Cannabis deficiency symptoms: How to recognise and correct them quickly and effectively

Cannabis Mangelerscheinungen

Niklas Bergmann, M.A.

Biochemist, specialist author

Inhaltsverzeichnis: Cannabis deficiency symptoms: How to recognise and correct them quickly and effectively

You can often recognise deficiency symptoms in cannabis by yellow leaves, which indicate nitrogen deficiency, or brown leaf tips, which are usually caused by over-fertilisation or potassium deficiency. Stunted leaves can be a sign of zinc or iron deficiency. During the flowering phase, deficiencies are often shown by yellow leaves with green veins, which indicates magnesium deficiency, or by purple discolouration, which indicates phosphorus deficiency. To remedy these problems, you should check the pH value of the soil and adjust the nutrient supply. Regular, balanced fertilisation and early detection of deficiency symptoms are crucial to keeping your plants healthy and ensuring a high-yielding harvest.

Common cannabis deficiency symptoms and their causes

Cannabis plants can show a variety of deficiency symptoms, which are often due to an insufficient supply of nutrients or unfavourable environmental conditions. The most common deficiency symptoms include

  • Yellow leaves: A sign of nitrogen deficiency, which often occurs when the plant cannot absorb enough nutrients from the soil.
  • Brown spots on the leaves: These often indicate a potassium or calcium deficiency, which can be caused by an incorrect pH value of the soil or insufficient fertilisation.
  • Crippled or deformed leaves: Usually an indication of a sulphur or zinc deficiency, which often occurs in young plants.
  • Flaccid or wilting leaves: These could indicate a lack of phosphorus, which is particularly critical during the flowering phase.

The causes of these deficiency symptoms range from unbalanced pH value and Inadequate nutrient intake up to unfavourable growing conditions such as temperature or moisture stress. To ensure the health of your plants, it is important to recognise these symptoms early and take the right measures.

Cannabis nutrient deficiency - How to recognise deficiencies early

Nutrient deficiencies in cannabis can significantly affect plant health and lead to reduced growth and lower yields. To recognise deficiencies early on, you should look out for the following signs:

  • Leaf discolouration: Yellowish or pale leaves are often the first sign of a nitrogen or magnesium deficiency. Calcium deficiency can cause the leaf edges to turn brownish.
  • Delayed growth: A lack of phosphorus or potassium can slow down the growth of the plant, which manifests itself in smaller leaves and weaker stems.
  • Changes in the leaf shape: If the leaves appear deformed or stunted, this could indicate a lack of micronutrients such as zinc or iron.
  • Dead leaf tips: Brown or burnt leaf tips often indicate a potassium deficiency, which is particularly critical during the flowering phase.

To recognise nutrient deficiencies at an early stage, it is important to monitor your plants regularly. Pay attention to Changes in colour, shape and size of the leaves. A pH meter can also be helpful to ensure that your plants are growing in an optimal pH range, as an incorrect pH value can impair nutrient uptake.

Early recognition and rapid action are crucial to preserving the health of your plants and effectively combating deficiency symptoms.

Cannabis plant deficiency symptoms - What you should look out for

Cannabis plants can exhibit a variety of deficiency symptoms, often due to environmental conditions or nutrient imbalances. Here are some important signs to look out for to ensure the health of your plants:

  • Leaf discolouration and spots: Yellow, brown or purple discolouration of the leaves are common signs of nutrient deficiencies. For example, a phosphorus deficiency often indicates purple leaf stalks, while magnesium deficiency leads to yellow leaves with green veins.
  • Abnormal leaf growth: Stunted, deformed or unusually small leaves can indicate micronutrient deficiencies, such as zinc or sulphur deficiency.
  • Dried or burnt leaf tips: Often a sign of potassium deficiency, especially in the late flowering phase when the plant needs more potassium.
  • Drooping and wilting plants: A general sign of a lack of water, but can also indicate insufficient nutrient uptake due to root problems.

To avoid these deficiency symptoms, you should regularly check the pH value of the soil and ensure a balanced supply of nutrients. It is also advisable to monitor the plants for pests and environmental stressors such as excessive heat or cold, which can also lead to deficiency symptoms.

By looking out for these signs early on and taking appropriate measures, you can ensure the health of your cannabis plants and create optimal growing conditions.

Cannabis brown leaf tips - What is behind it?

Brown leaf tips on cannabis are a common problem and can have various causes. These symptoms are often the first warning sign that something is wrong with the plant. Here are the most common causes:

  • Nutrient excess (nutrient burn): One of the most common causes of brown leaf tips is an excess of nutrients, especially nitrogen. This often happens when too much fertiliser is used. The edges of the leaves turn brown and burnt, indicating an overdose.
  • Kaliummangel: Cannabis plants need more potassium during the flowering phase. A deficiency can cause the leaf tips to turn brown and the plant to appear weaker overall.
  • Unfavourable pH value: An incorrect pH value in the soil or nutrient solution can impair the absorption of nutrients, leading to deficiency symptoms. This often first becomes apparent at the tips of the leaves.
  • Bewässerungsprobleme: Both overwatering and underwatering can cause brown tips. Overwatering suffocates the roots, while underwatering means the plant does not get enough moisture to stay healthy.
  • Heat and light stress: Excessive heat or intense light can also lead to brown tips, as the leaves lose moisture more quickly and burn.

To prevent brown leaf tips, you should ensure that your plants balanced fertilisation and properly watered. Regularly check the pH-Wert and make sure that your plants are not exposed to too much direct light or extreme temperatures.

Nahaufnahme von Cannabis-Blättern mit sichtbaren Mangelerscheinungen wie gelben Spitzen, braunen Rändern und dunklen Flecken, die Nährstoffmängel darstellen.

Cannabis leaves deficiency symptoms and their treatment

Cannabis leaves are often the first parts of the plant to show signs of deficiency. Recognising and treating these issues is crucial to maintaining the health of the plant. Here are some common deficiency symptoms in cannabis leaves and how you can treat them:

  • Yellow leaves: These may indicate a nitrogen deficiency. In this case, you should use a nitrogen-rich fertiliser. Yellow colouration can also be caused by a magnesium deficiency; Epsom salt in the irrigation water can help here.
  • Brown spots: Brown spots on the leaves often indicate a potassium or calcium deficiency. To remedy this, a potassium-rich fertiliser or a calcium-magnesium supplement can be used.
  • Crippled or deformed leaves: This may indicate a lack of micronutrients such as zinc, iron or sulphur. The addition of a micronutrient fertiliser can help here.
  • Leaf edges become dry and brown: Dry, burnt leaf edges are often a sign of potassium deficiency. Increase the potassium supply to solve the problem, especially during the flowering phase.
  • Purple or violet leaves: This symptom often occurs with a phosphorus deficiency. Use a fertiliser containing phosphorus to strengthen the plant.

To treat deficiency symptoms effectively, it is important to regularly check the pH value of the soil as an incorrect pH value can severely impair the absorption of nutrients. Fertilisers should also be dosed according to the needs of the plant and the growth phase in order to avoid over- or under-fertilisation.

Cannabis deficiency symptoms during Flower

The flowering phase is crucial for the yield and quality of your cannabis plants. Deficiency symptoms during this phase can have a major impact. Here are the typical problems that can occur during Flower and how you can fix them:

  • Lack of potassium and phosphorus: In Flower, cannabis plants need more potassium and phosphorus. A deficiency often manifests itself in yellow-brown spots on the leaves and weak flower formation. Special flower fertilisers containing these nutrients help to compensate for the deficiency.
  • Magnesiummangel: Recognisable by yellow leaves with green veins, this deficiency can slow down growth. A quick way to correct this is to add Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) to the irrigation water.
  • Calciummangel: This deficiency manifests itself as brown spots and burnt leaf tips. A calcium-magnesium fertiliser can strengthen the plant and solve the problem.
  • Stickstoffmangel: Although nitrogen is less important in the flowering phase, a severe deficiency can cause leaves to turn yellow and fall off prematurely. Moderate nitrogen fertilisation can help here.
  • Mikronährstoffmängel: A lack of micronutrients such as zinc, iron or copper can lead to deformed leaves and weak flower formation. A comprehensive micronutrient fertiliser can counteract these problems.

To avoid deficiency symptoms in the Flower, it is important to regularly check the plants for signs of stress and adjust the nutrient supply accordingly. Balanced fertilisation tailored to the flowering phase is crucial for a successful harvest.


Niklas Bergmann, Fachautor

Freut euch auf die Insights von unserem Biochemiker Niklas Bergmann! Mit seinem tiefen Verständnis für alles, was mit Hanf zu tun hat, liefert er euch die neuesten und coolsten Infos direkt in euer Feed. Schnörkellos und klar verpackt er das komplexe Thema Cannabinoide und macht es für euch easy zugänglich. Mit Niklas an der Spitze unseres Wissens-Teams seid ihr immer top informiert.