Grower Glossary – DUpdated 8 days ago
D
The Grower Glossary – D dives into essential grower knowledge like DWC systems, drainage, dry-back, deficiencies, and defoliation. Understanding these terms helps you perfect water management, airflow, and nutrient precision for stronger, more productive plants.
Damping Off
A fungal disease that attacks seedlings at the soil line, causing stems to rot and young plants to collapse. Often caused by overwatering, poor airflow, or contaminated media.
Grower Slang: “Seedlings got damped” or “dropped at the stem.”
Cronk Tip: Use sterile media, moderate humidity (60–70%), and light airflow during germination to prevent this.
Dark Period (Lights Off)
The hours of darkness in a grow light cycle. During the dark period, plants rest, redistribute sugars, and prepare for next-stage growth.
Grower Slang: “Lights off,” “sleep cycle,” or “the flip zone” (when switching to 12/12 for flower).
Day-Neutral Plant
A plant that flowers based on age, not light hours. Autoflower cannabis is day-neutral — it starts blooming automatically after 3–5 weeks regardless of light schedule.
Decarboxylation
The process of applying heat to activate cannabinoids in harvested cannabis (converting THCA into THC).
Grower Slang: “Decarb” — essential for making edibles, oils, and tinctures.
Deep Water Culture (DWC)
A hydroponic method where plant roots hang directly in an aerated nutrient solution. Air stones oxygenate the water to prevent root rot and maximize nutrient uptake.
✅ Benefits: Explosive growth, high oxygen levels, clean control.
Grower Slang: “Buckets,” “bubblers,” or “running DWC.”
Cronk Tip: Add Monkey Juice for root health — beneficial microbes thrive in DWC systems.
Deficiency
A lack of essential nutrients leading to discoloration, curling, or stunted growth.
Common examples:
Nitrogen deficiency: Lower leaves yellow.
Calcium deficiency: Rust spots or leaf curl.
Magnesium deficiency: Yellowing between veins.
Grower Slang: “She’s hungry,” “def showing,” or “nute fade.”
Cronk Fix: Use CalMag, adjust pH, or switch to the proper Cronk feeding schedule.
Defoliation
The selective removal of leaves to improve airflow and light penetration. Often done in mid-veg and early bloom to expose bud sites.
Grower Slang: “Strip,” “leaf pull,” or “lollipop.”
Pro Tip: Don’t overdo it — a balanced canopy ensures photosynthesis and bud production stay strong.
Dehumidifier
A grow room tool that removes excess moisture from the air. Helps prevent mold, mildew, and bud rot.
Grower Slang: “Dehu.”
Cronk Tip: Keep humidity ~50–60% during veg and ~40–50% during bloom.
Desiccation
Excessive drying or dehydration of plant tissue. Happens from low humidity, heat stress, or too much airflow.
Grower Slang: “Crisped leaves.”
Prevent with proper VPD (Vapor Pressure Deficit) balance and gradual drying after harvest.
Diatomaceous Earth (DE)
A fine, natural powder made from fossilized algae (diatoms). Works as both a pest deterrent and soil aerator.
Kills soft-bodied insects like fungus gnats by drying them out.
Grower Slang: “DE dust.”
Cronk Tip: Dust soil lightly or mix into top layers — too much can block airflow.
DLI (Daily Light Integral)
The total amount of light plants receive in a day (measured in mol/m²/day).
Optimal Range:
Veg: 15–25
Bloom: 30–45
Grower Slang: “Daily light dose.”
Cronk Tip: Use a PAR meter to fine-tune light distance and maximize DLI efficiency.
Dolomite Lime
A soil amendment that raises pH and provides calcium + magnesium.
Grower Slang: “Dolime” or “lime buffer.”
Cronk Tip: Use in soil-based grows only — not needed in coco or hydro, where liquid CalMag handles this role.
Domes (Humidity Domes)
Clear covers placed over seedlings or clones to retain humidity during early growth.
Grower Slang: “Clone dome” or “prop dome.”
Remove daily for airflow to prevent mold.
Dormancy
A rest phase where plant or seed growth pauses under cold or dry conditions. Cannabis seeds can remain dormant until ideal moisture and temperature return.
Grower Slang: “Seed’s sleeping.”
Double-Ended (DE) Bulbs
High-performance HID grow bulbs that connect on both ends, providing more light intensity and better efficiency.
Grower Slang: “DE fixtures.”
Cronk Tip: Great for large rooms — maintain cooling to prevent heat stress.
Drain-to-Waste (DTW)
A feeding method where runoff is discarded instead of reused. Common in coco and hydro grows to prevent salt accumulation.
Grower Slang: “Run-to-waste.”
Cronk Tip: Monitor runoff EC weekly — if it’s higher than input, flush with clean water.
Drainage
The ability of a medium to let excess water escape. Crucial for oxygen flow and root health.
Grower Slang: “Free-draining mix.”
Perlite, coco, and fabric pots all improve drainage compared to dense soil.
Drip Irrigation
A system delivering nutrients directly to roots through small tubes or emitters. Efficient, precise, and scalable.
Grower Slang: “Drippers” or “auto-feed.”
Cronk Tip: Keep emitters clean — flush weekly with pH’d water to avoid clogging.
Drip Ring / Halo Feeder
A circular irrigation ring that evenly distributes feed around the plant’s base. Ideal for coco and automated hydro setups.
Grower Slang: “Halo ring.”
Droop (Plant Drooping)
A visual symptom of stress from overwatering, underwatering, or root oxygen imbalance.
Grower Slang: “Sad leaves,” “droopy girl,” or “she’s thirsty.”
Check pot weight and root condition before adjusting watering frequency.
Dry Back
The period between feedings when the medium dries slightly, allowing roots to reoxygenate. Encourages healthy root growth and prevents rot.
Grower Slang: “Letting her dry out.”
Cronk Tip: Coco prefers short, frequent wet/dry cycles; soil prefers deeper, less frequent watering.
Dry Nutrients (Powdered Fertilizer)
Concentrated powdered fertilizers that dissolve into water for feeding.
Grower Slang: “Dry salts” or “powders.”
Cronk Note: Cronk uses liquid nutrients for greater stability, consistency, and pH reliability.
Drying (Post-Harvest)
Slowly removing moisture from harvested plants before curing. Ideal range: 18–21°C (65–70°F) at 50–60% humidity.
Grower Slang: “Hang dry,” “slow dry,” or “low-and-slow.”
Dry too fast = harsh taste; too slow = mold risk.
Dynamic Microbial Zone (DMZ)
Grower slang for the “living root zone” — the active area in soil or coco where microbes, enzymes, and roots exchange nutrients.
Cronk Tip: Feed your DMZ with Monkey Juice and Sticky Bandit for microbial synergy.
Dynamic Accumulators
Plants that draw specific nutrients from deep in the soil and store them in their leaves (like comfrey and nettle). When composted, they release those nutrients back into the soil — natural nutrient recycling.
Grower Slang: “Mineral miners.”
Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
The amount of oxygen available in a water or nutrient solution. High DO = healthy roots; low DO = root rot risk.
Grower Slang: “O₂ levels.”
Cronk Tip: Use air stones in DWC and aerate nutrient reservoirs regularly.
Deficiency Burn
The leaf damage caused by a lack of nutrients, often mistaken for nute burn (which is from excess).
Grower Slang: “Hungry burn” or “fade out.”
Dechlorination
The process of removing chlorine or chloramine from tap water before mixing nutrients or watering plants.
Grower Slang: “Letting water sit” or “off-gassing.”
Cronk Tip: Use carbon filters or let tap water sit 24 hours before use.
Deep Roots / Root Mass
Refers to a plant’s root zone depth and density. Deep roots equal stronger nutrient uptake and better drought resistance.
Grower Slang: “Stacked roots,” “hairy roots.”
Dense Buds
Compact, firm flowers that indicate optimal light, feeding, and airflow.
Grower Slang: “Rock hard,” “chunky,” or “golf balls.”
Cronk Tip: Use Clyde, Bud Booster, and Sticky Bandit during mid-bloom to support dense, resinous buds.
Dialed In
Grower slang for having all environmental and nutrient conditions perfectly balanced.
Meaning: pH, EC, VPD, and canopy are all “on point.”
Grower Slang: “Grow’s dialed,” “she’s locked in.”
Dud (Genetic Dud)
A plant or seedling that fails to thrive due to poor genetics or damage.
Grower Slang: “She’s a dud” or “runt.”
Cull early to focus resources on healthy plants.
DWC Root Zone Sliming
Common issue in DWC systems where warm temps and low DO cause root slime or rot.
Grower Slang: “Slime time” or “root soup.”
Cronk Tip: Keep water temps 18–20°C and dose Monkey Juice weekly to maintain a clean system.
Drainfield Effect
When nutrients accumulate unevenly due to irregular watering or poor media drainage. Leads to salt zones and root stress.
Grower Slang: “Hot spots.”
Dome Off
Grower slang meaning removing the humidity dome from clones or seedlings once roots are established — signaling they’re ready for open air.
From DWC to dynamic microbial zones, “D” teaches precision and prevention. Keep your roots thriving with Monkey Juice and maintain balance through the entire feeding cycle with Cronk Nutrients.