Troubleshooting common mistakes in marijuana growing

Growing cannabis, whether indoors or outdoors, can be a rewarding process — but it’s easy to run into issues. This guide highlights common mistakes made by growers and offers practical tips to troubleshoot and correct them.

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🚱 1. Overwatering or Underwatering

Symptoms of Overwatering:

• Droopy or yellowing leaves
• Soil that feels soggy or stays wet for too long
• Mold or fungus growth

Symptoms of Underwatering:

• Dry, brittle leaves
• Soil pulling away from the container edges
• Slow growth

✅ Solution:

• Let soil dry out between waterings.
• Use well-draining pots and soil.
• Stick your finger 1–2 inches into the soil — only water if it feels dry.

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💡 2. Light Problems

Too Much Light (Light Burn):

• Bleached, yellow, or curled leaves near the top of the plant

Too Little Light:

• Stretchy, lanky plants with wide spacing between nodes
• Slow growth and small buds

✅ Solution:

• Maintain proper light distance (especially with LEDs).
• Provide 18 hours of light during veg and 12 hours during flowering (indoor).
• Ensure outdoor plants get full sun exposure.

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🧪 3. Nutrient Burn or Deficiency

Nutrient Burn:

• Leaf tips turn brown (“burned” look)
• Leaves curl or appear crispy

Nutrient Deficiency:

• Yellowing leaves (often nitrogen)
• Purple stems or spotted leaves

✅ Solution:

• Use nutrients as directed; start with ¼ strength and build up.
• Flush with plain pH-balanced water if overfed.
• Use a nutrient schedule appropriate for the plant’s stage.

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🌡️ 4. Temperature and Humidity Issues

Too Hot:

• Leaves curl upward or feel dry
• Plant growth slows

Too Cold:

• Stunted growth
• Leaves may turn purple or blue

Humidity Problems:

• Too high: leads to mold/bud rot
• Too low: stunts veg growth and slows photosynthesis

✅ Solution:

• Ideal temps: 70–85°F (veg), 65–80°F (flower)
• Ideal humidity: 50–70% (veg), 40–50% (flower)
• Use fans, heaters, or dehumidifiers if needed.

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🪲 5. Pests and Mold

Common Pests:

• Spider mites, aphids, whiteflies
• Leaves may have bite marks or discoloration

Mold/Mildew:

• Powdery mildew on leaves
• Bud rot during flowering

✅ Solution:

• Inspect regularly with a magnifier.
• Use neem oil or insecticidal soap for pests.
• Prune for better airflow and avoid overwatering.

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✂️ 6. Improper Pruning or Training

Mistake:

• Over-pruning or pruning at the wrong stage
• Damaging the plant during LST or topping

✅ Solution:

• Only prune during veg phase.
• Use clean, sterilized tools.
• Train gradually and gently — never break stems.

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🔄 7. Ignoring the Plant’s Growth Stage

Each stage (seedling, veg, flower) has different needs.

✅ Solution:

• Seedling: Low light, gentle water, no nutrients yet.
• Veg: High nitrogen, 18/6 light schedule.
• Flower: High phosphorus/potassium, 12/12 light cycle.

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📊 8. Not Monitoring pH

Wrong pH leads to nutrient lockout.

✅ Solution:

• Keep water/soil pH between 6.0–7.0 (soil) or 5.5–6.5 (hydro).
• Use pH meters or test strips.

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⏱️ 9. Harvesting Too Early or Late

Too Early:

• Small, underdeveloped buds
• Harsh, low-potency smoke

Too Late:

• THC degrades into CBN
• Heavy, sedative effects

✅ Solution:

• Use a magnifier to check trichomes (cloudy = ready, amber = heavy)
• 70–90% of pistils should darken

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🧠 Final Tips

• Keep a grow journal to track problems and results.
• Observe plants daily — they’ll tell you what they need.
• Don’t panic — most mistakes are fixable with time and care.