Hi all, I am currently in the midst of my first micro grow. I built a purpose-made light cabinet with a veg room and flower room, both using 130watt CFLs (one blue spec, one red spec). The flower room includes a ScrOG. I am growing a Silver Kush strain from Reserva Privada Seeds. My lady began life in the veg room (obviously) was topped twice and then moved into the flower room when at the right height to fit under the ScrOG. She was under the ScrOG for a while at 18/6 to fill out the canopy and up until this point she was happy and healthy. I recently changed the light cycle to 12/12 in order to facilitate flowering, did a light trim of some fan leaves that were blocking light to potential bud sites and gave her a feed of some organic nutrients - Rock Dust, Seasol, Dolomite lime, just some gentle stuff in the top of the pot. Within a couple of days the top, newer growth started to turn a lighter green and curl up at the ends. Now it seems as if some of the tips are starting to burn/die. Please see pics. Any advice much appreciated!!
What do you have her sitting on? It really looks water logged to me. I would get plenty fans around her, get her to drinking plenty every day or 2. Get some wind on the pot holes too, to facilitate the drying out process. It also looks a bit like N burn too, but water logged and N burn resemble each other. It doesn't look as though it is too much to grow out of. When you add the fans be sure it isn't blowing so hard it shreds the leaves but you do want them flapping a bit like on a windy day. Also put the CFL's close. When I use CFL bulbs I put them within inches and move them back and add more as the plant grows larger. This also facilitates water usage. You may find someone you would rather talk to or whose advise you prefer, but I will be checking in on and off today if you have questions. I will help if I can.
Thanks guys, will get to work with some fans. I thought it may have been a phosphorus deficiency? Due to the change to flowering. Does that sound likely? Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
Yaaa.. I myself wouldn't say it's a phosphorus problem, but then again, I don't have much experience. Do you have more pictures? Has it gotten worse? - Saki
Thanks for your feedback! It is much appreciated. I have set up my fan, and included a grow lush heat shield, which I have for my warmer lights. This is not to protect the plant from heat, as I am only using 130watt CFLs, it is more to give the plant a bit of shade/relief as I read that indoor plants (and particularly since mine is a microgrow in a 20"w x 20"w x 40"h cab) can suffer from overlighting). These are my updated photos: First pic I removed some leaves from the box/light to give a better indication of the colour change. The top leaves are healthy and picked from under the top canopy. The bottom leaves are the younger/new growth from the canopy.
Why did you apply lime as a nutrient?? Lime is a pH reducer... Rock dust is not a nutrient either well at least not one that will feed your plant if applied as a topdress. Rock dust serves as an anchor for beneficial fungi. It will over many years breakdown even more than dust and at that point the micronutrients will be more available. Looks like that Seasol is some good stuff... did you pH it after mixing and applying? Most kelp ferts I know of are a little acidic so that with the lime could have caused your soil biology to go out of whack
Phosphorous in is a mobile nutrient. The term 'mobile' describes how it is distributed throughout the plant. Since it is mobile, when there is a shortage the plant moves it from the older leaves to the newer growth. Therefore you should notice these signs in older growth first, which it doesn't look like in your case. You should have premixed your soil with these ingredients rather than top dress IMO, and the lime should never be used like this. The rock dust is really primarily beneficial when in direct contact with the roots. IMO you've invited too much product into this grow. What was the feeding schedule up to this point, and at what strength? If this was a premixed soil, what were the ingredients?
Okay, so my set up is very basic, all organic and I go easy on the nutrients at all times. I started with a 30cm pot. 50% Veg soil for tomatoes etc, 50% Chicken manure, with a few tablespoons of Ozmocote Veg Slow Release organic fertilizer as instructed on the bucket. And Perlite. I fed the plant with Seasol and Power Feed every 1-2 weeks and just some light watering in between. Once I crossed it to the Flower room, I topped it up with another tablespoon of Ozmocote and this is when I sprinkled some Dolomite Lime and Rockdust on top of the potted soil. I stress it was not more than a small handful of the Lime and maybe 2 handfuls of Rockdust. This I watered in with my usual Seasol & Power Feed, but I added a couple of pinches of organic, liquid soluble Potash. Again, I only fed the plant every 1-2 weeks and probably only once more since the initial move to the Flower room. My girl was growing beautifully until I changed the light cycle to 12/12, about a week later I began to notice the curling of the leaves.
I got the same problem.. what should I add to make the new leaves greener? I'm using soil, no feeding.. got a few bags of organic enhancer. I also got some chem-nutes and CalMag.
I did a soil ph test and it came out at a respectable 6. So, I don't think the soil is out of wack, but it definitely wasn't the Lime that caused the issue. At this point I'm leaning towards a combination of stress due to a sudden change in light cycle and overwatering. For the moment, I'm going to wait and let her settle and see how she goes as I'm fairly certain it is not getting worse. Thanks for everyone's advice! Anymore conversation or advice is very much welcome! Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
If you're overwatering and using Osmocote you're overfeeding too. The time release is dependent on water breaking down the pearls. I don't use it on my plants personally. 50% Chicken manure sounds kind of high to me, maybe others will disagree. I'd let em dry out and see what happens IMO.