What is nutrient lockout, and how can I prevent it from affecting my cannabis plants? What are the signs of nutrient lockout, and how do I address it?
One answer “How to prevent nutrient lockout?”
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Nutrient lockout occurs when the nutrients available for plants to absorb are not available in a form that the plants can take up, or when the abundance of certain minerals block plants from taking up other essential nutrients. It is a problem that can be encountered while gardening outdoors, in hydroponic systems, coco coir and soil, and can result in pale plants, stunted growth, and nutrient deficiency-like symptoms.
The most common way to prevent nutrient lockout is to maintain an ideal pH level in the growing medium. When the pH of the medium is off, the nutrients available to the plant is either too high or too low, depending on where the pH is too acidic or too alkaline. The ideal pH level is 6.5 – 7.5, with 6.3 being optimal for soil and 5.8 being optimal for hydro or coco coir setups. Keeping the pH of your system in the ideal range not only allows plants to access the elements they need, but also prevents chemical reactions from happening which will cause nutrient lockout.
In soil-based gardens, nutrient lockout can also be caused by over-fertilizing and compaction of the soil. Too much fertilizer can cause a buildup of nutrients that become unavailable to the plant, whereas compacted soil limits the pore volume and reduces the amount of air and water that can penetrate the roots. To prevent nutrient lockout in soil-based gardens, it is important to correct the soil pH, avoid over-fertilizing, and alleviate soil compaction with aeration, peat moss, and other medium amendments.
Signs of nutrient lockout may include leaves yellowing or discoloration of the foliage, nutrient deficiency-like symptoms (such as nitrogen or phosphorus deficiency), abnormal growth patterns, or stunted growth. The exact cause of the lockout will determine how to address it. If it is caused by incorrect pH, adjusting the pH upwards or downwards until it is in the ideal range will help. If it is caused by over-fertilization, flushing the medium with plain, oxygenated water can help to leach out some of the excess nutrients. If it caused by soil compaction, aeration of the soil and addition of organic medium amendments can help to reduce compaction.
There are several ways to prevent and address nutrient lockout. Understanding the underlying cause of it and taking steps to ensure the ideal pH, adequate oxygen, and balanced nutrient amounts will help to maintain a healthy crop of cannabis plants. Testing the grow medium with nutrient and pH meters, understanding macro and micronutrient requirements, and avoiding over-fertilization, will all help to prevent and solve nutrient lockout in all gardens.