Chemical burn of marijuana - what is it and how to fix it

Most growers have experienced chemical burns to their plants at least once when growing cannabis. Burn, unlike nutrient deficiencies such as potassium deficiency in hemp, occurs when plants receive too much liquid or granular fertilizer.

Hemp has a specific rate of biochemical changes and absorption of nutrients added to the soil. It does not have a mechanism for releasing accumulated substances, so it cannot completely get rid of excess fertilizer.

Their excess often leads to damage to leaves and roots, and this, in turn, significantly reduces photosynthesis. Impaired photosynthesis means that plants will produce much less of the glucose needed for proper growth and development. This is especially dangerous for young, immature hemp bushes.

Signs of marijuana burn

Cannabis plants that suffer from over-fertilization of the substrate exhibit a number of different alarming symptoms, depending on the concentration of the components. There are early symptoms indicating a chemical burn:

• unhealthy dark green leaves;
• curling leaves;
• yellowed tips of leaves.

At the initial stage, an overdose of hemp fertilizers does not threaten the life of the plant, and it is able to process them independently. If the burns persist for a long time, a number of alarming changes will begin to appear:

• complete discoloration of leaves;
• fading foliage;
• brown spots on leaves;
• curling and rapid death of leaves;
• yellowing and falling leaves.

As the burns progress, they will move from the tips of the leaves towards the center. Early detection of the problem and measures taken by the breeder will help preserve not only the yield, but the life of the plant. A chemical burn to cannabis that is left unattended will cause all the leaves to die and fall off. Without functional leaves, the bush is doomed to die.

How to deal with plant burns?

Cannabis is a living organism that is characterized by various life processes: gas exchange, absorption of water and nutrients. For the correct flow of life processes, effectively functioning morphological parts are needed - roots, stems, leaves.

If, for example, partial nitrogen poisoning occurs in hemp, then the bush can be saved, since the damage caused is not too great.

• The first thing to do is to neutralize the applied fertilizers. They can be removed by washing the substrate or soil.
• The second step is a thorough inspection of the plant. It should be removed from the ground and carefully examined, paying special attention to the condition of the leaves, stems and roots. If necessary, severely damaged morphological parts can be removed. They can be an indicator of mold development that will infect the entire plantation.
• The third step is to transplant the cannabis bush into a fresh, clean substrate.

Over-fertilized plants are subject to severe stress, which slows their growth, but within two weeks the growth rate should return to normal.

Preventing hemp burns

Every grower wants his cannabis plants to grow healthy and produce a good harvest. Marijuana breeding consists of many small aspects that together create the ideal conditions for it. The most important factors when growing are:

• appropriate soil acidity (pH from 6.2 to 7.0);
• light intensity (solar or artificial);
• time of exposure of the plant to ultraviolet rays;
• air humidity and ambient temperature;
• ventilation when growing bushes indoors;
• the amount of fertilizer applied to the substrate or soil.

There are different methods that will protect your cannabis plants from chemical burns resulting from an overdose of fertilizers or high concentrations of them. The main method is to control the pH level in the soil. To do this, you should use a device (PH meter) with a special sensor. The results of acidity tests should be recorded because they can help determine when to apply fertilizer.

Another, simplest method is the correct administration of drugs. Manufacturers inform customers about the duration of action of the compositions and the permissible concentration when used. By following the recommendations on the product packaging, you can avoid burns to the plant.

You can purchase high-quality hemp fertilizers on the Coffeeshop seed shop website. Our online store offers a wide selection of nutritional supplements necessary for normal growth and development of plants. If you do not know which drug is best to choose, our specialists will advise you.

*The material is for scientific informational purposes only; we do not encourage growing marijuana plants in countries where it is punishable by law!