The best water for marijuana: Find out how to get it

Along with light and nutrients, water is vital for marijuana nutrition. As well as aiding photosynthesis, it also keeps the plant’s internal temperature cool. Most importantly, it brings all the nutrients from the soil to the roots so it can consume what it needs. Here you have all the information you need to get the best water for marijuana.

The type of water we use affects plant nutrition dramatically, therefore, we must be sure to hydrate the crop using only the most suitable type. This is especially valuable when we want to produce huge buds with huge amounts of THC.

In general, there are many types of water available. This includes tap water, rainwater, purified and distilled water. When it comes to availability, they are all accessible and cheap. But which one brings the best results when growing marijuana?

In this article, we will explore the different types of water and how they affect Cannabis plants, its growth and the final harvest. We will also learn how to balance and correct common water problems to leave it in an optimal condition for growing. Read on to find out all about the best water for marijuana.

Choosing the best water for marijuana

As mentioned, water quality is crucial for healthy plant growth. Therefore, in this section, we will discuss the various types of water for marijuana and their specific traits. In this way, we will be aware of their properties and make the right decisions about their use. But first, we must know the symptoms that plants show when they are suffering from poor water quality.

The signs of water problems

In general, plants will look weak and wilted, also, they may show signs of various nutrient deficiencies. In the worst case scenario, they will stop growing, and finally they can even die. Here is a complete list of all the symptoms of inadequate water:

Leaf symptoms:

Brown leaves

Burnt leaves

Upper and new leaves affected

Lower and older leaves affected

All affected leaves

Burnt leaf tips

Spots

Slow growth

Leaves curl downwards

Plant symptoms:

Weakened stems

Slow growth

Wilting

Plant wilting

Root symptoms:

Brown colour

Bad smell

Mould

Slow growth

If poor quality marijuana water has reached the roots, it can take a long time for the plant to recover. They also lose their vitality and become very vulnerable to pests and diseases. If the roots are damaged by poor quality marijuana water, it could easily kill the plant.

Types of water for Cannabis

Basically, there are two main types of water: soft water and hard water. Interestingly, their names have nothing to do with how they look or feel. Rather, we base this classification on the concentration of minerals they contain. The unit of measurement for this is 1 mg of mineral per litre of water = 1 ppm.

Remember that it doesn’t matter what type of water you use if you overwater, so take a look at how to avoid overwatering and how to water your marijuana efficiently.

Hard water

Hard water is defined as water that has a high content of dissolved minerals. Primarily, hard water contains a high content of calcium and magnesium. This type of water is not the best water for marijuana, but if this is the type of water in your region, there are solutions.

To measure its hardness, we look at how many milligrams of calcium salts are in a litre of water. Thus, 200-400 mg/L is the range for hard water while 400-550 mg/L is for very hard water. The latter will need to be filtered in order to make it the best water for marijuana.

In general, tap water is in the 170-390 mg/L range. This is a rough average, as water hardness can vary greatly even within the same country or region. Although this level of hardness is not dangerous for humans, consumption of this type of water for marijuana can be harmful.

Often, calcium deposits on the roots can block the uptake of other nutrients, causing problems for vigorous plant growth. If left uncorrected, this usually results in nutrient deficiencies. Therefore, we must soften hard water to make it more suitable for growing.

Soft water

In contrast to hard water, soft water contains little or no minerals. According to the water hardness scale, less than 150 mg/L is very soft, while 150-200 mg/L is simply soft. This type of water for marijuana is good and can be applied directly to the plants.

A good example of soft water is rainwater, although during its journey it can become filled with various minerals as soon as it hits the ground and runs off. In any case, it is one of the best types of water for plants. Other great examples are purified, ionized and distilled water.

How to balance water

Finding the right balance of water hardness for marijuana is a challenge for many growers. For cannabis plants, the perfect water is soft, within the 100-150 ppm or mg/L range. This means that the softer the water, the more beneficial it is for marijuana.

Unfortunately, tap water in many areas of the world, such as areas near mountains, by the sea, or in large cities often goes beyond this range. So how do we make hard water soft? The following methods will show us how.

Reverse osmosis and ionic filters

Although we can soften water using other types of softening agents, this is potentially more harmful to plants than using osmosis. In these alternative water softening processes, sodium is an essential ingredient that removes calcium and magnesium, the main mineral sediments in poor quality marijuana water.

However, sodium salts can accumulate in the soil and adhere to the roots over time. Consequently, the high salt content tricks the plant into thinking it has ingested enough water. In effect, the plant will die of thirst. Therefore, it is preferable to use special water systems such as reverse osmosis or ionic filters.

Other reliable systems are filtration and carbon distillation. These purify hard water by safely removing all minerals, salts and other impurities. Thus, we obtain pure water that allows plants to fully absorb nutrients from the soil. In addition, it preserves the health of the roots.

Products

Often, the methods mentioned above make the water too soft. Since 100-150 ppm is the ideal range that produces healthy cannabis, we must adjust the hardness level by adding products that balance the water. So, using a TDS meter, check the number of dissolved solids in the water and adjust it to the correct value.

Correcting water problems

Unfortunately, growers have to deal with a number of problems related to marijuana water quality. Often, the issue stems from a high concentration of certain minerals present in tap water. Fortunately, there are easy ways to fix them.

High sodium concentration

As mentioned, high sodium content can be detrimental to cannabis cultivation. But extremely dry soil with high mineral content can be even worse. To solve this problem, feed plants with filtered water to help dilute the high concentration of minerals. For a more lasting solution, improve soil drainage and switch to using well-balanced water.

High Sulphur concentration

Marijuana water that smells of sulphur is highly acidic and can easily weaken plants. To be sure, use a pH meter to confirm suspicion, then add lime to the soil to make it less acidic. Find out all about the pH and electroconductivity of marijuana in this article.

Chlorinated water

In most cases, tap water contains a fair amount of chlorine. But when the concentration is too high, this can kill many beneficial bacteria that help the roots in absorption. In addition, when the sun is too hot, the chlorine can react by causing nutrient burning.

To solve this problem, use activated carbon filters or chemicals that remove chlorine. For some growers, leaving the water overnight is often the solution. But the best solution would be to invest in a reverse osmosis system to get the best kind of water all the time.

The right water makes happy plants

In short, good quality marijuana water is vital for healthy plants that produce high yields of potent buds. Fortunately, even if you only have access to tap water, there are ways to adjust it to make it more suitable for growing. For best results, invest in special water systems and mineral measuring equipment, such as a pH and TDS meter.

Apply this knowledge to your marijuana drip irrigation as well.

Now that we know how to achieve the best kind of water for marijuana plants we can be sure to feed them with the best. If we start with good seeds and provide the basic needs, the use of well balanced water will help them to thrive even more. So practice this watering habit consistently and enjoy a successful harvest at the end of the growing season.

This has been all our content on the best water for marijuana. If you have any questions, please let us know in the comment section below. We hope you liked it and thanks for reading 🙂

If you enjoyed this article, why not read Mulch Mosquito in Marijuana: Prevention and Treatment and Grow Room for Growing Marijuana: Everything You Need to Know.

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Brais Nieto

Fundador de Experiencia Natural, creativo y emprendedor, diseñador, master en grower y marketing. Por una normalización de todas las plantas y sustancias primando pacientes y usuarios.