Droopy leaf syndrome on my biggest

[MadforBush]

Im suffering from droopy leaf syndrome on the biggest and one of the smaller of my 6 plants, she has a nice thick stem, so i dont think the leaves are too heavy, i water like once a week, so its def not overwatering. And the other 4 dont seem to be having the same problem. So i can only assume theres a government conspiracy, or that either my nutriets are too shit for that size plant, or i have a PH problem. (im using shite MG nutes 6-5-5 at the moment?!?!)

Was hoping someone in the UK could recommend me a brand of PH tester thats pretty cheap (im talking around the £20 region). And maybe recommend some good vegging + flowering nutes. As im going to my local hydro store tommorow to pick up some supplies.

Someone let me know please, also what height roughly should my babies be at 1 1/2 months into veg?

oh and heres a pic from a little over two weeks ago when the prob first presented itself, she looks pretty much the same, only bigger + slightly droopier.



thanks

[lessismore]

Do you flush? OPne of the first signs of root lock is the droopy leaves in my experiences. Also, what is the PH of the water you are using? That could cause this problem also. Before you flush, try to get a PH test kit so you can adjust your water before flushing. I know you can order the cheap kits online for like $12-$15 USD and they come w/ PH Up & PH Down as well as the testing solution. Give this a try. Whenver I notice a slow in growth or droopy leaves, the first thing I troubleshoot is PH and root lock. Unless you are using organics it is good to flush every 30-45 days.

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[MadforBush]

I havent measured PH of either the soil, or the water. Ever. It is one of those things that i have pretended like i havent read about even though i know the ideal range is between 6.5 - 7. So im gonna invest in a tester kit, Root lock is another problem that im pretending doesnt exist. Simply because i dont have the equipment to compensate for enormous pots. So im adopting, a cross that bridge when i come to it policy. However, i think the bridge may be approaching.

At this size however i simply refuse to belive that 1 gallon pots are too small, i have had house plants over twice this size in the pots i am growing these in, and they have remained healthy for ages. I will probably have to upgrade before i flower in a months time but still.

So Lack of nutrients doesnt cause drooping leaves? If not its either PH or rootlock, and i dont think its rootlock just yet.

Geif advice please.

Heres a pic of droopy as of today:

[Rabiez]

Hi MadforBush,

Originally Posted by MadforBush

Im suffering from droopy leaf syndrome on the biggest and one of the smaller of my 6 plants, she has a nice thick stem, so i dont think the leaves are too heavy, i water like once a week, so its def not overwatering. And the other 4 dont seem to be having the same problem. So i can only assume theres a government conspiracy, or that either my nutriets are too shit for that size plant, or i have a PH problem.

Sorry mate, nowhere near enough info to make a reasonable stab at diagnosis.

Was hoping someone in the UK could recommend me a brand of PH tester thats pretty cheap (im talking around the £20 region). And maybe recommend some good vegging + flowering nutes. As im going to my local hydro store tommorow to pick up some supplies.

Any decent pH tester is going to set you back forty quid or so. Horti-care do a reasonable budget version for that price.

Miracle-Gro All-purpose Soluble plant food makes a damn fine veg fert in soil, and a £4 box from B&Q will get you through several cycles. Details on request as I'm not on the premises at the moment. For flower I would only recommend 'Canna Terra Flores' as that's the only decent one I (and many others) have used with success.

Someone let me know please, also what height roughly should my babies be at 1 1/2 months into veg?

12"-18".

ish.

[MadforBush]

First of all, thanks for the replies man

My plant food for vegging is currently Miracle Grow all purpose concentrated liquid plant food. The label states it has a ratio of 6-5-5. I was under the impression that the concentration should be much higher that that. (around 20-20-20) However it sounds to me like you are recommending the soluble equivelent. So i am only to assume the ratio is around the same, could you let me know what the ratio of the soluble one is please so i can make sure.

Also ill post more info on the plants stats as soon as i get a chance to test the PH. £40?? whatever happended to litmus paper :P

If you get a chance, could u let me know what info you need to diagnose the droopy leaf prob, and ill get it for you, thanks.

[curbendurben]

Quote*
Was hoping someone in the UK could recommend me a brand of PH tester thats pretty cheap (im talking around the £20 region). And maybe recommend some good vegging + flowering nutes. As im going to my local hydro store tommorow to pick up some supplies.

i use General Hydroponics pH test kit around £4.49 but hoping to upgrade
to a digital meter when i get some spare coin.
I use a three part nute system from General hydroponics MIRCO,FLORA,BLOOM that way you'll have more control over your feeding program,they can be used in soil grows you just mix half the strength, but it tells you this on the lable.

Quotes
Someone let me know please, also what height roughly should my babies be at 1 1/2 months into veg?

my plants at that age were roughly 14 - 16" high but it depends on the strain you have, i had S.A.G.E which is mostly sativa The name says it all: "Sativa Afghani Genetic Equilibrium", a well balanced Haze crossed with a robust Indica that produces a power packed plant with over 20% THC, yummy!!
Genetics: mostly sativa
Flowering time: 70–77 days
Yield per m2: 300-350 grams
Height: 120-140 cm

i'm no expert but i have had 100% success rate and never had a male plant yet!!!
when i buy seeds i Germinate them all at once let them grow after 2weeks i pull all weak plants out leaving 4 good plants, after 2more weeks i get rid the weak plants again leaving me 2 plants left i let these grow for 4 weeks then take cuttings (clones) 4 off each plants i wait a week and a half or so give them time to establish there root system take 1 clone from each plant then flower them until they show there sex once i know what sex there are i get rid of the test clones. let the other clones grow until they are about 12" high then put them in into the flowering room this way i have a contsent rotation of shizzle to smoke
i know it seems abit long winded but this way i know i have a super female mother plant with clones and i take cuttings every month and half or so giving me ture female genetics of my favourite plant.

NO CURE FOR BAD GENETICES
when all else fails you may have to face the fact that you are dealing with a bad seed!!
hope this helps dude!!

[Rabiez]

Originally Posted by MadforBush

First of all, thanks for the replies man

No worries.

My plant food for vegging is currently Miracle Grow all purpose concentrated liquid plant food. The label states it has a ratio of 6-5-5. I was under the impression that the concentration should be much higher that that. (around 20-20-20)

Aaah, but it's not a concentration, it's a ratio.

Which means that 20-20-20 is exactly the same as 2-2-2 or 1-1-1 or even 5-5-5, which is very close to your MG 6-5-5.

Geddit?

However it sounds to me like you are recommending the soluble equivelent.

Nope...

So i am only to assume the ratio is around the same,

Nope...

could you let me know what the ratio of the soluble one is please so i can make sure.

Yup.

Miracle-Gro All purpose soluble plant food: NPK 24-8-16

Which as we now know, is equivalent to 12-4-8, 6-2-4, 3-1-2, or even 240-80-160

Fert manufacturers stick big numbers on their product for £obvious£ reasons.

Also ill post more info on the plants stats as soon as i get a chance to test the PH. £40?? whatever happended to litmus paper :P

It's an indicator, and is better than nothing, as you'll be able keep your plant alive by keeping pH vaguely in range. However, in experienced hands, a calibrated digital pH pen can make a world of difference to the final yield.

If you get a chance, could u let me know what info you need to diagnose the droopy leaf prob, and ill get it for you, thanks.

Yeah, I didn't really think about that sentence too much when I wrote it, did I?

Here's the standard list:
http://forum.grasscity.com/sick-plan...questions.html


Hope you don't mind me replying to this too...

Originally Posted by MadforBush

I havent measured PH of either the soil, or the water. Ever. It is one of those things that i have pretended like i havent read about even though i know the ideal range is between 6.5 - 7.

Hehe. Little on the high side for my (6.3-6.8) liking, but you're funny so I'll let you off.

So im gonna invest in a tester kit, Root lock is another problem that im pretending doesnt exist. Simply because i dont have the equipment to compensate for enormous pots. So im adopting, a cross that bridge when i come to it policy. However, i think the bridge may be approaching.

Right. I'm confused by this whole paragraph, as I'm not sure what 'root lock' is.

At this size however i simply refuse to belive that 1 gallon pots are too small,

Ahh! I see what's going on here, you're trying to confuse me with a hybrid of pH lock and rootbound. I'd agree that those pots should be fine for ages yet judging by the size of the plants, and it's an easy fix if it does become a problem.

i have had house plants over twice this size in the pots i am growing these in, and they have remained healthy for ages. I will probably have to upgrade before i flower in a months time but still.

Agreed.

So Lack of nutrients doesnt cause drooping leaves?

Nope. It causes colour changes and eventually the plant will start dropping leaves from the bottom up.

If not its either PH or rootlock, and i dont think its rootlock just yet.

Sadly, neither causes drooping leaves.

One way or another, the plant is either getting too much water, or not enough, and I'd be inclined to lean toward the latter.

Tell us in detail about your watering regime and precedures when you fill in the list from the above link.

Cheers.

[MadforBush]

Ok, so heres the list, ill tell you what i can, then fill in the gaps after i get a PH tester, i sure as hell aint spending a lot of money on the PH testing kit, as the missus is already riding my ass about the electric bill LOL.

What type of medium; soil or hydro?
Soil

What brand and type of soil?
John Innes Organic Soil based Compost. Indoors or outdoors?
Indoors

What strain?
Heard from the dude who gave me the seeds its called Californian Orange, but dont take it for gospel

How old are the plants?
Approx 6 weeks from sprouting

What type of lights and how many watts?
CFL - 280 watts 5 bulbs (1 large 4 smaller)

How far from the lights?
About 2-4 inches depending on the height of the plant.

What, how much and when was it fed? NPK?
Has had VERY dilluted amounts of Miracle Grow All purpose concentrated liquid plant food. Was watered every 2-3 days as soil seems constantly bone dry (evern 2-3 inches down) However as of 8th sep, increased dosage but reduced frequency to once every 5 days or so.

What is the medium/runoff pH?
TBA

What are the temps and humidity in the room?
Humidity, no idea. Temp runs at about 65 when the lights are on, however this is a attic grow, therefore insulation is poor so i would imagine temp drops to around 45 (light schedule is 20/4).

What size pots?
1 Gallon currently, upgrading to 3 @ flower.

Any bugs? Look real close.
Spiders, however i dont believe they are of the spider mite variety

Any other pertinent info?
Only that the grow medium was changed from miracle grow time release nightmare compost to the above around 2 1/2 weeks ago. Plants seem to have recovered from the transplant and change of medium.

[MadforBush]

Oh and by rootlock i meant rootbound

Found this while scrounging for bargains on the tinterweb, what do you think? now lets face it it aint gonna be the most accurate or most precisely callibrated piece of horticutural apparatus, but it might be enough?

http://www.eurocosm.com/Application/...g-kits-1GB.asp#

its the first item on that page by the way :P

[Rduffy123]

i think its being overferted. Too green.

[MadforBush]

Originally Posted by Rduffy123

i think its being overferted. Too green.

But i thought that overferted plants had a tendancy to show nutrient burn? this plant is spotless, you cant see that from the bad quality images. But it doesnt have a mark on it, looks really vibrant with no discolouration to be seen. It just seems to me like it doesnt have the strength to hold its own foliage up.

I read somewhere that if a plant is getting sufficient light it stops reaching for the light and sorta lets the leaves flop down as it doesnt have to fight for photosynthesis. Now i immediatly dissmissed this as bollox, but i dunno, im a growing noob after all. Plus ive seen some successful outdoor grows with the same sorta thing, huge plants but the foliage is wrapped around the stem...sounds weird i know, anyway lemme know your thoughts. checked on her today and we still have the same prob

[Rabiez]

Originally Posted by MadforBush

Any other pertinent info?
Only that the grow medium was changed from miracle grow time release nightmare compost to the above around 2 1/2 weeks ago. Plants seem to have recovered from the transplant and change of medium.

Eww. Well that explains the 'coconut palm' look of the thing, at least.

Originally Posted by MadforBush

Found this while scrounging for bargains on the tinterweb, what do you think? now lets face it it aint gonna be the most accurate or most precisely callibrated piece of horticutural apparatus, but it might be enough?

http://www.eurocosm.com/Application/...-kits-1GB.asp#

its the first item on that page by the way :P

Notoriously unreliable, but better than nothing. Probably.

Originally Posted by MadforBush

But i thought that overferted plants had a tendancy to show nutrient burn?

Correct.

I read somewhere that if a plant is getting sufficient light it stops reaching for the light and sorta lets the leaves flop down as it doesnt have to fight for photosynthesis. Now i immediatly dissmissed this as bollox, but i dunno, im a growing noob after all.

I'd be inclined to agree with you. If that was the case, we'd never see light burn, or plants growing into bulbs, which often happens.

If you watch MJ (and many other plants) grow on a time lapse video, you'll see that they elevate and drop their leaves in cycles, with a growth surge during the period of elevation.

Hennyway, on to juicy bit...

Was watered every 2-3 days as soil seems constantly bone dry (evern 2-3 inches down) However as of 8th sep, increased dosage but reduced frequency to once every 5 days or so.

Roughly how much water every 5 days, and how do you judge when it's had enough?

[smokeandmirrors]

a ph pen from ebay costs £12 inc P+P

I have one and they work perfectly - i've even tested it against a commercial pen costing ten times as much and it's bang on

looking at your plants it looks like an H2O problem - probably too much water as the plants with too much water will droop their leaves downwards which helps them create more surface area to expel excess water

if it was a lack of water the leaves would curl inwards to stop water escaping from the leaves

if it was a nute problem then you'd have colouration issues and spots

I agree - a 1 gallon container is enough at this stage so it's not root bound

upping the light or reducing the watering should help

good luck

[MadforBush]

Right fellas, Came back from a four day holiday yesterday to find that my three biggest girls are wilted, drooping to the point that they look like they are dying. So basically im a little distraught, still being new to this im unsure what the problem is. If anyone has any suggestions about the problem let me know please. Im going to try flushing what was my biggest because it looks fuckin awful.

Anyway heres pics, any help would be appreciated, if you need more info let me know (buying a PH pen from my local hydro store today provided its not tooooo expensive)

[Rabiez]

Mate, get them watered now!

You didn't really answer my last question, so I'm just gonna tell you what you should be doing.

Those pots in my estimation should require something in the region of 1.5-2 litres of water to be absorbed by bone dry soil. I'm betting you're giving them nowhere near that amount.

What I believe is happening (and has been from the start) is that your soil is not being given enough time to absorb the water. Many soils almost repel water once they become too dry, and will allow any small amount of water applied to just run straight out of the bottom, which fools you into thinking that you've applied enough.

Water slowly, and allow the run-off to FILL the catch tray that the pot sits in. Now go away, and return in an hour. The level of the water in the catch tray will almost certainly have decreased. If so, add more water to the top of the soil until the catch tray fills again. Repeat until the level in the catch tray doesn't change after an hour, at which point you should empty the catch tray, safe in the knowledge that your soil has absorbed all the water it can hold.

Now pick that pot up, and get some feel for the weight of your fully watered plant (maybe a bathroom scale will help) so you'll know if you've watered enough in future.

Your plants should recover within a few hours, but don't delay my friend, get up there with your bucket.

Let us know how it goes.