Plant Problem

[michaelpeg]

come on I have read hours and hours on this, I have been a member since 2007 and have over 500 posts I have read the stickies and pages of the plant problems section and the plant problem sections on other sites. I could probably tell someone everything they need to know to grow a nice plant but I can't seem to pull it off myself.

I've grown outside as well. Its easy as shit, I threw a couple seedlings in the ground and they grew into perfect healthy plants, aside from a little bit of bug damage on the lowest leaves but it frosted way to early to harvest anything worthwhile.

I know that you dont need foxfarm soil but i bought it so you guys would have a better idea of what problems I have because most of you guys use it/have used it.

michaelpeg Reviewed by michaelpeg on 10-25-2009. Plant Problem What is your experience level? (first timer, novice, experienced...) dumb novice Your Equipment: .1) Type and wattage of lights. (MH, HPS, CFL's, tube fluorescents, LED's) 1: 400w hps .2) Distance from tops? 2: ~8 inches .3) Reflector type? (cool tube set-up, bat wing, enclosed reflector, bare bulb...) 3: bare bulb Rating: 5

[MasterKushy]

Looks like you're over feeding it. Do you know the PPM or EC of what you are feeding it? The curled up edges and brown spots makes me think you are feeding too much.

[DreadedHermie]

Sorry, michaelpeg. I've been in some pain for the last coupla weeks and I *cough* "overmedicated" myself before answering your post. I did miss some things! And, your frustration is evident so I would like to try to help.

I answered question 14: 14: I feed every second watering and i water with about 250mls with and without food

Hush my puppies! You did answer it. The freakin' question doesn't ask the important thing, though: how often do you water? I realize you feed / water alternately, but the question doesn't ask whether this is a daily or monthly event.

Here's what I'm thinking:

Fox farm is good soil, I've used it several times, but it's HOT (lotsa nutes). Enough to have shocked your plant when you first started using it. A plant that small probably was not using the nutes nearly as fast as you were adding them, even at half-strength or even less. Small plant + big potta hot soil = no extra nutes needed for 3 weeks, maybe.

If you were watering every day, and feeding every other, that would definitely cause what we're seeing here. Less often, maybe still caused it. So, how often were you watering?

the plants are not youngens, like i said they are 3-4 months old,
Sorry, I did read that, but was looking at the pics, and :stoned: :stoned:

I let the soil get quite dry
Well, you want it to dry a little...not enough to shrink and crack, though.

I use a moisture meter to penetrate the soil and i see how much soil sticks to the probe when I see its dry to about an inch and a half from the bottom I water(lets me know at what level it is wet),

I'm not a fan of moisture meters. I poke my finger in there, and heft the pot for weight.

If you have access to a TDS / EC meter, THAT might be helpful. I would check the runoff water and see if it's still hot coming out.

The problem still looks like a semi-drowned plant with a toxic buildup in the soil.

HTH, Hermie

EDIT: I agree with Masterkushy, too! :thumbsup:

[michaelpeg]

all is good DH, I guess maybe I underestimated the foxfarm and possibly nuted too early but the plants were growing so slow, sometimes no noticeable growth after a few days and older leaves going white with light green new growth so I figured that those were the symptoms of hungry plants. I water about once every 4 days. I still haven't watered since the flush which was about a week ago but the moisture meter comes out of the soil dirty.

I dont use the numbers on the moisture meter as a reference to water i just use it instead of poking my big finger through the soil possibly damaging roots.

I would love a ppm meter but I can't afford it right now but it is the first thing on my list of plant supplies.

I haven't fed them since the flush about a week ago and growth has been slow and light green.

I am still thinking it is because I went to big of pot too fast.


Thanks for the replies

[bonedaddy420]

I just had a thought, what about your bulb? I personally have never dealt with HID lighting, but I know that bulbs degrade with time. I also know there are serveral different brands with mixed reviews. Just something to ponder I guess, someone with more HID knowledge would have a better idea than me.

[michaelpeg]

yeah HID bulbs are less effective over time and mine is on its second grow but i dont want to waste any more money on a new bulb until I have my problems sorted out first, The bulb wouldn't cause what im seeing on my plants, it would just give me more stretching

[bonedaddy420]

yeah it was just a thought I had when I was astral travelling , after I had thought about it more I figured that it probably wasn't the light, but still something to consider.

[JackdaWack]

Bulbs will loose the max lumen output over time, its not really an issue unless you need every lumen, If your over kill on lighting dont worry about it. Get a new one when u can afford it.