Cannabis Leaves Turning Yellow: Reasons and What to Do

Cannabis leaves turning yellow is possibly one of the most common problems when growing cannabis plants. It is equitably the same when growing other potted plants. There are ups and downs. Though in general, one green leaf turning yellow isn’t a worry. However, when a couple more gradually follows until nearly all leaves are yellow, then there must be something needed to be done. If cannabis leaves turning yellow is your problem, you are required to do a necessary check-up and tracing. 

To start with, there are different angles to look into why your cannabis leaves have turned yellow. As you have discerned, cannabis plants are highly sensitive plants. Whatever you gave them, they react immensely to it. When you see your leaves becoming yellow, there’s no need to panic. A clear head is needed to get to know the main source of this. It is fortunate that after years of cultivation, cannabis growers have accumulated information on how to suitably take care of your plant and save them when they turn to deteriorate. 

There’s no call to panic if it’s your first time growing your cannabis plant. There is no such point as perfect growth, but when problems arise, there are the most suitable solutions provided to keep you going. Cannabis leaves turning yellow isn’t something to get miserable about. Know the reasons and learn what you can do to respond to the problem well. 

Yellow Cannabis Leaves – How Science See it

You may have learned about the plant’s structure and growth when you were in middle school. Your Biology teacher must have explained it further. But to give you a little review, your cannabis leaving turning yellow has a scientific explanation behind it. 

You might remember that a leaf is made of different plant cells. These different plant cells are from organelles named chloroplast. The job of the chloroplast is for photosynthesis.  Inside the chloroplast is the chlorophyll which is mainly color green. Other nondominant colors will include yellow and orange carotenoids. The main job of the chlorophyll is to absorb light and heat from the sun. Through photosynthesis, the light is turned into sugar, which is then used for the plant’s growth. 

If the plants are healthy and strong, chlorophyll will increase making the leaves green and lush, however, when the plant is stressed out, the chlorophyll will decrease leaving the yellow and orange carotenoids behind. Thus, the yellow or orange color of the cannabis leaves. Therefore, it is concluded that a stress-free plant grows well compared to an unhealthy and stressed cannabis plant.

Accurate Investigation 

The best thing to do is give an accurate and thorough investigation of your cannabis leaves turning yellow. First, if there are only a couple, say two or three leaves turning yellow, there is no need to panic. Simply pluck the leaves off or get scissors. You wouldn’t want to let the yellow leaves stay on your plant.  But if you see most of the leaves turning yellow or starting to run yellow, put the scissors down and investigate. There can be several causes of why this happened. 

One point to consider is the life cycle of the cannabis plant. A few cannabis leaves turning yellow in the flowering stage is normal because this is when the plant continues to grow new leaves each day. Thus, the old leaves wither and may die. This usually happens during the final week of the flowering stage. This is likewise the same when the plant is nearing harvest time. Because there is no need to continue the nutrients, most cannabis leaves will turn yellow. 

However, if the following factors don’t meet the situation of your plant, then it’s time to know the causes of your cannabis leaves turning yellow and see how you can fix it.

Reasons and Solutions for Cannabis Leaves Turning Yellow

Most of the cannabis growers experienced noticing their cannabis leaves turning yellow, and the reasons depend entirely on different options. Know the possible reasons and how to solve them right away. 

Nitrogen Deficiency

Your cannabis plants will need nutrients, especially nitrogen to help it develop well and healthy. Get a close observation at the cannabis plant. If you detect yellow leaves mainly at the base on the plant and near the roots, then this may be the crisis. These yellow leaves are loose and soft to pluck. This is caused by the depletion of nutrients and not sufficient nitrogen absorbed from the soil. If you forgo spraying any cannabis nutrients, chances are, the leaves may turn yellow. 

The good message is, it is simple to fix. Transfer the plant to a new pot with wholesome and healthy soil, then go to the shop and acquire organic nitrogen and nutrients to get the required supplements for the plant. Observe it for a few days and see if the leaves stopped turning yellow.

When it likewise comes to nutrients, you will likewise need to constantly check the amount of pH level. Get a pH level test kit. The pH level of the soil must be around six to seven ph. Once they go over or beyond, the leaves will look burnt and discolored.

Overwatering or Underwatering

This mistake is mostly done by beginner growers who have no idea of the proper way to water cannabis plants. Since cannabis plants are special plants, they likewise need a special way of watering. Cannabis plants don’t need a lot of water. You will need the right amount of water to keep the soil moist and damp, and not dripping wet. Check the topsoil now and then, if it is still moist, consider watering a few hours later. Let the roots absorb all the moisture before watering again. 

You can use a container with holes on the base so water can drip into them. You don’t need bigger pots. Use the one that cannabis can fit perfectly. Additionally, if your plant is still smaller, they won’t need too much water. Use this to test your plant; when your plant bow while you water them, it means you are overwatering and when your plant perks up after watering, it means you are underwatering it.

Light Burn 

When the yellow leaves are in the top of the plant, or closer to the source of light, then the reason for your cannabis leaves turning yellow might be light burn. When your cannabis plants get too close to the light, it may burn the leaves causing it to turn yellow. 

Move your light farther away, maybe more than four inches or so away from the plants. You can put the plant in a clear glass to avoid too much light and harm the plant. This is better especially if you use LED.

Pests and Bugs

The deadliest enemies of the cannabis plant are the pests and bugs. They seem to appear out of nowhere and before you know it, your plants are already infected. Though some of them are easy to find and get because of the marks they leave behind, but some disappear and come back. The primary causes of these might be the bad airflow, uncleaned growing space, and overwatering.  

Since there are different kinds of cannabis pests and bugs, you need to identify them first to get rid of them. You can use organic insecticides or carefully removed the pests and bugs and throw them out. Check your growing spaces for any small holes. When you check them, make sure you are also clean and free of any dirt.

Conclusion 

It always comes to a point where cannabis leaves turning yellow isn’t something to be scared about. The different solutions will help you keep your plants safe and healthy again. It could be hard to prevent cannabis leaves from turning yellow, but doing the necessary things to cure them is possible. Cannabis leaves turning yellow is a way of your cannabis plant to tell you what’s wrong with your plant and the ways you grow it. It is giving you a chance to make necessary adjustments. 

As said, there is no perfect formula for growing the cannabis plant. It’s a constant trial and error. But with a few aides from the trusted tips and helpful tools, you will get a good yield in the end. Planting cannabis can be fun so enjoy the process and face the challenges head-on.