What Steps to Take for Watering and Maintaining Marijuana
Cannabis plants require significant amounts of water to thrive. This liquid plays a role in every biological process carried out by the plant. A lack of water damages the plant, and it may not survive if it goes without this substance for a period. What do growers need to know when it comes to watering their marijuana plants?
While marijuana plants thrive in the wild with little interference, this isn't the case when cannabis plants are grown indoors. Men and women need to avoid underwatering the plant, and overwatering is just as harmful to cannabis. Common sense helps a person know when they need to care for their crops, but help might be needed. What are the guidelines for watering marijuana plants?
The Water Source
When growing cannabis, water the developing plants with filtered or reverse osmosis or filtered water. Rainwater is another option to consider. Water from the tap carries minerals that may harm cannabis. Unfiltered tap water can be used when other sources of water aren't readily available, but this water should be tested to see what minerals are present. Furthermore, external factors play a role in the plant's ability to process the water. Water should be approximately 68 degrees Fahrenheit to protect the plant from thermal shock.
When to Water
Plants need water throughout their development. Growers should establish a watering schedule before germinating the first marijuana seeds. Underwatering leads to dehydration and the plant failing to thrive. Overwatering brings about water logging and root rot. How can one know how much water is needed?
When the plant is in the seedling stage, mist it with a water bottle. Once the seed pushes through the soil, the soil can dry slightly before the plants need more water. As the plant grows, it can handle additional stress. Consider investing in a growing medium to reduce the amount of water needed. Furthermore, water plants during the morning, as the sun ensures the water is properly used.
How Much Water?
The amount of water a cannabis plant need varies based on several factors. The soil in which the plants are grown, the nutrients provided to the plant, air circulation, temperature, and more play a role in water requirements. As mentioned earlier, the plant's stage of development must be considered when providing water.
Mature plants need more water than seedlings. However, a grower can provide more water to mature plants less often. Larger containers hold more water for the plants to use. Nevertheless, when the plant reaches the late flowering stages, the grower may provide less water.
Growers should monitor their plants and adjust the water schedule accordingly. One way to do so is to weigh the pot when the soil is dry and then again when the soil is soaked. The pot can then be weighed in the future to see if water is needed. The goal is to find a happy medium between dry and soaked, as moist soil is what cannabis plants prefer.
When watering the plant, never fill a pitcher and pour the water in one spot. Slowly add water to the pot, moving the pitcher or watering can around when doing so. This ensures the water can provide the plant with the necessary nutrients. Dumping water in one spot leads to channels forming in the soil, and these channels allow water to drain rapidly. As a result, the plant doesn't get what it needs.
As a grower gains experience with cannabis plants, they find it easier to know when the plants need water. Keep a journal with the amount of water provided to the plants and the response of the plants. This journal may also include information about the temperature, humidity, and more. Growers find by recording all they do with their plants, it becomes easier to see where changes are needed to increase the yield and grow excellent cannabis.
