Stop a Copper Deficiency in your Cannabis Plants Right Now!

Having a copper deficiency with your cannabis plants is very rare, but it can’t happen.

First, check new Leaf growth of your plant and see if there are any weird shapes forming.

Or discoloration of leaves such as red, pink or dark green turn into a gray color.

Yellowing between the veins can also occur and may resemble an iron deficiency.

The most common cause has a high PH level your grow medium because copper is best absorbed at a low PH level. 

It’s best to catch this deficiency when the plant is in its vegetative state.

When it happens during flowering, the buds may stop growing and maturing to develop trichomes.

If you suspect that your cannabis plants have a copper deficiency, you can check out the signs below to determine if your plants are lacking in copper.

Signs of copper deficiency

Here are a few of the signs of copper deficiency in cannabis plants.

  • New leaves wilt and contort shapes
  • Leaf edges turn dark green to copper gray
  • Yield is small
  • Slow growth
  • Weak stems
  • Wilting or droopy appearance
  • Leaf tips start dying
  • Sides of leaf appear burnt
  • Reddish or pink color on leaves
  • Leaves curl under
  • Dark purple leaves
  • Yellow new leaf growth
  • Yellowing of older leaves
Copper-Deficiency-marijuana-diagram

Why is copper important to cannabis?

Copper is part of the many Nutrients and micro-nutrients required for photosynthesis and helps drive enzyme production.

Also, it’s vital to metabolize carbohydrates (sugars) and proteins.

This micro-nutrient helps with the color and the flavor of fruits and vegetables and all plants such as marijuana.

The copper micro-nutrient is immobile.

That is the reason why the new leaf growth is affected first.

Most nutrient lines out there have some form of copper added to them to supplement your cannabis plants. 

Causes of Copper Deficiency

Here are some of the reasons why you may have a copper deficiency in your plants.

  • Extra Potassium and phosphorus can cause a lack of copper in the plant.
  • Over watering, when growing in soil
  • High PH Hydro
  • Soil PH is high above 6.5 (check your soil PH values)

You can also run into Copper Lockout.

Copper Lockout happens when the PH is above a certain level. Causing the medium to become Alkaline for the roots.

Which stop’s the uptake of copper by your cannabis plants.

Here are some PH numbers to watch for if they are above these values:

When growing in soil: PH levels of 6.5 or higher

Hydro and Soilless Mediums: PH levels of 6.5 or higher    

How to Fix Copper Deficiency

The following steps should help resolve your plants lacking copper.

1

Let your plants dry out first ; when growing in soil.

2

Flush your plants with PH balanced water.

3

Adjust the PH level in soil.

4

Correct the PH level in water/ nutrients.

The optimal ranges should be in the following :

Soil, 6.0 – 6.5 pH range. Hydro or coco coir, 5.5 – 5.9 pH range

5

Make sure not to over water.

6

Provide balanced nutrients for the different stages of growth.

7

Copper chelates may be a solution if you feel you need extra copper.

Copper-Deficiency-cannabis

Chelated Copper for marijuana

Here are some of the popular chelated copper supplements for your marijuana plants.

Copper chelates EDTA

Copper chelates EDTA Is a fertilizer additive, and that can be used before flower.

It is recommended to consult an agriculture advisor before using this on any plants.This note is from the manufacturer itself. Use with caution.

Baicor Iron Combo Chelate

The baicor Iron combo has a mixture of the following natural chelates: iron, zinc, manganese, copper and boron.

It’s also bio-degradable and can be used on vegetables, flowers, tress, and lawn.

Signs of excessive amounts of copper

  • Slow overall growth.
  • Iron like chlorosis starts to appear between the veins of the leaf
  • Roots begin to rot and decay, Or Roots become thick and grow slow line

How to fix excess amounts of coppper

Having excessive amounts of copper when growing marijuana is very rare.

When using proper nutrients, you should not have excessive amounts of copper.

It’s usually caused by having a high pH in your grow medium.

Copper Is best absorbed at a lower pH level.

If you think you have a significant amount of copper, it can also affect iron uptake which may lead to a deficiency.

It’s best to flush your plants to remove excess copper.

1

Dry your plants out first.

2

Flush your plants. With just water.

Your plants will usually recover .

3

Correct Ph of soil

Final Thoughts

Having a copper deficiency with your cannabis plants can happen.

To be sure to check the pH of your grows medium first. Then dry them out if in the soil.

Flush them out and correct your pH you should be okay and have no copper deficiency at all.

The critical thing is to control your watering when using soil and always use a good solid brand of nutrients.

Because they all supplement with copper and provide all your plant will ever need.Have you had an issue with lacking copper in your plants?

How did you recover?

Let me know in the comments below.

Keep growing my friend.

image credit: Image

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