As known, cannabis is highly sensitive plants. They require sufficient light and nutrients for it to grow healthily, delivering high quality and potent buds. That is why cannabis cultivators tend to ensure that light exposure is properly scheduled and the right amount of nutrients are poured upon to the plants. Unlike light, there isn’t a direct way to know nutrient deficiency in your cannabis plants. Nevertheless, you’ll just rely on the physical symptoms, signs, and characteristics to judge whenever this condition occurs into your plant. However, the most common nutrient supplements being purchased commercially are those containing nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. A lot of manufacturers tend to neglect the importance of calcium and magnesium into the plants. Though exists at only minimal amounts, a deficit of these nutrients could cause a significant change to the growth of the plant.
In this article, we will examine on calcium and magnesium deficiencies. Specifically, we will focus on organic cal mag cannabis and its benefits to address these deficiencies.
The Role of Calcium and Magnesium to the Cannabis Plants
Not just to humans and animals, calcium and magnesium play an important role in plant’s development. In fact, calcium and magnesium are just two of the nine essential nutrients that any plant should get (including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium). Nevertheless, like any nutrient, these two should be regulated into the plant’s system to prevent further damaging and killing off your cannabis plant. To give you an idea regarding this, here are these nutrient’s vital functions into the plant’s system. This includes the following;
Calcium
Mainly, plants absorb calcium through the roots. This nutrient will be transported into plant’s different parts helping various processes including photosynthesis and respiration. Aside from that, like in human, calcium plays a role in structural functions. They make the plant rigid, acting as a cell wall for support and stability. Also, calcium helps the release of enzymes that are required during plant’s growth and germination. This nutrient also acts as a protective shield against diseases. They are responsible to plant’s defenses against bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens that could destroy the plant’s cellular wall.
Magnesium
Similarly to calcium, magnesium is an essential nutrient needed for cannabis plant to grow. It is a key nutrient to be used during photosynthesis. In fact, magnesium is an important element into the chlorophyll molecule for which the green pigmentation of the plant takes on. Aside from that, magnesium helps on taking up phosphorus into the plant’s system. This nutrient also promotes the growth and spread of enzymes, necessary to the production of oils, proteins, and fatty acids.
Signs of Magnesium and Calcium Deficiency
More than anything, it is essential to becoming knowledgeable on the physical symptoms of nutrient deficiency into your plants since you can’t directly quantify deficiencies through tests. Nevertheless, here are some things that you should notice when experiencing these deficiencies;
For Calcium
- Spotting on the upper leaf portion
- Curling and twisting of leaves within the lower part of the plant
- Yellowing and browning of the leaves’ tips
- Stunted growth
- Slow Flower Development
- Brown or dark spots on the leaves
- Weak Stem Stability
- Poor Root Function
For Magnesium
As for magnesium, symptoms of its deficiency is easily identified. Most commonly, older cannabis leaves would sort to have yellow dots between the nerves and its ends. This phenomenon is called chlorosis. If just left unattended, this symptom will spread into the younger leaves, typically weaken the plant and kill it out as prevented.
Organic Cal-Mag for Cannabis Plants
Since these two nutrients are linked out with each other, these two nutrients are jointly supplied as one into some supplements. Nevertheless, most of calcium and magnesium supplements are derived from carbonates, nitrates, and sulfates added as powdered or organic supplements.
Typically, there are existing cal-mag supplements available directly for you. Known brands including those brands from Botanicare, GH Organics, Mollases, Earth Juice, and General organics are obtained by a lot of users to satisfy the need of calcium and magnesium into their plants. These products exist at different Ca-Mag ratios manufactured specifically to addressed calcium and magnesium deficiency of plants.
However, if these products seem to be inaccessible, here are some substitutes that you could use to satisfy the craving of your plants with calcium and magnesium.
Dolomite Lime
Exists as carbonates of magnesium and calcium, powdered dolomite lime is an excellent source of these nutrients. They maintain levels of calcium and magnesium into the soil, adjusting its pH as needed. Aside from that, these organic substance favors the activity of beneficial bacteria and other microorganisms into the plant.
Epsom Salt
Epsom salt containing mixture of magnesium sulfate and calcium nitrate is a great alternative to a cal-mag fertilizer. Usually, in powdered form, this solution could be done into your homes and ingredients are readily available into local agricultural shops at inexpensive prices.
This mineral is a great source of elements including calcium, magnesium, and iron. Nevertheless, this mineral is known as soil amendment into gardens to improve the growth of plants.
Egg Shells
Rich in calcium with trace amounts of magnesium, ground eggshell could be a substitute for organic cal mag. Most often, growers tend to combine eggshells with Epsom salt to distribute the amounts of magnesium and calcium into the fertilizer itself.
Oyster Shell Flour
An alternative to dolomite lime, this soil conditioner contains approximately 96% calcium carbonate and many micronutrients including magnesium and iron. It aids in the regulation of pH and is considered an efficient cal-mag to most plants.
