Over-feeding cannabis plants (basic 101)

Less is more ( confused yet?)

Overfeeding your plants is a classic mistake made by novice gardeners; you see your plants growing every day, but you’re concerned that the buds might not be developing fast enough.
As animals, we intuitively think food equals growth, but overeating doesn’t do you or your plant any good. Food does not always promote growth.
In fact, it can mean the exact opposite:Vandenberg
overfeeding your plants can kill your garden.

Nutrients come in two forms: non-organic and organic.
Organic nutrients come from compost, manure, and other refined minerals in the ground.
They release slowly into the soil when applied and are not readily available for the plant to take up in excess, which means organic nutrients are your safest bet to try and avoid overfeeding.

However, you might not get the immediate boost you want from organics, so you might use non-organic nutrients.
Or, if growing hydroponically, you may be using liquid non-organics.
These products pack a lot of food into a small bottle, requiring precise measurements.
Additionally, non-organics are readily available for the plant to uptake.
For this reason,using too much will cause the plant to overfeed and “burn” itself, resulting in death or loss of yields.

When it comes to feeding, start low and slow.
Follow the instructions and start below what is recommended. 1/2 strength usually won't toast your garden but 1/4 strength applied and observed for stress is a probable safe way to introduce a new synthetic nutrient to one's garden.

Observe your plants daily .
Nutrients allow you to grow quality cannabis, but you must pay close attention.

Vandenberg

PH is important

PH is important

The pH of water for cannabis:
If the water you’re using for your cannabis garden is too acidic or basic, you can run into some real problems.
Ideally, you want to use water that is between a pH of 6.0 to 7.0.
This pH level allows your plants to absorb the full range of nutrients it desires.
Fall outside of this range and you will start to see nutrient deficiencies because the water is lacking in acidity or is too acidic for that nutrient to become available.

Check the pH level of your water source routinely.
One can easily aquire and put additives in your water (or grow medium) to raise or lower the acidity.

Vandenberg

The Right Soil For Cannabis
While shopping for soil, you might be overwhelmed by the options available at your local garden store. You now know that most of these soils will be loamy, but why are there so many different types?
Consider the soil type as the basic structure of your soil.
From there, look at nutrients, microorganisms, and other amendments that improve your soil.
Prepare to have your mind boggled.

Your choices will be flooded with words like:

Perlite
Worm castings
Bat guano
Bio-char
Peat moss
Coco
Compost
Fish meal
Kelp
Bone meal
Glacier rock dust
....plant foods

These are just some examples of amendments that are commonly listed on different types of soil packages.
Heavily amended soils will have long lists that break down all organic nutrients they contain.
Some companies create soils that offer a great structure with base nutrients, but allow you to fill in the gaps as you desire.

For most first-time gardeners, it is recommended purchasing a quality potting soil that will provide your plants with enough nutrients to get them through most of their growth cycle without having to add many amendments or liquid nutrients.

I personally like what the Dr Earth brand of Organic potting soils is doing with it's excellent quality earth friendly product line, imho.
Some would say that it's inferior and that you should mix your own just like them, yadayadayada
blah,blah,blah.
If your new to this, try to help assure your own initial success and do yourself a favor by using the "KISS method"and keep it as simple as you possibly can at first, the least variables, the better.
Caution: Some brands of prepared soils can run hot with baby plants.
Fox Farm brand comes to mind, but perhaps I'm wrong as I haven't used their products in a long time and the formulation may be different now (?).

Vandenberg