Leafs curling/turning brown from the top. [Lowryder2 CFL]

Hey, lets see if you guys can help me out on this one, to be honest, i have no clue on what to do myself. ;)

What is your experience level?
first timer

Your Equipment:
.1) Type and wattage of lights.
250W Red CFL

.2) Distance from tops?
I'd say 20 cm, i could keep it closer, but meh, i dont mind getting a tall plant.
.3) Reflector type?
None, im growing in a closet and every wall is painted white, so it reflects really good w/o reflector.
.4) Is there a consistent fresh air supply?
No, i keep the closet door open most of the time, and i got a fan running from time to time aswell.
.5) Do you have an exhaust fan and a circulation fan?
Yes i do, but im not keeping it on all the time, beacuse the air simply gets to dry
.6) What are the bulb wattages, kelvin ratings, and schedule?
250W 2700K, now it's on 12/12, used to be 24/0

Your medium:
.7) Specific brand and type of soil, (coco, peat based soilless...) and anything you've added to it. (vermiculite, perlite, worm castings...)
It's a swedish brand, original soil with a ph of 5.5 - 6.5, not that coco thing, vermiculite in the bottom i belive.
.8) Size of container.
Not sure, a big bucket tho!
.9) Did you use peat pucks (or similar) to root clones or germinate seedlings?
No.

Your nutrients and water:
10) Source of water? (tap, bottled or filtered) What's it's ph before adjusting?
Tap water, ph was at 8.0, bought a ph- with phosphoric acid to get it down to 6.5
11) Method of checking water ph. (ph pen, test strips, aquarium test kit...)
PH Pen
12) Method of adjusting water ph. (phosphoric acid, white vinegar, hydrated lime, PH Up...)
phosphoric acid
13) Specific brand and N-P-K ratio for each bottle. List dosages (quantity per gallon) and current feeding schedule.
Im growing Lowryder, so i dont bother using nuts, perhaps i shuld?
14) How often are you watering between feedings, and how much per watering?
As soon as the plant starts to 'hang', i give it water, about every 3 day.
15) Any additives or tea's? (Superthrive, CalMag, molasses, Mother's Earth...)
Not sure what this means, i'd say no tho
16) Are your ph levels stable, or do they fluctuate?
Not that stable, some times its 6.5, and sometimes its 6.8, depends if im in a hurry and cba to get it to perfection with phosphoric acid.
17) What is your ingoing water's ph? ...your runoff ph?
6.5 and 6.4, about the same actully.
18) Do you foliar feed? If so, with what, how often, and at what time do you spray?
I did it alot before the leafs started to go brown, stopped after that, or atleast slowed it down to once a day

Your growroom:
19) Indoors or outdoors?
Indoor
20) What size of closet, room or hut?
Im not sure, i'd say 60x60x200, you know, the usual.
21) What are the temps and humidity levels while lights are on? ...With lights off?
22+ with lights off, 26+ with them on.
22) Have you seen signs of insects in the growroom?
Neh, a fly every now and then, i just smash it and thats about it.

Your strain:
23) What strain are you growing? (Indica dominate or Sativa dom?)
Lowryder 2 X Bubblegum, not sure if its Indica or Staiva, its an AF strain tho, if that gives ya any hints.
24) From seeds or clones?
Seed.
25) Is this an autoflower strain?
Yes it is, but it's really slow, so i switched the lights to 12/12 just to speed things up.

Images;
http://data.fuskbugg.se/skogsturken/_MG_9766.jpg
http://data.fuskbugg.se/skogsturken/_MG_9770.jpg
http://data.fuskbugg.se/skogsturken/_MG_9768.jpg
http://data.fuskbugg.se/skogsturken/_MG_9772.jpg

Edit; new pictures!

ImageShack Album - 3 images

I think your plant is hungry. The leaves are all yellow and discoloured from lack of nutes. But at the same time the tips also look scorched. perhaps that is from deficiency. i would recommend flushing the soil with a balanced nutrient solution and seeing if the plants perks up and greens up in about four days. report back with pics if that doesnt work we will get to the bottom of this

Alright thanks mate!

I shuld add the phosphoric acid after the nutes, right?

edit;

Oh i totally forgot to mention that i just transplanted the plant from a really small pot to this red bucket, with plenty of new soil (like, really alot more).

Its only been a day, perhaps i shuld wait and see if the plant takes up the new nutes from the new soil?

Ok if you just transplanted give it a nice watering of a half strength nutrient solution and just wait and see what happens. The best way to grow is to watch what the plant tells us from the leaves. So if it greens up in a couple days with perky leaves you know you did the correct thing by fertilizing. Keep the soil moist but not soggy with the nutrient solution ( dont let water sit under the pot). Soggy pots dont let any oxygen to the roots (believe it or not roots need oxygen!) and they encourage pests fungus mould and diseases.

EDIT: sorry i forgot about your question regarding the phosphoric acid..i havent ever used that but in my opinion i would hold off on it for a bit and just fertilize the plants..fertilize with the nute solution then check your ph if possible..to be honest ive always grown organic with no ph tests or adjustments and ive had succesful harvests, if you have questions about my methods feel free to ask.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sammer

Ok if you just transplanted give it a nice watering of a half strength nutrient solution and just wait and see what happens. The best way to grow is to watch what the plant tells us from the leaves. So if it greens up in a couple days with perky leaves you know you did the correct thing by fertilizing. Keep the soil moist but not soggy with the nutrient solution ( dont let water sit under the pot). Soggy pots dont let any oxygen to the roots (believe it or not roots need oxygen!) and they encourage pests fungus mould and diseases.

EDIT: sorry i forgot about your question regarding the phosphoric acid..i havent ever used that but in my opinion i would hold off on it for a bit and just fertilize the plants..fertilize with the nute solution then check your ph if possible..to be honest ive always grown organic with no ph tests or adjustments and ive had succesful harvests, if you have questions about my methods feel free to ask.

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ah thanks alot man, ill keep ya updated in a few days!

one question tho, i still got time to stop this shit before the plant is totally ruined, right?

Looks like it needs nitrogen to me.....something organic and cheap like Alaska Fish Fertilizer, you can get it at any home depot or garden shop. It is mild and won't burn your leaves.... never heard of Phosphoric acid...sounds too strong whatever it is. Easy does it. yes you have plenty of time.

i just noticed your lights were 12/12 i would keep them at about 20/4 or at lowest 18/6 no need for 12/12 with an auto. it will drop your yield

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ephyx057

i just noticed your lights were 12/12 i would keep them at about 20/4 or at lowest 18/6 no need for 12/12 with an auto. it will drop your yield

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It shuld start flowering after 3 weeks, its now been about 1 1/2 months :cool:

I heard it tends to happend to alot of AF strains, switching to 12/12 is the only way to get any yeild at all im afraid.

If i put it back at 24/0 (or any other scheme), im pretty sure it's just going to go straight back to vegative phase, and cba to risk that!

I'd like to thank you all tho, this was my first post and so far you have all been superfriendly, thanks for that!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Raekwan

13) Specific brand and N-P-K ratio for each bottle. List dosages (quantity per gallon) and current feeding schedule.
Im growing Lowryder, so i dont bother using nuts, perhaps i shuld?
18) Do you foliar feed? If so, with what, how often, and at what time do you spray?
I did it alot before the leafs started to go brown, stopped after that, or atleast slowed it down to once a day

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Either you were feeding her, or you were not. Which is it? Does the soil contain time-release or any other nutrients? (should say on the bag)
With plants, the roots are in charge of nutrient and water uptake. When you foliar feed, you are forcing shit into the plant's structure, uncontrolled. Not an optimal situation, and you can do more harm than good. Especially if you are unfamiliar with the growing process.
Sooo...what were you spraying them with?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Raekwan

14) How often are you watering between feedings, and how much per watering?
As soon as the plant starts to 'hang', i give it water, about every 3 day.

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Cannabis prefers a wet-dry cycle, but you do have to make sure to get water and nutrients to the lower root zone. If you let the soil dry too much inbetween, you'll run into problems with re-hydrating the soil. (the water will flow-out of the bottom instead of hydrating the soil and roots) But do not let the pot sit in standing water, as this can cause root rot and algae and mold.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Raekwan

15) Any additives or tea's? (Superthrive, CalMag, molasses, Mother's Earth...)
Not sure what this means, i'd say no tho
16) Are your ph levels stable, or do they fluctuate?
Not that stable, some times its 6.5, and sometimes its 6.8, depends if im in a hurry and cba to get it to perfection with phosphoric acid.
17) What is your ingoing water's ph? ...your runoff ph?
6.5 and 6.4, about the same actully.

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Cannabis plants need their nutrition. This includes the need for calcium, micronutrients, etc...) Try 1 tsp of molasses per gallon of properly ph'd water, once a week. And you might want to re-think your position on feeding 'em too. Especially if they aren't performing well.

Are you really too busy to pay attention to what you're doing with phosphoric acid...? :wtf:

Sounds like your soil buffers are working fine, but try and keep ingoing water within 6.3 to 6.8 ph. I adjust my water to 6.8, then add nutrients. This brings my water down to about 6.5ish. (perfect)

I've never grown a true autoflower, but from what I've read...there's no need for switching to 12/12, unless it's to kick-start the actual flowering. I'd cross-check this method online for different sources saying the same thing. Just doesn't sound right.

You have a minor heat issue, too. (leaves raised twords the heat, in an effort to 'shade' the reproductive calyx's) Check the thread in my signature regarding with dealing with heat issues...
It's not a problem, just an observation...

Likely I'd put the light above, but off to the side if it's the only one you are using. Plus, usable light from a CFL doesn't extend all that far, so likely you'll have some excess yellowing and die-off near the base of the plant as it get's light-starverd. As you stretch the plant, you'll have to raise the light, making it harder for the middle of the plant to feed off of the light. (the taller the plant, the higher the die-off line will be)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rusty Trichome

Either you were feeding her, or you were not. Which is it? Does the soil contain time-release or any other nutrients? (should say on the bag)
With plants, the roots are in charge of nutrient and water uptake. When you foliar feed, you are forcing shit into the plant's structure, uncontrolled. Not an optimal situation, and you can do more harm than good. Especially if you are unfamiliar with the growing process.
Sooo...what were you spraying them with?


Cannabis prefers a wet-dry cycle, but you do have to make sure to get water and nutrients to the lower root zone. If you let the soil dry too much inbetween, you'll run into problems with re-hydrating the soil. (the water will flow-out of the bottom instead of hydrating the soil and roots) But do not let the pot sit in standing water, as this can cause root rot and algae and mold.


Cannabis plants need their nutrition. This includes the need for calcium, micronutrients, etc...) Try 1 tsp of molasses per gallon of properly ph'd water, once a week. And you might want to re-think your position on feeding 'em too. Especially if they aren't performing well.

Are you really too busy to pay attention to what you're doing with phosphoric acid...? :wtf:

Sounds like your soil buffers are working fine, but try and keep ingoing water within 6.3 to 6.8 ph. I adjust my water to 6.8, then add nutrients. This brings my water down to about 6.5ish. (perfect)

I've never grown a true autoflower, but from what I've read...there's no need for switching to 12/12, unless it's to kick-start the actual flowering. I'd cross-check this method online for different sources saying the same thing. Just doesn't sound right.

You have a minor heat issue, too. (leaves raised twords the heat, in an effort to 'shade' the reproductive calyx's) Check the thread in my signature regarding with dealing with heat issues...
It's not a problem, just an observation...

Likely I'd put the light above, but off to the side if it's the only one you are using. Plus, usable light from a CFL doesn't extend all that far, so likely you'll have some excess yellowing and die-off near the base of the plant as it get's light-starverd. As you stretch the plant, you'll have to raise the light, making it harder for the middle of the plant to feed off of the light. (the taller the plant, the higher the die-off line will be)

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Phosphoric acid isn't some 'resident evil virus' shit you know, just sayin'.

and it's not like i watched some youtube clip where this random person wrote 'AF'z C4n be sl0w', after reading up on this, it seems like its a common thing.

Ill get a 125W CFL in a few days to increase the lightning! :)

The soil does not contain some time-released nutes, and im spraying it with tap water.

I do not let the whole pot dry out, and i dont belive i have any major problems with the way im watering my plant, thanks any way tho.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Raekwan

Phosphoric acid isn't some 'resident evil virus' shit you know, just sayin'.

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Having 7.9 ph wellwater, I'm quite familiar with phDown, (phosphoric acid) as I go through about 1 gallon of the stuff every year and a half or two years. (1 tsp per 5 gallon bucket of water) I strongly recommend you quit arguing, and pay more attention to what you are doing. If you keep doing the same thing, you'll keep getting the same result. I have no dog in your hunt, so don't really give a shit either way.

Good luck to ya. :jointsmile: