Pay attention that growing marijuana may be subject to special restrictions and regulation in your country or state. Please contact your attorney to obtain advice before cultivating cannabis.
Disclaimer
Pay attention that growing marijuana may be subject to special restrictions and regulation in your country or state. Please contact your attorney to obtain advice before cultivating cannabis.
The necessary nutrients found in the soil are only available to the plant in a water-dissolved form. The quality of the water affects how these substances will be dissolved and then absorbed by the roots. Cannabis needs a lot of water; its lack affects the development of the plant and reduces the quality of the crop. So what is the best water for weed plants? Stay tuned to learn all the details.
Which water is best for watering cannabis
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Rain and spring water
Bottled spring water is considered the best option for watering potted plants. It speeds up the growth of plants, does not have an excess of salts, and overall has the optimal amount of nutrients. Many growers note this water makes cannabis plants bloom more abundantly and for a longer time. The coloring of flowers in such bushes is usually brighter.
Rainwater has similar properties and is recommended to be used. However, be sure to take into account that rainwater can be contaminated, especially if you live in an industrial area. In this case, rainwater should not be collected immediately but a few minutes after the start of rain.
Distilled water
Distilled water is a type of purified water achieved by boiling water away and then condensing the vapor. Distilled water is completely devoid of all micronutrients, which in small amounts are vital to plants. On the other hand, this kind of water provides an impurity-free source of irrigation that can help prevent toxicity. If you choose this option, we recommend using a 1:1 mixture of distilled and set tap water.
Tap water
According to common perception, unfiltered tap water will kill your plants. It is not entirely true, although there is some justification. First of all, the quality of tap water usually varies considerably from town to town. If there is extremely hard water with high chlorine, as well as magnesium and calcium salts in your area, cannabis will not last long. However, it will be relatively easy to get rid of the chlorine by letting the water set for a day or more.
Why is it undesirable to use tap water?
The issue with this type of water is that its quality depends on your living region. Suppose tap water contains too many salts, the pH of the soil changes in the direction of alkalization. This disturbs the plants’ absorption of phosphorus, iron, manganese, boron, and other important elements. The high content of calcium and magnesium salts in the water leads to the fact that these elements are converted into compounds unavailable for plants, and the assimilation of iron, which is necessary for photosynthesis, is blocked.
Indoor plants might get chlorosis - the leaves turn lighter, then turn yellow and die off. The soil may exude an unpleasant putrid or acidic odor, indicating that the roots are rotting. In this case, be sure to transplant the cannabis into different soil, removing the rotted roots.
Watering with hard water also results in a white crust on the soil’s surface and white stains on the walls of ceramic pots.
How to improve the water quality
If the tap water is not good enough and you don’t need a lot of it for irrigation, filtration systems are the best way out. But if you have more than one plant and need plenty of water, there are other ways to go about it.
Pay attention to pH
One of the most important factors of water quality is its hydrogen index (pH), which shows the level of acidity. The best option for cannabis, guaranteeing full nutrient uptake, is water with a pH of about 6. Rainwater has a pH of 5.6-5.7.
Water filtration systems
The most popular in this regard are reverse osmosis systems; they purify water from almost all impurities by filtering through a semi-permeable membrane. Such small-scale units can often be seen in kitchens as a source of clean drinking water. This water will be perfectly safe to use and can be obtained in any amount limited only by the capacity of the particular filtration system. However, keep in mind that this option has some drawbacks too. In addition to the impressive cost of the system itself and its maintenance, the increased water consumption for purification is also worth considering.
Meltwater
Melted water is devoid of excess salts, but its preparation will take some time. Pour the water into a container and put it in the freezer. Watch when some of the water freezes, and some will still be in a liquid state. The unfrozen water should be drained off - it will contain the greatest amount of dissolved salts. Allow the frozen water to thaw and warm up to room temperature before watering.
How can I soften water?
To soften and acidify the water, use one of the following compositions:
- 0.1-0.2 g oxalic acid per 1 liter of water;
- 3 g of wood ash per 1 liter of water;
- 2-3 drops of 9% acetic acid per 1 liter of water;
- 0.3-0.4 g of citric acid per liter of water;
- 0.1 ml of sulfuric acid per 1 L of water;
- A few drops of lemon juice per 1 liter of water;
- 10-20 grams of peat per 1 liter of water (put the peat in a cloth bag, place it in a container with water and incubate for 12-24 hours).
Boiled water
You can soften the water by boiling it. But in this case, the water is completely deprived of the air dissolved in it. This can lead to the rotting of the roots of some plants. Such water should be mixed with tap water in 1:1 proportion.
Final thoughts
Good cannabis crops can only be achieved by taking good care of the plants. The quality of the water used to water the plant is very important. So we advise you to pay attention to this issue. Use our tips to improve the quality of your crops and improve the overall development of the plants.
