Plant is dying! What is causing this?!

[DvJeff]

The cotyledon's turned yellow and shriveled a week ago, i haven't removed them because I'm not sure if I should or shouldn't... but this started happening as of a few days ago, what does this appear to be? I can't find anything online about it. The plant is about 30 from being planted. still only 1 inch and a half, dark purple stems, almost brown now.

Attachment 280036

DvJeff Reviewed by DvJeff on 11-15-2011. Plant is dying! What is causing this?! The cotyledon's turned yellow and shriveled a week ago, i haven't removed them because I'm not sure if I should or shouldn't... but this started happening as of a few days ago, what does this appear to be? I can't find anything online about it. The plant is about 30 from being planted. still only 1 inch and a half, dark purple stems, almost brown now. 280036 Rating: 5

[pushit]

You will get more accurate answers if you fill out the troubleshooting form and paste it on here. It could be something as simple as overwatering but dont know for sure til we find out all the background info.

[bigsby]

What pushit said. Also, post in the right forum - Plant Problems. Find the troubleshooting form in my signature. Cut and paste...

[RackitMan]

Hard to say, but plants need help to die.

#1 cause: over-watering.

#2 cause- over-fertilizing.

[DvJeff]

What is your experience level? novice

Your Equipment:
.1) Type and wattage of lights. currently a 23 watt CFL with a round reflector, waiting to use my 125 watt CFL with pro-wing reflector.
.2) Distance from tops? currently 6 inches ( what was recommended by previous posters, raised from 2 inches because of issues)
.3) Reflector type? right now, standard reflector from home depot, once i get a yoyo hanger, i have a 125 watt CFL with a pro-wing reflector
.4) Is there a consistent fresh air supply? Not constantly, but I leave the door open for 4 - 12 hours a day.
.5) Do you have an exhaust fan and a circulation fan? not currently, just an inch fan blowing from the room into an open flap on the tent.
.6) What are the bulb wattages, kelvin ratings, and schedule? 23watt (100 equiv.) 6500k, 18/6

Your medium:
.7) Specific brand and type of soil, (coco, peat based soilless...) and anything you've added to it. - - unfortunately just miracle gro "Organic choice" right now.
.8) Size of container. I think it's a 1 gallon? 1-3... it was 6 inches I believe.
.9) Did you use peat pucks (or similar) to root clones or germinate seedlings? no

Your nutrients and water:
10) Source of water? (tap, bottled or filtered) What's it's ph before adjusting? Don't have a ph meter yet, which is why I've been using distilled water.
11) Method of checking water ph. (ph pen, test strips, aquarium test kit...) none this grow, next grow will have all the meters.
12) Method of adjusting water ph. (phosphoric acid, white vinegar, hydrated lime, PH Up...) none yet.
13) Specific brand and N-P-K ratio for each bottle. List dosages (quantity per gallon) and current feeding schedule. none since I'm in miracle gro.
14) How often are you watering between feedings, and how much per watering? i usually water it every 3-5 days, that's when the top 3 inches or so are usually dry.
15) Any additives or tea's? (Superthrive, CalMag, molasses, Mother's Earth...) nope.
16) Are your ph levels stable, or do they fluctuate? I'm not sure.
17) What is your ingoing water's ph? ...your runoff ph? Not sure.
18) Do you foliar feed? If so, with what, how often, and at what time do you spray? I mist it with the plain distilled water occasionally.

Your growroom:
19) Indoors or outdoors? indoors.
20) What size of closet, room or hut? in a DR60 tent, inside a closet.
21) What are the temps and humidity levels while lights are on? ...With lights off? lights off, I'm not sure, can't be lower than 75 though, lights on 76-85
22) Have you seen signs of insects in the growroom? Not since I moved it to the tent. before I moved it to the tent all I noticed were an ant or two on the walls that I would kill as I saw them.

Your strain:
23) What strain are you growing? (Indica dominate or Sativa dom?) not sure, bag seed from a friend.
24) From seeds or clones? seed.
25) Is this an autoflower strain? I don't believe so.

[DvJeff]

I know I need to get some better soil and ph meters etc... what i'm looking for is a scientific answer as to what produced this. etc

[Weezard]

I know I need to get some better soil and ph meters etc... what i'm looking for is a scientific answer as to what produced this. etc

You don't need a scientific answer.

Rackitman just gave you your answer.
Miracle grow organic is simply too "hot" for seedlings

As a result,they fail to develop a decent root ball.
That means they can not transpire rapidly enough to keep from drowning.
Root need water, and air.

So, overfed and overwatered.

Might be salvageable.
Try gently rinsing the soil from the roots and repotting in moist, (not wet), starting soil.
Sunshine mix #4 seems cool enough to start seeds in.
When the roots fill the first 16 oz. container, you can transplant into FFOF, or MG if you wish.

When it's through with the cotyledons it will discard them.
Best not to interfere, she's got enough trouble, yah?


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Good luck, and aloha,
Weezard

[bigsby]

pH of distilled water can be way off. Best to sort that out. Don't go the cheap route with color strips. They are too inaccurate. 95% of noob problems are pH related. Do yourself a favor and pick up a meter! Oh, and read the Beginners Guide to Growing thread from start to finish. Find the link in my signature. It will answer a ton of future questions before you have to ask them!

[DvJeff]

pH of distilled water can be way off. Best to sort that out. Don't go the cheap route with color strips. They are too inaccurate. 95% of noob problems are pH related. Do yourself a favor and pick up a meter! Oh, and read the Beginners Guide to Growing thread from start to finish. Find the link in my signature. It will answer a ton of future questions before you have to ask them!

I've read that one and many others, which is why I've been trying to refrain from posting... I was just curious as to what this might be so I don't run into it next go around.
my plan is to get the ph meter next, money's been tight... i need to stop getting speeding tickets -__-... could have a few meters by now, lol. but

thanks a bunch everyone.