Just like any other plant, cannabis needs water to survive and thrive. Water is being used by plants to transport nutrients all over the system. It is absorbed through the roots before it is distributed together with the minerals and nutrients to different parts of the plant. This is part of the reason why watering pot plants is important throughout their lifespan.
In marijuana cultivation, water is derived from many sources. Marijuana plants that are grown outdoors have enough water drawn from the soil while indoor plants would have to rely on regular watering schedules for the plant to receive the water it needs to grow.
Importance of Watering Pot Plants
Plants have around 80% of the water in them. Marijuana and many other plants get their source of water through the soil and into the roots. There are a lot of reasons why watering pot plants is important. Since plants are mostly made up of water, it is needed to have a regular supply of water to provide structure to the plant.
Another reason why growers should regularly water their plants is that it allows the plant to cool down. Heat plays a major role in the development of the plant and without proper watering, it can cause stunted growth. In marijuana farming, this can cause issues with potency and lack of flavor.
Apart from that, watering your marijuana plants is needed for the process called photosynthesis. During the creation of carbohydrates in photosynthesis, the process will require different chemicals such as carbon dioxide and water to form carbohydrates which are then distributed throughout the plant.
When to Start Watering Pot Plants
Proper watering is needed even from the start of the plant’s life cycle. While seeds have not yet developed roots to retrieve water from the soil, watering them is important as it prevents the seeds from drying up. Watering pot plants when they reach a sizeable stage is key to the overall development of the plant itself.
There are a lot of factors that you need to determine first before you start watering pot plants. The size of the plant, the root level, the temperature, humidity, and the stage of plant development are just a few that you need to consider to determine the amount of water needed for your plants. A good rule is to follow on when to start watering your plants is when the soil is about to get dry.
Marijuana plants will need to have a different way of watering since it highly affects the overall development of the plant. Seedlings will need to be watered differently than developed plants. It is wise to spray the seedlings with water to keep them from drying up. Drowning them with water will only cause them to die early on. When the seedlings develop roots, this is the right time for you to start watering them.
The seedlings will begin to acquire water from the soil and this can cause the soil to dry out briefly. It is best to leave the seedlings in a short period of dryness as it helps lower the risk of developing molds and fungi that would destroy your crops.
The best time to water your plants is in the morning right before the temperature rises due to environmental factors like the sun. Watering them in the evening will increase the risk of mold infestation.
Proper Watering And Drainage
The amount of water that you give to your cannabis plants differs from the size of the plant, the type of soil you used, the temperature of your grow area and the properties of the water that you use. As soon as the cannabis plants start to mature, they begin to exude more heat thus increasing the temperature of their surrounding. This often causes lesser moisture and the plants will need to have better airflow at this point.
Large leaves can increase the evaporation rate and the metabolism of the plants also generate heat. In this case, large plants will need to have larger amounts of water than those that are smaller. Keep in mind that during the late stages of the flowering period, the plants will require lesser water.
Experienced growers can often tell if there is a need for watering pot plants by trying to lift the plant to see if it is light. If it is light then it would need water since most of the moisture has already evaporated.
Drainage is another factor that needs to be prepared by growers of cannabis. Many indoor cannabis strains are often grown in pots and trays. Proper drainage of water from these plants will lead to better development. A poor drainage system will result in overwatering where the plants are soaked in water and could be the breeding ground for bacteria and the infestation of molds and fungi.
Knowing Watering Issues
Upon knowing how to water your cannabis plants, it is also very relevant and significant to also determine and understand the different watering issues that cannabis plants face. This way, growers can identify potential issues that may cause damage to the overall production of their crops.
Watering issues happen when watering pot plants are not done right. Signs and symptoms of water-related issues include brown and burnt leaves, spotting in the leaves, weak stems, slow growth, drooping plants, brown and smelly roots.
1. Overwatering
Affected roots will need a lot of time to recover and could even go south if it is not determined immediately. Overwatering can lead to various diseases and pests thrive in rotting roots and can damage your overall production. Overwatering is one of the leading issues amongst many new marijuana growers. More often, they assume that the soil is dry hence the plants will need watering once again. This would only add more water from beneath the surface that will later cause overwatering.
Overwatering creates an anaerobic environment within the root area causing less oxygen to be absorbed by the roots and into the plant. Constant exposure to overwatering can lead to rotting and the roots lose their strength to function properly. The plant would begin to wilt away once this happens.
To resolve this issue, proper and regular schedule is needed for your plants. Timing in between watering schedule is essential to allow time to absorb all the water. For pots that do not have proper drainage, avoid providing them with excess water as much as possible.
2. Underwatering
Underwatering is the polar opposite of overwatering. The cannabis plants receive less water and die from thirst. This problem is quite similar to overwatering as it is a case of negligence from the grower. When the plant is being underwatered, it starts to use up all the resources from within the plant. Note that the plant is made up mostly of water and when it starts to use its source of water, the leaves begin to wilt and the plant stops developing branches and leaves as a compromise for its needs.
The lack of water would also mean that the distribution of minerals and nutrients into the plant would be sacrificed as well. There will be a shortage of carbohydrates and protein production. In time, the marijuana plant will begin to show signs of malnutrition. Adding fertilizer to try and resolve this issue will not matter as the plant lacks the vehicle to transport all the nutrients to all parts of the system.
Most growers would not recognize that their plants are experiencing underwatering until it is too late for them. The most common sign that your plants are underwatered is when they show bright and withering leaves. Wilting is a recognizable sign that the plant needs water. Growers can easily fix this issue by simply watering the plants. To revive a dying plant, use pH-balanced water to hydrate and nourish your plant back to life. By then, you can start adding fertilizer to provide ample nutrients to the plant.
3. pH Level
If you find yourself still having issues with your plants even when you have properly followed your watering schedules, then it is time to check the pH level of the water you are using. Use a pH tester first before using the water to hydrate your plants. Alkaline soil poses a threat to the overall health of your plants while acidic soil is usually tied to overfeeding your plants with fertilizer.
In this case, check the content of your water. Most major areas today often have chlorinated water which can cause a decrease in pH level in the water. This prevents the nutrients from the soil and fertilizer from being absorbed by the plant which can lead to nutrient deficiency.
Conclusion
Water is an essential aspect of the growth of all living things. Just like humans, cannabis plants need sustenance in the form of light, air, soil, and water to thrive. Watering pot plants is an important part of growing cannabis and without the correct procedure, your plants can suffer and you may end up having to restart with your production. The best way to keep your plants healthy is to check if it is watered first. By then, you will get to know what to do with your cannabis plants.
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