Fellow Growers!
The number of times I’ve had questions from customers and growers about what’s wrong with their plants… not to mention how often I’ve found myself scratching my head trying to figure out what my own plants are missing. Let’s go through some of the basics together!
Nailing watering
Sometimes it’s tough to tell if a plant’s overwatered or underwatered—the symptoms can look nearly identical. Here are some basic tips:
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Leaves limp and swollen? Could be overwatering—roots not getting enough air.
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Leaves limp but papery? Might be underwatering—transpiration outpaces water uptake.
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How’s your runoff? Slow to drain? Your medium might be compacted or waterlogged.
Check out this ILGM guide for a full breakdown:
How To Fix Over or Underwatering Your Cannabis Plant
What’s been most common for you all—underwatering or overwatering? My experience with customers definitely leans toward overwatering being far more common.
Feeding without going off the rails
“More nutrients ≠ automatically bigger buds.” Could a steady routine—feed ➜ water ➜ water ➜ feed—keep roots happy?
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Soil: aim for pH 6.0‑6.8
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Coco/Hydro: aim for pH 5.8‑6.2
Are y’all keeping track of the EC? Read up on the macros and micros here:
Macro and Micronutrients in Cannabis Cultivation
Do you all stick to the feeding schedule of your nutrients, or do you go by feel? I tend to just go by feel (mostly because I am not organized enough to stick to a schedule).
Light: Too Much, Too Little—and What to Do
Lighting can get tricky. Anyone measuring their DLI (Daily Light Integral)? Here are some simple tips:
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Leaves tacoing or bleaching out? That’s usually too much light.
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Plants stretching and looking lanky? Probably too little light.
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Measuring your canopy with a PAR meter or lux-to-PPFD app? It helps a ton.
Right light levels = stronger plants, better buds.
Do y’all use PAR meters? What’s your experience been?
Aroma & terpenes—yes, they matter
Healthy roots + active microbes = louder, more complex terpenes. Heat stress or humidity swings, especially late flower? Aroma takes a hit.
Keep an eye on VPD (vapor pressure deficit) to help plants stay happy and smell their best.
Have you ever had a late-flower aroma flop? What did you do to fix it?
Helpful ILGM Resources
- A Beginner’s Guide to pH for Growing Cannabis
- Feeding Your Cannabis Plants – Beginner’s Nutrient Guide
- Monitoring Water Quality in Your Cannabis Grow
TL;DR Quick Tips
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Watering: Limp + swollen = overwatered; limp + papery = underwatered. Always check runoff.
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Feeding: More nutrients ≠ automatically bigger buds. Feed in a balanced schedule, monitor EC/pH.
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Lighting: Too much → leaves taco/bleach; too little → plants stretch. Use a PAR meter or app.
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Aroma/Terpenes: Healthy roots + active microbes = better terps. Watch VPD & avoid heat/humidity swings.
What’s the trickiest issue you’ve had with your plants lately? I got some crappy soil and have been battling with huge amounts of fungus gnats.
