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3 Simple Supplements to Enhance the Smell and Taste of Cannabis

There is no greater shame than harvesting a beautiful crop, only to have it dried, stale and tasteless, soft, squishy, and smelling of hay. The look of growers during this revelation is daunting. Some may be indifferent about the result, saying, “oh, well, it’s not that bad”, while others’ disappointment can only be measured by the critical scowl following the ol’ squeeze and sniff technique. While environmental issues are largely responsible for the texture and rigidity of cannabis flowers, there are several supplements that growers can rely on to provide them with sugar-coated buds, teaming with overpowering and pungent aromas. Below, we’ll discuss common terpene and flavonoid compounds, followed by three simple ways to enhance the smell and taste of your crop.

Why Do Cannabis Plants Smell?

Cannabis plants encompass some of the world’s most interesting and complex aromas. But makes cannabis plants smell? Well, here’s the answer: cannabis flowers’ unique flavours and aromas are governed by a combination of special hydrocarbons called terpenes. Existing in over 30,000 forms, terpenes are responsible for determining the unique aroma and taste of a variety of flora including, lavender, rosemary, basil, and of course, cannabis. 

A wide spectrum of terpenes can be found throughout the industry’s most popular genetics. However, much like naturally occurring fruit and flowers in our environment, terpenes can do more than just produce pleasant smells – they can also perpetuate feelings of well-being, promote energy, or induce relaxation and meditation.

Examples of some Cannabis Terpenes profiles

Learn more about these Common Terpene Profiles in Cannabis Flower

Common Terpene Profiles in Cannabis

Terpinolene

Sweet and sharp with piney floral notes.

Caryophyllene

Warm aromas like pepper, cloves and woody spices.

Pinene 

Fresh aromatic scents like pine needles and dill.

Ocimene

icy, sugar-like smells found in basil and mint.

Myrcene  

Musky notes of peat, leather, oak and earth. 

Enhance the Smell and Taste of Cannabis with 3 Simple Supplements 

The majority of cannabis terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids are held within the trichomes heads of marijuana flowers. So, if you’re looking to enhance the smell and taste of your cannabis plants, start by increasing the size and density of your trichomes. Below are three supplements from GreenPlanet Nutrients that can be included alongside any base nutrient program to enhance the smell and taste of cannabis.

Rezin

Bring fire to your crop with GreenPlanet’s trichome, flavour, and aroma enhancer. Formulated with trace amounts of molybdenum and vitamin B1, Rezin can be used in both the flowering and flushing periods of growth to boost essential oil, trichome, and resin content. Rezin contains no plant growth regulators (PGR’s), artificial colouring, or dyes. And, since it contains only a trace amount of a single micronutrient, Rezin will not impact the EC/PPM of your nutrient solution. Rezin will help promote aromas and flavours to bring out the best qualities of your plants in both the late-stage and flushing period.

Root Builder 

Root Builder is GreenPlanet’s microbial supplement that promotes root growth, nutrient uptake, and enhances trichome size and density. Formulated with two sources of bacteria, Bacillus Licheniformis and Bacillus Subtilis, Root Builder can quickly increase microbial activity in the root zone, allowing for increased uptake, yield, and trichome formulation. Experts agree that adding a source of microbes to the root zone can be extremely beneficial. For example, in an article published in Industrial Crops and Products (2018), the authors argue that supplying industrial cannabis with a source of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can drastically increase the size and availability of trichomes (Pagnani et al, p. 75). 

Liquid Weight

Plants use an amazing amount of energy converting fertilizer into energy. They also rely on microbes, or beneficial bacteria to speed up the processes of elemental conversion. These bacteria feed on an array of sugary carbohydrates to maintain colonies of microbes in all stages of plant growth, but especially during the later stages of flower. So, for a consistent supply of carbohydrates, try GreenPlanet’s Liquid Weight. It’s designed to increase and maintain microbial colonies, which aids in crop progression, flower formation, trichome expression, and nutrient and fluid uptake. If you’re looking to get the most out of your garden, Liquid Weight is the perfect supplement. 

Remember, to enhance the smell and taste of cannabis, grow trichomes, not flowers! For more information on the products or information mentioned in this article, contact your GreenPlanet representative directly, or your local garden supply store. 

Work Cited

  • Pagnani, G. (2018). Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in Cannabis sativa ‘Finola’ cultivation: An alternative fertilization strategy to improve plant growth and quality characteristics. Industrial Crops and Products. Retrieved November 9th, 2021 from ResearchGate.net

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How to Prevent and Treat Root Rot in Your Hydroponic Garden

Root rot is the archnemesis of the hydroponic gardener. If left untreated, root rot (pythium) can spread like wildfire and quickly disrupt natural growth patterns. At the extreme, rot can potentially devastate a crop and leave nothing but the withered and maimed structure of once happily growing plants. But how do we treat root rot? Or better yet, how can we avoid it? Like most problems in the garden, root rot can be avoided by following a routine of care and consistency; however, when problems arise, tools and techniques are widely available to help remedy issues like root rot. Read the following passages for tips on treating, preventing and managing root rot: 

What is Root Rot? 

Root rot, or pythium, is a fungal root disease that can be induced and identified in various indoor, outdoor, greenhouse and hydroponic crops. While pests like fungus gnats can transfer the pythium pathogen, the most likely cause of root rot is a lack of drainage, oxygen, or the unmitigated presence of moisture in soil/soilless containers. Roots exposed to rot will cease to expand, become dark, and in the most extreme cases, develop a reddish-brown sludge that will quickly consume the root ball.

Reddish-Brown Sludge
Dark & No Longer Expanding

Plants outside soils are also susceptible to root disease, especially if they share the same water. For example, most hydroponic systems have a central reservoir responsible for expelling and recirculating water back and forth from containers, buckets or net pots. If a single plant becomes contaminated, the likelihood of pythium exposure to the rest of the garden is exponentially increased. If left to rot, root disease in hydroponic systems can be the most devastating.

Avoiding and Preventing Root Rot

In Soil/Soilless Mediums 

Among other causes, root rot in soil systems is most likely caused by insufficient drainage, damp soil, overwatering or a poorly functioning root system. So, to avoid root rot in soil gardens, invest in a porous medium or inert compound that loosens dense or muddy soils: peat moss, coco, perlite, volcanic pebbles, and vermiculite are all good examples of highly porous mediums. Also, allow these medium sufficient time to dry out – approximate the weight of a completely saturated plant and compare this weight with a plant in need of water. Root rot can be easily prevented in mediums like peat moss and coco by giving your plants sufficient time between irrigations. These tips and regularly supplying your plants with root-enhancing additives are a sure way to keep root disease at bay. 

Peat Moss // Coco // Perlite // Volcanic Pebbles // Vermiculite
These highly porous mediums will help improve drainage.

In Hydroponic Systems

Unlike soil systems, water-based gardens are more susceptible to root rot, especially if the nutrient solution is shared between plants or water temperatures are left unmitigated. Hydroponic systems like deep-water culture (DWC), flood and drain (ebb & flow) and aeroponic are at the most high risk for developing rampant root disease – it only takes a single plant to become contaminated to put the entire crop at risk. 

Pythium, in hydroponics, is usually induced by high or unstable water temperatures. Oxygen levels are extremely low in water temperatures above 22°C (72°F), and when mixed with acidic plant food, a hydroponic system can quickly become the perfect breeding ground for plant disease. To prevent root rot in hydroponic systems, manage and monitor the temperature of your nutrient solution. To ensure your plants maintain regular periods of growth, attempt to stabilize your water temperature around 18°F (65°F).

 The ideal water temp is around 18-22C

Identifying Root Rot

Identifying root rot can be challenging, especially since the root zone is not visible to gardeners. So, rely on your plant’s foliage as an indicator of potential root disease. Here are some foliar characteristics of a plant with root rot: withered or drooping leaves, discolouration, mutated growth and decreased water and food consumption.

Upon noticing a massive decrease in water and food consumption, growers can monitor the daily drinking habits of their plants. This can be done in both hydroponic and soil-based systems. To monitor the water consumption of plants in hydroponic systems, measure the water level of your reservoir daily. If your crop’s water consumption does not increase over time, root disease has likely affected the health of your plants. In soil-based systems, approximate how long your plants can dry out completely. If the time between waterings regularly decreases, root disease may have begun to affect your plant’s metabolism negatively. 

David “The Garden Sage” Robinson explains how to identify plants affected by root disease.

Preventing Root Disease

After identifying the characteristics and causes of root rot, it’s best to do what you can to prevent it from occurring rather than limping your crop through the final weeks of harvest. The best way to combat root rot is to avoid it completely by implementing a source of beneficial microbes to help keep root zones healthy. For a quality source of beneficial bacteria, use GreenPlanet Nutrients Root Builder. 

Click to find out more information about Root Builder

 So remember, quality controls like resistant genetics, stable systems, care and consistency all play an essential role in treating and preventing root rot. Need support in the garden? GreenPlanet is here to help! For more information on the products or information mentioned in this article, contact your GreenPlanet representative directly or your local garden supply store. 

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Go Beyond the Feed Program with GreenPlanet’s Root Builder, Plant Guard and PK Spike

Alongside GreenPlanet’s specially formulated feeding programs, there are many additives and supplements that are available to growers which have the potential to elevate your product to the next level. Whether you’re interested in rapidly expanding your plant’s root-zone, strengthening stems, branches and stalks, or, simply providing a highly soluble concentration of phosphorus and potassium throughout the flowering stage – GreenPlanet Nutrients has you covered. Here’s a look at three products from GreenPlanet that takes you and your garden beyond the feed program! 

Root Builder

GreenPlanet’s Root Builder is densely packed with two strains of extremely active beneficial bacteria: Bacillus Licheniformis and Bacillus Subtilis. Both of these microorganisms have different roles in the root-zone. For example, Bacillus Licheniformis is utilized quickly to break down soluble minerals and convert them to energy for the plant. While strains of Bacillus Subtilis mainly support a plant’s immune system by producing molecules called iturins, which target and eliminate sources of harmful bacteria. Without healthy probiotic supplements like Root Builder, stressful environmental conditions, inconsistent irrigation or a deficient feeding program, may produce a diseased root-zone incapable of supporting steady growth. To save on the stress of a stunted plant, invest in your root-zone today with GreenPlanet’s Root Builder!

Plant Guard

Plant Guard is GreenPlanet’s source of liquid Potassium Silicate, which supports plant growth and durability in all stages of development. Potassium Silicate is a valuable element that plants utilize at the cellular level to build-up defences against harmful pathogens, stress and extreme weather conditions. This resistance to stressors happens when the cell-walls of the plant harden due to the uptake of Silicate in the root-zone. The action of hardening typically results in the production of thicker stalks, branches and broader leaves in the vegetative state, and the ability to support larger, heavier flowers in the budding stage. 

PK Spike 

PK Spike is derived from several highly soluble sources of Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) and formulated to deliver high amounts of PK to flowering plants. This product is designed to encourage budding, and help facilitate the bulking and ripening of flowering plants. To hasten the pace at which your indoor plants produce buds, add PK Spike to your base nutrient solution the first two weeks of flower, and then again at the last two weeks before flush to increase the density, fullness and development of your flowers. 

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