How to fix droopy cannabis leaves?
Many growers, including growing veterans, have experienced drooping leaves on their cannabis plants. These instances happen when the plants receive too much or too little water. Drooping weed can be fixed, but you must diagnose the problem before it reaches a stage of no return. The issue of drooping leaves must be resolved immediately for the Cannabis to grow normally.
To fix drooping Cannabis leaves, you must supply the right amount of water to your Cannabis. You should find out also the reason behind its droopiness because it could be caused by overwatering or underwatering.
Read this article to understand how to fix Cannabis that has begun to droop.
How to fix droopy cannabis leaves?
Why are my cannabis leaves drooping?
Drooping is usually caused either by over or under watering. Whenever amateur growers notice their cannabis plants drooping, they typically assume it indicates underwatering.
A water shortage can be a problem, and it can have several negative consequences, such as slowing the plant’s growth rate and nutritional deficiency.
However, some growers are very enthusiastic about watering their plants. They frequently give the plant far more water than it requires. All plants, including Cannabis, need water to survive, but too much of what we think is good can cause harm in the long run.
What is the difference between wilting and drooping cannabis leaves?
In examining problems with your cannabis plants, it is crucial to differentiate between wilting and drooping since the two have entirely different reasons behind their occurrences.
Wilting happens when the leaves start to turn yellow on the tips that are curling down. Mostly, they appear worn and dead. They generally begin to dry up, which indicates a whole new set of potential issues. On the other hand, drooping is observed when the entire leaf shows droopiness, not just its ends. Unlike wilting, you would not see any signs of yellow tips on the leaves of your cannabis plants when it is drooping. Furthermore, drooping leaves appear to be very heavy, as though they cannot support their weight.
It is critical to determine whether your cannabis plant is wilting or drooping before attempting to fix it. Careful examination will assess the course of action that you will take to remedy the situation.
How to determine underwatered cannabis?
One of the most critical steps to fixing cannabis issues is through careful examination – monitoring your plants never fails. Examining the status of your plant every day does not only determine and fix real-time problems but will also help you avoid future problems. The close similarities of symptoms between underwatered and overwatered cannabis plants usually lead you to confusion. Thus, to properly diagnose an underwatered cannabis plant, here are some tips for you.
- Check the Plant. One of the most critical steps to fixing cannabis issues is through careful examination – monitoring your plants never fails. Examining the status of your plant every day does not only determine and fix real-time problems but will also help you avoid future problems. The close similarities of symptoms between underwatered and overwatered cannabis plants usually lead you to confusion. Thus, to properly diagnose an underwatered cannabis plant, here are some tips for you.
- Check the Leaves. Cannabis plants might appear droopy for various reasons, but thin leaves are one of the most apparent signs of dehydrated cannabis plants. Usually, the leaves of underwatered plants become delicate, brittle, and perhaps papery in appearance. In addition, the presence of yellowing leaves that appear to be nutrition deficient is another strong indicator that your cannabis plants have been underwatered.
- Check the Soil. Another way to determine underwatered Cannabis is through their growing medium or soil. Generally, parched soil would suggest that the cannabis plant is not getting enough water. To find out if the soil of your cannabis plant is dry, examine it beneath the top layer with your finger. There is a big possibility that roots have dried out if it is dry an inch down.
How to determine overwatered cannabis?
Novice growers usually give too much water to their Cannabis because they assume it will benefit their growth. However, giving too much water might also cause your cannabis plants to die. Overwatered Cannabis can be cured when given immediate action. Thus, to properly diagnose overwatered Cannabis, here are some tips to help you correctly diagnose overwatered Cannabis.
- Check the Leaves. Checking the leaves of your Cannabis should be in your mind first. Overwatered cannabis plants exhibit droopy leaves. Their leaves curl under, yet they stay solid and plump in appearance, unlike underwatered leaves.
- Check the Plants Growth. Your plant will not be able to take in oxygen if its substrate is permanently wet. Too much moisture harms the roots themselves and can cause root rot. Overwatering deprives the roots of oxygen, which they require to absorb the plant’s essential nutrients. Your plant’s development is repressed when nutrients are not adequately absorbed and metabolized. As a result, your Cannabis plant growth will be slower than usual.
- Check the Color. Aside from the negative impact on the plant’s growth, the inability to absorb essential nutrients due to overwatering can turn leaves yellow. Yellow leaves can indicate various health issues, such as nutrient deficiencies.
If you want to learn more about nutrient deficiencies, you should read our blog post: How To Know Which Nutrients are Lacking In A Cannabis Plant?
How to fix the underwatering issue of my cannabis?
Correcting underwatering is quite simple by just giving more water to your Cannabis plant. However, it does not end there. It will help if you remember several things to avoid future problems with your Cannabis. Try doing the following:
- Monitoring Soil. You can use your finger in examining the soil by digging about one inch depth in it. If the soil appears to be dry, then it is time to water it. You can also use this strategy to create your watering schedule. If the soil seems to dry within a day, it indicates that you are underwatering your cannabis plant.
- Using an Appropriate Pot. One cause of underwatering is when you use the wrong pot size at specific stages of growth. For example, suppose you are using a large container during the seedling stage. In that case, it may impair the plant’s ability to absorb enough water since the small root system does not have enough time to drink water before it drains away.
- Follow Watering Schedule and Suitability. You must follow a strict schedule for watering your plants. Keeping your detailed plan for watering can help prevent overwatering. In addition, small grown Cannabis may need to be watered frequently but with lesser volume, while the bigger one still needs to be watered one the same interval but with higher volume.
How to fix the overwatering issue of my cannabis?
Overwatering happens more frequently, especially to new growers. To avoid it, you must be vigilant with your watering habits. You can check on the following advice to prevent overwatering.
- Monitoring Soil. Having no proper soil for your Cannabis may result in water retention, especially when using clay-based soil, which absorbs a lot of water. Make sure to dry the growing medium a little bit for at least 60% soil dryness. If you do not have a soil moisture sensor, you can innovate strategies such as lifting the pot before and after watering the plant to cite the weight difference and the following watering schedule.
- Using an Appropriate Pot. Using the appropriate size of the pot can also prevent overwatering. When starting to grow Cannabis, make sure to use a smaller container with enough drainage holes. A young plant may not absorb all the water in an enormous container, resulting in water retention, and the soil will not dry out. Meanwhile, using a small pot for grown-up Cannabis may result in a quick dry-up of water being fed. Thus, you will repeatedly water the plant that will eventually result in overwatering.
- Follow Watering Schedule and Suitability. Watering less frequent is the most practical way of saving your overwatered Cannabis. The same with issues on underwatering; watering your plants must be done according to a particular schedule. Overwatering can be avoided by keeping a precise watering plan. In the same case, small cannabis plants may need to be watered more regularly but with less volume, while larger plants may need to be watered in the same way but with more volume.
How often should I water my cannabis plant?
Even if you know how to deal with water concerns, you also need to figure out the appropriate time to water your Cannabis. The schedule of water varies depending on the seedling, vegetative and flowering stage. Thus, it would be best to consider the status of your plant before supplying them with water.
At the seedling stage, it is recommended to water your plant twice a day at first, focusing more on frequency rather than amount. During this stage, your Cannabis plant is highly susceptible to stress, especially when it comes to watering. It is more advisable that you use a spray bottle instead of a watering can to regulate the volume of water. As they say, less is more.
Your plant develops from seedling to vegetative stage after producing the first fan leaves with all leaflets. At this stage, your Cannabis grows stems and leaves and concentrates all its energy on developing big and sturdy. Regularly water your plant with clean water. Always keep your eyes on drainage and prevent overwatering. In addition, daily watering is advisable when you are using small pots during the vegetative stage. Switch to watering every two days if you have large containers.
When buds develop, it suggests the end of the vegetative stage, and the flowering stage starts. In this stage, your plants consume the same volume of water as they did during the late phase of the vegetative stage.
How to tell if my cannabis is thirsty and needs watering?
One way of determining it is through weighing your pot. Feeling the weight of your growing media when it is at its lightest with no water is helpful to assess the watering ratio. You will always know when to water without risking overwatering if you do it this way. If the pot is heavy, the soil is probably too moist, and you should wait a few days before supplying water. It is time to water them right away if they are too light.
In addition, examining the moisture of the soil can also help you. If you are watering by hand and are unsure if the soil is wet enough, run your entire finger down the pot’s side. Depending on how moist or dry your finger feels, you should be able to tell when it is time to water again.
Conclusion
Growing Cannabis is not as simple as planting, fertilizing, and watering them whenever you feel like it. Expect to make mistakes the first time and be ready to learn from your mistakes.