A cannabis feeding schedule chart matches nutrient strength to plant stage. Seedlings and clones take about 200 to 400 ppm (0.4 to 0.8 EC), vegetative plants climb to 600 to 900 ppm (1.2 to 1.8 EC), and flowering plants peak near 900 to 1200 ppm (1.8 to 2.4 EC) before a taper in the final two weeks.
Optimal Organic Cannabis Nutrients Schedule
What is a cannabis feeding schedule chart?
A feeding chart is a week-by-week plan for how strong to mix the nutrient solution and how often to apply it. It sets the target EC or ppm, the pH range, and the switch from grow to bloom formulas.
cannabis nutrients schedule for beginners
Charts are starting points, not prescriptions. Plant size, container volume, medium, light intensity, and source water all shift the right number.
cannabis feeding schedule chart
Week-by-week cannabis feeding schedule chart
The ranges below assume a drain-to-waste setup, a two-part base nutrient, and a photoperiod plant on a 10 to 12 week cycle. Feed on a water, feed, water rhythm unless runoff readings tell you otherwise.
best cannabis nutrient line schedule
- Weeks 1 to 2, seedling and clone: quarter strength, 200 to 400 ppm, pH 5.8 to 6.2 in coco or hydro and 6.0 to 6.5 in soil.
- Weeks 3 to 4, early veg: 400 to 600 ppm on a full grow formula with nitrogen kept high.
- Weeks 5 to 6, late veg: 600 to 900 ppm, plus calmag if you run reverse osmosis water.
- Weeks 1 to 2 of flower, transition: 800 to 1000 ppm, switch to a bloom base and cut nitrogen.
- Weeks 3 to 5 of flower, bulk: 900 to 1200 ppm with a phosphorus and potassium booster.
- Weeks 6 to 8 of flower, ripening: taper to 600 to 800 ppm and drop nitrogen further.
- Final week: plain pH-adjusted water, or a light flush if runoff EC is high.
How strong should the nutrient solution be?
Measure strength with an EC meter, then convert to ppm on your meter's scale, either 500 or 700. Most cannabis nutrient brands print targets on the 700 scale, so confirm before comparing numbers.
Read runoff EC every week. If runoff sits more than 0.4 EC above the input, the medium is holding salts and the next watering should be plain water.
Should you feed cannabis every watering?
No. Most growers in soil or peat feed every other watering and use plain water between feeds. In coco coir or hydroponics, daily fertigation at lower strength is normal because the medium holds few nutrients.
Do organic grows follow the same chart?
Organic and living-soil grows feed the medium, not the plant. Amendments and compost teas replace bottled salts, so ppm targets matter less and top-dress timing matters more.
A dry amendment blend at transplant plus one top dress at flip often carries a plant to harvest. Watch leaf color instead of chasing an EC number.
Do you need to flush before harvest?
Pre-harvest flushing is debated, and controlled research on the practice is thin. A short plain-water finish of 7 to 10 days lowers salt buildup in the medium and costs little.
Common feeding mistakes
- Feeding full strength to seedlings and burning the leaf tips.
- Ignoring pH, which locks out nutrients even when ppm looks correct.
- Changing three products at once, so you cannot tell what helped.
How often should you adjust the chart?
Check weekly and adjust in 100 to 200 ppm steps. Give the plant three to four days to respond before the next change.