Excess nitrogen in cannabis: causes, symptoms & solutions

Do you know this? Your cannabis plants are growing like crazy, but somehow the right kick is missing - the flowers are a long time coming. If you already suspect that your plants may have been given too much nitrogen, you're not far wrong. Too much nitrogen makes the plants nice and green, but they lose their focus and simply don't get going when it comes to flowering. In this blog, I'll show you how to recognize whether your plants are in "nitrogen overload" and what you can do to get them back on track.

What is nitrogen overload in cannabis?

"Wait a minute, what exactly is excess nitrogen?" - A question many growers ask themselves at some point. You may have been fertilizing your cannabis, thinking "more is better!" and then suddenly... it seems like your plants have opened up their very own growth lab. 🌱

Nitrogen is an important nutrient for plants, no question about it. But as with everything in life, the same applies here: Too much of a good thing is rarely beneficial. If your plants get too much nitrogen, it can mess up their growth. And that's what this is all about - how to recognize that your plants have too much of it, why it's a problem and most importantly: what you can do to get your cannabis plants back on track.

Symptoms of excess nitrogen in cannabis

Okay, so you have the feeling that something is wrong with your plants. The green leaves look almost too green. You ask yourself: "Is this normal?" And then you realize it - the flowering phase just won't start properly. What now? It's good that you're paying attention, because an excess of nitrogen is very obvious if you look closely.

Here are the typical signs that your plants may have been given a little too much nitrogen:

• Dark green leaves: Really dark, almost bluish. Your plants will look like they've had a real leaf party. However, a little too much "green" is not necessarily a good thing. This could be a sign that they are overloaded with nitrogen.
• Flowering is along time coming: Your plants grow and grow - but where are the flowers? Nitrogen ensures that the plant puts more energy into leaf growth. This delays flowering. You can put the plants on hold, so to speak.
• Yellow leaf tips: Sounds strange, doesn't it? Too much nitrogen and the leaf tips still turn yellow? Yes, this happens because the plant has difficulty processing all the nitrogen. And this shows on the tips of the leaves.
• Unstable growth: Your plants might shoot up, but they look rather unstable. As if they are losing their balance. Too much nitrogen leads to rapid growth - but without the necessary stability. This makes them more susceptible to damage.

In short:

• Dark green, almost blue leaves
• Flowering phase does not get off to a good start
• Yellow tips on the leaves
• Unstable, weak growth

Why excess nitrogen is a problem

Now you might be asking yourself: "Sure, nitrogen is important, but why is it a problem if the plants have too much of it?" Good question!

It's true: nitrogen helps plants to grow vigorously. But an excess can give plants the wrong direction.

Here are the reasons why this can be a real problem:

1. Delayed flowering: you've probably guessed it already: too much nitrogen causes the plant to get "stuck" in the growth phase. It grows and grows, but just doesn't get down to business, i.e. it doesn't start flowering properly. And that, of course, is what you want - the buds!
2. Wobbly plants: Another problem is that the plant shoots up quickly when there is excess nitrogen, but loses stability. The leaves get thicker, but the stem is not strong enough to support it all. This makes your plants susceptible to wind or even toppling over.
3. Lack of other nutrients: Too much nitrogen crowds out other nutrients like phosphorus and potassium. And these nutrients are also crucial for flowering and the overall health of the plant. So focusing on nitrogen can lead to your plant getting too little in other areas.

How to fix excess nitrogen in cannabis

Panic? Don't panic! You can fix it. There are a few simple steps to help your plants recover. You don't have to overthrow everything, but it will take a bit of work.

What you can do:

• Flush out the soil: A trick that often helps: water! Yes, you heard right. To get rid of the nitrogen, you can rinse the soil with plenty of water. This simply flushes away the excess nitrogen. But be careful not to overdo it, because too much water can lead to other problems - such as root rot.
• Stop fertilizing: If your plants have received too much nitrogen, you need to adjust the fertilization immediately. Stop the nitrogen fertilizer and switch to a fertilizer with less nitrogen but more phosphorus and potassium. This will help your plant to find the right balance again.
• Keep an eye on the pH value: You should also check the pH of your soil regularly. If the pH value is too low or too high, this can interfere with nutrient uptake. The ideal pH level for cannabis is around 6.0 to 7.0. If it is too high or too low, the plant will struggle to process everything you give it.
• Remove leaves: If your plant has a lot of unnecessary leaves that don't contribute to flowering, remove some of them. This helps to relieve the plant and allows better air circulation.
• Be patient: Sometimes it just takes time. You can't get rid of the excess overnight, but with the right care your plant should recover.

Conclusion: prevention and the right nutrient management

Excess nitrogen is no drama, but it can seriously disrupt the growth and flowering of your plants. If you recognize the symptoms early on, you can quickly take countermeasures and get your plants back on track.

The most important things to keep in mind:

It's all a question of balance - in terms of fertilization, water and, above all, the attention you give your plants. If you keep an eye on all of this, your harvest will be all the better in the end. 🍃