What are Macro-/Micro-Nutrients, and what is each responsible for?

Contributed by: Lord Of The Strains

What are Macro-/Micro-Nutrients, and what is each responsible for?

Summary of Macronutrients
Macronutrients are the elements most vital to all plant-life. Thereare three major and most prominent macronutrients: Nitrogen (“N”),Phosphorus (“P”), and Potassium (“K”). All fertilizers contain thesethree fundamental elements, but in varying amounts, depending onfertilizer type/brand. The N-P-K ratio of the fertilizer will be listedon the side of the container/box in the form of three numbers separatedby hyphens (e.g. 20-20-20, etc.); choose a fertilizer that correlateswith your specific needs and stage of plant-growth. TIP: In theirvegetative state, cannabis plants thrive primarily on “N” and “P”; andin their flowering-stage, “P” and “K” become more essential.

Summary of Micronutrients
Along with the basic macronutrients, plants also requiremicronutrients (or Trace-Elements) for sustained health and vigor. Someof these trace-elements are Calcium (“Ca”), Magnesium (“Mg”), Sulfur(“S”), Manganese (“Mn”), Boron (“B”), Zinc (“Zn”), and Copper (“Cu”).They are present in most, if not all, fertilizers, but in generallylesser portions than the major macronutrients.

Below is a list of the basic macronutrients andmicronutrients/trace-elements, along with the horticultural-benefitsand deficiency-symptoms of each:

Element Name: Nitrogen

  • Symbol: N
  • Atomic Number: 7
  • Atomic Mass: 14.00674
  • Horticultural-Benefit: Nitrogen promotesphotosynthesis, and is directly responsible for the production ofchlorophyll. It stimulates leaf and stem growth, and aids the overallsize and vigor of the plants.
  • Deficiency-Symptoms: A nitrogen-deficiency can berecognized by reduced growth-rates and yellowing of the leaves(starting with the older/lower leaves). Colder soil-temperatures makenitrogen less-available to plants.

Element Name: Phosphorus

  • Symbol: P
  • Atomic Number: 15
  • Atomic Mass: 30.973762
  • Horticultural-Benefit: Phosphorus aids in thegermination of seeds, and the growth of seedlings and roots. It is alsovital the production of terpene resins, floral clusters, and necessarysugars and starches. Phosphorus also influences overall vigor.
  • Deficiency-Symptoms: A phosphorus-deficiency canbe noted by reduced growth-rates and the production of smaller leaveswhich wilt/drop quickly. The leaves will be a dull, bluish-green, whichwill turn purplish or bronzy, and will have seared edges. Excessive“P”-levels can initiate a potassium-deficiency.

Element Name: Potassium

  • Symbol: K
  • Atomic Number: 19
  • Atomic Mass: 39.0983
  • Horticultural-Benefit: Potassium is important toyour plants for metabolic changes during flowering, and the productionof floral clusters. It also promotes general plant-vigor,disease-resistance, and sturdy growth.
  • Deficiency-Symptoms: A potassium-deficiency willretard growth-rates, and cause leaf-tips and -edges to become ascorched-brown color, with curled margins.

Element Name: Calcium

  • Symbol: Ca
  • Atomic Number: 20
  • Atomic Mass: 40.078
  • Horticultural-Benefit: Calcium is a key ingredientin cell-walls. It strengthens stems/stalks/branches, and alsocontributes to root-development/growth, primarily that of the rot-tips.
  • Deficiency-Symptoms: A calcium-deficiency can berecognized by distorted leaves, with hooked tips and curled margins. Adeficiency would also result in under-developed roots, with weakroot-tips.

Element Name: Magnesium

  • Symbol: Mg
  • Atomic Number: 12
  • Atomic Mass: 24.3050
  • Horticultural-Benefit: Magnesium is significant forchlorophyll-production and most enzyme reactions. It is responsible forhealthy leaf-structure and -production, as well as sustaining healthyvein-structure in the leaves.
  • Deficiency-Symptoms: A magnesium-deficiency willaffect various plant-species differently. The most common symptoms incannabis plants are a vivid yellowing of the leaves, followed by leavesfalling without withering, starting with the older/lower leaves.Excessive “Mg”-levels may initiate a calcium-deficiency.

Element Name: Sulfur

  • Symbol: S
  • Atomic Number: 16
  • Atomic Mass: 32.066
  • Horticultural-Benefit: Sulfur, being an ingredient in plant-protiens, is vital for protein-production, chlorophyll-production and vegetative growth.
  • Deficiency-Symptoms: A sulfur-deficiency can beidentified by retarded growth-rates, accompanied by small, mutatedleaves which are round in shape and roll upwards. Leaves will becomestiff and brittle, and will fall off. A “S”-deficiency will also causeflowers on the top of kholas to die.

Element Name: Manganese

  • Symbol: Mn
  • Atomic Number: 25
  • Atomic Mass: 54.93805
  • Horticultural-Benefit: Manganese is a catalyst for many enzymes, and also aids photosynthesis/ chlorophyll-production.
  • Deficiency-Symptoms: A manganese-deficiency willhave varying symptoms, depending on plant-species. The most commonsymptoms in cannabis plants are a yellowing of chloroplasts while stemsremain relatively green. White or grey specks/spots may develop on thesurfaces of leaves. As is usually the case, older/lower leaves will beaffected first. Excessive “Mn”-levels may cause an“Fe”(iron)-deficiency, which will exhibit symptoms similar to a“Mn”-deficiency.

Element Name: Boron

  • Symbol: B
  • Atomic Number: 5
  • Atomic Mass: 10.811
  • Horticultural-Benefit: Boron aids the movement ofnecessary sugars, as well as reproduction, and water intake by cells.It also assists in the production of stems/stalks/branches, and keepscalcium in a soluble form. Furthermore, “B” contributes toleaf-production/-coloring/and -structure.
  • Deficiency-Symptoms:A boron-deficiency can be recognized by distorted and/or dead growingtips, hollow stems, and malformed fruits/flowers. Plants suffering froma “B”-deficiency frequently exhibit scorched, curled leaves, which areoften spotted and discolored; young/vegetative leaves are affectedfirst. Excessive “B”-levels may cause plants to exhibit symptomssimilar to those of “Mg”-/”K”-deficiencies.

Element Name: Zinc

  • Symbol: Zn
  • Atomic Number: 30
  • Atomic Mass: 65.39
  • Horticultural-Benefit: Zinc-levels directly affectplant-size and -maturation , as it is necessary for the production ofplant-proteins. Consequently, “Zn” is vital to the production of leavesand stalks/stems/branches.
  • Deficiency-Symptoms: A deficiency of zinc willresult in the yellowing of chloroplasts between leaf-veins, usuallywith purplish spots of dead cells on leaf-surfaces; older/lower leavesare the first to show symptoms. Vegetative-growth is retarded anddeformed, and floral-growth is reduced. Excessive “Zn”-levels caninitiate an “Fe”(iron)-deficiency.

Element Name: Copper

  • Symbol: Cu
  • Atomic Number: 29
  • Atomic Mass: 63.546
  • Horticultural-Benefit: Copper is responsible forhealthy, vigorous growth, and strengthens stalks/stem/branches. It isalso necessary for the production of plant-proteins, and is crucial forreproduction.
  • Deficiency-Symptoms: A copper-deficiency cancause otherwise green leaves to adopt a bluish hue. Vegetative growthmay fail to unfold, and may be yellow at the tips and edges.

 

 

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