The Benefits Of Humic And Fulvic Acids For Growing Cannabis
Increasingly, more cannabis farmers are taking advantage of the benefits of humic and fulvic acids. These acids ensure healthy roots and better nutrient uptake to support happier plants with larger yield potential. Learn why you should incorporate humic and fulvic acids into your next grow.
Humic and fulvic acids are great natural growth enhancers that support your plants in many ways. They increase nutrient uptake, help establish healthier roots, and ensure all-around healthier plant development during all stages of growth. Not only do humic and fulvic acids result in greater yield potential, they can also be used no matter what type of grow-op you run, be it soil or hydroponics.
WHY SHOULD YOU USE HUMIC AND FULVIC ACIDS?
Most cannabis cultivators today use systems that are low in humic and fulvic acids. Some types of marijuana grows, like typical hydroponic setups, employ inert media such as hydroton or perlite, which do not contain any humic or fulvic acids at all. For soil grows indoors or outdoors, things do not look much better. Soil is most often depleted of these acids or contains only trace amounts. You can greatly improve the growing conditions for your cannabis plants by adding humic and fulvic acids to the equation.
WHAT ARE HUMIC AND FULVIC ACIDS?
Humic and fulvic acids work well together, with each providing its own benefits for better plant growth. Humic acid improves soil health and growth, while fulvic acid naturally facilitates your plant’s absorption and use of available nutrients.
MORE ON HUMIC ACID
Humic acids are complex acids resulting from the breakdown of dead organic material by soil microorganisms. They are dark brown to black in colour, and are soluble in alkaline water.
Humic acid has a high molecular weight, which makes it an excellent natural soil conditioner. It improves the properties of soil by supplementing and rejuvenating it. At the same time, humic acid improves availability, mobility, and management of nutrients in the substrate, and improves water retention.
What makes humic acid an excellent soil conditioner is its chelating ability; it attaches to micronutrients and forms a bond with them so that these nutrients can be more easily absorbed by plants. Humic acid also promotes improved ion-exchange and better soil buffering capabilities.
Humic acid actively allows for nutrients and minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and manganese to be absorbed readily, stimulating improved plant growth and healthy roots. This works in any type of grow and provides benefits during all stages, from the seedling that just sprouted to mature cannabis plants.
MORE ON FULVIC ACID
Fulvic acid has a close relationship with humic acid, which is the reason why some refer to it simply as a “fancier” version. It is a humic material that is light yellow to brown, but unlike humic acid, is soluble at all pH levels—acidic and alkaline. Its molecular weight is lower than that of humic acid since it has less carbon but a higher oxygen content.
The lower molecular weight gives fulvic acid an excellent ability to cross the membranes of plant cells so it can easily penetrate into leaves. This makes fulvic acid particularly efficient when used as a foliar spray to provide nutrients to plants quickly. But you can also use it via irrigation by mixing it with your regular nutrient solution.
Furthermore, both humic and fulvic acid reduce the amount of nutrients that your plants need. For cultivators, this means healthy growth and excellent yields are achievable at a fraction of the cost.
BENEFITS OF HUMIC AND FULVIC ACIDS WHEN GROWING CANNABIS
Here are some of the benefits of using humic and fulvic acids for your cannabis plants:
- Improves nutrient uptake and mobility via chelating action
- Improves water retention and drainage of soil
- Improves buffering capacity and cation exchange
- Supports healthy microbial activity
- Decreases plant uptake of toxins in soil
- Improves photosynthesis
- Boosts plant metabolism and cell division for better growth
- Reduces amount of nutrients plants need
HOW TO APPLY HUMIC ACID AND FULVIC ACIDS
Cannabis cultivators can use humic substances in many ways. You can add them to your usual watering and nutrient regimen or use them as foliar spray. You can also add them to your soil in dry, powdered form.
Humic acid is available as a liquid or powder that you can dilute with water. This way, you can easily make a spray for foliar application. Apply the spray liberally to your plants’ leaves during veg, including the underside.
One other curious benefit of foliar-spraying plants with fulvic acid is that it can substitute for sunlight. It has been observed that foliar application of fulvic acid makes photosynthesis continue, even when it is overcast for a longer time period. Because of this effect, which is not yet entirely understood, fulvic acid is sometimes used commercially to rejuvenate green areas that are shaded.
WHERE TO SOURCE HUMIC AND FULVIC ACIDS
Humic substances are available in various forms and in different concentrations. If you are not sure about what type to get, it’s recommended that you visit a reputable garden store in person, where the staff can advise you on the right type to get. They can also let you know about the proper dosage for your plants so you can avoid overdosing. Most of the time, it’s better to administer humic substances frequently, but in smaller doses. Always make sure you read the dosage instructions for your particular product.
USE HUMIC AND FULVIC ACIDS IN YOUR NEXT GROW
Humic and fulvic acids are excellent to use together with a well-balanced nutritional program. They benefit your plants throughout all stages of growth, and can even save you money on nutrients. With the help of humic and fulvic acids, you can ensure that your plants are getting the most out of their available nutrients.
