just wondering if any1 could tell me whats wrong with my plants

[ck334334]

This is my first time growing and i am useing NEW ERA potting soil..it has time realease plant food in it..yea i know shouldent have got that its only small amounts though(.14-.21-.14).its ingredents are....
40%canadian sphagnum peat moss..-----35%composted organic materials(forest products and/or sedge peat..----20%vermiculite..---5% washed sand..and fertalizer...i ahve them in 5 gallon buckets and they have been doing great now a couple weeks later the growth is difigured and there are red spots on a couple of the leaves..i have a digital ph tester that my buddy gave to me but not sure how accurate it is,and havent been able to find calibration sulution...I also have paper testers too but i dont know how great they work...any suggestions would be greatly appriciated...thank you

[ck334334]

no one gonna help me or what?????

[ck334334]

just realized that there are fungus gnats in and around the soil..could this have anything to do with the redish spots on the leaves?? they are not growing nearly as fast as they were for the first month.i cut potatos up and placed them in the top of soil and also put thoes stick fly tape/boards all over the place...I put a small thing of apple cider vinegar with dish soap in it too ....im thinking i will try flushin plants tomorow an see what happens...i am goin to put a layer of sand on top of soil to suffocate the gnats after flushing....if anyone could point me in tha right direwction it would be greatly appriciated......thanx

[ck334334]

just realized that there are fungus gnats in and around the soil..could this have anything to do with the redish spots on the leaves?? they are not growing nearly as fast as they were for the first month.i cut potatos up and placed them in the top of soil and also put thoes sticky fly tape/boards all over the place...I put a small thing of apple cider vinegar with dish soap in it too ....im thinking i will try flushin plants tomorow an see what happens...i am goin to put a layer of sand on top of soil to suffocate the gnats after flushing....if anyone could point me in tha right direction it would be greatly appriciated......thanx i posted pics to help u help me

[senorx12562]

Don't know what a fungus gnat looks like (I live in a semi-arid climate) but the "red" part sounds like a red spider mite. You need to get a handheld microscope (at least 30x) and see if this is what you've got.