Subscriptions - Maximum Yield Cannabis USA November/December 2020 | Page 32

Keeping your plants at an appropriate temperature will also help develop strong roots and by extension, healthy buds. Cannabis roots grow best in warmer temperatures. Keeping the growing substrate at a temperature between 70°F and 85°F (21°C to 29°C) is optimal. Making sure your roots have enough room to grow will also help your cannabis plant thrive. “If you want big buds, then you need to foster big, healthy roots — no two ways about it.” Roots Need Room to Roam Cannabis roots that have outgrown the space allotted to them will become rootbound. If this condition is caught early enough, it is easily remedied. If not, then your cannabis plants will be stunted and may not ever produce any buds, or only very weak ones. It is important to check on the roots periodically to make sure they are not getting too crowded. This is difficult to do when plants are field grown, but it is extremely rare for conditions to exist that favor root binding. This is far more common in cannabis plants grown in hardwalled containers such as plastic pots. If the roots of the cannabis plant start pushing out of the bottom holes in the pot or are visibly pushing up against the inside of the pot, it is time to repot them into a larger container to keep the roots growing and supporting your plants. Some growers choose fibrous containers to avoid this. This allows for the roots to start growing through the sides of the fiber and then get “air-pruned” which keeps them from getting rootbound. Keeping your substrate at the appropriate pH will also help roots stay strong and viable. The ideal pH range for healthy roots and great buds varies somewhat depending on growing media and specific species of cannabis. In general, though, for hydroponically grown cannabis, the pH can be as low as 5.5; for soil cultivation it can be as high as 7.0. In either case, root health will decline if the pH is too low or too high. When the pH is too low, nutrient toxicity can occur with the elements aluminum (Al) and manganese (Mn). Root tips will be harmed by high aluminum levels. Root diseases such as Fusarium and Cylindrocladium thrive in low pH environments as well. When the pH is too high, other nutrient imbalances can occur that interfere with vital plant functions such as photosynthesis. If photosynthesis does not occur, or is otherwise impeded in some way, then the root growth is stymied, and the plant will fail to or cease to produce valuable buds. There are also naturally occurring root enhancers that can be added to your crop (or may already be there). These can cohabitate with your cannabis roots in a symbiotic relationship. One such helper is a fungus known as Trichoderma. It is commonly occurring in nature and exists in most soils. It works by occupying space around the root system which effectively blocks out potentially harmful biota. It also engages the plant’s immune system by invading the outer layers of the roots, which triggers one of the plant’s self-defense responses. This is the equivalent of getting immunized with a small amount of a pathogen so your body can build up antibodies against it when or if it is reintroduced to your system. Numerous other beneficial bacterial and fungal additives are available on the market, each with a different mode of action, but each having a positive effect on the overall health of your cannabis roots. Big blooms start at the bottom, so keep your cannabis roots healthy and happy and more often than not, your plant will reward you with luscious buds. sponsored by 32 Maximum Yield apekssupercritical.com