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Category: Case Study
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Understanding Nutrient Deficiencies in Cannabis: Insights from the Cannabis Business Times
The Cannabis Business Times, recently published an article discussing the complexities of distinguishing between potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg) deficiencies in cannabis plants.Both nutrients are vital for plant growth, but their deficiency symptoms often mimic each other, making it hard to confidently identify the issue. Potassium primarily affects water transport and sugar movement, with deficiencies showing up as yellowing on the edges of older leaves. Magnesium, essential for photosynthesis, causes interveinal chlorosis (yellowing between veins) in older leaves.
At Arvum Plant Labs, we see this challenge frequently in our tissue analysis work. Misdiagnosing K or Mg deficiencies can lead to unnecessary interventions or prolonged stress on the plants, reducing overall yields. Leaf tissue analysis is critical to understanding the actual nutrient status of your cannabis crop. By regularly analyzing leaf samples, growers can prevent or correct nutrient imbalances before they become visible and affect the plant’s growth.
The article also emphasizes the importance of keeping K and Mg within certain ranges in fertilizer solutions to prevent deficiencies, which mirrors our own recommendations based on years of tissue test data from cannabis growers.
Periodic tissue analysis can serve as a preventative measure, enabling growers to identify nutrient deficiencies before they become a problem. At Arvum Plant Labs, we specialize in helping cannabis cultivators fine-tune their nutrient regimens by providing accurate and timely tissue analysis results. This allows for proactive adjustments and more consistent, high-quality yields, avoiding costly mistakes in nutrient management.
The original article serves as a valuable resource for understanding these nuances, and we highly recommend reading it for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of nutrient management in cannabis.
(Credit: The original article appeared in the Cannabis Business Times.)
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Hit it with Cal-Mag!
Hey Folks! I was lurking in the Cannabis Cultivation subreddit earlier this week and saw a couple of posts where someone (the OP) was looking for advice from the community about a visual issue with their plants. In both cases the consensus from the community was that it was a magnesium issue and OP just needed to give it some Cal-Mag and it would perk right up. The responses made me chuckle, not because the commenters are wrong, but because it completely matches up with stories my colleague Sam tells me about his experiences working as a commercial cannabis cultivator. Since we’re focusing on magnesium this month in our posts I thought that this was the perfect opportunity to get Sam’s thoughts on all things Cal-Mag. This is what he had to say.
Thoughts About Cal-Mag
“I love Cal-Mag and I think that it is a great product in the right circumstance. However, the pervasive reliance on Cal-Mag as a magic fix-all for all cannabis-related maladies has evolved into a running joke within the cultivation community.
Is a plant looking slightly lackluster? Spray it with Cal-Mag. Are the leaves looking a little yellow? It needs some Cal-Mag. Not sure what’s going on? Just give it some Cal-Mag! This knee-jerk reaction to saturate it with a Cal-Mag foliar spray is a practice many growers, myself included, have engaged in at some point in their careers. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve walked into a room and said, “F*CK IT, hit it with Cal-Mag” It’s a quick fix that seems to work like magic, prompting the plants to regain their vibrancy and vitality. Yet, the danger lies in the deceptive allure of vibrant, green foliage. Behind this façade, a more insidious problem may linger, masked by the superficial improvement in plant appearance.. Yes, hitting the plants with a dose of Cal-Mag may cause them to look better, but are they actually better? Or did the Cal-Mag just give you a false sense of security?
Cal-Mag As a Tool, Not a Fix-All
The irony is that relying solely on visual cues to diagnose and rectify nutrient deficiencies or excesses is akin to wielding a double-edged sword. The intricacies of cannabis nutrition reveal a sobering reality – issues related to nutrient imbalances or deficiencies often incubate beneath the surface for extended periods. Interestingly, it can take anywhere from 4 to 9 weeks for nutritional problems to become evident through visible leaf symptoms. There are instances where a timely Cal-Mag application addresses the immediate issue, but it’s important to understand why. Cal-Mag is a tool and when used properly will help your plants achieve their maximum potential, but it’s not a fix-all.
Many of the most commonly used Cal-Mag formulations incorporate calcium and magnesium nitrate, which contain substantial amounts of nitrate nitrogen. This means that for every unit of calcium, two nitrates are introduced. Consequently, this may lead to an excess of nitrate, resulting in an aesthetically pleasing dark green color, but potentially overloading the plant. The issues with excessive levels of magnesium have already been covered here. Just to expand on that post with my own thoughts, excessive levels of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) in cannabis plants pose various risks such as,
- Nutrient imbalances that hinder the uptake of essential elements, potentially leading to deficiencies.
- Nutrient toxicity, causing symptoms like leaf burn and necrosis.
- An overabundance of Ca and Mg can disrupt the pH levels of the growing medium, affecting nutrient availability.
- The accumulation of excess minerals may reduce water uptake, leading to dehydration and stress.
- Elevated Ca and Ma levels may compromise the quality of cannabis flowers, impacting cannabinoid and terpene production.
When Should I Use Cal-Mag?
So clearly Cal-Mag shouldn’t be used in every situation because there can be real unintended consequences, and without knowing for sure what the nutrient issue with the plant actually is it may also just be a waste of money. So when should you use extra Cal-Mag? That question is why plant nutrient analysis is so important. Nutrient analysis of leaf tissue helps you know exactly what your plant’s nutrient levels are so that you know what your plants need.
Incorporating Nutrient Analysis of Leaf Tissue
Ultimately the advent of mainstream acceptance of cannabis cultivation has brought with it a wealth of new technologies and information previously inaccessible during our traditional market days. As our understanding deepens, the pitfalls of relying solely on quick-fix solutions like Cal-Mag become apparent. It should prompt us to reevaluate our approach, recognizing that comprehensive and proactive nutrient management, guided by emerging technologies and informed practices, is essential for sustaining both yield and quality in the burgeoning realm of contemporary cannabis cultivation.
Testing with Arvum Plant Labs
Want to stop guessing about what’s going on with your plants and know for sure? Arvum offers a free round of testing to all new customers as a way to demonstrate the power of plant nutrient analysis.
It’s better to know for sure! Call us at 707-398-8346 to receive your free round of plant nutrient analysis and get objective data about your plants’ nutrient levels!
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Case Study: A Common Culprit to Excessive Boron in Cannabis Cultivation
The Situation:
In December 2023 a Northern California indoor cultivator contacted us about some concerns that they had with their plants. After a round of plant tissue and water tests we quickly identified excessive levels of Boron, a micronutrient that is essential for optimal plant performance, but in high concentrations can be detrimental to plant health and performance. Read our previous blog about the effects of excessive and deficient boron in your plants.
Here’s a more extensive breakdown of our approach, our treatment recommendations, and the ultimate results.
Approach:
We approached this problem by integrating two key testing methods: Reverse Osmosis (RO) water testing and leaf tissue analysis.
- RO Water Test (Initial): On December 27, 2023, we analyzed primary analytes such as pH, Electroconductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), and micronutrients, including Boron. The results showed concerning levels of TDS and Boron, which was indicative of a potential issue with the water filtration system.
- Leaf Tissue Analysis: Along with water testing, we examined the nutrient levels of the plant with leaf tissue analysis. We found excessive levels of Boron in the plant, which indicated that the RO filtration system was not operating at 100% and was allowing Boron to leach through the system and into the plant.
Taking Action:
We recommended that the cultivator have their RO filtration system serviced by a knowledgeable technician as soon as possible. We made a plan to retest the water and the plant tissue after the maintenance was done.
Results
Following the maintenance on the water filtration system we retested the water from the RO system on February 1, 2024. These test results showed no Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and the Boron levels were well within a normal range that you would expect with RO water.
On February 21st we retested the plant tissue and found the Boron levels to be back within the optimal range for cannabis.
The repair of the RO water filtration system had a direct and positive impact on the water quality. This was evidenced by the improved readings in the post-repair water test, aligning with the optimal requirements for cannabis cultivation. The subsequent decrease in boron levels in the plant tissue confirmed our suspicion that an underperforming water filtration system was the culprit as to why the Boron levels in the plants were high.
Key Takeaways
- Integrated Testing Approach: The use of both RO water tests and plant tissue analysis is crucial in identifying and addressing issues in plant cultivation environments where RO filtration is used.
Proper Maintenance of RO Filtration Systems: This case also underscores the critical importance of regular and proper maintenance of RO water filtration systems in agricultural settings. In this instance, the lack of maintenance led to the malfunctioning of the RO system, which in turn caused excessive boron levels in the water and subsequently in the plant tissue. Regular checks and timely maintenance of the filtration systems are crucial in preventing such nutrient imbalances, ensuring the optimal growth environment for crops, and averting potential issues that can impact plant health and yield.
Finishing Up
This case study exemplifies the importance of comprehensive testing and the synergy between water quality and plant tissue analysis in maintaining optimal growing conditions. At Arvum Plant Labs, we remain committed to employing scientific methods to enhance plant health and cultivation practices
Are you having issues with plant performance but not sure of the cause? Do you want to make sure that there is nothing going on that you can’t see yet that could cause issues in the future? We can help you quickly diagnose issues and potential issues from an objective, scientific perspective. Arvum Plant Labs offers all new customers a free round of water and plant tissue testing to help make sure that your plants are growing optimally.
Call us at 707-398-8346 or email us at sales@arvumplantlabs.com to claim your free round of testing.