Professional Marijuana Grower May-June 2019 Issue | Page 16
COVERSTORY
Geofl ora
Geofl ora Organic Nutrients for
Cannabis Cultivation
C
annabis growers can approach plant nutri-
tion from two distinct directions: conventional
or organic. Conventional fertilizers, a.k.a.
chemical fertilizers, are nutrients that have
been created or refi ned in a laboratory. Many of these
fertilizers are byproducts of the petroleum industry or
derived from industrial waste. Conventional fertilizers
are typically in a form that is immediately available to
the plant. In other words, the nutrients contained in con-
ventional fertilizers do not require microorganisms to
“break them down” and can be absorbed by the plant’s
roots as soon as they are fed to the plant. Conversely,
organic fertilizers are comprised of naturally occurring
organic compounds that require the aid of benefi cial
microorganisms to help break them down “ into a form
that can be absorbed by the plants. Organic fertilizers
tend to be combinations of various materials that result
from industries dealing with live animals and plants that
would otherwise become waste.
Currently, there are no offi cial organic certifi cations
specifi cally for cannabis; however, many cannabis culti-
vators still adhere to strict organic regimens. growing
techniques. Many cannabis growers claim that the use
of organic nutrients produces a higher quality crop, as
organically grown cannabis will generally contain a
more diverse spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes
,which equates to enhanced aromas, fl avors, and me-
dicinal attributes.
16 • Professional Marijuana Grower
How to Grow Cannabis Organically
Many cannabis growers want to garden organically,
but do not know how to get started. rowing cannabis
organically can be an easy and straightforward pro-
cess. Organic nutrients require a healthy population of
benefi cial microorganisms, so a grower who is new to
organics must shift his or her mindset from feeding the
plant to “feeding the soil”.
Essentially, organic gardening methods involve adding
organic matter to a medium that has a healthy pop-
ulation of benefi cial microorganisms. Given enough
time, these microorganisms will establish on their own,
but using products that contain microorganisms or
microorganism stimulators will help inoculate the soil
more quickly. Once a grower has established a healthy
microorganism population in the medium, the rate
at which the organic components are converted into
absorbable nutrients is comparable to the availability of
nutrients in conventional horticulture.
The General Benefi ts of Organic
Agriculture
Both hobbyists and commercial growers can achieve
abundant yields with organic fertilizers. Though the
mode of action for nutrient absorption differs between
organic and conventional methods, organic gardening
techniques can absolutely compete with conventional
May/June 2019