Advanced Tips

Advanced Tips

Understanding Calcium-Magnesium Supplementation in Coco Medium
Any comprehensive nutrient line already contains calcium and magnesium, but growers who use coco coir may need to apply more of these two secondary macronutrients. Coco coir binds with them and locks them up, making them less available for uptake. To avoid deficiencies, growers need to understand how coco coir interacts with calcium and magnesium. Importance of calcium and magnesium for plants Calcium and magnesium are essential nutrients that plants require in significant amounts. Calcium Plants typically absorb more calcium than phosphorus, with concentrations …
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Sources of Carbon Dioxide Supplementation
Supplementing carbon dioxide (CO2) in the grow room is common in indoor cannabis cultivation. As we discussed in our blog post on CO2 supplementation, CO2 is essential for photosynthesis. By increasing the amount of ambient CO2, growers can boost their plants’ photosynthetic rates, producing bigger yields and shortening the crop life cycle for more frequent harvests. In this blog post, we will discuss the different methods of CO2 supplementation. CO2 injection systems and tanks CO2 injection systems and tanks rank among the most popular ways …
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Carbon Dioxide Supplementation
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is essential for photosynthesis. The amount of CO2 available to plants affects their net photosynthetic rate. Providing additional CO2 in indoor cultivation serves two purposes: (1) It can prevent a reduction in plant growth, which can happen in tightly sealed indoor environments if CO2 drops below ambient outdoor levels. (2) It can spur the rate of photosynthesis by providing elevated levels of CO2, resulting in bigger yields. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the role of CO2 in …
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Irrigation Water Quality in Hydroponics
Water is the lifeblood of agriculture. Not only does water irrigate roots, but it also delivers oxygen and essential nutrients to plants for healthy growth, big yields and high crop quality. The quality of irrigation water is paramount. Poor water quality can lead to problems like stunted growth, nutrient toxicities or deficiencies, accumulation of harmful heavy metals in plant tissue, and bacterial contamination; in severe cases, it can even lead to plant death. Assessing water quality involves more than just its appearance, …
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Cannabis Pests and Pathogens
Pests and pathogens threaten cannabis crops. Pests—larger organisms[1] like insects and mites—physically damage plants, whereas pathogens are microorganisms that infect and cause diseases within plants. A useful rule of thumb might be that while pests can typically be removed physically, pathogens cannot. Both pests and pathogens pose distinct threats to plant health, reducing cannabis yield and quality. This blog post explores some of the most common pests and pathogens that cannabis growers may encounter, the specific plant sites they target, and …
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How Light Affects Cannabinoid Production
Light is the primary energy source for plants. Not only is it necessary for photosynthesis, but certain wavelengths impact the accumulation of secondary metabolites, including cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids. This blog post unpacks the impact of the light spectrum on cannabis and how different wavelengths influence yield, cannabinoid production and plant morphology. Light spectrum and intensity The light spectrum is determined by wavelengths. For instance, ultraviolet light encompasses a part of the spectrum whose wavelength is 10–400 nanometers (nm). The sun emits light with …
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Carbohydrate Supplementation
Produced through photosynthesis, carbohydrates are a plant’s primary source of energy, and they play important functions in plant development. While cannabis plants synthesize carbs on their own, providing supplemental carbohydrates can save the plant energy, allowing it to divert that energy to other processes, including budding and flowering. In this blog post, we explain what carbohydrates are, the roles they play, and why growers may want to consider supplementing their plants with carbs. What are carbohydrates? Carbohydrates (CH2On) are organic compounds made …
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How to Maximize Photoperiod
Light is a primary driver of plant growth. For many cannabis genotypes, the photoperiod plays a crucial role in regulating various physiological processes, including determining when a plant will flower. When growing these genotypes indoors, it is important to know how long the photoperiod should be in different phases of their development. By managing the duration and intensity of light exposure, growers can control the flowering phase, extend the growing season to facilitate year-round production, and increase yields in doing so. What …
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How Amino Acids Promote Plant Growth
Proteins are known as “the building blocks of life”—and amino acids the building blocks of proteins. Plants synthesize their own aminos naturally, but if crops are stressed, they may not have sufficient energy to manufacture these crucial compounds.[1] In this blog post, we’ll unpack what amino acids are, why they’re important for plant development, and why it’s a good idea to feed cannabis with a fertilizer that contains them. What are amino acids? Amino acids are chemical compounds that include an amine …
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Sources of Soluble Silicon
Silicon is the second most abundant element on Earth. However, most forms of silicon[1] found in nature are unavailable for uptake by plants. To reap the benefits of silicon, growers must use a fertilizer that contains a highly soluble source of silicon. That’s easier said than done. While there is no shortage of silicon in the world, not all silicon compounds are equal. Some may not be very soluble or even high in silicon. Others may have significant downsides, such as …
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How Silicon Promotes Plant Growth
Although silicon is not considered an essential nutrient—plants can grow without it—it significantly boosts plant strength and stress resistance. For cannabis, silicon contributes to development of the terpenes and phenolic compounds that growers prize. Here's why supplementing your feeding program with silicon might be beneficial. Benefits of silicon Silicon improves plant health and growth in several important ways. Physically, this beneficial nutrient help plants form a strong layer of hydrated amorphous silica, or opal, in their cell walls. This silica layer acts as …
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How Suboptimal Fertilization Affects Yield
Fertilizer is a crucial component of crop production, but simply adding fertilizer to the system is no guarantee a crop will get the nutrients it needs. Inadequate nutrient availability, nutrient incompatibility, and subpar nutrient formulations can result in under-fertilized plants, also known as suboptimal fertilization. Without the right nutrients in the right concentrations and ratios, plants cannot achieve optimal yields or maximize crop quality. For cannabis, suboptimal fertilization can also impact cannabinoid profiles and concentrations. Consequences of suboptimal fertilization In one study, researchers …
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