EXPERTS HELP NEED!!! TAKE A LOOK!!

[TheGatorViking]

I stuck my pencil in and the soil felt really moist but solid and clumpy almost. Could it be my plant just isn't draining and being over watered? I didnt add any perlite since this is my first time doing this. What is that? How much is it? Where can I purchase?


Should I consider switching to a new pot of miracle grow with perlite in it?

[oSecretGardeno]

I stuck my pencil in and the soil felt really moist but solid and clumpy almost. Could it be my plant just isn't draining and being over watered? I didnt add any perlite since this is my first time doing this. What is that? How much is it? Where can I purchase?


Should I consider switching to a new pot of miracle grow with perlite in it?

perlite is that white volcanic rockis looking stuff found in every garden store in the world. should be huge bags of it everywhere. it's very cheap. my store has 4QTs for $5.

I'm not sure if you are up for this or not, but i'd suggest making a new soil mix (you can use miracle grow just add some perlite, maybe some vermiculite) and then repotting. But when you repot break up the soil, all the extra "old" soil will fall off and there should be a decent rootball that you can put in the new soil. The plant will experience some transplant shock for a bit but after that it should take off like a rocket (hopefully).

The plant is real tiny for 4.5 weeks, it is definitely struggling a bit in one way or another.

That just my opinion, good luck bro.

[SauceeMcGee]

Gator Viking,

I can not tell much from the pictures you have posted due to the quality. However, my inclination is that perhaps you might be watering the entire pot and, because the plant is so small and it is in that large container, the water is not absorbed and evaporated through the plant at a rate that will avoid overwatering symptoms.

Also, a few things happen when the soil is very damp and not mixed up to allow proper drainage:

1.) The soil compacts around the roots and chokes them off
2.) Roots begin to rot due to inadequate aeration
3.) Mold problems within and on the surface of the soil

As far as the bugs go, I could not tell if you had a problem. If you think you may have a bug issue on your hands, get ahold of a spray bottle and fill with isopropyl alcohol and spray any infected areas. The alcohol practically dissolves the pests and will not harm the plant.

But, some things you SHOULD do right now is, listen to Shake. Re-transplant in some new soil, maybe a tad smaller pot, and really pay attention to your watering schedule. Bump up the nutes and watch it carefully!

Good Luck,

SMG

[TheGatorViking]

Thank you all for the help. Already I feel better about saving this little guys life.

I just saw your post SMG on the bug issue, thank you for that tidbit.

Do you guys really believe I can save this fella? Its some decent bud, ice I believe. So I really don't want to give up on it.

Also how do I plant the soil and perlite? How much soil vs perlite, where each should be layed. etc

[headshake]

mix 2/3 parts soild with 1/3 parts perlite. mix it together. fill in your pot leaving a hole for the plant to go into. backfill the remaing area with your new soil mix. remember, this is gonna have ferts in it so you won't need to add any for a bit.

also, you are hoping for a lady, and not a fella. all a fella is gonna do is drop his nuts in your face. you want the female flowers. that's the booty!

good growing!


-shake

[TheGatorViking]

lol She's a lady, I got feminized Ice seeds. My bad.


Anyways I really think what you covered is my problem. I knew from the get go this could happen but I wasn't sure what to do about it.
How should I go about taking the plant out of the pot? Let it dry out and dig around and down it how far?

Does any kind of rubbing alcohol kill those bugs? thanx

[headshake]

Does any kind of rubbing alcohol kill those bugs? thanx

As far as the bugs go, I could not tell if you had a problem. If you think you may have a bug issue on your hands, get ahold of a spray bottle and fill with isopropyl alcohol and spray any infected areas. The alcohol practically dissolves the pests and will not harm the plant.
SMG

try to read the responses you get. that usually helps. read the ingredients on the rubbing alcohol bottle. hmmm, does it say 3% isopropyl alcohol?

How should I go about taking the plant out of the pot? Let it dry out and dig around and down it how far?

let it dry out. then place the stem in between your index finger and middle finger and flip it upside down. you might have to tap on the bottom of the pot a few times. now place it in the whole you made in the new pot and backfill as needed.

water with pH'd water to help the new and old soil "mesh". do this before your dark cycle to let her recover.


-shake

[fourkicks]

your getting some good advice. i know its hard to let go but...THE PLANT MUST BE SCRAPPED.WAY TOO SMALL,TOO MANY INSECT PROBLEMS.dissenfect your area and start again in smaller pots.getting a good soil is a must even if its your own mix

[TheGatorViking]

your getting some good advice. i know its hard to let go but...THE PLANT MUST BE SCRAPPED.WAY TOO SMALL,TOO MANY INSECT PROBLEMS.dissenfect your area and start again in smaller pots.getting a good soil is a must even if its your own mix

Why? First off I don't have the money and or time to restart my first grow. If nothing else its a learning exprience. My plant has been taken care off, there are FAR worse plants out there then mine that have pulled through, I'm sure of it. My plant looks small, but its in a 5 gallon pot which ofcourse would make a month old plant look tiny. Add on the fact its not draining right.

I really think no matter what I do I CAN'T avoid these bugs. From the first 2 seeds I planted in dixie cups, till now. I found little bugs in every batch from a bag of mirical grow.

Just throwing my plant away is a slap to the face for shake and smg. They have taken their time out to help a newbie. I appreciate that guys.

[TheGatorViking]

To be honest it seems like the bugs on the plant are little flys more so then spider mites. Is that more of a common problem?