When you provide an ideal environment for your cannabis crop, you will minimize the chance of your cannabis reaching a point of stress. Stress will reduce the chance of producing the best possible yields. So stress sucks and should be avoided as much as possible. So here are 7 of the primary causes of stress, that your weed plants might experience.

1. WATER STRESS

Water is absolutely key for plants, and cannabis is no exception. Water is a key component of photosynthesis, the process that plants carry out in order to create their own food and energy in the form of glucose sugars. Water enters a plant through its stem and is eventually transported to its leaves. When in the leaves, the water then evaporates and is exchanged for carbon dioxide, another key factor for the survival of plants. It exits the plants leaves through small holes known as stomata.

Beyond this, water is also essential for plants, because it enhances the water pressure within the leaves, which keeps them strong, hydrated and prevents them from wilting. However, a plant can receive too much water, which is also a problem. Water stress occurs when your cannabis plants receive too much or too little water. Too little water will result in a wilted and dry plant with dry soil. Wilting is not healthy for your crop and may limit yield potential. Too much water may create leaves, that are too firm.

2. BAD LIGHTING

Sunlight, or artificial light when growing indoors, is another key factor, that plants need to survive and thrive. Light also plays an extremely important role in the process of photosynthesis. Plants utilize the energy from light via a green pigment that exists within the leaves and makes them green. This substance is called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll converts light into carbohydrates, that plants rely on as an energy source.

It is important to realize, that your plants desire a frequent and balanced light cycle, that changes slightly, depending on the stage of life they are currently in. Your plants will need 18 hours of light each day during the vegetative phase and a decreased amount of 12 hours of light per day during the flowering stage. Having consistent start and end times in lighting period will prevent your plants from experiencing stress. It is vital not to give your plants too much light as well, as plants require darkness at certain times in order to respire.

3. ROOT HEALTH

The roots of your marijuana plants play a large role in maintaining their health and vitality. The roots grow down towards the ground and act to absorb minerals and water, that the plants need to survive. They also work as the foundation of the plant, anchoring it into the soil to keep it secure and defending it against strong winds and physical knocks. The roots also make a symbiotic relationship with some fungi present in the soil the aid the plant in nutrient absorption.

Although they seem like a tough part of the plant's anatomy, that can survive submerged in soil and darkness, roots also have a few environmental requirements of their own. They need access to air, water and the correct amount of nutrients. Keeping the temperature of your grow space stable will ensure your roots can do their job of water extraction properly. They can also be critically harmed by too much light exposure, physical distress and bacterial infestation. The pH of the soil also plays a big role in how roots absorb nutrition. This is the topic we will come to next.

4. SOIL pH

As you are probably well aware from attending science class in school, pH is the measurement of how acidic or alkaline something is. pH levels range from 0 all the way to 14. Numbers below 7 on this scale represent and acidic reading and numbers above 7 display an alkaline reading. 7 represent neutral. pH preferences vary from plant species to plant species. For cannabis, the correct pH in the soil is required for the roots to be able to extract all of the nutrients demanded by the plant. This can cause nutrient stress within your crop. Cannabis plants largely desire a pH between 6 and 6.5. Growers should always check the pH of their water supply to avoid stressing their plants.

5. NUTRIENTS

Just like humans and other animals, plants require certain nutrients to grow and maintain health and vibrancy. There are 16 known nutrients, that are believed to be essential for plant growth. These are divided into the categories of major nutrients, known as macro nutrients, and minor nutrients, known as micro nutrients.

The major nutrients required are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, calcium and magnesium. The minor nutrients, that plants need are molybdenum, copper, boron, manganese, iron, choline and zinc.

Although your weed plants need a mixture of this nutrients to survive, any imbalance that occurs can start to create a stressful situation for them. This can work both ways. Too much or too little will create nutrient deficiencies or imbalances, that can impede a plant's functions. This can show up in signs such as slowed growth, leaf discolouration or leaves actually falling off of your plants.

6. TISSUE DAMAGE

Tissue damage can be the result of a plant being knocked too hard, dropped, cut in the wrong place or an animal or pest getting to it for a feast. Plants are quite resilient against such misfortune and will be able to deal with this stress as long as any persistent pests are dealt with and that a knock or drop isn’t too fatal.

7. ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS

Your plant's immediate environment will dictate yields, health and size. You should constantly monitor the amount of heat and moisture, that your plants are subject to in order to keep them stress-free. This can be achieved by using thermometers and humidifiers. Fans should always be used to maintain proper air flow.