New grower here. My 3 weeks old Cannabis Sativa Carmagnola (CBD industrial hemp) has been sufferring from slow growth pretty much from the beginning. It is 3 weeks old, 1.7 inch tall, its largest leave span is 3 inches and I believe it should be much larger by now. 2 days ago the lowest leaves and the second node leaves (the largest ones) started curling up and became discoloured a bit. Im growing it in forest soil mixed with perlite. I water it every 2-3 days to avoid overwatering. Can someone assist with some ideas as to what could be the problem? Im thinking of nitrogen deficiency.
Welcome to the forum. I think the problem probably is under watering and incorrect ph of your water. Stick your index finger down to the second knuckle if your finger stays dry , you need to water it. It could also be the nutrients you are using. The problem could also be heat.
Thank you for your input! Yes, I was also thinking about heat issues, because the large leaves are cupping upwards a bit. I usually keep the ph between 6.0 and 7.0 but I will make sure to be more precise. Also, do you think it is overgrown and needs a bigger pot?
Are you talking real forest floor soil mixed with pearlite? Or one of the many forest something pre made bag soil you buy?
If the first, a lot of forest floor “litter” is chock full of organics and fungi, but also a lot of times it is pretty much devoid of nutrients. Being mostly carbon.
Bigger pot, moist not wet. add some nutrients in less than full strength if necessary. SOME pre made soil is too hot for small plants. That’s why I asked.
Welcome to GN. It does look like a soil pH issue, maybe too hot as @sssportsmfg suggests, a little dry. Because of the size of the plant, defiantly transplant in some good quality soil mix. Be careful of damaging the roots when moving it across. Good luck and post updates.
With out any doubt, that will help all the beneficial organisms thrive and make your soil super, not just from the transplant but through to your final yield.
The litter from a forest floor has a lot of decaying dead matter, leaves, rotting logs, twigs sticks etc. It attracts really good mycorrhiza and fungi, and is a great addition to your soil (minus any obnoxious bugs) but it doesn’t contain much nitrogen, the nitrogen is used up breaking down the high carbon wood, leaves etc. It also can be a great conditioner keeping the soil spongy and loose.
But you need nitrogen in there. First get some more volume (bigger pot) and use either a good premade soil mix with nitrogen in it. Or use coco coir or sphagnum peat and mix your forest floor goodies in. Then add some diluted grow nutrients (made for the grow phase) start at around 50% of recommended. That should make her take off.
Thanks so much for the detailed input. I am using stinging nettle as nitrogen source (currently being decomposed for compost purposes) and will use it to supplement any nitrogen deficiencies. I am currently researching which plants / foods I should make phosphorous compost out of (so far I’ve read about lentils being a good source). I intend to avoid synthetic fertilizers as much as possible, and only resort to it if all other options fail as last resort. I got my hands on some Glomus sp. mycorrhiza and I will use it tomorrow for transplanting her into her final container (a quite big 35 litre one with good aeration). Hopefully this will get her back to her normal condition. And of course I will ph every watering.
blackstrap molasses is your best bet, look into making teas using an air bubbler for both your nettles and molasses. Just improves the bacteria, with aeration.
Well it sounds great, but you put the cart before the horse. Not trying to diss you or anything remotely close…but good compost takes time to make, and you already have the plant in the pot lol. There are lots of good organic adds you can do for now, just get you some small containers of Gaia green all natural organic dry amendments and mix them into your soil at around 6 Tbls. per gallon. They recommend 3 but cannabis is a high energy plant that we push to the limit in terms of growth speed and size. I have put WAY more than that in a 8 gal pot so you won’t burn them. They make a general, a bloom and a high nitrogen insect frass, I use all three and vary the blend depending on what I am growing. I also use it outside in my veggie garden. More frass for lettuce, less for peppers etc.
Another great amendment is Mustard seed meal. It’s hot though so be careful, and let it cook in the soil for 3 weeks or so before you put your plants in. But for now and the fact that you have your plant in and started and about to go into full blown veg mode, you need to get some good rounded organic food to her now.
