The Perfect Fertilizing Schedule For Auto-flowering Cannabis Plants

Whatever Cannabis strain you're trying to grow, there are some fundamental principles that remain the same. In order for your plants to grow successfully, their roots always need significant growth support provided by nutrients and minerals in the aerated growing medium. Often, auto-flowering cannabis growers make the mistake of overwatering and overfeeding their plants, believing that the more nutrients the plant receives, the better it grows. The results can be somewhat different when overfeeding is used because it can cause the plant stress before it does any good.

Not only does this damage the roots, but it also stunts the growth of the plants, which is a nightmare for growers. This condition is often referred to as auto flower cannabis nutrient burn. As a smart grower, make sure to learn the “sweet spot" for the nutrients you provide to your auto-flowering plants.

Stick around to learn more about the fertilizing schedules for your auto-flowering plants.

What Is The Best Nutrient Regime For Auto-flowering Plants

All growers tend to develop a distinct fertilizing regimen for their auto-flowers, meaning there's no one-size-fits-all regimen that works for every plant. The various aspects of fertilizing your plant vary widely according to external factors. All strains have a different nutritional demand which underscores the significance of understanding the major rules of fertilizing rather than cramming on a certain fertilizing regimen and applying the same to every plant you grow. In a nutshell, there’s no such thing as a "universally ideal" auto-flowering feeding schedule.

When To Begin Your Fertilizing Schedule?

When to start feeding your auto-flowering plants substantially depends upon the medium you pick to grow your plants.

A) Deep Water Culture

If you’re growing your plants in deep water culture, they depend entirely on you for all the nutritional requirements, which is not the case if you're growing them in nutrient-rich soil. You need to provide the nutrients even at the point of germination, making sure that it doesn't "burn" your plant. At this point, the tiny young roots cannot bear the overburdening amount of heavy nutrients, so you need to be even more careful.

B) Soil

Soil growers have to follow a different auto-flowering feeding schedule as good is generally packed with essential nutrients, and the plant isn't wholly dependent on the grower.

Stages Of Auto-Flowering Feeding Schedules

Breaking down your auto-flowering feeding schedule leads to three different stages, which are as follows:

1. Seedling Stage

This stage of plant growth requires the least amount of fertilization. Adding an excessive amount of nutrients might even cause stunted growth of the plant by overburdening the seedling with heavy nutrients.

• Stressing out the plant with nutrients at this stage leads to slowing down its development. This causes a delay in the devil and prolongs the growth period, which is otherwise around 75 days.
• In certain cases, overfeeding the plant could lead to permanent damage to the plant.
• Make sure to avoid excessive feeding at this stage to preserve the terpene profile and THC content.

2. Vegetative Stage

• In order to boost the growth of roots, branches, and leaves, you need to fertilize your plants with nitrogen-rich nutrients.
• Focus on providing both: micronutrients and macronutrients. Make sure to provide trace minerals for the proper growth of your auto-flowering plant.

3. Flowering Stage

This stage of plant growth requires adequate nutrients like phosphorus and potassium that help promote flowering. Make sure to provide the right amounts of nutrients at this stage.

Auto-flowering Plants: Overfeeding Risks

• If the tip of the leaf starts to turn brown, it’s a sign of overfeeding in auto-flowering plants. Consequently, the growth of the plant might stop or slow down. The plants can be flushed out with water to cure the symptoms of overfeeding if you're growing the plant in soil.
• In the case of deep water culture, you can replace the nutrient reservoir with plain water to relieve burn in auto-flowering plants.
• However, remember that auto-flowering plants generally do not have enough time to recover, which is why overfeeding can cause permanent damage.