The seedling stage of your marijuana plant is the most critical and sensitive. To ensure a healthy start and future for your plant, you will need to be familiar with potential marijuana seedling issues.
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Cannabis Seedling Problems
Cannabis Seedling Issues discussed on Seed Supreme include overwatering, underwatering, and nutritional deficiencies. These are avoidable issues that an intelligent or experienced grower will avoid, but beginner growers can also prevent them by completing their studies.
Overwatering
Although we call it “overwatering,” the issue is lack of oxygen, not water. Systems where plants are physically “planted” in water, operate fine as long as the water has enough dissolved oxygen. As many producers do, overwatering can gravely harm marijuana plants grown in containers. Overwatering causes drooping but not wilting.
If your seedling is in a large pot, chances are you’ll overwater it. Seedlings don’t need much water, and a large container takes a long time to dry. To avoid overcrowding your seedling, start it in a tiny container until it has grown sufficiently. Then transplant it to a bigger pot.
If you can no longer choose because the seedling is now in a huge container, you must change your watering strategy. Pour a small amount of water around the seedling in a circle.
The top inch of soil (up to your first knuckle) must be completely dry before watering again. Water runoff isn’t an issue with young seedlings until they grow sufficiently.
Plants grow quicker in smaller pots, so choose the right size and then transplant as they grow.
Having a huge seedling in a tiny pot is also not helpful. The size of the root system is more important than the plant’s height above the soil. A root-bound seedling (when the roots have wrapped themselves around the outside of the container, therefore not allowing water to escape through).
In addition to peculiar symptoms like drooping and nutrient deficits, root-bound plants often display unusual discoloration patterns.
Overwatering is often caused by poor drainage (or a lack thereof). Overwatering health issues occur when water cannot freely pass through the soil and out the container’s bottom. Avoid clay-based soils while picking your planting mix.
Ensure the container has enough drainage holes and isn’t jammed or clogged, impeding effective drainage.
The most common cause of overwatering is watering too frequently. Allow enough time for the soil to dry to ensure your roots get enough oxygen. Because roots quickly absorb oxygen from water, they need air spaces in the ground to survive. A lighter, airy potting mix (like Perlite) retains more oxygen than heavier soil.
Up to 30% Perlite can be added to the mix to maximize oxygen retention.
Using containers that allow air in through the sides and the top is another technique to boost soil oxygen levels.
Smart pots or Air Pots are examples. Another strategy to avoid overwatering is to water your plants less during the colder months. Their growth, functions, and water intake slows down at colder temperatures.
Underwatering Seedlings
Drooping, poor growth and dry soil are signs of underwatering. This is a major issue that occurs less frequently than overwatering. So they overcompensate in the opposite direction. It happens notably to beginners cautioned to ”never overwater your plants”.
A combination of underwatering and overnutrition causes dark green seedlings with twisted growth and discolored new development.
Plants need to be kept wet to ensure correct activities and processes due to continual water loss from leaves.
Plant processes stop if the roots cannot absorb water, and growth is greatly inhibited. Seeds begin to die when dried.
Underwatering is a much more significant health issue than overwatering. The soil must be moist enough to separate from the container for your plant to thrive.
Underwatering is a serious violation when paired with nutritional overload.
To remedy this, add more water to your plant’s soil. Regular watering should help them recover swiftly and effortlessly.
Your plant should be able to adjust to the “hot” soil mix as long as it receives enough water.
Nutrient Problems
Leaves that are yellow, crispy, speckled, or otherwise discolored indicate nutrient deficiencies. Simple: keep your marijuana seedlings green at all times. Nutrient issues can be caused by too many, too few, or the wrong kind of nutrients.
If your plant has tip burn and black leaves, it generally has nutrient toxicity. Untreated nutrient poisoning causes other signs like yellow lines on the seedling’s lower leaves.
If your plant lacks nutrients, its leaves will likely be pale or yellowing, with additional leaf discoloration indicators. A nitrogen deficit causes the leaves to turn brown and fold before becoming crispy and dropping off the plant. If the yellowing leaves are only on the newer growth, nitrogen is unlikely to be the culprit. A nitrogen deficit usually affects the oldest leaves at the plant’s base before subsequent leaves.
Bug problems can initially resemble vitamin deficits, so be cautious in interpreting symptoms. Your seedling’s nutrient issues may be due to a “hot” potting mix with loads of nutrients. The solution is simple: give the seedling enough water until it “grows out of it.”
Slow-release soils, like Miracle-Gro, can produce nutrient burn, reducing final yield and bud development in the flowering phase. Use only quick-release soil.
Don’t overfeed seedlings with nutrients. After the first several weeks of growth, add more nutrients if you start with a good potting mix.
Toxicity can occur quickly (in one night!) when you flood your plants with nutrients. Use only half of the suggested nutrient plan when first feeding your seedlings. Observe how your seedlings react, and then increase the dose.
If your seedlings lack nutrients, it is most likely a nitrogen shortage. Using a soilless medium without adding hydro fertilizers can result in nutrient deficiencies. In a soil-based system, the grower may not supply nutrients after the plant has used up the soil. Soil nutrients are absorbed and consumed by the plant, so you will constantly need to add more.
Incorrect nutrients are one of the most common causes of nutrient insufficiency. Use the proper blend at the right time in your life. Use a vegetative formula for seedlings and a bloom recipe for flowering and budding. Once the plant is fully matured, you must consider flowering and harvesting.
A pH imbalance is another typical marijuana nutritional issue. Maintain a balanced pH level, and be aware that it will fluctuate. Overwatering can create nutritional deficiencies. If you plant your seedlings in too tiny a container, they will get root-bound and show signs of nutrient inadequacies. Bug problems can initially resemble vitamin deficits, so be cautious in interpreting symptoms.
Summary
Your seedlings will need a wet habitat, warm temperatures, and light. They won’t be hungry. If you follow these guidelines, your seedlings should be happy and healthy.
Remember that plants with robust genetics are less susceptible to diseases, deficiencies, pests, and environmental challenges. So, Always buy marijuana seeds from a reputable seed bank.
