PLANTS DYING AFTER 3 WEEKS!!!

I'm in serious trouble. As soon as my plants came up from the dirt they've started dying. The lower fan leaves develop brown spots, then turn yellow and finally wither and die. And so it goes.

I'm growing AK47 in 2 parts ordinary flower soil 1 part perlite and 1 part vermiculite. They're under a mixture of warm white and cool white fluoros and the temperature is a steady 22 degrees celsius. I can't figure it out. The soil is new and should have enough nutrients. The water is the same as I've always used. I've had amazing success before in this "closet setup" with other strains, such as Jack Flash, Hindu Kush and Shiva Shanti. I once had a magnesium deficiency with Jack flashes and this problem seemed similar (except it didn't show up immediately) so I've added 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt to 2 liters of water last week, but to no avail. I've also tried different water (bottled mineral water) and I've tried spraying them with a very light solution of nutrients. Same thing. No result. A few questions:

What's the best way to proceed? Should I continue with the epsom salt? Is this batch saveable? Should I scrap it and start over? (I really don't want to until I've figured out the problem.) Did I start the Mg treatment too late? Do I lack N? The water I use have a pretty high iron content, could that lock out anything else, like the Mg or something?

Any and all feedback from you experts out there will be much appreciated.

Sincerely, Troubleman

they look like nutrient burn. Does it start fom the tips of the leaves and get worse ? If it's nutes you can't flush with clean water that only releases more nutes. Sorry man they don't look good.

What do you mean " The soil is new and should have enough nutrients."

Are you using some type of pellets to feed them?

Different strains have different growing requirements. Some like strong nutrients and some like weak nutrients. Each cross and strain is a little different from the next one.

WTF? is your stem black?

MAN... I would trans plant and FLUSH the shit outta them... leave out the vermiculite... try not to disturb the roots..


good luck.. sorry I can't give you an easy solution...

No, it doesn't start from the tips. First thing I checked. Which leads me to the second question: What I mean about the soil "being new" is that I went out and bought a bag of ordinary (but excellent quality used it before) potting soil, and added no nutrients because it should contain enough to start with. I've fed them nothing (unless you count my little desperate attempt last week where I sprayed them with a light nutrient mixture to see if it would make a difference). About the stems, they aren't black. They have strong purple lines, which I guess indicates MG deficiency. I've never grown this strain (AK47) before, so I don't know it's peculiarities. I'm continuing the Mg solution treatment and so far there is little change, for the better or the worse. Any other ideas or insights?

And on a different note, why do you suggest I leave out the vermiculite?

Thanks for your time.

How fast is water draining?

Water should not be held in the dirt for to long. It also looks like an over watering issue as well. You get that from trying to correct problems sometime you need to over water. It's a balance act you need to play. Epsom salt can help the mag problem and so will CalMag Plus.

Check to make sure you have good drainage so there is no pooling of water in your dirt. Vermiculite will hold water in FYI. Perlite allows it to drain out fast.

trouble.. like zandor said, the vermiculite holds water.. not usually a good idea for a newbie. or anybody that likes to water a lot.. like me : )

perlite on the other hand allows you to flush without concern of overwatering... make adjustments withaa little more ease... it really is just preference..

did you transplant?

: )