Cannabis is a term used for a group of 3 plants known as Cannabis sativa, Cannabis ruderalis, and Cannabis indica. The fast-growing Cannabis plant has increased interest due to its multipurpose applications. In addition to individual consumers, the pharmaceutical sector also shows a keen interest in considering its potent bioactivities on human health.
Cannabis is a hardy plant that can be grown in various climates. People also grow cannabis indoors and in the greenhouses throughout the year.
How Often Should I Feed and Water My Cannabis?
Feeding and watering cannabis plants depends on many factors like the size of the pot, size of plant, strain, substrate, and conditions. You can generally water the plants when the soil is 60 to 70 percent dry. There are multiple factors on which the watering schedule can depend, like the growing setup, the growth phase of the plant, and genetics. Still, the primary factors are the pot size and medium and climatic conditions.
Pot Size
The pot size is important to determine the water required because the more the substrate, the more the water is needed by the plant, and it will take longer to evaporate. It also depends on the growth state of the cannabis plant. For example, if the plant is a seedling, you don’t need to feed it with a lot of water, even if it is in a large pot, but as it grows, it will need more water.
Smaller pot sizes need more frequent watering than large pots. For example, a 50L pot will require more water to moisten the soil, but it will take longer to evaporate than a 10L pot, depending on the climatic conditions.
Soil Medium
The amount of water required for watering the cannabis plant also depends on the soil medium. If the soil is not fertile and dry, it will require more water to nourish the plant, but if the soil mix is good, it retains moisture for longer and requires less frequent watering. For example, the soil mix containing peat moss, coco peat, and compost retains water for longer and requires less watering.
Climatic Conditions
Environmental and climatic conditions influence the schedule of watering cannabis plants. The temperature and humidity levels in the environment affect the soil’s evaporation rate, which is directly related to the frequency and requirement of watering. If the humidity levels are low, the water evaporates faster, but if humidity is high, it takes much longer for the water to evaporate.
Moreover, during high temperatures, evaporation is also high, and you need to water more frequently. Conversely, if the temperatures are cold, the soil retains moisture for longer and requires less frequent watering.
How long can you keep water with nutrients?
Supplying the nutrients with watering depends on several factors. Larger pots do not need frequent watering. So you may water your cannabis plants only once or twice a week. In such a case, you can feed your plants with nutrients every time you water them.
However, if you have smaller pots, you must water your cannabis plants several times a week. In such a case, there is no need to feed nutrients every time you water the plants. While some people recommend feeding your plants with nutrients every time while watering, it may lead to access to nutrients.
The best way to feed nutrients to the cannabis plants is to feed them with every alternate watering session or simply twice a week. The plain water in between the nutrient watering prevents nutrients build up in the growing medium.
When should I stop giving my plants nutrients?
You should stop supplying nutrients to your cannabis plants when their growth approaches the harvest stage. You should stop feeding nutrients and water from 7 to 3 days before the harvest. Doing so will stress the plants, and they respond by putting all their resources towards bud growth, leading to larger potent buds. The ideal time to stop feeding and watering depends on the strain. However, any time within 7 to 3 days before harvest will lead to better bud growth.
Should I use Calmag every watering?
Calmag is a combination of calcium and magnesium as both are vital minerals for the growth and development of cannabis plants. The plants need calcium and magnesium at different stages of their growth. Therefore, you can use Calmag with every watering session until the plants reach their later stages of growth. However, you should stop using Calmag in the last stages of growth if the plants are in good health.
Final Note
Feeding the plants with every watering session depends on the growth phase, size of planters, and climatic conditions. Feeding the nutrients with alternate watering or twice a week is a good practice. Calmag can be used with every watering session. Feeding the nutrients should be stopped 7 to 3 days before the harvest, and stop using Calmag in the last stages of plant growth. Following these tips for feeding and watering the Cannabis plants would help you get better yields every year.
