Yellowing Leaves(I have researched)

[privatepile]

Ok i have a problem with my plants.The bottom leaves have started turning yellow.

I have Top Soil(no ferts).The strain is White Widow.They are under 3 x 40watt daylight CFLs,They are a few inches from the plant.

There is a fan blowing on them.

To water i use bottled water so the PH should be fine.

I have researched a lot and i think most of the time its nute burn.

This is not the case for me as there was no nutes added and the soil had none.

So i think i have have a nute deficiency.I also think that it may be from over watering as this was done at the start.

Tp fix the problem i moved the plants in to multi purpose compost with slow release ferts.(The compost is for seeds and young plants so there should be no nute burn)

I also gave the plants a very diluted feed a while ago.Around 1/6
strength.
There is mylar in my cupboard.I dont think it would be caused by hotspots because it is the same on both plants in the same place.

Just wondering if my plants will recover.

[stinkyattic]

Too early for ANY ferts from any source. Fert burn. Stop feeding, give only water until node 5. They should grow out of it. IF you notice them getting worse in the next 24h, FLUSH.

[privatepile]

But this problem started before the nutes were added.

They were just in some top soil with no ferts i bought at my garden center.

Thats why i taught it was a deficiency problem.

[Weedhound]

And check the ph of your soil runoff.....just because it is bottled water doesn't mean it has the right ph for your plants. You most likely have to adjust it first.....no matter where your water came from.

[Weedhound]

I think you might be looking at ph lockout there.....causing nute burns/ and / or defs. The yellow tips DO look like burn....as the master Stinky says.......I only want to add that you should never ASSUME the ph of anything.....ALWAYS check it.

[privatepile]

Thats a good point.I never taught that would be my problem.

Im using Still Mineral Water.

Here is the nutritional information in Mg per Litre

Calcium 82
Magnesium 9.7
Sodium 23.9
Potassium 2.2
Biocarbonate 228
Chloride 41
Sulphate 10.8
Nitrate 5.0

I dont have a ph meter but this should be arriving any day now.
eBay.ie: 3in1 Hydroponic Plant Soil pH/Moisture/Light Meter NEW (item 280164139183 end time 27-Oct-07 21:48:44 BST) (http://cgi.ebay.ie/3in1-Hydroponic-Plant-Soil-pH-Moisture-Light-Meter-NEW_W0QQitemZ280164139183QQihZ018QQcategoryZ43555Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

Antone know if they are accurate.

Is there any type of water i should use while i am waiting?

[Weedhound]

If your meter isn't coming to by tomorrow can you get to a pet store and get the $5 strips in the meantime? I think every day you wait is pretty detrimental to your little plants so the sooner you can get it checked the better. Pet store ph TESTERS are fine but DONT use ph adjusters for aquariums.....

Good Luck.

[Bramptony]

yeah i was using bottled water on my platns and the ph turned out to be too high,
but whats wrong with using the ph adjusters from the aquarium store ?

[privatepile]

I think there might be too much info on the net.LOL sounds crazy but i have researched and these are all the possible problems.

Nute Deficiency
Nute Burn
Over Watering
Ph to high
Ph to low
Plant did not have enough room to root properly
Nitrogen Deficiency
Too much Light
Not enough light
Burns from hotspots.

[Weedhound]

pile....you are quite right.....that's what makes that kind of thing so hard imo.
(ps....I personally think ph is your issue here......guessing ;))

Bramptony.....the ph adjusters for fish/aquariums are made from different ingredients than the ones made for plants.....among other things they are way too high in salts for plants. :)

[privatepile]

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Most likely a PH problem as it started before any ferts were added.

I will be getting Ph strips later on so i will check the water i have being using.

How do i check the soil.Add some water and let it run through and then place the strip in to the run off water.

[Bramptony]

well shit, you learn something new everyday like how using ph adjusters for aquariums is no good for your plants, looks like im making a trip to the hydro store today to buy some overpriced ph up/down

[privatepile]

I want to thank every one for there help.

When i have sorted out my plant and i am finished my grow i plan i writing a thread with all the mistakes noobs like me make.

I researched form about a month before i started and still made mistakes.So hopefully i can help other people.

I hope i can save my white widow.I have some Hyndu Kush and someSouth African Durbanx skunk #1 seeds.But they wont be ready n=by xmas the ww might

[privatepile]

Ok problem solved.The ph of the water i was using was 7to7.5 that was bottled mineral water.

I have just checked my tap water and it has a ph of 6.5 to 7.

I think the best thing to do is move the plants to the top soil.Give them a diluted 1/6 strength feed and hope for the best.

Is it worth doing this or will the plants die?

[the image reaper]

I suspect over-watering ... over-watering yellows the plants, and slows growth ... with a seedling that young and small, it shouldn't have to get any water except maybe every 3rd-4th day ... try letting them dry, until they start to droop slightly .. then, water thoroughly, go thru wet/dry cycles ... ( I have bad habit of over-watering, and that's how my seedlings usually look, lol ) good luck ...

[Weedhound]

Over watering WILL make any ph problems more apparent so Reaper makes a good point there. Plus he and Stinky are both soil pros and believe me.....I'm NOT!

To check soil runoff.....you had it ....water (measure ph) through top.....measure ph of water coming out the bottom. If the issue is ph/burn/overwater and you get it straightened out the plant should do fine from there.

Bramptony....in a pinch you can use distilled white vinegar to lower ph and baking soda to raise it until you can get to your hydro store. Better than your aquarium adjusters.. :thumbsup:

[privatepile]

I have changed the plants back to the top soil.

I ran water through the new soil and checked the ph it was at 6.5.

I hope this is ok.

I gave them a very very diluted feed.

I hope they live now.

The water they were using was 7.5.I will not water them until they become dropey and hopefully that will work

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[the image reaper]

pH-wise, you're good to go :thumbsup: ... you hopefully will see some improvement in few days, good luck :jointsmile:

[Gundari]

constantly wet / soggy soil will also usually cause the pH of the medium to take a drastic swing towards being more acidic.

[spongebobsmokepants]

I believe they are on the right track when they ppoint to overwatering, I also have had problems with that. A moisture meter is worth it's weight in gold.

[privatepile]

Some new pics the plant is looking much healthier

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee160/privatepile1/DSC00044.jpg
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[stinkyattic]

You're getting there. They should be ready to actually feed (weakly) in about 2 more leaf-sets!

[privatepile]

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Looking much better.Amazing what no water,no nutes and proper Ph soil can do.

Its growing really fast now.

Thanks to everyone for all there help

[privatepile]

Im so proud of them.Looking normal again.

Cant wait to flower.Must pick up some liquid sea weed for them tomorrow.

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