What are the best cannabis nutrients?

While cannabis may not be the hardest plant on earth to grow, there are a few things needed in the grow room in order to let cannabis thrive. One of those things is the proper nutrients. All plants need nutrients to survive. Some get them naturally from the soil while others use a supplement to make sure their plants are getting what they need. Others make their own nutrients whether they come from household items, compost, or another homemade solution. In fact, this is a very popular option for those growing cannabis.

But for those that are just starting out growing, purchasing ready-made nutrients can be a much easier option. Most cannabis nutrients are affordable, come with full instruction, and can do a world of good for your grow room. Here we’ve reviewed the top three most popular nutrients to help you and your plants.

What are the three main nutrients for cannabis?

Before you grow its important that you understand the basics. And at the core of every big yielding cannabis grow is a solid foundation of macro nutrients; Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K). Often referred to as the N-P-K ratio:

Nitrogen (N): Vital during the vegetative stage, nitrogen promotes strong leaf and stem growth. A deficiency can result in yellowing leaves and stunted growth.

Phosphorus (P): This nutrient is very important during the flowering phase. It aids in the development of healthy roots and big buds. Insufficient phosphorus can lead to delayed maturity and smaller flowers.

Potassium (K): Supporting overall plant health, potassium ensures strong cellular functions and resistance against diseases. A lack of potassium will often display itself as brown spots or curled leaf edges.

Week by week NPK ratio guide

Each nutrient brand will have different guidelines as to how much to give to your plants, the amount will also vary depending on if you are growing autoflowering seeds or photoperiods. Autoflowers only require about a third to a half of the nutrients as they are much smaller. Here is a table showing what a week by week schedule could look like if you were to grow a cannabis plant on a 12 week schedule.

What nutrient makes cannabis buds bigger?

To grow plump, dense buds, the key nutrient to focus on is Phosphorus. During the flowering stage, an increased phosphorus intake can lead to bigger and denser flowers. Alongside phosphorus, Potassium (K) also plays a key crucial role at strengthening the plant cells aiding in nutrient uptake. Together, they enhance energy transfer, resulting in bigger yields. Using bloom boosters or flowering enhancers, rich in both nutrients, can make a noticeable difference.

Should I use nutrients every time I water?

The simple answer is no. Consistently providing nutrients with every watering can lead to nutrient build-up in the soil, eventually causing "nutrient burn," which will cause yellowing leaves and eventually stunted growth. Instead start with a diluted nutrient mix, gradually increasing as your cannabis plants grow. Implement a routine of alternating between nutrient-rich water and plain pH-balanced water. This helps plants to get essential nutrients without the risk of overfeeding.

What do we think are the best nutrients for growing cannabis?

Advanced cannabis nutrients

Advanced Nutrients is one of the more expensive nutrient options out there, with 250 ml costing between $20 and $25. But once growers understand the many benefits of this very popular brand, it’s easy to see why so many choose it over the others. Advanced Nutrients is perfectly suitable to any strain of cannabis and while seasoned growers have come to love it after seeing the effect it has on their grow room, it’s great for beginner growers too.

For those beginners Advanced Nutrients also supplies a starter pack that includes nutrients for each stage of growth. This starter pack includes Big Bud, B52, Voodoo Juice, and Overdrive – all products that are prepared by Advanced Nutrients and are known to be some of the best on the market. Each individual nutrient is used during a different period of growth, giving cannabis plants exactly what they need when they need it. When used as directed, anyone can get bigger, more beautiful cannabis plants.

Fox Farm cannabis nutrients

Those who don’t like the price tag of Advanced Nutrients may feel better about it after doing some comparison shopping and finding that Fox Farm sell for even more at around $35 for just a one-litre bottle. But, Fox Farm is just as good a brand as Advanced Nutrients and its biggest fans will likely tell you it’s even better. We find it pretty comparable. Like Advanced Nutrients, Fox Farm is a multi-part system with different aspects of nutrients being sold separately. Unlike Advanced Nutrients however, each of these three different aspects are applied during each growth phase.

What these nutrients provide is cannabis that has thick, dense buds; and the entire plant is lush and green throughout to boot. In addition, Fox Farm is can also be a huge help in preventing calcium and magnesium deficiencies, which is something many cannabis plants can suffer from.

When using Fox Farm, it’s important to remember that each component is quite strong in its own right and so growers should never overdo it. Like most nutrients on the market, Fox Farm comes with its own instructions for use and it is highly recommended that these are strictly adhered to in the grow room.

Is Fox Farm good for growing weed?

Fox Farm offer a diverse range of nutrient solutions tailored for each of the cannabis growth stages. They have been around since 1984 and are well known as one of the best cannabis nutrient brands.

Future Harvests cannabis nutrients

Established in 1996, Future Harvest are specialists in hydroponic and indoor growing nutrients. With nearly three decades of unyielding commitment to innovation and excellence, they now produce 3 main base nutrients.

One of the standout features of Future Harvest is their holistic approach to cultivation. They're not merely about providing nutrients; they make sure every product makes a tangible difference and have a comprehensive line of cannabis nutrients, tailored meticulously for every grow.

What are the different Future Harvest nutrients?

Holland Secret: Designed to be a comprehensive three-part solution, it eliminates the need for individual fertilizers. Whether you're using soil, coco, or hydro, Holland Secret ensures optimal growth with sediment-free, urea-free, and pH-buffered nutrients. Their Tri-Pack, offering a blend of Bloom, Grow, and Micro, is particularly enticing for those seeking an all-in-one growth solution.

Easy Plus Series: For those wanting simplicity. the Easy Plus Series is a revelation. Combining ease-of-use with effectiveness, products like Easy Grow Plus and Easy Bloom Plus streamline the cultivation process. The Easy Pack, a blend of these signature products, ensures plants get essential macro and micro nutrients without any fuss.

The Dosaline Collection: The Dosaline Collection truly sets Future Harvest apart from other brands. Tailored for commercial growers, this range promises unparalleled efficiency and results. From the foundational Dosaline Base, to the specialized Dosaline Bloom, priming plants for vibrant buds, every product in this line is tailored for a specific phase of your grow. And with additions like Surge Pro, an all-in-one plant supplement, and HC0L for maintaining clean irrigation lines, Future Harvest has solidified itself as one of the market leaders in hydroponic nutrients.

There is a lot in a grow room that can be tricky, particularly for beginners. But in the case of nutrients for cannabis, it doesn’t have to be. While there are many great options available, there are also some that are better than others. Ease of use, cost, and of course, how cannabis grows when using them will all be factors when choosing the right nutrients for your plants. But when choosing any of the above three, both the grow room and the cannabis will benefit.

Dyna-Grow nutrients

Dyna-Gro has a lot to offer but perhaps the best thing is that it doesn’t matter what medium the cannabis is growing in. Soil, coco coir, and hydro setups will all do very well with Dyna-Gro. And a quart of Dyna-Gro will cost about $25 so it’s on par with Advanced Nutrients and costs just a little less than Fox Farm.

In addition to being perfectly suitable for all types of setups, Dyna-Gro is also appropriate for both the vegetative and flowering phases of growth. Each of these phases do have different nutrients however. Foliage-Pro should be used in the early stages when the plant is still in its vegetative stage; and Bloom can be used once the cannabis enters its flowering stage.

It contains 16 essential minerals, a blend of micro and macro nutrients, and is quickly absorbed by the plants so they are more evenly distributed throughout the soil. Growers that have other types of plants outside the grow room will also find that Dyna-Gro is perfectly suitable for those plants as well.

While there are two different lines of Dyna-Gro available for different growth phases, once you have the right product it’s all ready to be used right out of the bottle. So there’s no mixing of chemicals in the grow room, just following instructions on a bottle. Doing so with Dyna-Gro will produce thick buds and can even enhance the taste and smell of the cannabis grown with it.

There is a lot in a grow room that can be tricky, particularly for beginners. But in the case of nutrients for cannabis, it doesn’t have to be. While there are many great options available, there are also some that are better than others. Ease of use, cost, and of course, how cannabis grows when using them will all be factors when choosing the right nutrients for your plants. But when choosing any of the above three, both the grow room and the cannabis will benefit.

What are the best nutrients for the veg stage?

Lots of growers put more focus on the flowering stage, with the assumption that this is the stage where the buds grow and so it should get the most attention. But the flowering stage is in fact the decider on how many bud sites your plants will have and how big and strong the structure of the plant is that will support those buds, so getting the nutrients right during the vegetative stage is incredibly important if you want to produce big yields.

Dosaline Grow from Future Harvest stands out as the number one choice. It is an exceptional product that has been specifically formulated for the vegetative phase, tapping into the potent benefits of Ammonium Sulfate, Diammonium Phosphate, and Potassium Nitrate. These ingredients work to promote vigorous growth and will give your plants all of the strength they need to support those heavy buds come the flowering stage. Dosaline have also included a few added extras that you might not find in other brands nutrients; With the inclusion of Iron EDTA your plants are guaranteed optimal iron absorption, which is a critical element for plant health during this stage. Designed for seamless integration with hydroponic growing systems, Dosaline Grow is not only free from clogging agents but also surpasses Health Canada and CFIA standards in quality. With its capacity to dissolve quickly in cold water and devoid of any dyes, growers can be confident in a clean and efficient feeding process.

What are the best nutrients for the flowering stage?

Equally as important as the veg stage, is the flowering stage. For those of you that want to produce big yielding plants Fox Farm's Cultivation Nation product line provides the perfect formula. As part two of the Cultivation Nation 2-Part Soluble Feeding Program, this nutrient blend is formulated to kick in during the mid to late stages of the flowering cycle, extending right through to harvest. Its NPK ratio of 0-5-4 provides your plants with a perfect blend of the macronutrients that your plants need to produce big juicy buds during the cannabis flowering stage.