
Magnesium deficiencies are often accompanied by calcium deficiencies. Magnesium is essential for the main engine of all plant life: photosynthesis. It is a central element of chlorophyll, the substance that allows plants to absorb light and convert it into energy to boost their metabolism. Magnesium is key to metabolic processes that help plants absorb and process nutrients, use carbon dioxide, activate enzymes, and create proteins and carbohydrates essential for flower and seed production.
Although it is difficult to definitively diagnose deficiencies based solely on the appearance of the leaves, the following indicators taken together may indicate a calcium deficiency:
-Your cannabis plants grow slowly and do not reach normal height.
-The leaves initially turn dark green.
-The edges of the leaves may turn brown or dry out. The same can happen with the tips of the leaves, which can also show a slight downward curl.
Root growth is slow. The root mass is small. Calcium-deficient roots are at increased risk for diseases, such as root rot, and are less efficient at absorbing nutrients, oxygen, and water.
In the late phase of calcium deficiency, rust-colored or larger spots appear on the leaves. On the underside, the spots are red, pale, transparent or white. These problems begin in the youngest leaves and later appear in the older ones.
The stems and clusters are weak and brittle, causing the branches to break if heavy buds form on them.
The signs of magnesium deficiency somewhat overlap with those of calcium deficiency, but they are not always identical. These signs include:
-Growing shoots that are lean, narrower and weaker than normal.
-There may also be a yellowing of the new shoots.
-Root growth is slower and the root mass is smaller than normal.
-Necrotic spots (dark, dead, reddish brown) appear on the margins of the leaves. Some parts of the blade begin to die.
-Yellowing between the veins of the leaf, with the central area of the leaf still green.
-Magnesium deficiency manifests first in the oldest and largest leaves, usually those that are lower on the plant. If the deficiency is not corrected, the leaves can die and fall off the plant.
