trimming browning leaves?

[nedthegrand]

Hello

Simple question I'm sure has been answered numerous times, but I searched the forums and couldn't find an answer so here goes...

My plants are very young (5 or 6 weeks maybe) and they are very small still (maybe 8 inches tall) grown indoors. I've been losing plants since I started for some reason unknown to me, but what happens before they die is that the leaves start browning. Is it important to trim the browning edges of leaves so that healthy green leaves will grow in or is that a bad idea?

This is pretty much my first grow.

Thanks.

[SmknVTEC]

You can trim the brown sections; they will never heal back to green. I would like to figure out for you why you are losing plants. Please give as many details about your grow as possible including:

type of soil
soil pH
type of lights
type of fertilizer used, when given and how much
temps in the room etc.

[HiTCheR]

I recommend leaving a small bit of brown on the edge of the leaf just so you dont damage any of the green part (who knows it could slow the growth at lot) But yes, i usually cut the brown and yellow-turned leaves off of my plants

Check out my 2nd grow!!!!

[monkeykicker69]

I've never personally had problems with brown leaves, just leaves turning yellow as the plant flowers . If you're having problems with several crops then I'd try a new bag of compost (or whatever medium your using) as an opened bag can quickly be infected with all sorts of nasties.

Alternatively I'd suggest you may have your lights too close, 3' for hps.

[nedthegrand]

Originally Posted by SmknVTEC

You can trim the brown sections; they will never heal back to green. I would like to figure out for you why you are losing plants. Please give as many details about your grow as possible including:

type of soil
soil pH
type of lights
type of fertilizer used, when given and how much
temps in the room etc.

Thanks for the interest. Unfortunately the growing space is actually at my friend's place but I'll try to answer these questions as best as I can.

We're using two flourescent tubular light bulbs between 2" and 4" above 3 plants (there used to be 8 ).

The soil is regular gardening soil purchased at a hardware store, it contains aged forest soil (or something like that), perlite, and something similar to building sand. Not sure of the pH and I don't have any way of testing. The soil used was brand new.

Watering is about everyother day with spring water (tap water around these parts has a lot of chlorine in it)

Fertilizer is this liquid fert out of a dropper labeled as "Plant Food" (purchased at a hardware store). It contains Nitrogen and Potassium and all that good stuff that is in fertilizer. I'm not too sure how often my friend uses it, but I'll try to find that out as soon as possible.

We also have a small fan for ventilation because the room is about the size of Harry Potter's room under the staircase

Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks also to everyone else's suggestions/input

[monkeykicker69]

Are you plants very green with brown edges? could be your over fertilizing. Store bought compost should contain enuff nutes for the first 6 weeks, If i use off the shelf fert I generally dilute to half the recommended amount. Try just watering for a week

[nedthegrand]

The leaves are very green with crispy yellowish/brownish edges. one of the three surviving plants has no browning edges at all, yet it gets same treatment/matainance as the other two.

i'll try cutting back or diluting the fert

[BUDSLiNGER]

Get some distilled water and flush them.... It never hurts.. This way if they are locking out you have a jump on it...
Ill bet he would sugest a flush....dont forget to give temps in the space also... Ph of water your using if you dont know and are not watching this may be the issue...