unusual plant problem

Hey anybody out there, afriend of mine has been having a problem for a year now that none of us seem to be able to figure out. The plants seem to start out okay, but even in the vegetative stage the shade leaves will start to yellow just completely around the outer edges. Then above the yellow-edged leave it will revert and start putting out leaves again with 3 leaflets and then some leaves believe it or not with 4 leaves. The plants end up with a decent yield but look sickly the whole time. Most common response has been nitrogen lock-up which is not the case. Also I forgot out of the botttom of the pots there seems to be a yellow greasy substance extruding. This operation did great for 15 years using the same water. If there is anybody who has seen something like this please let me know. By the way the plants are pest free with soil being tested for ph regularly, good ventilation system.

It would seem like if that the system worked well for 15yrs, and now, all of the sudden the roots are yellow and greasy, that should be a clue.....

and if you have plants that are so stressed as to be mutating, and several folks cant figure it out.....

Something seems to be not as it seems.....How could your friend and advisers do this susccesfully for 15yrs, going thru all the normal ups and downs with all the envrionmental and biological challenges and changes that we all have to deal with, and NOT know about root rot/pythium/overwatering/soil compaction/poor drainage? Peace

I would consider the possibility of fungus.

Are you re-using soil?
Are you sterilizing your pots between crops?
Do you have pests [vectors] that are spreading disease?
Are you over-watering and creating ideal conditions for fungus to thrive?

PH anyone?

PH issues yes.

The leaf thing sounds like it got flashed with light or the cycle got messed with.

The other thing sounds like mineral deposits building up.

You said, "yellow greasy substance extruding"

Is it hard at all? Could it be mineral deposits?

ROOT ROT!!!!!

Does it smell like sulfer at the bottom of the pot?
Poor Drainage?

Bad nutrients can look like that too if they don't mix well. More like it's root rot an old fungle left over from a past grow.

Are you/your friend cleaning out the pots or containers after use? Or are you using new ones? Obviously something is different now then it was for the Other 15 years, lol cmon now 15 years of growin the herbage your "friend" must be an expert. Make sure you sterilize the soil and gravel if using it!