First time, having problems

[ddxsinxcosxdx]

Here is my situation:

Closet setup, am using a HID florescent ballast for the growth phase then will switch to a HPS bulb for flowering.

I have been running the florescent setup 24/7 for a little more than a month now. Plants are beginning to reach a foot tall.

Started the seeds directly in standard "kegger" red cups which i cut holes in the bottom for drainage. I will be transplanting to a 6" pot once the plants start to show gender. (will also switch to HPS 12/12 at this point)

I have used no fertilizer in the plants as of yet, as this is my first grow and I want to make the situation as simple as possible before I learn to "tweak" mother nature.

Problem:

My middle and lower leafs are starting to curl together (imagine holding your hand out, palm up, and touching your pinkie to your thumb) and are starting to turn yellow and brown and now have become brittle and are breaking off when touched. Tops of the plants are a heathy looking dark green and are still growing well (other than some tip burning when I don't move the lights often enough or reset them to close to the plants) secondary leafs/shoots were fine at first, but now are beginning to brown at the tips.

Is this a nutrient deficiency? (Which one, whats a good product to use to fix)

Should I get larger pots and transplant now? If not when?

Anything else that is/could be causing this?

ddxsinxcosxdx Reviewed by ddxsinxcosxdx on 07-08-2008. First time, having problems Here is my situation: Closet setup, am using a HID florescent ballast for the growth phase then will switch to a HPS bulb for flowering. I have been running the florescent setup 24/7 for a little more than a month now. Plants are beginning to reach a foot tall. Started the seeds directly in standard "kegger" red cups which i cut holes in the bottom for drainage. I will be transplanting to a 6" pot once the plants start to show gender. (will also switch to HPS 12/12 at this point) Rating: 5

[stinkyattic]

What is the soil? Have you given any nutes?

You can't run a HPS bulp in a flourescent ballast. The bulb and ballast MUST match. Otherwise it is at best going to kill the bulb or shorten ballast life, and at worst, start a fire.

[ddxsinxcosxdx]

I am using basic top soil that I bought at Home Depot. I have not used any nutrients, just basic tap water that I have allowed to sit out 2-3 days before using.

I have separate ballasts for the florescent and HPS bulbs.

[Weedhound]

Can't tell you anything about lighting (except I hope you don't burn your house down) but good luck to you in trying to grow foot sized plants in a beer cup.......or even a six inch container.

Sounds like you have a fair amount of studying to do. At this point at a foot high you should be putting them in two gallon pots.

[ddxsinxcosxdx]

Thank you for the advise on the pots, Weedhound.

Do you think that the amount of space for the roots is what is causing the issues with my lower leaves? Do you believe that is the only issue based on the information I have provided? Other than changing the pots what advise would you have for me at this state?

Plants are now between 10 and 12 inches tall (From top of soil) is this a good time to kill the lights for a day and force them to show their sex? What height/characteristics should I look for to know when to switch to my HPS set up?

I'm currently studying to be an electrical engineer so burning down the house by using the wrong wiring/lights/ballasts is not a concern of mine.

[Weedhound]

Well not burning your house down is a basic rule in growing.

Stinky is the soil wizard here.....she's the one that taught me that you should have a gallon of soil per foot of stem......and yes I do think that this your problem and a transplant into larger containers will help.....if not solve....the issue.

Plants need root room.......and if your roots aint happy your plant aint happy......it's easy to forget them since they aren't what you look at in a plant but believe me they are the MOST important of all.

Treat them nicely.

[Weedhound]

http://boards.cannabis.com/basic-gro...ency-baby.html


I love this thread and since following it I've been having pretty darn good success in soil these days......(I usually grow hydro)

[ddxsinxcosxdx]

I currently have 6 plants started and was going to wait until sexing them to switch them to 5 gallon buckets and only have 2 at that point.

Is a foot tall a good time to force flower the plants or should I just switch them to larger pots and let them vegetate longer?

[Weedhound]

They will double and triple in size during flowering.......got a good tall ceiling right?

That thread of Stinky's should help you decide......I've had MUCH BETTER success with Stinky's method of transplanting several times vs once and would DEFINITELY recommend several transplants for yours.

My plants grew better, faster, healther roots, and just plain became bigger, larger, and healthier plants imo with transplanting into several containers vs just one.

[ddxsinxcosxdx]

Awesome, thanks for the help.

I'm going to go get some new pots now and will switch them today. I think ill let them vegetate for another couple weeks (or 2 feet tall which ever is first) I have an 8 foot ceiling where I will do the flowering, so I would think that a 6 foot plant would be good.