Noob's Great Grow...Grow log to come

[el chupanebre]

El Chupanebre's Setup


E-indoor or outdoor
E-soil, soilless, coco, aero, or hydroponic
E-specific medium rapid rooter surrounded by hydroton
CSL-Soil type/brand
HCL-Hydro/aero/soilless system type NFT constant stream
SCL-Anything you have added to the soil
SCLR-Soil or slab runoff pH
E-Water source distilled
E-Source water pH 5.something
HRT-Source water EC (if hydro) 0 never measured...this seem right?
E-Age of plant 9/2-under dome 9/26-transplant to NFT with 5 nodes (all plants perky with two feedings ST before transplant)
E-Type of fertilizer BOTANICARE Pure Blend
E-Rate of application (if hydro, this is your PPM number, preferably after each component is added) 350ppm
E-Lighting source and distance from plant 600W electronic
E-Air temperature (both day and night if you are running a dark period) day=75-88F night=60-70F
HD-Reservoir temperature
E-Air % Relative humidity 45-82
E-Lighting schedule 18/6
E-Type of ventilation your room has 8'' Can Fan HO (new air every 2-3 minutes
TR-Did you pre-soak your media in pH corrected solution? no

OTHER NUTES:
Liquid Karma
Superthrive
Cal-Mag


...ph is checked twice a day and kept at 5.8-6.2


******my problem****** only been three days in the nft. Most plants/leaves are perky but about 1/3 of the plants/leaves (21 total plants) are starting to droop. The new grow (upper 1/3 of each plant) is awesome on ALL plants. Had yellowing lower leaves and brown spots on lower leaves BUT...BIG BUT...these problems started BEFORE transplant to nft (i only suppose it was b/c they wanted nutes and hadn't been transplanted by that time). Since transplanting no further leaves have yellowed JUST DROOPING.

ps- the nft system has an 8'' drop into the reservoir so do I need an airstone NOW (saying i believe i will need one as the root mass develops further but do i need one now if the system waterfalls back into the reservoir?)

Can't think of anything further...MY QUESTION...what could drooping leaves be pointing at?...over nute for first few days in new system, stress, heat...???

Weedhound, stinky, rhizome...let me know my friends.

PPS- pictures to come when I figure out how...until then...full detailed descriptions

el chupanebre Reviewed by el chupanebre on 09-29-2008. Noob's Great Grow...Grow log to come El Chupanebre's Setup E-indoor or outdoor E-soil, soilless, coco, aero, or hydroponic E-specific medium rapid rooter surrounded by hydroton CSL-Soil type/brand HCL-Hydro/aero/soilless system type NFT constant stream SCL-Anything you have added to the soil SCLR-Soil or slab runoff pH Rating: 5

[el chupanebre]

I took some measurements to complete the troubleshooting form. The numbers are as follow for a 15 Gal Reservoir:

distilled water:
ph 6.3
tds 24ppm
Superthrive:
ph 4.16
tds 30
Pro Blend Grow:
ph 3.14
tds 632
Calmag plus:
ph 3.14
tds 854
LK:
ph 3.17
tds 1050
Ph plus:
6.25 tsp

ENDING NET:
ph 5.9
tds 1050

*some of my plants are drooping probably due to the nute concentration I started them on?*

[el chupanebre]

Two questions:

1) is there something that I must do to get feedback on my questions? I've asked over a dozen and I am only able to get one reply or so at most....now I am unable to post threads. Did I do something wrong?

2) STINKY.....could you direct me to (or post) a thread on the correct procedures for topping of a hydro reservoir during the week? (before the next res change).

[stinkyattic]

Mmm... I don't know about the threads thing. This is a good place to find answers though in Problems.

To top up the res, just add more water and check your ppm and pH.
Lose the superthrive- N overdose can cause drooping and ST has a LOT!

[el chupanebre]

What does superthrive help with most (roots, plant bouce-back, etc)?

I read somewhere on a thread that topping off the res goes smoother when you add nutes, CM and LK in rotation to each other. For example:

1 top off with CM
2 TO with NUTES
3 TO with LK
4 etc


also, do you fill the res completely to the top with water on a top off (sounds obvious) or can you top off with less and less until you have to change the res (this would save labor and money on water)...are both methods acceptable?

[Weedhound]

Stinky is right.......lose the superthrive from your setup. You don't need it. How about some actual plant photos which would help QUITE A BIT in understanding what your problems are.

[Weedhound]

Topping off your res depends on what your numbers are and what you want them to be at. Did you start at 900 and now the number is 1000? Then top off with RO water to get your number correct.

Did you want 900 and your plants ate your number down to 800? Then you'll have to add more of the entire mixed solution as simply adding one thing like LK or Pro Grow will simply unbalance your nute ratios even more.

I'm sorry if I didn't help sooner but I must say I find your threads full of great info on some things.......and very unhelpful in other ways. You say they are drooping.....got a photo? They could be drooping from overnute, rootbound, too much N, not ENOUGH nutes etc etc etc........ This may be why you haven't gotten very much helpful information in rerturn..

I will say....you are ALL OVER Those numbers!! Good for you and it will serve you well once you get yourself all dialed in.

Good luck.

[el chupanebre]

Thank you Weedhound and stinkyattic for you help. I am new to this forum and this is my first grow. With every post I feel as though I can display my information better for others to review.

I believe the best route would be to start a grow log since this is my first grow. I do not currently have a camera and using someone else's camera gives me qualms. I will go to best buy and buy a camera to start this grow log asap.

Last question: is there any danger to having THESE pictures on your computer hard drive or is W Bush looking?