Look closely at your developing buds and you will notice small cat-claw to mushroom-like, jelly-filled protrusions coating the surface. These are trichomes—protective structures filled with what are referred to as secondary metabolites (SMs), which include terpenes and cannabinoids. These compounds give cannabis the powerful psychoactive and medicinal characteristics that make it a prized species of the plant kingdom. These structures begin to form in the early stages of the flowering cycle, but it’s not until the last few weeks that they really begin to swell. If you want your plant to fill these trichomes to capacity, you need to understand how your nutrient feed affects their development.
Understand Your Product Label
Every nutrient company gives you a different recipe and rarely explains why. There are 13 major nutrients plants use to grow, but most of the time it comes down to the three primary macronutrients: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K). Let’s start with one frustrating detail about nutrient labels: P and K values as listed on the package do not indicate what is available to roots. These values are inflated by outdated labeling laws, and represent a theoretical amount of potassium oxide and phosphorus pentoxide. It will give you a headache trying to understand why they are labeled as such, but you should know that less than half the P listed is available to roots.
Get Acquainted With Your Water
Tap and well water contain a tremendous amount of minerals that complicate your ability to maintain pH levels and provide a balanced feed. Minerals carry either a positive or negative charge. Those that are positive share the same uptake channels and ports on the root surface, which can lead to competitive uptake. Calcium, magnesium, and potassium all have a positive