help i think my young plants are getting sick

I grow my plants in my closet with a pretty balanced temperature of 75 degrees. I had eleven little plants, they were about 4-5 inches high, and one died the other night. I have also noticed that many of the other plants are starting to look a bit ill - but only about half of the sprouts i have are beginning to take on this appearance, with five looking healthy, and the others looking ill.

The plants that look ill have a pH of about 7-7.1 while the plants that appear to be healthy have an average pH of 6.9. I tested the soil of the dead sprout with a kit that tested not only the pH, but the nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil. The nitrogen content registered as very high, while the phosphorus content registered as medium to low. The ill-looking plants have exhibited yellow leaves, sometimes turned upwards, slightly weak stems, and one sprout has yellow curled leaves with white tips. Some of the healthier plants have shown signs that their leaf color is lightening, althought they don't appear ill.

I have two solutions at my reach, one solution of ammonium sulfate that has a nitrogen content of 21, and a 20-20-20 fertilizer. Is my pH too high, and causing the sprouts to not receive nutrients? Or is my phosphorus too low, but adding the ammonium sulfate solution or fertilizer could cause the plants to have too much nitrogen? Or is there something else I should do?

whats the litghting? , soil , watering schedule and amount, any ferts yet ?

You have far, far, far too much concern about nutrients and chemicals
I wouldnt add anything yet, these are sprouts and your talking all kinds of chemicals already I fear this is your problem.

I agree Ganja. Baby sprouts subject to high levels of N will get over fertilized. I don't think a ph of 7.1 will lock it out even though that is the highest you would want to go. Maybe since the ph was so high it was more vulnerable to the excess N which was the-straw-that-broke-the-camels-back.

Yeah, I just transplanted them and i bought soil that has phosphorus in it. I lost a couple, but after the transplant a lot of them look better. Maybe they just needed new dirt.

listen to whats been said - soil growers should not add ferts to new soil for atleast 2-3 weeks. Get your lights nice and close 2-3" atmost if your using cfl or fluoro and 2' if your using a HID light.

listen to whats been said - soil growers should not add ferts to new soil for atleast 2-3 weeks. Get your lights nice and close 2-3" atmost if your using cfl or fluoro and 2' if your using a HID light.

what about nutes likes fish emulsion and blood meal? I ask only because I gave mine some fish emulsion this time around during their first 5 days since sprouting and they didn't show any signs of overferting (that I know about, which is not much at all).

youngandstupid
organic ferts or otherwise , sprouts need nothing, just the soil they are in, you were fortunate...

I agree,
Organics or chemicals, NO FERTS FOR FIRST 3 WEEKS. Why is this difficult? The soil without any ferts and the cotyledon leaves should have enough food for about three weeks of baby life. The single most common error that noobees (including myself at the time) make is OVER caring for our plants.

Hi, I have plants 1 week old growing in just BioBizz Coco mix and I am new grower, my questions are:
1.Does this growing medium contain any nutrient within it or is it totaly nuetral?
2.Does it require any additive such as perlite and/or vermiculite for moisture and airation or is it ok used just on it's own?
3.If there is NO nutrient present in Coco mix should I feed plants 1 week old or when?or do the plants just support themselves for first week or 2?
4.Can anyone reccomend a good organic nutrient for BioBizz Coco mix, Grow & Bloom types?
Sorry for all the questions but am a bit confused when folks say don't feed for first 1-2 weeks, does that only apply if you're using a soil mix/medium that already has nutrients or is it that the plant simply has its own nutrients for early growth:confused:
Thanks in advance of any replys [Please]
Sam sam

sam-sam

do not use soil with fertilizer additives & do not feed sprouts ANYTHING

I dont use these products (BioBizz Coco mix) read the labels

I find all soil mixes are lacking in perilite
I only use organics (bat guano & Alaskan Fish Emulsion) so you will need other recomendations from others about chemicals

sam,
As ganja said, don't use soil with nutrients added in it either. I did a search on your soil. Is this the one on the top of the page? http://www.u-grow.co...ng_Mediums.html If so, it looks ok. Just make sure there is nothing on the bag listing numbers in NPK form. Also, the soil says the ph should be from 5-6. This is too low for weed grown in soil. It should be between 6.3-6.8. If I were you, I would invest in a soil ph tester or some ph test strips maybe both. Then check if the soil has an NPK number and if so, do NOT use it.

yeah m8 that is the right stuff coco mix bio bizz,

ive been reading up about a nutrient called monkey juice specially developed for using in coco meduims its by a company called advanced nutrients it says its good for all coco based meduims or has any one heard of this juice :)i dont want to waste anymore money on nutrients ,and want to go organic with my nutrient choice any ideas ,ps thanks for the advice .

sam-sam

pay attention m8!!

you say the plants are a week old "THEY ARE SPROUTS LEAVE THEM ALONE"

I already posted you need nothing for your sprouts yet your still looking for more fert choices

and I did give you a couple options already in the organic ferts

trying not to sound like im picking on you, but start your own thread, you have highjacked this dudes problem thread, when we come back to see your responses we have to search around to see where you have stashed your posted questions & responses

Thanks very much ganja for your advice ,im just looking ahead as far as nutrients are concerned ,yes you have givin me some good advice ,i will not feed my week old plants now on the strenth of your advice ,and im sorry for screwing this guys thread up ,im new to this forum and you guys will have to forgive me for that ,next time i will start my own thread .
Sorry again

Hey man,
Don't worry about it Sam. Start your own thread with all the details on your grow, get some pictures up on there and send me a link. I would be happy to help you out further as I am sure Ganja would as well.