Could overfeeding (too-strong nutrient solution) be causing nutrient burn?

You're following bottle dose instructions (these are almost always too high for cannabis). EC/PPM above 1.8/900 for veg, 2.2/1100 for flower. Leaves dark green AND tips burning. Fix: Flush with 3x pot volume of pH'd plain water Resume feeding at 50% of previous strength Cannabis likes LESS nutrients than tomatoes — start at ¼ to ½ bottle dose

Could hot soil (pre-charged mix too strong for seedlings) be causing nutrient burn?

Seedling in FoxFarm Ocean Forest or similar hot mix. Burn appears in the first 2-3 weeks. You haven't fed yet — it's the soil itself. Fix: Transplant to a lighter mix (FoxFarm Happy Frog, seedling starter) Or wait it out — plants outgrow it once roots fill the pot

Could salt buildup in soil be causing nutrient burn?

White crusty residue on soil surface. Burn appeared gradually over many feedings. Fix: Flush with 3x pot volume of plain water Let soil fully dry before next feed Add plain water feedings every 3rd feed to prevent buildup

Nutrient IssuesModerate

Cannabis Nutrient Burn

Nutrient burn is when you give more nutrients than the plant can use. The tips go yellow, then brown, then crispy. Very common when growers follow bottle doses (usually 2-3x too strong).

What it looks like

●Leaf tips yellow first, then brown and crispy
●Burn starts at the very tip and moves inward
●Often accompanied by dark green, almost-black leaves (nitrogen excess)
●Worst on upper leaves (they're newest, getting most nutrients)

Quick diagnostic checks

1If tips are crispy, you're feeding too strong

2Cannabis responds better to UNDERFEEDING than overfeeding — start low

3Always dose at half bottle strength first

Causes ranked by likelihood

1. Overfeeding (too-strong nutrient solution)

Most common

Signs

●You're following bottle dose instructions (these are almost always too high for cannabis)
●EC/PPM above 1.8/900 for veg, 2.2/1100 for flower
●Leaves dark green AND tips burning

Fix

✓Flush with 3x pot volume of pH'd plain water
✓Resume feeding at 50% of previous strength
✓Cannabis likes LESS nutrients than tomatoes — start at ¼ to ½ bottle dose

2. Hot soil (pre-charged mix too strong for seedlings)

Common

Signs

●Seedling in FoxFarm Ocean Forest or similar hot mix
●Burn appears in the first 2-3 weeks
●You haven't fed yet — it's the soil itself

Fix

✓Transplant to a lighter mix (FoxFarm Happy Frog, seedling starter)
✓Or wait it out — plants outgrow it once roots fill the pot

3. Salt buildup in soil

Common

Signs

●White crusty residue on soil surface
●Burn appeared gradually over many feedings

Fix

✓Flush with 3x pot volume of plain water
✓Let soil fully dry before next feed
✓Add plain water feedings every 3rd feed to prevent buildup

⚠️When to worry

Tip burn that advances more than ⅛" per week means ongoing overfeed. Burned leaves won't recover, but new growth should come in clean.

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Cannabis Nutrient Burn

What it looks like

Quick diagnostic checks

Causes ranked by likelihood

1. Overfeeding (too-strong nutrient solution)

2. Hot soil (pre-charged mix too strong for seedlings)

3. Salt buildup in soil

⚠️When to worry

Not sure what you're looking at?

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