Im loosing her, please help

[Bobyvila]

Hi everybody thanks for checking in and trying to help with my little problem. I started three little seeds in the ending of october that I got from some friends. Everything was going fine I started off with 4 CFL's @ 27w each I had this set up for one month. I then upgraded to 2 CFL's @68w each and 2 of the 27w and have had this set up from the beginning of December till present. I feand watered regularly and untill recently all was fine. I recently picked up a soil PH tester and have a liquid Ph tester on the way. I tried to raise the acid of the soil from 6.7 to 6.0 because the plant had small yellowing on the lower leaves. I tried to lower it by adding coffee grinds. STUPID after that a day or two later The lower leaves began yellowing, its been a week now and for the past two days has move up the plant and has gotten much worse. I flushed the plant two days ago and tried to get rid of the coffee grinds. The PH eve hasnt changed from 6.7. The containters are kinda tiny so I might have root binding I also airated the soil yesterday after doing some research. Last week I had tied the outside buds away from the stem to allow more light to access the center. Maybe that is my problem.

I have filled out the Troubleshooting form to the best of my knowledge
THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP

What is your experience level? first timer

Your Equipment:
.1) 1st month: 4CFL's @108w, 2nd month and half of 3rd month: 2CFL's @ 136w pluss 2CFL's @54w
.2) Distance from tops: 4"
.3) Reflector type?
Round AC duct cut in half
.4) Is there a consistent fresh air supply? Yes thay are in a living space
.5) Do you have an exhaust fan and a circulation fan?
Yes bolth
.6) What are the bulb wattages, kelvin ratings, and schedule?
2x 2,700K, 4,200Lu, 68w CFL's PLUSS 2x 5,000K, 27w CFL's



Your medium:
.7) Specific brand and type of soil,
Miracle grow potting soil with an inch or two of Fafard organics patting mix to replace after fushing
.8) Size of container.
8' roud X 7" deep
.9) Did you use peat pucks? No

Your nutrients and water:
10) Source of water?
Tap let to sit for 2 days, Ph unknown
11) Method of checking water ph. NA
12) Method of adjusting water ph. Na
13) Specific brand and N-P-K ratio for each bottle.
General hydroponics: Flora micro, bloom, and gro.. I used half specified dose per 1 galon water
14) How often are you watering between feedings, and how much per watering?2 waterings between @ 16.9Fl oz each
15) Any additives or tea's? No
16) Are your ph levels stable, or do they fluctuate?Stable
17) What is your ingoing water's ph? ...your runoff ph? NA
18) Do you foliar feed? If so, with what, how often, and at what time do you spray?No

Your growroom:
19) Indoors or outdoors?Indoors
20) What size of hut? 25"high x 18"deep x 22"wide
21) What are the temps and humidity levels while lights are on? ...With lights off?
Lights on: lights off:
Soil temp 70-80 : 65-75
Cannopy temp 75-90 : 65-75
Humidity 30-70 : 30-70

22) Have you seen signs of insects in the growroom?
Never, No way, No how

Your strain:
23) What strain are you growing? Na
24) From seeds or clones? Seeds
25) Is this an autoflower strain? Na

First picture yesterday, second picture today

Bobyvila Reviewed by Bobyvila on 01-10-2011. Im loosing her, please help Hi everybody thanks for checking in and trying to help with my little problem. I started three little seeds in the ending of october that I got from some friends. Everything was going fine I started off with 4 CFL's @ 27w each I had this set up for one month. I then upgraded to 2 CFL's @68w each and 2 of the 27w and have had this set up from the beginning of December till present. I feand watered regularly and untill recently all was fine. I recently picked up a soil PH tester and have a liquid Rating: 5

[jon420]

6) What are the bulb wattages, kelvin ratings, and schedule?
2x 2,700K, 4,200Lu, 68w CFL's PLUSS 2x 5,000K, 27w CFL's

I am confused here. Are you using more of the 5000k spectrum than the 2700k spectrum??? What week of flowering are you in??? Your PH is fine at 6.7 too:thumbsup: Towards the end of flowering, I find its best to just let the plant do what it does,,,Die!!!! Beside removing the dead yellow leaves which is normal a lot in the end, I leave her be. Proceed the same all the way through until flushing time.:smokin:

[seventhchild]

agree with jon420 and would like to add that 4" is to far away for CFL's and that ur temps seem high.what is ur ambient room temps?? some leaf yellowing is normal starting in mid flower.

[Bobyvila]

agree with jon420 and would like to add that 4" is to far away for CFL's and that ur temps seem high.what is ur ambient room temps?? some leaf yellowing is normal starting in mid flower.

The ambient room temp is crazy. The room has no insulation but when the heat comes on it really comes on. It can get up to 75 and as ow as 80 on a regular basis maybe even lower. I can get the lights closer but they start drying out the leaves which made me move it farther away.

Thanks for the help

I am confused here. Are you using more of the 5000k spectrum than the 2700k spectrum??? What week of flowering are you in??? Your PH is fine at 6.7 too Towards the end of flowering, I find its best to just let the plant do what it does,,,Die!!!! Beside removing the dead yellow leaves which is normal a lot in the end, I leave her be. Proceed the same all the way through until flushing time..

Im using two huge 68w @ 2,700k lamps equivalent to 300w each, so together its 600w @2700k
Also there are 2 little 27w @ 5,000k lamps equivalent to 150w each, so together its 300w @ 5,000k
More 2,700k than 5,000k

Also im in to the third week of flowering.

Thanks for helping

I plan on upgrading the pot size to help out the roots tonight!!

This picture is current and as you can see the yellow is spreading rapidly

[tevfik]

You're not losing her, its the food in your soil you lost.
You have a very small pots and looks like not enough water and food for the plant. Do leaves move up right after watering and get down again in a short time like a day or half? If so, you need to water and feed more often. You're already using half dosage food and dividing it to three. Give more food, not just water.

Other things looks normal and has nothing to do with this issue such as temps or light distance. Temps on canopy looks high because of direct light. It effects on thermometers. Its like putting a thermometer under direct sun light.



I just read your last post now, and changing pots is a better idea of course. You'll be just fine after that. After repotting keep your feeding schedule for a while (2 weeks at least, depends on soil) then raise it. Don't give gro, give bloom.

[MadSativa]

how many weeks into flower are you? mabey up the dose of the nutes just a bit to 3/4 looks like its starving for something, however if its close to harvest, thats natural.

but first check PH of runoff and water going in. if its off it will starve the plant from nutrients.

[RAINHAZE]

Not sure what the NPK ratio is on your nutes, since its not listed in the troubleshooting form, but I'm wondering about a possible Nitrogen deficiency since its in flower.

[Bobyvila]

Do leaves move up right after watering and get down again in a short time like a day or half? If so, you need to water and feed more often.

I just read your last post now, and changing pots is a better idea of course. You'll be just fine after that. After repotting keep your feeding schedule for a while (2 weeks at least, depends on soil) then raise it. Don't give gro, give bloom.

Yes the leaves move up right after watering like you said. I have to run to home depot to get the pots ill keep you posted on that tomorrow. I was giving it all 3 gro, bloom, and flower. mixed all together. Ill stop the gro though. Thank you

how many weeks into flower are you? mabey up the dose of the nutes just a bit to 3/4 looks like its starving for something, however if its close to harvest, thats natural.

but first check PH of runoff and water going in. if its off it will starve the plant from nutrients.

3 weeks in to flowering
Ill check the PH of the runoff whenver the tester comes, thanks

Not sure what the NPK ratio is on your nutes, since its not listed in the troubleshooting form, but I'm wondering about a possible Nitrogen deficiency since its in flower.

Sorry about that I get the juice from a friend in a milk container, Ill get the label information soon to see where its at. I know that the mix was used in other grows at full straingh that matured normally.
I guess I need to increase my dosage. Thanks

[tevfik]

Yes, once you repot you'll be fine. You can go like this but all the leaves will be yellow soon if you stay in that pot.
You don't need to worry about other things what most of the others saying here. There is no nutrient deficiency, there is no PH issue. Your plant is starving. Start feeding her, get new pots asap.
After all you'll be fine.

Try to find out those flower and bloom nutes schedule. Some bloom nutrients only recommended after 5-6 weeks of flowering.

[Rusty Trichome]

I tried to raise the acid of the soil from 6.7 to 6.0 because the plant had small yellowing on the lower leaves.

6.7 is fine in peat-based soils. 6.0 is a bit low. Will cover that later...

I tried to lower it by adding coffee grinds.

BAD idea to add anything that hasn't been composted. Organics tend to rot in the pots when not composted.

STUPID after that a day or two later The lower leaves began yellowing, its been a week now and for the past two days has move up the plant and has gotten much worse. I flushed the plant two days ago and tried to get rid of the coffee grinds. The PH eve hasnt changed from 6.7. The containters are kinda tiny so I might have root binding I also airated the soil yesterday after doing some research. Last week I had tied the outside buds away from the stem to allow more light to access the center. Maybe that is my problem.

Wow. Mind me asking where you are getting these "helpful" tips?
Aerated the soil...? Normal watering does that every time you water. (draws-down the fresh air via suction)
Here, you say ph is at 6.7, but below you mention N/A for ph. Which is it, and what are you using to get a test result of 6.7?

.7) Specific brand and type of soil,
Miracle grow potting soil with an inch or two of Fafard organics patting mix to replace after fushing

Fafards is buffered to between 5.5 and 6.0, per their website. (a tad too low)

.8) Size of container.
8' roud X 7" deep

About 2 gallons. A tad small, but should be fine for a CFL grow. Likely more rootbound than is optimal, but not a complete disaster. (yet)

10) Source of water?
Tap let to sit for 2 days, Ph unknown
11) Method of checking water ph. NA
12) Method of adjusting water ph. Na

Yes, it does apply, but if you don't know...you'll want to find out. Check online for your local water companies Water Quality Report, which will show average ph and what's in it...then save for a ph pen or at least a freshwater aquarium ph test kit. ($7.00 or so) I've never seen a soil ph probe I didn't throw away. Ingoing water for peat-based mediums should have a ph between 6.3ish and 6.8ish.

13) Specific brand and N-P-K ratio for each bottle.
General hydroponics: Flora micro, bloom, and gro.. I used half specified dose per 1 galon water

How long have the plants been in the MG soil? If it's the 6 month formula, half-doses of nutrients might still be too much. If it's the 3 month formula, half doses might be fine over the long-haul. Regardless, your soil buffers (lime) is likely been depleted, as you are showing signs of your ph taking a dive. (yellowing, lockout, the "claw"...) You might want to find a way to raise your ingoing water ph to adjust for this.
Allow soil to dry between treatments, feedings, waterings. Root rot comes fast and hard.
Might want to think of a calcium and magnesium source for mid to late flowering. I use unsulfered molasses at 1 tsp per gallon of properly ph'd water, once a week. (replaces CalMag Plus)

Quit over-correcting and wait for solid advise. This coffee grounds and mixing different soils stuff is a bad idea for container gardening.

I had to "un-ignore" to read Tevfik's reply. I should have left him on ignore. His insight is uninspiring and wrong, in my opinion.