Hemp fertilisers are essential to give hemp plants the nutrients they need to thrive and achieve optimal results. Fertilising consists of providing plants with nutrients in order to feed them properly and allow them to carry out their natural processes effectively. In general, hemp plants absorb nutrients mainly through their roots, although they can also do so, to a lesser extent, through the cuticle and stomata of the leaves.
¿Cómo abonar el cañamo?
To fertilise your hemp flowers, there are three main options that can make a difference to the growth and quality of your plants:
- Abonos o aditivos líquidos que se mezclan con el agua de riego.
- Abonos o aditivos en polvo que se mezclan con el sustrato o se espolvorean sobre la tierra.
- Abonos o aditivos líquidos que se diluyen en agua y se aplican mediante pulverización en las hojas (fertilización foliar).
It is important to bear in mind that each plant is unique and has specific nutritional needs. That is why it is crucial to choose the right type of fertiliser for your plants and follow the application instructions carefully to avoid nutrient excess or deficiency.
Tipos de nutrientes
Hemp plants need correct, balanced nutrition to ensure optimal development throughout the growing cycle. Macronutrients, the most abundant components, and micronutrients, those required in smaller amounts, are essential for the plant’s metabolism to work properly.
Nutrients can be classified into three groups according to their importance and proportion in the plant: primary macronutrients such as Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium; secondary macronutrients such as Calcium, Magnesium and Sulphur; and micronutrients such as Iron, Copper, Manganese, Zinc, Molybdenum, Boron, Chlorine, Silicon and Sodium.
The right proportion of these nutritional elements, according to the plant’s needs at each stage of its life cycle (rooting, growth and flowering), is crucial to ensure optimum yield. It is also important to consider other factors such as container size, the condition of the substrate, the root system and environmental conditions, in order to apply the right amount of fertiliser.
Qué nutrientes usar
First of all, it is important to adapt your purchases to your budget, but without skimping on fertiliser quality if you can afford it. If you are looking for a varied harvest with original aromas, organic fertilisers are the best option. On the other hand, if you are looking for economical nutrition and a high yield, mineral fertilisers are your best choice, although you may lose some of the original flavour and aroma of each strain. If you prefer something in between, bio-mineral fertilisers are a good option.
Además, debes considerar el medio de cultivo o sustrato que vayas a utilizar, ya que no se abona de la misma forma un sustrato de coco que un cultivo en tierra o en cultivos hidropónicos o aeropónicos.
Es importante tener en cuenta que no todo lo orgánico es bueno ni todo lo mineral es malo. La procedencia de los componentes de un abono es fundamental, ya que no es lo mismo usar un compost o humus de zonas industriales o contaminadas que uno obtenido de zonas naturales poco explotadas. Del mismo modo, no es lo mismo la calidad de los minerales empleados para hacer medicamentos que los utilizados para la industria, que son menos refinados. Por ello, es fundamental considerar la composición y procedencia de los abonos.
Cuándo abonar tus plantas de cáñamo
A crucial distinction when growing hemp plants is the difference between watering and fertilising. While watering simply refers to hydrating the plants, fertilising involves supplying essential nutrients. It is important to stress that fertilising is not always necessary, as in some cases plants may only need water.
As for when to fertilise hemp plants, there is no universal rule, as each crop is unique and has its own needs. Factors such as the type of substrate, pot size, environmental conditions and the condition of the plants are crucial in determining the right time to fertilise.
In general, it is recommended to apply low doses of fertiliser more frequently rather than one high dose on a single occasion. This reduces the risk of nutrient excess and makes it easier to identify and correct deficiencies. In conclusion, fertilising is a fundamental aspect of growing hemp plants and requires a personalised, precise approach to achieve healthy, thriving growth.
Abonado durante el enraizado
Once the seed has germinated and the plant has been planted, it is essential to give it a boost during the first weeks of growth to ensure optimum development. Root stimulants are the ideal option to speed up the formation of the root system, providing phytohormones and nutrients that improve the overall health of the plant at its most delicate stage.
En cuanto al abono de crecimiento, es importante tener en cuenta el tipo de sustrato utilizado. Si se ha optado por un sustrato inerte, como el coco o la lana de roca, es necesario comenzar a utilizar el abono desde el inicio del cultivo. Por otro lado, si se ha elegido una tierra previamente abonada, es necesario informarse acerca de la cantidad de nutrientes que ya contiene antes de aplicar cualquier abono adicional.
For rooting, it is recommended to follow the manufacturer’s dosage for the growth fertiliser, starting with a third of the amount during the first weeks and gradually increasing until reaching the recommended dosage within two weeks.
Abonado durante el crecimiento
During the growth stage of hemp plants, their goal is to create new roots and expand above ground with their stems and leaves. To achieve this, nutrients are essential, and the most demanded at this stage is nitrogen, followed by potassium and phosphorus.
Nitrogen deficiency is the most common problem during the growth stage and shows in the plant as a loss of greenness in its overall appearance. Fortunately, it can be easily solved with a growth fertiliser or a nitrogen mononutrient.
It is important to remember that, unless the manufacturer states otherwise, it is advisable to start with the minimum fertiliser dose once a week. If the plant needs more nutrients (shown by the overall green colour fading to a yellowish tone), you can increase the frequency of application, but never exceed the dose recommended by the manufacturer.
Rapid growth is a good sign, but it also means the plant is absorbing a lot of nutrients and must be fed accordingly. However, it is important to keep an eye on the plant’s appearance to avoid overfertilisation. If growth stops, reduce the amount of growth fertiliser and make sure the substrate is not too wet.
If the plants’ leaves are too dark green, show yellowing at the tips or curl like claws, it is a sign of overfertilisation. In these cases, you need to flush the roots before applying fertiliser again. You can do this by watering with three litres of water for every litre of pot capacity to remove unwanted salts.
It is important to bear in mind that both a lack and an excess of nutrients can affect the plant’s later production, but correcting an excess can be more complicated than solving a deficiency. As always, the key is finding the perfect balance.
Abonado durante la floración
In the flowering stage of CBD flowers, it is crucial to pay attention to plant nutrition, as mistakes can have a big impact on the quality and quantity of the harvest. During this stage, two main mistakes are common: not using enough fertiliser, which can result in a smaller yield but with good flavour, or overdoing the flowering fertiliser, which negatively affects the quality of the harvest.
In addition, at this stage it is harder to identify nutrient deficiencies, as the necessary nutrients may be present in the substrate but the plant cannot absorb them due to incorrect pH or EC. To avoid this, using enzymes once a week is recommended to keep the substrate balanced. It is also advisable to check the substrate’s conductivity by measuring the EC of the runoff water. If the EC of the water is above 2.5, it is advisable to flush the roots or use plain water in the next waterings until the EC of the runoff water drops.
During the flowering stage, CBD plants need more phosphorus and potassium and less nitrogen. From the second week after changing the light hours, you can start using flowering fertiliser at the minimum dose recommended by the manufacturer. It is important to increase the amount of fertiliser gradually until the ripening stage, when you should stop fertilising and flush the roots. It is crucial not to exceed the amount of fertiliser recommended by the manufacturer.
In addition to the base bloom fertiliser, there are metabolism and flowering stimulants such as Power Root that can help maximise plant yield. For maximum production, you can use bud bulkers or boosters, such as PK types containing phosphorus and potassium in different concentrations and ratios depending on the crop’s needs.
Abonado durante la maduración de los cogollos
During the last 7-10 days before harvest, it is recommended to stop fertilising to ensure that the buds contain minimal amounts of nutrients. This will guarantee that the hemp has an exceptional flavour and aroma, as the buds will be ripening just like fruit.
If you have exceeded the amount of fertiliser, it can be difficult to reduce the intensity of the plants’ colour and allow them to metabolise the excess nutrients. To remedy this, it is recommended to carry out one or two root flushes 7-10 days before harvest, using special cleaners that make the task easier. During this process, the leaves should turn a yellowish green and end up completely yellow, although not all types of hemp lose all their colour.
In the last days before harvest, it is advisable to water with small amounts of water and alternate periods of dryness and moisture. This will cause slight stress in the plant that will ripen its resin and reduce its structural water content. This way, you will obtain higher-quality buds with exceptional flavour. Remember that, in the process of growing hemp, every detail counts and can make a difference to the final quality of the product.
Consejos generales
To avoid problems, it is recommended to use reverse osmosis irrigation water or water with a low salt concentration. If this is not possible, one solution may be to add enzymes throughout the grow if you use tap water.
Another important factor to consider is the pH and EC of the water. Adjusting the pH and EC after mixing and before watering is essential to ensure your plants absorb nutrients correctly. Adjusting the acidity of the water and the salt concentration can make a difference to the growth and development of your plants.
Finally, it is important to be cautious with the dosage and frequency of fertilising. It is better to treat a deficiency than an excess, so we recommend being careful with the dosage and frequency of fertilising. With these tips, you will be able to ensure a healthy and successful grow.
Bibliografía y Fuentes Digitales
- Amaducci, S., Zatta, A., & Pelatti, F. (2015). Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) as a resource for different applications. Agronomy, 5(2), 200-233. doi: 10.3390/agronomy50202
- Álvarez, R., & Lavín, A. G. (2012). Industrial hemp cultivation (Cannabis sativa L.) in Spain. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
- Bozorgmehr, S., & Abbaspour-Fard, M. H. (2020). Evaluation of different levels of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers on yield and yield components of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) in field conditions. Industrial Crops and Products, 152, 112489. doi: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2020.112489
- A. F. Mustafa, J. J. McKinnon, and D. A. Christensen (1998). The nutritive value of hemp meal for ruminants
- Elzinga, S., Fischedick, J., Podkolinski, R., & Raber, J. C. (2015). Cannabinoids and terpenes as chemotaxonomic markers in cannabis. Natural Products Chemistry & Research, 3(3), 1-9. doi: 10.4172/2329-6836.1000165
- Haney, A. W., & Varvel, G. E. (2017). Industrial hemp response to nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilization. Industrial Crops and Products, 109, 142-147.
| Pablo Ruiz Copywriter profesional . |
