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General information
Plant hormones, or phytohormones, are biologically active substances that regulate all life processes in the cannabis plant. They act as chemical “messengers” that transmit signals between cells, tissues and organs of the plant, ensuring their coordinated functioning. Hormones are responsible for seed germination, root and stem growth, leaf development, flower and bud formation, and adaptation to environmental changes.
The diversity of cannabis varieties - whether it be high-growing sativa, compact indica, autoflowering and feminized varieties - demonstrates how hormones can adapt the plant to different conditions. Sativa varieties, for example, have more intense vertical growth, making the role of auxins and gibberellins in their development particularly prominent. At the same time, the indica is characterized by a more compact and bushy structure, which is explained by the balance of auxins and cytokinins.
Hormones work at all stages of the plant's life cycle:
- During the seed germination stage, hormones activate embryo growth, providing a quick start for the plant.
- During vegetative growth, phytohormones regulate the formation of new cells, shoot growth and root strengthening. This process is especially important for feminized varieties grown for maximum yield.
- During flowering, hormones trigger the processes of maturation and bud formation, which is especially important for autoflowering varieties, in which the flowering phase starts independently of the light regime.
Growers can influence a plant's hormonal balance through fertilizers, growth stimulants and controlling external factors such as light, humidity and temperature. For example, excessive light stimulates auxin production, which helps sativa varieties develop powerful tops. At the same time, it is important for indica to avoid stress, which can disrupt hormonal balance and slow development.
Types of hormones
Cannabis plant hormones can be categorized into several key groups, each of which performs unique functions during growth and development. Each type of hormone works at different stages of the life cycle and affects specific aspects of the plant. Let's take a look at the main types of phytohormones and their role in cannabis life.
Auxins
Auxins are hormones responsible for cell elongation, root and stem growth. They play a central role in the development of plant structure.
- Functions: stimulate root growth, promote stem elongation, regulate growth direction (phototropism and gravitropism).
- Cannabis applications: in indica, auxins help to form strong roots to support compact bushes. In sativa, auxins stimulate active vertical growth.
Using root stimulants with auxins helps rooting of young plants.
Gibberellins
Gibberellins are known as hormones responsible for stem elongation, seed germination and flowering.
- Functions: accelerates seed germination, stimulates internode elongation, triggers flowering in plants.
- Cannabis applications: particularly useful for autoflowering varieties that have a short growing phase and require rapid growth. In sativa, gibberellins promote the development of tall but resistant plants.
Overuse of gibberellins can lead to too much node spacing, which reduces yields.
Cytokinins
Cytokinins are hormones responsible for cell division and the formation of new shoots. They help to increase crown density.
- Functions: stimulate cell division, regulate the growth of lateral branches, slow down leaf senescence.
- Cannabis applications: cytokinins are useful for indica, as they help to create a dense and compact bush structure. They also help to increase the number of flowering points in all varieties.
When applying fertilizers with cytokinins, it is important to monitor their balance with auxins for uniform growth.
Abscisic acid
Abscisic acid regulates plant adaptation to stressful conditions such as drought or cold weather.
- Functions: helps close the stomata to conserve water, regulates seed dormancy.
- Cannabis application: protects autoflowering and feminized varieties from stresses associated with changes in humidity or temperature.
The use of humidity and temperature control methods reduces the need for abscisic acid activation, allowing the plant to focus on growth.
Ethylene
Ethylene is the hormone responsible for ripening, senescence and fruiting.
- Functions: regulates bud maturation, leaf fall, and completion of the plant's life cycle.
- Cannabis applications: ethylene is particularly important during the flowering stage, as it stimulates bud maturation in all varieties, including autoflowering varieties. In sativa and indica, ethylene helps synchronize the flowering process.
Excessive ethylene release due to stress (e.g. from damage) can accelerate plant senescence, so it is important to avoid mechanical damage.
Brassinosteroids
Lesser known but extremely important hormones, brassinosteroids contribute to the overall stress tolerance of the plant.
- Functions: increase disease resistance, stimulate overall growth.
- Cannabis applications: useful in grovelling feminized varieties where plant stability affects yield quality.
Understanding the role of each hormone helps growers manage cannabis development. The combination of proper care, fertilizers and growth stimulants can create healthy and productive plants regardless of plant type.
The role of hormones for cannabis development
Гормоны играют ключевую роль на всех этапах развития каннабиса: от прорастания семян до созревания шишек. Каждый фитогормон выполняет свои функции, работая в гармонии с другими веществами, чтобы обеспечить оптимальный рост, формирование урожая и устойчивость растения. Рассмотрим подробно, как гормоны влияют на основные процессы развития каннабиса.
Seed germination
Seed germination is the first and one of the most important stages of a plant's life. Hormones trigger and control this process.
- Gibberellins stimulate the rupture of the seed coat and activate enzymes that break down starch and other nutrients to feed the embryo.
- Abscisic acid keeps seeds dormant until favorable conditions occur. With the right moisture and temperature, levels decrease and the seed begins to germinate.
The use of quality fertilizers and germination stimulants helps to activate hormones and achieve 100% germination in both feminized and autoflowering varieties.
Vegetative growth
At this stage, plants are actively growing, forming stems, leaves and roots.
- Auxins stimulate cell elongation, promote root development and regulate the direction of growth. For sativa, this means rapid vertical growth, while for indica it means root strengthening.
- Cytokinins stimulate cell division and promote the formation of a dense crown. In indica, cytokinins help create a dense and compact structure, while in sativa they promote branching.
- Gibberellins support internode elongation and overall plant development. This is especially important for taller varieties.
Balanced use of nitrogen-rich fertilizers supports hormone production and accelerates growth during the vegetative stage.
Blooming
The transition to the flowering phase is triggered by hormonal changes related to photoperiod and other external conditions.
- Ethylene stimulates flower formation and further development. In feminized varieties, ethylene helps minimize the risk of male flowers.
- Gibberellins are involved in the transition from vegetative stage to flowering, especially in autoflowering varieties that start flowering independently of light regime.
- The balance of auxins and cytokinins regulates bud growth and flower density.
Control of light regime and proper choice of fertilizers with higher phosphorus and potassium content help the plant to efficiently use hormonal resources for maximum yields.
Cones ripening
In the final stage, hormones control the processes of bud maturation and the accumulation of active substances such as THC, CBD and terpenes.
- Ethylene accelerates cone ripening and improves cone aroma and flavor.
- Abscisic acid helps the plant complete its growth cycle by directing resources towards maturation.
- Cytokinins slow the aging of the buds, keeping them fresh and improving their appearance.
The use of phytohormone-based ripening stimulants can improve crop quality and THC content.
Stress resistance
Hormones play an important role in plant adaptation to unfavorable conditions.
- Abscisic acid helps the plant survive drought by closing the leaf apertures and reducing water loss.
- Brassinosteroids increase resistance to diseases and pests, protecting the plant.
- Ethylene helps the plant to cope with mechanical damage by stimulating tissue healing.
The use of grow boxes and climate control reduces stress for the plants and maintains their hormonal balance.
Hormones ensure the harmonious development of cannabis plants by regulating each stage of their life cycle. For maximum results, it's important to take variety specifics into account and use the right fertilizers and growth stimulants. Understanding the role of hormones helps growers improve crop quality and quantity by creating ideal conditions for plant development.
Attention! Errors Seeds does not encourage you to grow cannabis and does not promote it in any way. Cultivation is prohibited by the legislation of Ukraine. The article is of scientific and introductory interest only.
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