Leaves curling up....

[BetterThanBeer]

The leaves of my plants started curling a day or so ago and are a bit worse today so I wanted to see if anyone can offer any help. The form is filled out below and I have attached pictures. They still seem to be green and growing, but not sure if they are heading down the wrong path.

E-indoor or outdoorIndoor
E-soil, soilless, coco, aero, or hydroponic Soil
E-specific medium Mix of Blacks Gold (80%) Potting Soil (20%) and Perlite
CSL-Soil type/brand See above
HCL-Hydro/aero/soilless system type
SCL-Anything you have added to the soil Just water so far
SCLR-Soil or slab runoff pH Hard to tell, water is not clear to indicate color on PH chart
E-Water source Tap water, ph balanced
E-Source water pH between 6.2 and 7, fluctuates
HRT-Source water EC (if hydro)
E-Age of plant 10 days old
E-Type of fertilizer none yet, will be Fox Farm
E-Rate of application (if hydro, this is your PPM number, preferably after each component is added)
E-Lighting source and distance from plant CFL, 3 inches or so
E-Air temperature (both day and night if you are running a dark period) NOt sure
HD-Reservoir temperature
E-Air % Relative humidity Not sure, but outside it is at least 80-90%, should be decent inside house
E-Lighting schedule 18/6
E-Type of ventilation your room has two fans and leave door open a crack during day
TR-Did you pre-soak your media in pH corrected solution?

Additionally there are (as seen in picture one) 8 (26 watt, blue, 1600 lumin CFLs), 4 (27 watt, red 1750 lumin CFLs) 2 smaller blue spectrum CFLs, not sure watt or lumins, probably half of larger ones

Thank you for any help that you can offer.

[BetterThanBeer]

Two more pictures, just in case they help.

[BetterThanBeer]

Just took temps with a turkey thermometer that I found in my kitchen drawer. It seemed to stabilize at around 98.3 F. I am sure it is over 100 with the doors shut more.

Maybe that helps with the diagnosis.

[LOC NAR on probation]

Get the temps down and you should be fine. Looks like a good start.

[BetterThanBeer]

So do you think that the temps are the issue here? I added a small fan to push hot air out of the top vent hole and another 10 inch fan blowing into the cab with doors open. I also turned off the 4 red spectrum lights on the side for now until I can raise the light canopy. Temp is down to 89 F right now.

It will of course go up when I close the doors at night for an hour before lights go out for the night and then again for an hour before I wake up to open them. Will the two hours of much higher temps harm them much or will they get used to it as they grow?

Thanks for the help. Not sure how else to lower temp.

[BetterThanBeer]

I rearranged the lights for more air flow and leave the doors open now. Temps seem to stay in the mid 80s (sometimes upper 80s). Will this be too high?

Also, are there any negative affects to leaving the doors open or does this not really matter?

[McDanger]

I rearranged the lights for more air flow and leave the doors open now. Temps seem to stay in the mid 80s (sometimes upper 80s). Will this be too high?

Also, are there any negative affects to leaving the doors open or does this not really matter?
You can leave the door open all the time in veg,(I would) but you need 12hrs (some debate on this)complete dark in flower.
Temps in the 80's are on the high end of acceptable, but go up into the 90's and growth STOPS.:(

[BetterThanBeer]

Thank you very much. That will help with temp alot. I will of course ensure that they have 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness during flower. Temps are easy then as lights are off.

[Italiano715]

12hrs (some debate on this)complete dark in flower.

No debate about that...12 hours of uninterrupted darkness is a MUST. Otherwise, you WILL get a hermie. Also, if you are not sure about light leaks, then when your lights go out go into your grow room, close the door, and look for any light leaks and be sure to seal them. You could lay down a small towel or cloth at the foot of the door to seal that leak.

Also, I have a little heat problem as well (85-90) which is why I have yet to start flowering mine. If the heat is too high during the flowering phase they will beome airy and not dense buds.

[McDanger]

Temps tend to go up as the plant gets bigger in a small space.

[BetterThanBeer]

Temps now down to 82 F. I think I can live with that. Light leaks wont be a problem, dark is easy. I am just glad to hear that doors open do not cause problems as it solves the temp problem.

Off topic but I also wanted to know if forcing flower at 10-12 inches will cause any issues. I figured this would give a final plant size of around 2.5 to 3 feet which would be ideal for my space. Reason being is I have 4 plants now and of course expect some to be male and I would like to find out sooner rather than later which ones so that I can figure out how big they can get. 4 three foot plants in the correct size pots will not fit in the grow area. I am hoping for 2.

[Italiano715]

Temps now down to 82 F. I think I can live with that. Light leaks wont be a problem, dark is easy. I am just glad to hear that doors open do not cause problems as it solves the temp problem.

Off topic but I also wanted to know if forcing flower at 10-12 inches will cause any issues. I figured this would give a final plant size of around 2.5 to 3 feet which would be ideal for my space. Reason being is I have 4 plants now and of course expect some to be male and I would like to find out sooner rather than later which ones so that I can figure out how big they can get. 4 three foot plants in the correct size pots will not fit in the grow area. I am hoping for 2.

Just so long as they are mature then your good to go. Usually around a month when the nodes start alternating.

[McDanger]

No debate about that...12 hours of uninterrupted darkness is a MUST. Otherwise, you WILL get a hermie. Also, if you are not sure about light leaks, then when your lights go out go into your grow room, close the door, and look for any light leaks and be sure to seal them. You could lay down a small towel or cloth at the foot of the door to seal that leak.

Well, there is some... some people run 13/11 and there is the "martian night" being tested as we speak. But when it is the dark period it must be absolute dark, no debate there.

[McDanger]

Temps now down to 82 F. I think I can live with that. Light leaks wont be a problem, dark is easy. I am just glad to hear that doors open do not cause problems as it solves the temp problem.

Off topic but I also wanted to know if forcing flower at 10-12 inches will cause any issues. I figured this would give a final plant size of around 2.5 to 3 feet which would be ideal for my space. Reason being is I have 4 plants now and of course expect some to be male and I would like to find out sooner rather than later which ones so that I can figure out how big they can get. 4 three foot plants in the correct size pots will not fit in the grow area. I am hoping for 2.
What size is your space? Italiano is right, any time after the nodes start alternating is good. You would be surprised how many plants will fit in a small space.

[BetterThanBeer]

The space is roughly 2 (W) x 2 (L) x 5 (H). I will lose some height due to lights of course. I think I can comfortably fit 2 plants, 3 is tightly squished. I have 4 right now but one is growing much, much slower than the others and only has 3 deformed looking leaves. The other 3 are equal height with nice leaves. I will say the small, deformed one sprouted a few days later than the other three but is not really catching up.

I do understand the complete dark (in theory anyway). Not sure how absolute dark would matter as in nature there is always moon light so I don't really know why a small crack of light (say through side of door jam) will hurt it any. Kind of seems like moon light, if it even made it into the cabinet.