How To Identify And Treat Manganese Deficiency In Your Cannabis Crop

Growing cannabis is a science in and of itself and requires a great deal of attention and preparation when attempting to cultivate buds of the utmost quality and quantity. The correct watering schedule, the right amount of light, good airflow, and dialled-in humidity and temperature all need to be considered when aiming to harvest a premium crop. Another key factor to pay attention to is nutrition. Cannabis plants require an array of nutrients that facilitate many different physiological functions that keep plants alive and thriving. One of these vital nutrients is manganese.

THE ROLE OF MANGANESE

Manganese is a highly beneficial micro-nutrient that plants require for proper growth. Many processes in plants are dependent upon the presence of adequate levels of manganese. One of these is photosynthesis, which is absolutely critical to the growth and vibrancy of a cannabis crop.

Photosynthesis is the process of plants converting light into energy. Specifically, manganese serves in the formation of chloroplasts. These cells hold chlorophyll molecules and are responsible for converting light into sugars that are used by plant cells. A lack of manganese may result in a decrease in soluble sugar concentrations in different parts of the plant. This situation can then result in a reduced yield.

Manganese also helps to elevate the stress tolerance of cannabis plants. Many stressors plants experience come in the form of oxidative stress. Manganese is a mineral required by superoxide dismutase enzymes, which are responsible for the detoxification of free radicals. Adequate levels of manganese contribute to a higher tolerance toward external stressors, such as drought stress and cold temperatures.

IDENTIFYING MANGANESE DEFICIENCY

Because of the important role that manganese plays in achieving optimal yields, it is important to identify the symptoms of deficiency quickly in order to return everything to normal as soon as possible.

Manganese deficiency symptoms manifest in different ways, including colour changes in the leaves. Leaves will begin to turn more pale in hue. New and older, lower leaves will begin to turn yellow. Yellowing will also occur between the veins of the leaves. The veins themselves will remain green. Brown or dark spots will also occur of the surface of leaves, as well as a mottling pattern. These dark spots will eventually spread and result in the death of leaves, which may end up falling apart altogether. Growth of leaves will also slow. The overall development of plants will begin to degrade.

SOLUTIONS

If your cannabis crop is experiencing a manganese deficiency, you can flush plants clean using pH-balanced water that contains a normal dose of cannabis nutrients, including manganese. This process will remove any excess iron or salts that are inhibiting the uptake of manganese. It will also help to restore the pH to appropriate levels; a pH that is too high may cause manganese deficiency to occur via nutrient lockout. This can happen even when adequate levels of manganese are contained in the substrate. Once the pH is optimised and the proper concentration of manganese is restored, new leaves should appear healthy; affected leaves may not recover.