Nutrient IssuesModerate
Nitrogen Deficiency in Cannabis
Nitrogen is the most-used nutrient during vegetative growth. A deficiency shows up fast: pale green, then yellow, working up from the bottom leaves.
What it looks like
- ●Lower leaves fade from green to pale to yellow
- ●Yellow works UP the plant over time
- ●Whole leaf affected, not just veins or tips
- ●Leaves eventually drop off
Quick diagnostic checks
1If it's veg and leaves are yellow from the bottom, feed more N
2If it's late flower, some yellowing is NORMAL — don't feed
Causes ranked by likelihood
1. Underfeeding in veg
Most commonSigns
- ●Plant is 3+ weeks old and growing fast
- ●You're not feeding or using plain water
Fix
- ✓Start feeding a veg-stage nutrient (higher N)
- ✓Week 3: ¼ strength. Week 4: ½ strength. Week 5+: full strength
Recommended products
FoxFarm Grow Big
6-4-4 — the go-to veg nitrogen feed
2. pH lockout
CommonSigns
- ●You ARE feeding but leaves are still yellow
- ●Runoff pH outside 6.0-6.8 (soil)
Fix
- ✓Measure runoff pH with a calibrated meter
- ✓Flush with pH 6.5 water to reset
⚠️When to worry
Severe N deficiency stalls growth. Left unfixed, it cuts yield 20%+. But mild fade in late flower is fine.
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