Autoflowering Marijuana plants need food to survive. These plants use large amounts of N-P-K. Which stands for NITROGEN, PHOSPHOROUS, and POTASSIUM as their primary elements of marijuana nutrients. They also need some small quantities of marijuana nutrients like Calcium, Magnesium, and Sulfur. As these plants are part ruderalis yet another set of trace elements are required for them to grow. These are copper, Zinc, Boron, Iron, Molybdenum, Chlorine, and Manganese. These trace elements are only needed in very small quantities and are usually mixed into commercial fertilizers or pre-mix soils.
Autoflowering Marijuana plants use ample amounts of these nutrients to be able to produce their food. We need to provide them so we can achieve fast growth and a successful harvest. If you are using a pre-mix soil medium, there should be enough of these nutrients that would last for the first 14 to 21 days of the plant’s life but we should be ready to provide these after to ensure they will not be deficient in nutrients which could mean wilting or death if not actioned right away.
Related Cannabis Blogs
Seedling Requirements
During the first couple of weeks of your plant’s life is a crucial phase as the seeding is still developing its root system. Make sure we do not overfeed them. To ensure this just feed you plants plain water with balance pH levels as the medium will have ample amounts of nutrients for the plant to get through this period.
Pre-flowering Requirements
Usually plants would have a vegetative stage but for Autoflowering marijuana plants they usually go directly to the pre-flowering stage as they do now have a distinct vegetative stage and usually needs a short amount of time to mature. When we notice that are Autoflowering plants are already increasing in size quickly, we should be ready to give them the nutrients they require. Initiate with half of the recommended amount and increase depending on how fast they transition as well. At this stage the plants need lots of Nitrogen and ample amounts of Phosphorus and Potassium. You can use commercial fertilizers and make sure that it contains N-P-K with a higher ration of Nitrogen. Also pick the kind that also has the secondary trace elements they require as indicated above.
Flowering Phase Requirements
Once the initial pre-flowers show, you need to switch your fertilizer mix right away. This time you would need a mix with a higher ratio of Potassium and Phosphorous. These are the nutrients they use to develop buds and has to be readily available for the Autoflowering plants during this stage. Be careful not to over or underfeed your plant on this stage as it may greatly affect the quality and the quantity of your yield.
Overfeeding
A common and serious beginner error is overfeeding you Autoflowering Marijuana seeds. You may not notice that you are already overfeeding until it is too late and the plant is already harmed. A plant that has leaves turning brown or spots in the same color. This usually happens by excess nutrients accumulating in the medium if you are giving your plants too much. On the other hand, be cautious if the buildup is caused by excessive salts as this will make the plant manifests symptoms very similar to nutrient deficiency. As the salt will block the plant’s capacity to absorb other nutrients and can usually be fixed by flushing which is giving only plain water that is pH balanced for the next several days. To avoid overfeeding always start 50% of the recommended amount and gradually increase the quantity of the nutrients.
Underfeeding
This on the other hand is more controllable and safer for the plants but of course not suggested. Plants in nature have the ability to adapt as its survival mechanism. So, if they lack some of the nutrients, they will just try to compensate but at the same time will show symptoms that the grower can notice right away. Usually they will end up smaller and will be pale green and will be obvious to be sick looking. Also, Autoflowering marijuana plants are part Ruderalis and they are known to be the toughest kinds and will definitely adapt and survive, but make sure to address it right away as this will also affect your yield directly. To fix this, increase in small amounts and frequency in feeding a couple of days and observe the plant. Once this starts recovering based on its stature allow a couple of days and revert to your usual feeding schedule.