Meta: How PPM affects cannabis quality, growth, and yield. Understand the right nutrient balance for healthy, potent plants.
For those interested in cannabis cultivation, PPM is not a new term. They are fairly acquainted with what it means, but for the uninitiated, PPM or parts per million is a form of measurement which is used to identify the concentration of a nutrient solution. In layman’s language, PPM measures the amount of nutrients in your water. So what is the relationship of PPM with cannabis plants? PPM matters significantly when it comes to cannabis cultivation because the cannabis plants highly depend on nutrient uptake, and PPM helps in measuring how well the plants absorb nutrients. The excess or deficiency of nutrients can cause various changes in the plant growth levels, flavour, and even the size of the bud. For cultivators, it is extremely important to manage the PPM levels so as to harvest the most healthy and rich plants.
What is PPM?
PPM is a unit of measurement that stands for “parts per million”. When it comes to cannabis, it means the amount of nutrition present in the nutrient solution so as to determine whether an adequate amount of nutrition is absorbed by the plant through water or not. A nutrient solution has various kinds of elements present in it. They can be nitrogen, potassium, micronutrients, phosphorus, etc. These elements present in the nutrient solution help in determining the PPM of the nutrient solution. The PPM meter is used to measure the concentration of nutrients and come up with an accurate PPM reading. When the PPM is low, your plants may not grow properly or may not develop enough flavour. If the PPM is higher than the normal required range, then you may end up experiencing excess salt build up which can impede the reach of water and nutrients to the roots of your plants.
Another term that is usually talked about in relation to PPM is electrical conductivity. Considering the basic science that minerals in water help conduct electricity, EC is also used to measure the amount of nutrients present in the water or nutrient solution, along with PPM.
PPM vs. Cannabis: Why It Matters for Cannabis?
Why do cannabis cultivators worry so much about PPM? The answer is pretty simple. Without the right nutrients, the plants won’t grow properly. Cannabis cultivation depends a lot on science and precise measurements. At each stage, the plant requires a different level of nutrients to be able to grow effectively. The PPM levels have to be right for the right amount of nutrient uptake in the growth stages of the plants. Cannabis cultivators are extremely wary of overfeeding the plants or starving them of nutrients, and that is why PPM matters a lot, as it gives them an idea of the accurate amount of nutrients required by the plant.
Think of it as calorie intake for humans. Excess calories can lead to obesity and fat deposition, while lower calories can lead to a lack of energy. Similarly, PPM determines the necessary amount of nutrients for the cannabis plant. Another consideration is that the cannabis plants require different amounts of nutrients at different stages of growth. For instance, a young plant can burn if the PPM is too high in the nutrient solution. Extra PPM leads to excess salt buildup, too.
PPM Requirements by Growth Stage
There are different requirements of nutrient levels in different stages of growth for the plants. Therefore it is important to measure the PPM levels.
Seedling or Clone Stage
When it comes to the initial stage of the plant, the saplings are very sensitive, and therefore, the PPM of the nutrient solution must be as low as 100-250 PPM. A higher concentration can shock the plant and stunt its growth. At this stage, it is important to consistently monitor the PPM levels to avoid any issues, as healthy seedling development is very important for later stages.
Vegetative Stage
When the plants move from the sapling stage to the vegetative stage, their appetite enhances, and therefore, you should raise the PPM levels to 300-700 PPM. During this stage, they grow their leaves, stems, and roots and prepare themselves for the flowering stage, which is the most important one. In this stage, you must focus on delivering nitrogen-rich nutrient solution, which leads to more greenery, voluminous growth, and overall development. You should not make a sudden spike; increase the nutrients gradually for sustained growth and development of the plant.
Flowering Stage
This is the most important stage where it finally flowers, and you get the result of our cultivation. PPM levels in the early flowering stage must be around 750-950 PPM, and you can gradually increase the levels to 1000-1200 PPM for the best bud production. By feeding your plants properly, you can enhance your harvest weight and potency. Do not provide excess nutrients, as it causes salt buildup and reduces your yield. The proper amount of nutrient supply also ensures that the buds are flavourful, dense, and sticky, exactly how you want them to be. Always use clean water.
Measuring and Adjusting PPM
Measurement of PPM may sound complicated, but it is extremely easy. You must master the skill of measuring PPM if you are genuinely interested in cannabis cultivation. Investing in a reliable and precise PPM meter can be the best decision for you. You simply need to dip the PPM meter in your nutrient solution and get an instant reading of the values. If the PPM value is too high, it signifies that the concentration of nutrients is extremely high. You can dilute the solution by adding plain and simple water to bring down the nutrient solution. When you get an extremely low PPM reading, you can add more and more nutrients according to your requirements. You must make the adjustments gradually to get the right mix.
You must also check electrical conductivity to ensure that the mix is right. Certain kinds of PPM meters measure EC first and then convert it into PM based on the scale that it uses. You must learn how to interpret the meter properly to avoid any kind of confusion or misreadings. One of the best practices is to measure the water runoff. You must maintain your PPM levels well to prevent any kind of hassles. Your plant growth depends on the right level of nutrients and PPM.
Increase Cannabis Buds Size Through PPM
You want to grow bigger or denser buds with richer flavor? Then the PPM level plays a very important role in the development of the plant. In the flowering stage, plants require a measured amount of concentration of nutrients for the utmost bud formation. When the nutrient solution’s PPM is extremely low during the lowering stage, your plant faces resource constraints, and the buds shrink in size. On the contrary, higher amounts of PPM can lead to excess salt build up and choke your plant making it unhealthy.
You must ensure a PPM of around 1000-1200 during the peak of the flowering stage to help your plant get the right amount of energy required for healthy bud development. Prevent your plant from struggling in any way. You can also add supplements which are also called bloom boosters and contain phosphorus and potassium to enhance bud development. While using any kinds of supplements, you must keep accurate PPM readings to prevent heating up the plant or stressing them out significantly. By frequent checking and tweaking of the plant’s nutrient solution, you can create the right environment for your plant to thrive effectively without any hassle.
How to Optimise PPM for Flavor
In cannabis cultivation, although the size of the bud matters, it is not the only factor that matters. The flavor of the buds matter a lot too. The PPM levels affect the taste and flavours of the buds too. Many cannabis cultivators use a particular strategy to gain the best flavour. It involves lowering the PPM of the nutrient solution in the last phase right before the harvest. This phase is known as the flush phase and you can feed your plants with plain and pH-balanced water to prevent any kind of bad flavour. It helps in flushing our excess salt and minerals from the plant tissue, which can cause a harsh taste. You must be careful about extreme PPM swings during this phase, as sudden fluctuations can stress the plants and lead to the production of terpenes, which hampers the taste and flavour of the buds really badly. You must use the appropriate strategies to maintain the natural flavours of the cannabis and for a good yield without any harshness or stress.
Common PPM Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
It is very common amongst both beginners and experienced cultivators to make certain mistakes when it comes to cannabis cultivation. Some of the common mistakes include:
- Overfeeding is one of the most common problems that cultivators make as they think that more nutrients can lead to better growth which is a classic misconception. You must be careful of your PPM reading and increase the nutrients slowly and steadily.
- Many people make the mistake of not measuring the water runoff. They only end up testing the nutrient solution but it is very important to check the runoff to detect excess salt buildup and prevent issues.
- It is very important to be secure about the quality of water you use. Using hard water initially can cause damage to the plants and therefore it is important to identify the right source of water.
- It is important to conduct periodic flushes to prevent salt accumulation, which prevents the nutrients from reaching the plants.
- Investing in a poor-quality meter can also cause damage as it gives inaccurate readings.
Conclusion
Even though all of what is mentioned above seems extremely technical and complicated, it is an easy process in practice. Once you start implementing all the best practices, you can master the skill of PPM regulation and grow lush green cannabis plants with big natural buds and a rich flavour profile. You can get unbeatable results by being careful about your nutrient solution and providing the right amount of nutrients to your plants to ensure they grow seamlessly. It is very important to invest in a high-quality PPM meter.
