Nettles and Hemp: Are They Beneficial for Hemp?

22. 12. 2025

Many growers often consider nettles to be unnecessary weeds, including cannabis growers who try to get rid of them in every possible way because they consider them a threat that could harm their plants and reduce the yield. However, nettles are plants that we should not underestimate. They are ideal companion plants that attract beneficial insects and even increase terpene production in cannabis. In this article, we will focus on how nettles contribute to improving the overall condition of plants and their better growth.

What are nettles?

Nettle is a plant with pointed leaves and white to yellowish flowers. Like cannabis, nettle also has trichomes which are used to protect against predators. These fine hairs contain irritating chemicals that are released from the plant upon skin contact. Nettle hairs are very painful to touch. Despite their negative properties, nettles are actually a very beneficial herb that can be a useful helper for growers, especially those growing cannabis.

Benefits of Nettles for Cannabis

Nettles provide cannabis with a range of benefits, and therefore are a suitable addition to your garden. The advantages of nettles are:

Attract Insects

Thanks to this unique plant, you will attract beneficial insects that will help you protect plants from pests. This is due to the large amount of nectar contained in nettle flowers. Nettle leaves attract ladybugs that destroy insects such as mites and aphids, which are harmful to cannabis.

Increase Terpene Production

Another advantage of using nettles as companion plants is their rare ability to increase resin production in cannabis plants. This finding is based on claims by fruit and vegetable growers that pollen from surrounding nettles gives their crops better taste. The same should apparently apply to cannabis. Pollen from nettles can increase production of terpenes in cannabis plant trichomes, resulting in much more pronounced resin and subsequently flavor.

Enrich Compost

Nettles contain a number of important nutrients. All these nutrients are locked in their tissues. Only a few simple steps are needed to transform nettles into a nutrient-rich fertilizer that can benefit the health and yield of cannabis plants. Composting is a great, cheap and effective way to improve soil quality and increase biodiversity. Creating compost is a reliable way to provide cannabis plants with a healthy and living rhizosphere. Due to their high content of vitamins and nutrients like calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, and zinc, nettles are an ideal compost supplement that provides cannabis plants with necessary macro and micronutrients.

How to Use Nettles in a Cannabis Garden

If you want to like nettles even more, we will introduce you to two ways you can use them when growing cannabis.

Companion Planting

Companion planting involves growing various types of useful plants near cannabis plants. Companion plants are usually used for their ability to attract beneficial insects, repel harmful ones, and improve garden biodiversity.

Nettle flowers create nectar that is very attractive to beneficial insects. Thanks to this plant, pollinators will reach your garden, which will also benefit other plants. And since nettles grow very densely, they can also be used as wind and shade elements. You can plant nettles as a barrier against strong winds that blow in spring and autumn.

Nettle Compost Extract

Nettles can also be used as fertilizer. They are a suitable addition to compost extract that provides nutrients to cannabis plants and prevents the occurrence of pests.

Place nettle leaves in a container and soak them in water for 1-3 weeks. After fourteen days, fermentation occurs, during which nettles decompose and release valuable nutrients into the solution. After this time, strain the fertilizer. Before use as a leaf spray, mix 1 part nettle extract with 20 parts water. Before use as a soil spray, mix 1 part extract with 10 parts water. Nettles provide cannabis plants with nitrogen, potassium, iron, magnesium, calcium, sulfur, copper, and chlorophyll.

Want to learn more about companion planting? Interested in which other plants are beneficial for cannabis? Read the article on our blog about companion plants.