Cannabis Leaf Symptoms
Use our cannabis leaf symptoms pictures to quickly diagnose your marijuana plants. Find the pictures that resemble your plants and click on them to learn the solution to your cannabis problem or nutrient deficiency!
Yellow Leaves And Discoloring
The yellowing of cannabis leaves is the most common symptom that growers see in their plants. Yellowing can even be normal in certain situations, but can be lethal in others. Better be safe than sorry. Find your yellowing and learn what to do about it.
Nitrogen deficiency begins with the loss of color in the tip of the leaf. This loss of color will begin to move inward, leaving the leaf completely pale. The leaf will then start to brown and wrinkle, until it finally falls off the plant.
Oldest fan leaves begin to take on a strong yellow hue on the edges and tips, and/or these start to get “burned,” chances are you’re facing a potassium deficiency.
Yellow spots on the edges or between the veins of its older leaves, while the veins themselves remain dark green. The leaves may show spots of necrosis (brown spots), and the most affected ones will fold over themselves and die.
Yellowing of the leaves most noticeable in new shoots. Leaves will begin to discolor completely and will go through the plant as the iron deficiency becomes more severe.
Leaves first turn yellow, then progressively develop brown patches, and eventually die. If left untreated, the deficiency could destroy the entire plant.
The initial symptom of a sulfur deficiency begins as a slight yellowing of the mid-section leaves, which becomes more pronounced in yellowing and then takes on the whole leaf.
Early signs of zinc deficiency occur at the newest growth zones, generally at the top. Shoot tips will wrinkle up close together. Leaves will begin to yellow from the veins out.
Light burn usually causes yellow leaves at the top of the plant directly under the grow lights (though it can appear on older leaves that have been exposed for a long time).
Dark Or Brown Leaves
The reason for brown spots and burned tips/edges in cannabis is harder to identify because they look very similar. Please pay attention to details and check for other symptoms that accompany it.
Old leaves begin to take on a strong yellow hue between the veins or the tips and edges start to get “burned,” chances are you’re facing a potassium deficiency.
First shows on the large, older leaves at the bottom of your plant. The symptoms manifest in leaves that turn dark green and in many cases, get brownish or blueish patches.
Calcium deficiency most often shows up in newer growth and parts of fan leaves that are most exposed to light. Difficult to diagnose since it’s are often accompanied by other deficiencies.
Telltale signs of nitrogen toxicity is too dark green leaves, as well as a claw like look. But flowering plants might have enough energy to use the nitrogen hence producing smaller buds.
Tips of fan leaves begin to curl upward and also exhibit a generally dry and withered look. Leaves will develop large brown spots in irregular shapes along the edges and tips.
The yellow or brown leaf tips are caused by too-high levels of nutrients at the roots, which disrupts the flow of water through the plant and causes the symptom of burnt tips on leaves.
Other Symptoms And Markings
Other symptoms in cannabis plants are mostly related to pests, mold or diseases. Sadly, there are a bunch of organisisms that like to eat on our plants, luckily tho, there are ways to prevent and stop them.
There are three ways bud rot (botrytis) shows. You might see: parts of buds turning dark or discoloring; yellow leaves coming out of buds; web-like mold on on top of the buds.
Leaves first show patterns of tiny spots or stipplings. They may change color, and even curl and fall off. Spider mites activity is visible in the small webs under leaves and along stems.
Thrips rasp the leaf tissue, look out for stains showing up on the surface of the leaves, with a slight silvery sheen. As well as some small black dots that are the thrips feces.
Need help! Leaves started yellowing and browning in patches, PH was a bit low. Added a little calcium to the next watering and the problem stopped. BUT not growth has slowed a lot.
I will email you a picture with MICHAEL R. as the subject?
Thanks for emailing me the pictures.
Looks to me like excess salts on the roots. I’d check pH and flush the roots with abundant water.
Main problem is my auto flower WW!! Followed recommended nutes on the flora trio bottles but seems like it’s not enough when she started blooming. So I upped the potassium with koolbloom but still seems like she’s not getting enough ( from recommended dosage on bottle). I am about ready to pour the whole bottle on the pig just so she does right :/ should I keep upping it more or will that be to much and just let her ride. Just don’t want her to die on me so close to harvest
Don’t do anything harsh and use your best judgement. Go little by little and remember that not every crop is going to be perfect.
Why are my seedlings so tall
They need more light! They stretch like that cause they’re trying to get closer to the light source (don’t get them too close our you might burn them)
These guys are two weeks into veg, and I just noticed this yesterday. https://imgur.com/a/Sjv7aRf Anyone have any ideas?
There might be a few things going on. Lower leaves seems a dark, and that kind of smudges on the middle leaves looks a lot like Phosphorus Deficiency https://www.zambeza.com/blog-how-to-identify-and-treat-phosphorus-deficiency-in-cannabis-n156
I’d start by checking the pH, then flush the roots if you find it’s way off, then start feeding all over.
Started 12,12 few days ago, leaves started to look a little white at the veins, new growth looks fine, grow outside for 30plus years, been trying my luck inside for 1plus years,big difference can’t seem to get it dialed in, had decent bud, but no size as to the pitchers I’ve seen
What are you missing on the inside that you’re taking for granted outside?
Im a long time grower from 18′-40 on and off, i have grown 1000s of plants, but im still learning. I currently have 2 plants that are in reused soil that has been used many times simply reamended with organic inputs. I have red stems i have seen many times but the red continues up between the line in the middle of many of the leafs. I really dont know what it is. I do get soil test done useually especially when working with bigger amounts of soil. But did not this time as i only used old soil on those two pots and two pots got new soil. The plants in new soil do not have this issue. Im thinking i got to much of something making something else not as avalable. When using old soil we don’t know whats higher or lower in npk, mineral, vitamins etc… maybe im lacking something not sure. Any thoughts on what can be causing this? Im into week 3 of flower.
If you don’t know what’s in the soil then that’s most likely the problem. If you’re going to use old soil you should treat it properly before starting a new grow. I’d flush it with abundant water and start again the feeding process
Hello.
I switched my plants to flower; and they started to lose more and more the greenish colour.
At first i believed it was lacking N so i started giving some more grow nutes to it again. Then i added some pk1314 incase it was having a deficiency o P, to just yesterday i added some calmag as i’m lost and don’t know what’s wrong with my ladies.
watered at ph 6.5-7 grow medium Plagron Lightmix (soil) nutrients used Plagron terra range
https://imgur.com/a/8GFwzcu 2 pictues have 9 days of difference in between.
Thank you
Yellowing during flowering stage is usually related to Potassium. As Nitrogen is less needed during that stage.
Since you’ve already added too many things. I would wash the substrate, remove all nutrients and re-start the feeding process.
Please refer to a tutorial on how to feed during flowering stage, Potassium and Phosphorus are most needed during the flowering stage.
Or even better, get a commercial fertilizer that comes with everything you need for growing big buds, follow the instructions is the bottle and you’ll be fine most likely.
Hey bro. Sorry you having issues. I would check your runoff ph and EC/ppm. If ph is off it will lock out nutrients. If EC above 1.4 I would flush with ph water. 3times the volume of your pot. Example 1gal Gro pot=3gal water to flush. If EC is low Either top dress or buy some bottle nutrients. Hope this helps
High Sanchy, ive got a problem with one of my plants but I don’t see anything in your collection that looks like what I have. I wanted to send you a picture or a video but don’t see where I can add it. Can you send a link I can send one to?
High there! You can upload it to any social network or website and comment the link here!
This is the best breakdown of deficiencies and symptoms I have found. All the extra photos really help and I’ve been doing this for a long time!! Great jive and thank you!!!!!!
Thanks from me and my old “grand daddy purple” strange thing to call a female really but that’s another story. Great information, brilliant format easy to navigate… happy campers all round!
This is very helpful I had a cal mag deficiency wipe out 20 plants outside this year from the cal mag deficiency came bud rot I am new to mixing coco or Pete moss to my soil and didn’t realize I had to use it outdoors the plants were fine beautiful 7 and 8 feet tall big bushy girls then it all went to crap bud rot or something made em look like a torch was taken to them
Give thanks for the helpful information… much appreciated!
💚💛❤🤙
Just the pics i needed to solve my curiosity. Thanks
i fertilized my plants and for the past to days have gone to a 12/12 cycle. My plants were very healthy looking and overnight the leaves drooped and some felt dry? Not sure what happened, any suggestions? let me add that i have also just topped the plants in the past several days
Sounds like you did too much fertilizer 😕 and the stress from the topping might have done it’s part when combined. Hopefully you can take care of them and they’ll recover. Google about flushing the roots to get rid of the excess fertilizer and be very attentive to them for the following weeks.
You realize that potassium deficiency is on the list twice.
Good catch. It is so nobody will miss it if they’re going directly to “Brown Leaves”
Nice article honestly, the issue I always run into is the abundance of opinions of what “it could be.” Youtube is the worst and so myself being a more visual learner pics of exactly what my leaves look like, for instance nitrogen toxicity, are great for people that are searching for answers.
Many Thanks
Thank you, I appreciate it.
Hi, I have a plant with what looks like blue tips is this a deficiency or an abundance
Something as rare should come up if you search. Check this out.
Hi, I seem to be having a problem that o have not seen as common. My plants are extremely slow growing and all new leaves start turning pale/pink white and then die. I have flushed and ensured I gave nutrients. Any ideas?
I’m not sure what would turn marijuana leaves pink. Maybe it’s too cold? Either that or something with the roots or the soil.
Rust Fungus is an odd topic, but I just got some pics of the weirdest rusty/moldish growths on my White Widow’s. I cut those mothers off, doused em’ in Neem Oil right before the lights went out, and now praying for the best. I’m bringing this up entirely because I think it could be helpful to you and your quest to help the cannabros/cannababes:
It spread like wildfire. The red flag showing me that it wasn’t nute problems was the fact that it had spread from lower, older leaves to young and seemingly healthy new growths. Sure, everyone’s grow environments are different, but this particular event was an indoor grow, mylar tent, correct to the T fresh air exchange, with a low RH of 45%, and temperatures staying between 77 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
My theory on how the growths started is that when my lights go off, I do so timely with my bed time. That being said; I cannot truly check where the RH% and Temp lie in the middle of the night. It has been storming quite frequently where I live, and I believe my RH% has been sky rocketing over night. That fluctuation of Low/High Temps and Humidity may have caused this form of fungus to grow, but all I have are pictures of my own, and the occasional post on how Rust Fungus hasn’t been scientificly proven to spread to Cannabis.
If you have any info on this, please let me know as quickly as possible! My girls lost a lot of foliage today and if there’s a round two I want to have a ballpark guess on how to fight back!
Hey Joshua, so sorry to hear that. I haven’t faced or investigated rust fungus. But I can see there’s a lot of information online just searching “rust fungus”. I pray your plants will recover!
Rinse your plant Thoroughly. Ensure your pH is right.
1/Rinse your soil.
2/PH all your water before watering.
3/Do not use excess nutrients.
4/Make sure you’re using a fan.
5/If possible, keep your humidity levels relatively low.
6/(I use) Neem oil with a touch of vinegar to correct my pest and fungal problems.
Spoonful of Neem oil and a spoonful of vinegar to a quart of water, shake vigorously before using.
Thanks for that!
Cannot figure out the issue.. seems a mix.
Then most likely the problem is in the roots. Check the pH of the growing medium. If soil, also check pH of the runoff water. Also check symptoms of root rot and excess salts