Sometimes new marijuana growers will focus a lot on aspects such as soil, strain, and lighting setups, but equally important to the success of their plants is the type of fertilizer they decide to use. Every grower wants their plants to be healthy and productive, and choosing the right fertilizer is one big way to accomplish that goal. And, of course, we all want to grow big buds!
Perhaps you are a grower who is in need of trying a new way of growing, or perhaps you are a newbie who has never grown marijuana before. In either case, having a deeper understanding of the different fertilizer options out there is vital and can only help you in your marijuana growing endeavors.
Let’s look at some of the decisions you will have to make in choosing the fertilizer for you and be sure to check out my free Marijuana Grow Bible for more pro tips.
Store bought vs. homemade
One of the big questions any marijuana growers face is whether to make fertilizer for their marijuana plants themselves or buy it from store shelves. In general, buying nutrients from a garden center or online is a hassle-free, simple way to get your marijuana plants all of the nutrients they need.
That being said, many people prefer to make their own compost or other such fertilizers. They choose this because they have more control over what exactly goes into it. They know where all the ingredients come from. Some growers believe that this type of natural fertilizer is a healthier option for both the marijuana plant and the end user when it is smoked or consumed.
If you are starting from scratch because you have never grown marijuana before, using a professional, store-bought system is likely the safest option in terms of leaving little room for error. The key is to buy a product that matches well with your growing medium and grow setup, as well as your personal preferences and lifestyle.
Whatever you do, don’t buy fertilizers that are extended or slow release. They sound fancy and impressive and even can work very well for other types of plants, but they are not a good choice for marijuana plants. Steer clear of these products.
If you are planning on making your own fertilizer and nutrients, you had better look into how to properly make a compost pile as well as some other methods. If you are interested in buying a product or system from a store or online, however, then you should continue reading for some of the best options available.
Soil fertilizers
If you are growing your marijuana plants in soil (or are planning on it), there are some specific nutrients that you can buy to help your plants thrive in their soil grow setting. That being said, water and nutrients go hand in hand. Because soil is often the medium of choice for new growers (for good reason), it is also worth pointing out that overwatering your plants when they are growing in soil is a common mistake many new growers make.
Make sure that the top inch of the soil is dry before you water again, and only include your nutrients in approximately every other time you water. If you water correctly, there should be about a fifth of the water draining out the bottom of the pot. If you follow all of these rules, you should be able to reduce the risk of overwatering. As long as you are watering correctly, the nutrients will be able to easily do their job.
Let’s look at some of the best fertilizers for soil grow setups.
Flower Power fertilizer
This fertilizer works well for an all around mixture of the key nutrients your plants need. Flower Power ensures that your marijuana plants will get the three main nutrients: Phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen. While all three of these nutrients are always necessary, they are required by your marijuana plant in different ratios and quantities, depending on the phase of growth.
For example, nitrogen helps with leaf growth, but phosphorus helps most with bud growth. That means that nitrogen is key in the vegetative phase of your marijuana plants’ life cycle, but a higher proportion of phosphorus is needed for a healthy flowering phase.
The good thing about potting soils is that they are already equipped with these three main ingredients. That means that, at least for the first three weeks of your plants’ lives, you won’t actually need to add any extra nutrients. Right around the three-week mark, however, is when adding in nutrients will become necessary.
During the vegetative phase, your plants will need equal parts phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen (20% each). When you feed it to your marijuana plants, make sure you aren’t giving them the full dosage listed on the package, but rather dilute it to half or even a quarter strength. This is because, especially for marijuana plant growing indoors, the full strength of a fertilizer would shock and weaken plants rather than feeding them the energy they need.
When using Flower Power fertilizer, give it to your marijuana plants just twice a week for indoor grow setups. Flower Power has a watering and feeding schedule included with the product, so refer to that for any scheduling questions you might have.
Fox Farms trio
One of the best products for inexperienced marijuana growers, Fox Farms lets the grower feed their marijuana plants without having to worry about anything else. In other words, Fox Farms includes everything your plants will need. No matter what strain of marijuana you decide to grow, Fox Farms should do the trick.
There are several versions of Fox Farms, including ones for soil and hydroponic grow setups. Be sure to choose the one that corresponds with your own setup. The trio of Fox Farms products includes “Grow Big,” “Tiger Bloom,” and “Big Bloom.” You will want to use them all and follow the instructions that come with them.
Perlite and vermiculite marijuana fertilizers
One good way to start growing is a setup of only a pot, and some soil made of 70% Fox Farms Happy Frog soil (or Humboldt soil), and 30% perlite. For hydroponics setups, use half fertilizer and half water and peat moss, and mix in the vermiculite or perlite.
Perlite and vermiculite work well as fertilizers. They are found on store shelves (and virtual store shelves online). They are made by a process that heats them up to very high temperatures (between 1400 and 1800 degrees Fahrenheit). The heat causes the product to become porous, meaning they allow more oxygen and water flow and retention.
Perlite and vermiculite help soil media avoid clumping into chunks as they dry out. They also naturally house minerals including magnesium, calcium, and potassium — all of which marijuana plants will use. When mixed with the soil, these minerals will eventually seep into the entire grow medium.
Miracle-Gro
You may have heard some mixed reviews about the well-known “Miracle-Gro.” This product is famous for being used as a plant fertilizer, at least when it comes to regular household plants (not including marijuana). In fact, it is one of the top fertilizers out there — but it does not work well for marijuana plants.
Miracle-Gro tends to give your plants an overdose of nitrogen when they are in their flowering phase. Your plants need lots of nitrogen during their beginning phases, but not as much during the flowering phase, making this unhelpful.
This is because Miracle-Gro simply gives the same nutrient ratios to your plant no matter what part of its life cycle it is in. Marijuana plants need different proportions of different nutrients during the various stages of their life. Having the same exact nutrient formula for each stage is not useful at all.
For all of those reasons, Miracle-Gro is not recommended for marijuana plants.
Dyna-Gro:
Source: The Hot Pepper
This product works well for those who want to get the most bang for their buck. Dyna-Gro has several options available, depending on the life cycle phase your marijuana plant is in. This includes foliage-pro and other bloom fertilizers.
Dyna-Gro is a popular and effective choice for any kind of growing medium, including soil, coco coir, and hydroponics. Use the foliage-pro product during the vegetative phase of your plants’ growth, and the bloom product during the flowering phase. Following the instructions on the bottle should keep your feeding schedule and proportions in check, and using Dyna-Gro throughout the different stages of your marijuana plants’ life will help them do just fine.
