Having N deficiency even w/ FoxFarms OF, Promix, & Distilled Water...Please help!!

[dankfest999]

Sorry for long description, just wanted to provide as much detail as possible because im desperate for help on what is most likely an *easily* solvable problem...

Started 10 fem. seedlings in Promix, a loose, airy mixture of sphagnum/peat and some other stuff that contains NO nutrients.

After 2 wks, added some FF Ocean Forest to the top to let nutes leach down, and it had great results.

Thurs Nov 29th just transplanted into larger buckets (From SOLO cups) containing 50/50 Foxfarms/Promix and added some perlite for drainage.

We water w/ distilled water that pH tests at about 6.5ish on the liquid drops pH test.

Problem seems to be that just before transplanting, growth seemed to slow down even though they still looked healthy. Starting a few days before transplant, and continuing thru now, has been the gradual yellowing of the bottom leaf set (not cotyledons, real leaves)... on some plants it's completely crayon-yellow now. Since the transplant (done @ about 4 inches tall and on the 3-4 leaf set), they have not looked worse (except the yellowing), but have ceased to grow. I know that they could be stunted/shocked from the transplant, but that wouldnt explain the yellowing, which, after researching it, appears to be a N deficiency (only occurs on bottom leaf set, top looks healthy) The leaves are also rather droopy on some of them, especially on the bottom sets.

Now, i know that there is NOT a lack of N, bc we're using Fox Farms Ocean Forest and it's still fresh/new.
We have no soil pH meter, but the guy at hydroponic/horticulture store said it shouldnt be a problem b/c we're watering w/ *distilled* water and using a soil mixture that he himself reccomended and uses successfully. The temp range is roughly 70-85 and the humidity might be a liiiiittle low, but should not effect the N.

Can over-watering mess with this? We only water about every 3-4 days, but use quite a bit, and, until the transplant, did not have the best drainage... I added a bit of water after the transplant, but not much, b/c the fresh F.F. was moist... Last night, 3 full days later, it felt moist, but i had to stick my finger in all the way down to the knuckle, so we are not watering it for a while to see if that helps... If this seems to be the likely problem, what steps can i take to help get these things back on the right track??? If our problem is overwatering, its not that we do it too often, but too voluminously.

Included is a picture that is NOT of my actual grow. However, i found it online and it looks like many of the plants we are working with, right down to size and maturity... The only real difference is that ours are a slight bit taller and have NO burn marks/lesions on any leaves, just straight up yellow/chlorosis as well as the slightly droopy leaves. If the problem is overwatering, please dont say to water less, because this is obvious, but if there are any proactive things to try or tips please let me know and i'll do them.


I know i just made you read an essay, but any help you can give will be much appreciated.

[dankfest999]

Well, GC wont let me upload the photo b/c i uploaded it into another thread a little while ago... Can't fathom why it doesn't allow you to put a picture up on two completely different parts of the website, but i dont have time to fuck with it. Anyway, if you would like to see the picture it is in the first post of this thread:
http://forum.grasscity.com/general-i...eficiency.html

Thank You

[Help_Needed]

I'm not a soil grower - my grows have both been done in hydro - but I'll throw out my 2 cents for whatever it's worth...

Your plants look badly nitrogen deficient. The $64k question is, why?

Originally Posted by dankfest999

Now, i know that there is NOT a lack of N, bc we're using Fox Farms Ocean Forest and it's still fresh/new.

The new soil is actually pretty meaningless. If memory serves correct a lot of growers like FFOF specifically because it's low in nitrogen and won't burn seedlings. I could be wrong, but I don't believe that FFOF, by itself, will provide sufficient nutrients for a fast growing plant like MJ.

We have no soil pH meter, but the guy at hydroponic/horticulture store said it shouldnt be a problem b/c we're watering w/ *distilled* water and using a soil mixture that he himself reccomended and uses successfully.

I hate to say it, but IMO your hydro guy gave you some bad advice. The pH of your soild is only partially dependent on what you're using to water it. Depending on what's in your soil, the soil itself could be the incorrect pH for your plants. You really need to get a pH tester and check your soil - generally a soil runoff test is recommended (search the forum for instructions).

One thing to keep in mind is that peat is naturally very acidic. If you're soil really is 50% peat moss then that could be messing up your pH.

Now, that being said, I don't know if your pH is far enough out of line to cause you problems. If I had to guess, I think your plants are just hungry. Try giving them some 1/4 strength Miracle Grow all purpose fertilizer and see what happens.

Can over-watering mess with this? We only water about every 3-4 days, but use quite a bit,

Over watering will cause them to droop, but I don't *think* it causes the yellowing. If you're sticking your finger all the way into the soil (past the second nuckle) before it feels moist, then you're probably not over watering. Again, my guess is that they're hungry.

[Mr.GoodStuff]

Yellow leaves from the bottom up can also mean dead roots. If you are feeding them right I would check to see if the roots are rotting, if that's not the case you just need to feed them more.

[dankfest999]

thanks very much for the help guys... Help Wanted, i'll def try out some of the remedies you've suggested. However, let me clarify what i meant about not worrying about the soil pH... he didnt imply to tell me htat the pH wasnt important, but was rather tryin to reassure me that my pH would be fine if i used the mixture of FFOF and Promix. What you said about the acidity is very possible, because he himself (guy at store) said that they add a bit of lime to promix so that when it decomposes it keeps it acidic...

Only reason that i assumed FFOF had enough nitrogen was because several ppl have told me that it 'has enough food' for a couple weeks before suppliments are needed... i'll have to learn more about N-P-K ratios...

I guess the next step is to get some liquid nutes high in nitrogen, make a quarter strength solution and have a go at it.... and hope for the best haha.


Any other tips or suggestions anyone thinks would help?

[dankfest999]

Goodstuff, if i had root rot, would it be visually obvious? I ask because when we transplanted on thursday, most of the rootballs were not totally rootbound, but you could see white, fibrous roots running along some of the outside edges... At the time, they looked hte same as any roots ive seen in the past, and this was only 4 days ago.

If its visually obvious, then i know root rot isn't the problem.

[Help_Needed]

The "couple of weeks" that they're talking about refers to the time while the plant is a seedling, when it's not eating much. As the plant gets larger, its nutrient needs increase significantly.

As far as the nutes go, you're actually better of going with something that's more balanced rather than going for a high N content. The Miracle Grow is 20-20-20 which will feed your plant all the way through flowering. Just be careful. That stuff is strong and can easily burn your plant. Another recommendation I've heard is to look for plant food that's designed for tomatoes, since MJ has very similar nutrient requirements.

If your roots were white when you transplanted you probably don't have root rot. I don't know how easy it is to tell in soil, but in hydro root rot is very obvious. You have slimey brown roots and the reservoir starts to stink pretty bad. At least, so I've been realiably informed. Thank God that's ONE problem I haven't had to deal with...although I think it's probably the only one :P.