Rapid Deterioration - Please Help Diagnose

[Delta9Haze420]

Aloha all. Over the past 36 hours I have noticed one of the ladies take a turn for the worse, and quite rapidly at that. I can't figure out what would cause problems in such a rapid way, but the plant has been flushed, cooled (taken out of the high heat it was in), and is receiving what would be called "general supportive therapy" if it were a patient in a hospital (eg it is getting as much TLC as possible).

Three days ago, this plant was thriving and a beautiful healthy green, no problems at all. Slight flowering, and good growth throughout. Yesterday, some browning was noticed on some leaves along with some becoming "crispy" and dry (this happening along the entire plant, base to tip).This is an outdoor plant, and was watered the day before this began to happen with a very light nute solution, as were all the other ladies. The texture of the leaves is very dry and scratchy, and most leaves experiencing the problem begin to curl up.

I would say possible nute burn or other human initiated problem, except for the fact that this is the only plant experiencing this problem. All others (which are on the same feeding / watering schedule) are as happy as can be. Any suggestions on what the trouble might be and potential restorative measures would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

Image 1 is before shot - taken the day before problems noticed
Image 2 is about 24 hours after the plant expressed symptoms
Image 3 is also 24 hours after, Δ angle

Delta9Haze420 Reviewed by Delta9Haze420 on 07-15-2008. Rapid Deterioration - Please Help Diagnose Aloha all. Over the past 36 hours I have noticed one of the ladies take a turn for the worse, and quite rapidly at that. I can't figure out what would cause problems in such a rapid way, but the plant has been flushed, cooled (taken out of the high heat it was in), and is receiving what would be called "general supportive therapy" if it were a patient in a hospital (eg it is getting as much TLC as possible). Three days ago, this plant was thriving and a beautiful healthy green, no problems Rating: 5

[polishpollack]

You write that it was in high heat. Just how high? Looks like heat stress to me. By looking at the pics, I don't think it's a nute deficiency right now. There could be a problem there, but it's probably high heat and maybe not quite enough water, although the soil looks like it might be wet. I think it's just heat. This will probably occur with your other plants if they stay in the heat.

[stinkyattic]

You need larger pots right away. Not only the top of the plant, but the roots, need cooler temperatures.
Outdoors, I HIGHLY recommend pots that are slightly larger than you would think you need, and spray-painted white to reflect the sun's energy and not transmit it to the root zone.

My mother told me when I was little that the Clematis likes its head in the sun and its feet in the shade. Apply that to your plant.

[Delta9Haze420]

Thanks for the pot advice stink. I'm going to do what I can from what you mentioned, but still try to keep low profile garden (the pics are all taken outside of the garden for better image quality, in event anyone wondered). This is really quite sad, I am not sure she is gonna make it, looking at her today. If she does pull through she will probably just survive enough to make it through flower, but I doub't she'll grow much more.

There is already significant flowering (due to that premature flower cycle early in season) along and up to all growing tips. If she doesn't make it, what is the consensus on early harvesting, or partial harvesting? There is a decent yield already of some fairly thick flowers full of trichs (mostly clear still).

[Delta9Haze420]

A second plant (this time Durban genetics) is succumbing to whatever affliction the first one did. I need some more ideas as to what is causing this, and rapidly, before the whole crop dies. So any help now is worth more to me than I can put to words, and I would really appreciate it. The first plant has been removed from the garden as KIA - and it went down fast - healthy to nearly dead in a matter of hours (few days, < a week).

Symptoms first appeared on plant #2 yesterday, prompting the rapid transplanting. The leaves showing symptoms currently are mostly 3 and 5 blade fan leaves, about 60-70% are near the middle of the plant, the rest are random along the plant. A total of 6-12 leaves are symptomatic so far, and are yellowing. The few that have already done so (2 or 3) seem to be progressing to look like the images in the original post (the sick leaves). The pattern shows a leaf to yellow (usually), and then the blades individually curl and crisp at varying rates on the same leaf, but within a short time of each other. One important note: things aren't moving quite as fast on this one (about 2/3 as fast, still fast enough to cause concern), probably because it is a little smaller, and possibly because it is genetically hardier than the other strain was. Regardless, I'd like to have this cleared up before this plant is lost as well as any further losses in the garden.

Here is what corrective actions have been taken with all plants thus far:

1. As of yesterday all have been moved to pots 2.5X the size of the previous ones.
2. Full flush of soil, which is a 1:1 ratio of what they were in and new soil (larger pots).
3. They have been given small doses of minor nutes to correct any non-NPK probs.
4. 1/4 NPK nute dose to balance with the minor nute blend and prevent lockout.
5. Garden adjustment to allow 20-30% more shade, decreasing temp by 5 deg.

If anyone can think of anything else, please let me know. Rach, I didn't talk to you online today - may call you to get advice, but anything you can offer here = :thumbsup:.

[stinkyattic]

?You're on the right track. One more thing, if you have recently sprayed them with anything, post it up.

[Rusty Trichome]

What nutes do you use? How much, and how often? What's it's N-P-K?
Are you giving any other additives or micronutes? (Any CalMag Plus, Superthrive, Reverse, hydrogen peroxide...?)
Are you treating for any bugs or other issues that may require you to spray them too much, or gunk-up the leaves?
Did you add anything to the soil before planting or transplanting?
Possible underwatering or overwatering?
Using proper lighting and schedules?

Would likely help if you filled out the troubleshooting form. Just giving bits-n-pieces of info you'll get a wide variety of opinions, over a longer period of time.

[Delta9Haze420]

?You're on the right track. One more thing, if you have recently sprayed them with anything, post it up.

Thanks! No recent sprays. Several weeks ago they were sprayed with Garden Safe (fruit/veg) pest/fung/miticide.

• AA/AI: Hydrophobic Neem Oil Extract - basically Neem Oil in a spray.

Other than that, nothing...

What nutes do you use? How much, and how often? What's it's N-P-K?
Are you giving any other additives or micronutes? (Any CalMag Plus, Superthrive, Reverse, hydrogen peroxide...?)
Are you treating for any bugs or other issues that may require you to spray them too much, or gunk-up the leaves?
Did you add anything to the soil before planting or transplanting?
Possible underwatering or overwatering?
Using proper lighting and schedules?

Would likely help if you filled out the troubleshooting form. Just giving bits-n-pieces of info you'll get a wide variety of opinions, over a longer period of time.

4:8:8: on nutes right now. Micro nutes as needed. No premixed stuff, chemicals come straight from the lab (no, I didn't screw up any measurements, rach - I logged all procedures in my lab logbook and ran them through the computer too). Bugs, etc: see above per spray - Neem Oil. Soil + a bit of perlite as growing medium. Water when indicated by condition of soil (dry from top down several mm) which is every few days in this heat. Nutes (approximately) every 3rd watering or every 10 days - whichever is longer. Lighting schedule = the sun; so I hope its ok, or we are all screwed because the Earth's orbital eccentricity has changed and we are gonna fly off into space (or the sun, another planet, etc) and die :thumbsup:.

I'm past the troubleshoot guides, even stink's as good as it is. Unfortunately for me this doesn't appear to be any of the more common problems .

Thanks both of you for the replies!

[Weedhound]

And the Stinkster pins it again!!! :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Your plant needs a bigger pot for sure. And nowhere did I read about you checking the ph of things......but of course you ARE arent you?? :wtf:

[rhizome]

Looks like a micro OD- one of the metals...