When you are growing cannabis, it can be a difficult task to get your buds to swell up. There are many factors to consider, including humidity, nutrient deficiencies, foxtailing, and more. Luckily, there are ways to overcome these problems.
Backbuilding buds
Backbuilding your buds is a great way to ensure a bigger yield. This is a process that requires some knowledge, skill and a bit of trial and error. Unlike topping, this process re-allocates the plant’s natural growth hormones to power the areas of colas that are in need of an extra punch. It can be an effective and worthwhile endeavor if done right.
There are several techniques to accomplish the feat. One is the aforementioned bud-pinching. The best part about this process is that it can be done while the plants are still in the throes of flowering. Another notable benefit is that it does not have to be done in a vacuum. For this reason, it can be combined with other growing practices.
Using the right tools is also crucial. It’s not a good idea to improvise with tools you’re not sure you can trust. You want to make sure they’re disinfected and that they’re well maintained. These factors, coupled with proper lighting and ventilation, will go a long way toward ensuring success.
The same rules apply to other backbuilding related activities like bud defoliation and bud staking. In addition, it’s important to monitor humidity levels and fan your tress to prevent mold and mildew. If you’re in an area where humidity levels are particularly high, you’ll need to employ a combination of techniques to keep your crop happy and healthy.
There’s no silver bullet in the backbuilding process, but the results can be a cinch. With the correct tools and a little patience, you can produce impressively sized bud sites without breaking the bank. To get the most out of your efforts, consider implementing a timed process where you pinched off a few buds every two weeks, and staking off the rest of the colas when the sun goes down.
Nutrient deficiency
If you’re a grower, you know how important it is to maintain a healthy environment for your cannabis plants. But how do you identify and treat deficiencies?
Nutrient deficiency is a common problem in cannabis plants. Calcium deficiency can be particularly damaging. It affects the uptake of calcium into the plant, leading to a sluggish growth rate and stunted flowering.
The first sign that you’re dealing with a nutrient deficiency is the presence of yellowing or browning leaves. Yellowing and browning can indicate a deficiency in calcium, nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium.
While these are the most common deficiencies, other deficiencies can occur. For instance, magnesium deficiency is very common during the flowering stage.
Copper deficiency is rare. However, it can lead to an inability to develop healthy buds and can produce a metallic sheen on the leaves. Zinc is also essential for protein and sugar production.
Nitrogen is a vital macronutrient. Lack of nitrogen can cause decreased yields and increase internal temperatures in the foliage.
Potassium is an essential nutrient for water uptake, root development, and cell division. Overwatering can cause this nutrient to become depleted.
Phosphorus deficiency is less common. However, it can result in red or purple collations in the petioles. When this happens, it’s best to treat the plant with a phosphorus-rich nutrient product.
Magnesium is important for energy absorption from light and carbohydrates. Sulfur is an essential component of fatty acid synthesis and is crucial for potent oils.
Nutrient deficiency symptoms in cannabis plants are not well documented. However, by identifying symptoms early, growers can better ensure the health of their plants.
A key way to diagnose and treat a deficiency is to take a leaf sample and keep track of its progression. This can help you confirm a visual diagnosis and provide more detailed information for determining if a nutrient is causing your cannabis plants to struggle.
High humidity
During the early stages of cannabis plant growth, high humidity is vital for good health. This is especially true for young plants, which don’t have the same sturdy roots as mature plants.
In addition to humidity, temperature is just as important. Low temperatures can reduce plant production. Getting this right can help your cannabis plants grow faster and healthier.
A common problem in cannabis cultivation is bud rot, also known as mold. This fungal infection infects the dense core of the buds, and spreads along the stem. These infected buds turn grey, black, and slimy. They can also spread to surrounding buds, and are unusable.
While a bud rot infection is an annoying annoyance, it’s not the only cause of mold. Mold can also develop in areas with low humidity.
Other environmental factors can cause similar symptoms, so it’s best to treat the problem before it’s too late. For example, installing an air conditioning unit can help alleviate heat stress. Also, raising the height of your grow lights will make your plants more resistant to heat.
Increasing extraction is another great way to combat heat stress. However, if you’re going to use this method, you need to be careful not to oversaturate your plants. Excess water is a breeding ground for bacteria, and can encourage them to proliferate.
There are other more subtle problems with too much humidity. Infected plants can become slimy, and may develop white powdery mildew. If you see this, it’s time to scrap the infected portion of the plant.
Using a hygrometer to measure humidity in your grow room is a great start. Keep the readings below 65 percent RH.
The best way to prevent mold is to maintain a healthy humidity level, and avoid excess watering.
Foxtailing
Foxtailing in cannabis is a condition where the buds of the plant develop unusual deformities. They may look like a small spire, have yellowed leaves, and look odd.
These are all signs that the buds are getting stressed. If you have these conditions, then you need to adjust the environment for the plant. Then, you can hopefully get your buds to swell up and have a good harvest.
Foxtailing can be caused by too much heat and light. You can prevent this from happening by adjusting the temperature and lighting. Also, you should avoid the use of powerful lights.
In some cases, foxtailing can be a genetic trait of your plant. This is not necessarily bad. It can actually increase your yields. However, it can be a source of frustration.
To understand what foxtailing is, you need to understand how it affects your marijuana plants. Generally, a foxtailing bud is a result of light stress.
A foxtail is a thin, spiky ring of calyxes, which grow on top of each other, forming a flower cluster. They are not very big, and they only appear when there is a high level of light intensity. As the light gets closer, the circle becomes larger.
Although the appearance of a foxtailing bud is not bad, it can lead to the loss of potency and can result in a smaller harvest. The terpenes contained in your marijuana are still present, but they will be less potent.
Foxtailing is also a symptom of a pH imbalance. When the pH of your soil is too acidic, it will cause lockouts of essential nutrients for the plant.
If you have a foxtailing bud, you should harvest it while the trichomes are turning amber. Otherwise, the flower will not mature properly.
Plant training techniques
The best time to start training plants is during the early weeks of flowering. This will help maximize light and increase yields. However, waiting until later in the cycle can cause problems.
Low stress training is a methodical way to control the height and shape of a plant. This technique encourages thick stem growth, which allows for more nutrient delivery during the flowering phase. It is also a low-risk process that can be carried out on both indoor and outdoor cannabis plants.
Another low stress training technique involves tying down branches. These ties are typically made of nylon cord or similar materials. The tie has a rubber coating that makes it weather resistant. For this method, string should be placed a few inches from the top of the plant’s stem.
There are many other techniques for training plants. Fimming is one of the more advanced training techniques. When this method is done correctly, it can result in four branches instead of two.
Some people also use defoliation to increase light penetration. They remove fan leaves during the first few weeks of flowering. This method can result in a big growth spurt. If done properly, it can extend the harvest by up to two weeks.
Low stress training techniques include ScrOG trellising and tomato cages. It is important to maintain consistent LST throughout the vegetative stage to promote robust clones.
During the first few weeks of flowering, a horticulturist can warm up the plant before low stress training by massaging it. This will create micro fractures in the tissue, which promote healthy growth.
In addition, tying down branches will make sure that all parts of the plant get the same amount of light. This can be accomplished by carefully twisting and bending the stems.
