Is this N deficiency, or is it something else?

[Rusty Trichome]

Hey Rusty, I did add a very light dose of veg nutes to the topped plant a couple of weeks ago (basically added a bit of the MG 9-0-0 to the Flower), but didn't add it to the other plant. I did stay on the veg nutes for the first two weeks of flower (if I remember correctly), but it was some crappy Vigoro stuff that I won't use again.

Keeping on the veg nutes for the first couple of weeks can have somewhat the same effect. But I like to let her settle-into flowering mode, then stretch them just a tad a couple of weeks into it.

I started using the distilled water because one of my initial plants was showing signs of bad Zinc deficiency (this plant isn't pictured here, but is now in flower three weeks behind the others and doing very well), which from what I've read is usually caused by high pH, and/or hard water. Not having a test kit at the time I didn't know what my pH was so I switched to distilled. Then when I found out I need to add cal/mag I started alternating and just stuck with it because it seemed to be working.

Just curious. Sounds expensive and inconvenient using distilled.

As far as my watering technique goes. I remove the plant, pop the drip tray off, set it in the sink, pour a little bit of water in, let it soak up, then add water until it's coming out the holes in the bottom. Wait until it's done dripping, replace drip tray (so it doesn't drip onto my fan which is right below the plants) and put the plant back.

Excellent technique for watering. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: But late in flower, the soil usually loses some of it's water retention properties and you have to make sure you're getting enough moisture absorption (and nutes) down deep. If after watering the pot feels unusually light, the soil may be losing it's water retention properties.

If this is the case, the easiest cure is to use a surfactant, which helps the water absorb into the medium better. 1/4 tsp of liquid dishsoap works wonders for this. Make sure it's not the anti-bacterial type of dishsoap, or it will kill the beneficials in your soil. Only need one or two applications to see improved absorption, and I've never needed more than two applications to bring the soil back.