5 Common Reasons for Dry, Crispy Cannabis Leaves

Growing cannabis requires proper supplies, care, and settings for successful growth. So, here are five common reasons for dry, crispy cannabis leaves.

Nutrient Issues

Cannabis plants require two essential ingredients: micronutrients and macronutrients. Nutrient balance is key to helping cannabis plants survive and play vital roles in photosynthesis, growth, and flowering. However, cannabis plants can experience nutrient deficiencies due to pH imbalance.

Monitoring your cannabis pH levels can help promote healthy growth. Cannabis pH sits between 6.0 and 7.0, while hydroponic pH is between 5.5 and 6.5. Therefore, investing in a pH tester can help determine your soil’s quality. Furthermore, adding mycorrhizal fungi to your soil benefits the relationship with plant roots and helps them mine for nutrients.

Excessive Heat

Cannabis often thrives in dark, humid environments, resulting in high-quality, flavorful plants. However, intense heat can result in wilted leaves, causing moisture loss and leading to dry, shriveled-up plants.

So, if you have your cannabis plants in a hot location, protecting your plants from heat waves is essential. Keeping shade cloths and stakes nearby can help you create a quick setup to protect your plants against harsh sunbeams. Furthermore, fans and air conditioners can help reduce intense temperatures if your station becomes too hot.

Overwatering

While water is essential to cannabis growth, it’s also a common reason for dry, crispy leaves. It’s critical for photosynthesis, transporting nutrients, and keeping them strong. However, overwatering can cause the plants to take up too much water, causing cellular ruptures and a crispy complexion.

Maintaining a proper watering schedule can help prevent overwatering. Slight soil dryness is good for cannabis plants; only water your plants once the first two inches appear dry. You can also track your plant’s weight when it’s dry and after being fully saturated to better monitor water intake.

Fungi and Pests

Pests and fungi enjoy the flavor of cannabis plants. Pests such as aphids, slugs, and caterpillars enjoy grazing along cannabis plant leaves, while plant-parasitic nematodes enjoy tasting the roots. In addition, there are many types of insects, microbes, and mold that can cause damage to cannabis plants.

Protecting your cannabis plants is a crucial part of successful growth. You can use defender insects such as parasitic wasps, ladybugs, and praying mantises to keep pests away. Otherwise, companion plants such as lavender, dill, sunflower, and sweet basil help repel pests.

Light Burn

Another reason for drying cannabis leaves is light burn. While light is an essential part of cannabis care and growth, too much light can make the upper sections of your plant crispy. If the cannabis canopy grows too tall, it’s common to expect reduced yields, discoloration, and dryness.

So, monitor your plants closely and move your lighting system as your plants continue to grow. You can use LST and ScrOG techniques if you have space limitations. Lastly, LED lighting systems emit less heat and have a lower price point for growing cannabis safely.

Shore Grow offers hydroponic cannabis growing products to help promote healthy cannabis. Our hydroponic supplies store offers extensive products, from hydroponic stations and supplies to nutritional additives and lighting systems. If you have any questions about our store, contact us today.