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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 common

Signs

  • 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

View →

2. pH lockout

Common

Signs

  • 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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