Nutrient Problem Solver

I keep noticing a re-occurring question and that is my plant is doing this.

What should I do?

I admit I have not grown and this is for me when I do grow as much as it is for others.

I have searched the Internet and found these useful sites and t-shooting charts.

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Guide to Symptoms of Plant Nutrient Deficiencies (Not MJ but still usefull)
http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/az1106.pdf

Cannabis Nutrient & Deficiency Table
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The pH of water after adding any nutrients should be around 5.9-6.5 (in rockwool, 5.5-6.1).
A guideline for PPM levels when adding fertilizers is as follows:
seedlings = 50-150 ppm;
unrootedclones = 100-350 ppm;
small plants = 400-800 ppm;
large plants = 900-1800 ppm;
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Nutrient Problem Solver Chart
This handy chart is a guide to determining the possible problems with your marijuana plants when it comes to fertilizer problems. Diagnose the problem very carefully. Do not make major changes to your plants feeding schedule. Instead slowly correct the problem to determine if diagnosis is correct.

Start Here

1a) The problem only affects the bottom and middle of the marijuana plant. Go to #2.

1b) The problem is affecting the upper top of the marijuana plant and leaf tips. Go to #10

1c) The problem is affecting the whole marijuana plant. Go to #6

2) Marijuana leaves at the bottom and middle of the plant are drooping, yellowing, then dieing. Leaf are not curled up. Vegetative growth is very slow. Possible problem is lack of Nitrogen. If not go to #3.

3) Some leaves are curled up or worst twisted oddly. Leaf is yellowing (and maybe turning brown), but the veins remain somewhat healthy green. Possible problem Magnesium. If not go to #4.

4) Brown dead patches around the edges of some of the leaf, which may also be curled. Marijuana plant may be growing too tall. With big gaps between brackets. Possible problem Potassium (K) deficiency. If not go to #5.

5) Leaves and stem are dark green or red/purple. Leaf falling off plant. Growth is slowed and leaves are small. Possibly problem Phosphorous (P) deficiency. If not go to #6.

Signs of Too Much Fertilizer

6) Marijuana plant looks healthy, but leaves are turning yellow, brown then falling off. Possible problem too much fertilizers, over-watering, or insufficient soil aeration. Cutback on fertilizer feeding. Flush marijuana plant with clean water. Check to see if roots are damaged or become a ball. Drive a stake around the edge to create air flow. If not go to #7.

7) Leaves are curled under like a ram's horn, and are dark green, gray, brown, or gold. Possible problem over-fertilization. If not, go to #8.

8) The plant is wilted, even though the soil is moist. Possible problem over-fertilization, burned roots from too much fertilizer, root bound, marijuana plant disease. If not go to #9.

9) Marijuana plants won't flower, even though they get 12 hours of darkness for over 2 weeks. Possible problem is light leaking into the grow room. Too much nitrogen, pruning or cloning. If not, go to #10

10) Leaves at top of marijuana plant twist turn brown then die. The lights are too close to the plant.
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Not claiming to be an expert just trying to find good information. :)
If you have different experiences please speak up.

You know it aint a bad trouble shooting guide. I stepped through it a couple of times and it worked. But hey, lets face it...99% of the time a cannabis gardener is over fertilizing and/or over watering. If you are not doing that, and not obviously under feeding or under watering, you have a plant that has a virus.

If'n it dont have bugs and it isn't planted in a bag of cement, those are the choices!

I was told a long time ago that "all you need to know is pot needs a lot of light and a little water." Pretty good advice.

My theory is dont push it. Just be patient. Dont try to maxifuckingmize everyfuckingthing. EXTREME is not what you want. Don't use high tech expensive fertilizers or equipment until you learn what the plant needs and likes. Just grow some pot and find out how IT WANTS TO GROW.

99% of plant problems that I have ever had, indoors or out, was a result of my trying to grow the plant faster than it was capable of growing. Indoors everything you do is more critical and it is easier to over fertilize and over water. My three suggestions for avoiding these pitfalls are:

1) A strict feeding schedule as per manufacturers directions fed every other watering.

2) Letting the plant go dry and ALMOST wilted between every watering.

3) Keeping your plants in small pots and "bumping" them to aerate and dry them between every watering.

Those three things really helped my success and learning curve. Maybe it will help someone else.

I noticed that the Ph is listed for Hydroponic systems. Dirtbaggers and Peatpackers use a little higher PH...I like it about 6.3-6.7... Lest the Ph of your soil go south.

I know there are many schools of thought on Ph and soil chemistry...any suggestions?

I pretty much stick with your PH levels also,Bob.