Yellowing Fan Leaves

[RamblerGambler]

Indoor
Soil
Medium: Farfards Professional Soil 70% soil, 30% perlite
Water source: Tap Water
Source water pH: Straight from the tap - 7.5
Age of plant: Week 4 of Flower
Type of fertilizer: Technaflora Recipe for Success
Rate of application: 1/2 strength every other feeding
Lighting source and distance from plant: 306 actual watts CFL, < 3"
Temps: 75-80 degrees, 60-65 degrees
Air % Relative humidity: Unknown
Lighting schedule: 12/12
Type of ventilation your room has: 120mm comp fan, 4" oscillating fan


I've been looking around the site both in the FAQ's and posts, but I wanted to make sure that I didn't have a problem on my hands. Since this is a first grow, I find myself worrying like a new parent. What I'm looking at is a gradual yellowing of the plants fan leaves. Is this natural for a plant just entering the 4th week of flower? Also of concern is that this plant has never been flushed during her lifetime. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[cigarettes42]

are you leaves getting crispy or anything other than yellowing? when plants go into flowering they focus more on growing the bud using more K than N. bloom nutes often dont have N or its very minimal, thats why your seeing yellowing. some nute schedules call for N in the mid-flowering just to bring it back up just a tad, which you really dont need but couldnt hurt. my plants get like that but my nutes have me add a lil N in the mid flower. but to sum it up and answer your question, yes when flowering your fan leaves will get like that, you plants main concern now is budding rather than vegging.

[Mr. Happy]

What is weird is that the tops of the leaves are yellowing as opposed to the bottom leaves usually seen in N deficiency. Are you sure its not something else like heat stress? Also, your PH seems too high, try 6.0-6.5 for soil.

[cigarettes42]

What is weird is that the tops of the leaves are yellowing as opposed to the bottom leaves usually seen in N deficiency. Are you sure its not something else like heat stress? Also, your PH seems too high, try 6.0-6.5 for soil.

of course its N deficiency, when flowering plants dont need N cause they are vegging anymore!!!!!! look at mine. you can see it a little, i would show the whole plant but i cant find one with out my girl in it. rambler your on the right track, if your half way through, you could add just a tiny bit of N but you really dont need to. your plants concentrating on flowering rather than producing fan leaves.

[Mr. Happy]

Cigarettes42, your probably right about it being a N deficiency but to say it couldn't be anything else smacks of ignorance. Sorry. MH

[Mr. Happy]

The reason I suggested other possibilities was just because it appeared from the photos some wilting and such. But I would agree that the plants are OK and it is probably a N deficiency.

[RamblerGambler]

I'll see if I can get her back on track then

[Mr. Happy]

Rambler, I didn't look very closely at the pictures the first time. They actually look really healthy. N deficiency is good in bloom so rock on. Good job. Good luck!! MH

[Divestoned]

Your PH is too high,need's too be at 6.8.Your pot's look too small,so prolly root bound.look's like your over-watering.
Some yellowing is normal in flower (for some people) but most of the time I dont get the N def. If your PH and PPM are correct,your chances of N def. are far less.
At this point i would not transplant them.but flush them,then set the ph at 6.8,and feed them a proper mix of bloom fert's

[Rusty Trichome]

It looks like the high ph is causing lockout.

I use General Hydroponics ph Down (phosphoric acid) 1 tsp:5 gallon bucket of water, brings my well water from 8.0 to 6.8 ph. (6.3 to 6.8 is fine) Lowers the ph, and the plants love the phosphorous.

A good flush with properly ph'd water would definatelly help.

With the yellowing fan leaves, troubleshooting can be tricky, as there's a few reasons to be considered. Like the water ph, the soil and runoff ph, quantity of N in the flower ferts or micronutes.

I agree with Divestoned, in that the nutes I use (Fox Farms) has enough N to keep fans green thru to harvest, but I do have to cure longer to remove those imputities.

[cigarettes42]

rusty my plant in that picture was grown with foxfarm's complete line of nutes and medium. im still using ff complete line and right now but my soil has been broke down so now i have to water with a slightly higher ph because my run-off is pretty low right now. the soil got broke down cause ive vegged soooo long to get some clones off my plants. not saying anyone is wrong but who knows, rambler still hasnt even told us his run-off or why he is watering with ph 7.5. and ya your right about the impurities in the weed. with mine since it had so little N, i barely had to do a final flush. actually i had bagseed grand daddy purple seeds and they finished faster than i wanted so i didnt get a good chance to flush but tasted like i did:smokin:

[RamblerGambler]

Well, since my ph kit managed to be crushed by a friends wayward shoe I'm a bit uncertain of the current ph, runoff or otherwise. We'll see if that can't be rectified. For PH down, should I make a trip to the hydro store or could I get away with using whatever they sell at hardware stores?

[Rusty Trichome]

In a pinch, I've used white vinegar or <ahem> lemon juice. Best to keep this stuff to a minimum, though. Especially if you don't have a ph test. :thumbsup:

[Dutch Pimp]

I use sweet pickle juice for ph down in soil and I have yellow fan leaves fall off....from 4 weeks to 11 weeks...after which, I have none...(fan leaves)

Makes harvest a piece of cake

[Rusty Trichome]

Thanks DP...wife came in and smacked me upside my head. (She thought it was my avatar)

[Dutch Pimp]

:D...

[cigarettes42]

Thanks DP...wife came in and smacked me upside my head. (She thought it was my avatar)

LOL

[dejayou30]

I'd vote for either pH problems or root bound. The leaves curling down and in together makes me think its something more serious than an N deficiency. How big is your pot? Also, I'd advise going somewhere that sells fish/aquarium supplies and getting a liquid pH kit until your buddy can fix your digital one. PH is very important to know and without knowing it, its going ot be really hard and I'd say impossible to fix your problem.

[RamblerGambler]

Transplanted yesterday from an 8" to a 10" pot. The plant was definitely rootbound, so maybe this will make a difference. I'll try to pick up a cheap ph test kit and flush the sick girl later today

[Rusty Trichome]

Glad to hear it. She should be fine with a little tlc. :jointsmile:

[RamblerGambler]

if not I might just have to name her Ol' Yeller...

[Rusty Trichome]

After the flush it might be a good idea to go with half-strength nutes, till she shows signs of improvement. (perhaps a week?) Force feeding a stressed plant a good way to compound the stress. The food she finds should green her up just fine, then back on schedule.

Nutes can and will lower your ph a tad (for me, .2 or .3 lower ph per gallon) depending on the brand and type, but if you are using the nutes to lower water ph, you'll kill the plants. (overdose) If you need to adjust ph, best to use something made to do so, but aquarium and pool chems should be avoided. (in case you were wondering, lol)