High nutrient levels are not typical in nature, so when nutrients are encountered, all are welcome. In fact, at certain pH levels, plants can uptake lethal nutrient concentrations. This also brings to mind the fact that once the nutrients have been flushed from the root zone, the chemistry is altered, and the pH is exposed to variations. This can further reduce nutrient absorption. Under normal growing conditions, when nutrient availability exceeds demand, plants will store nutrients.
When availability is low, they will cannibalize older plant material, robbing NPK and magnesium, and moving them to needy growing points.
Think about that. Flushing causes nutrients, especially nitrogen, to be moved into the buds to support growth. So although growers aim to remove nitrogen from the buds by flushing, the plant concentrates nutrients in the buds from other places in the plant.
These nutrient concentrations are less than if the plant were nourished during the flush week, but concentrating less in the plant biomass is entirely different than removing nutrients from the biomass. Now that the plant has found a way around the lack of NPK and magnesium, it needs calcium. But the calcium supply needed to complete potential growth is limited. Calcium is not relocatable; it is laid down in tissue cell walls and, thereafter, immobile.
If all external nutrients are cut off, the plant will not be able to put on the new growth that captures water in the biomass, adding the majority of mass to new growth. Calcium and magnesium are seldom cut off completely, however. Other than reverse-osmosis water, the water used to flush contains some amount of both calcium and magnesium. So even in flush, plants are typically receiving some critical nutrients, which means that plants generally do not totally stop adding weight.
But the removal of nutrients does result in a significant reduction in plant growth. A simple test is to put two flower plants unsupported — no trellis on bathroom scales and watch how the weight varies over time. That weight will steadily increase through flower, and slow down or level off following a flush. Compare that to a plant for which nutrients are not withheld during that last week.
The mass of the nourished plant should surpass that of a flushed plant. That is not a guess, it is a certainty, which means that flushing costs yield.
The difference between the final weight of the nourished plant and that of the flushed plant represents the yield that is forgone in the name of quality. We believe most growers recognize they are trading yield in favor of the quality enhancements. But it is not clear they have an appreciation for what exactly that quality is costing them or what exactly is being gained.
Nutrients are locked in the plant, and an external flush cannot undo the complex biology that locked them in. The levels of nutrients concentrated in plant tissue are up to 1, times more concentrated than those nutrients in the root zone. One-hundred ppm nitrogen solutions produce plants whose leaves can contain upwards of 10, ppm of nitrogen. Since we have established that none of those 10, ppm are going anywhere but within the plant, we are looking for explanation of how that concentration is being reduced by a flush to the extent it can affect flavor.
Personal experience is the best teacher. There are thousands of plants out there right now that are just about to be flushed, and anyone can flush one set of plants, while nourishing another during the last week in flower. So if you want to help forward cannabis cultivation knowledge, run that test on some of your plants and get back to us.
But that is science: You make a claim and test it. If the data comes back in support of not flushing, then growers may well want to rethink their growing plan. If the data comes back in favor of flushing, we know we have not considered all the variables, and we will set out in search of those.
In the meantime, we all get to exercise our brains a little. Kerrie has been involved with plants her entire lifetime and earned certification as a Professional Horticulturalist by the year-old American Society for Horticulture Sciences. Bud growth increased, along with the rapid pick up of trichomes. It was time to start pre-harvest prep. What Is Decarboxylation?! The Basics Explained. Even if you convert the flower into an edible, the nutrient residue remains and is possibly toxic.
When heated, fertilizer and pesticide residues can change into very detrimental compounds like hydrogen cyanide —very bad news. Only the purest product for me, especially now that I control cultivation as a home grower.
Organic fertilizers and pesticides are always best for my garden and a necessity for me since my Boston Terrier Molly shares the space with all of us. Cannabis homegrowers have several options available at various price points when sourcing water for a garden, each with its pros and cons. The options below represent the most practical water sourcing methods available to the average homegrower, but keep in mind that other sources are available.
Contrary to popular belief, using unfiltered tap water on cannabis is not a death sentence for plants. This type of water varies greatly depending on the municipality and its water treatment protocols. Some cities use incredibly hard water with high levels of contaminants such as chlorine, calcium, and magnesium. One trick to rid water of chlorine is to let your water sit out for hours. Doing so will allow ample time for chemicals to evaporate, making tap water usable for growing.
This option may not be available for growers living in cities with heavily treated water systems. Organic growers will also find that chemicals in treated water may have a negative impact on biological life in soil.
You can create a system to collect rainwater or gray water. These systems work very well under the right circumstances and can be both inexpensive and environmentally friendly. Water collection systems, such as rainwater and gray water catches, can last for long periods of time with little maintenance and can be scaled for any size garden.
Systems like this are especially useful in climates with dry periods where water saving is encouraged. Unfortunately, many jurisdictions have ordinances that either completely prohibit or set strict limits on the collection of rainwater and the reuse of gray water. Proponents of these restrictions argue that there are health and safety concerns. Although setting up a simple water catching system can be inexpensive, there is still some start-up capital required.
Water that has been collected either by rain or by reuse will also need to be filtered and stored properly, requiring filter systems and specially graded storage containers built to withstand the elements without risk of contamination or breaking. Most grocery stores and shopping centers have bottled distilled water and many companies offer water delivery services at reasonable prices.
This water is affordable in low quantities and easy to source. Bottled water also has a big negative impact on the environment, in the resources needed to create containers for the water and resources needed to transport the water, such as fuel. Trash is also a consideration with water containers. For large-scale marijuana growers with less financial restrictions, water filtration systems are the go-to option for an unlimited supply of clean water.
The technique can also be used in the vegetative phase to remove excess nutrients from the soil. Sure, nutrients keep your plant healthy and ensure optimal yields, but too much can cause nutrient lockout; a state where plants cannot access nutrients. Nutrient lockout can be caused by both salt buildup and incorrect pH levels. It can be solved by flushing affected plants with plain water. The fluids push nutrients out of the soil and wash away the buildup, allowing roots to once again freely uptake nutrients.
Once again, flushing cannabis simply involves running pure water through the soil or medium. When trying to stop a nutrient lockout or when switching nutrients, perform a flush by excessively watering your plants with water that has a pH level between 5.
Fully saturate your pots, and repeat 15 minutes later. The flush should clear any blockage and make room for your new feeding schedule. To be certain a flush was successful, you can use a TDS total dissolved solids reader to determine how pure the water runoff is.
You want the TDS reading of the water draining out of the pot to be close to the TDS reading of the pure water you are flushing with. This reading will ensure that the nutrients have been washed out of the soil. The only time flushing is not encouraged is when you are growing in amended organic soil. This is because your soil already holds all the nutrients the plants need to thrive.
0コメント