Identify what ’ s wrong , and then ask yourself if there ’ s any other information you might be overlooking . Did the problem start with older leaves on the plant ? Newer ones ? Is it located on just one side of the plant ? How long has it been going on ?
Brown leaves : Could be a sign of a lack of phosphorus , potassium , magnesium , sulphur , or manganese .
When it comes to mineral deficiencies , many of the symptoms overlap . For example , iron and nitrogen deficiencies both cause leaves to yellow and potentially fall off . But , an iron deficiency starts with newer leaves , while a nitrogen deficiency begins with older leaves . You ’ ll have to notice these sorts of things to help your plant recover .
Aside from the issues above , your plant ’ s appearance may indicate some form of stress . A stressed plant doesn ’ t grow , and it certainly won ’ t do well when it ’ s time for flowering , which many would agree is the most important part of the growing process . The causes for plant stress are actually pretty similar to what could stress a person : lack of a consistent day / night cycle in light , imbalance or lack of nutrients or water , or an otherwise inconsistent environment . These stresses do not always produce obvious symptoms , but they can severely hinder your harvest .
Probably one of the most important processes to get right is your plant ’ s day / night cycle . If your plant is not getting enough light , it will enter its flowering stage prematurely . And if it ’ s in the flowering stage , too much light can confuse the plant and may ruin your harvest completely .
The key here is to be educated beforehand and disciplined with the most important factors for your plant . If your plant is in its vegetative stage , it needs 18 hours or more of light a day . Even more , it needs those hours uninterrupted .
When it ’ s time to flower , it needs only 12 hours of light — and more importantly , it needs 12 hours of complete darkness . If you hinder the dark phase for the plant , you might see a plant that begins to hermaphrodite and produce pollen sacs , which would essentially ruin your harvest of cannabis flower .
The amount and types of nutrients your plant needs will change depending on the plant ’ s stage of growth . A flowering plant needs much more potassium than a plant in its vegetative state . If you don ’ t consider this , you ’ ll hurt your harvest without any signs that you ’ ve done anything wrong .
To eliminate problems , your best weapon is knowledge . Get yourself educated on the light cycle of a marijuana plant and learn what sorts of nutrients are most important for each stage of its growth . Focus on strictly following that cycle and keeping the environment around the plant comfortable . And if you do that and keep your eyes peeled for early signs of problems , you should be enjoying a great harvest in no time at all .
If you need more help , the associates at your local grow supply store should be able to advise you accordingly , and — there ’ s always The Weed Blog .