Hi all, After doing a lot of research, I am stumped as to what could be the issue with my three plants... Any help would be very appreciated! Here's the grow info: Strains: 1x Mandala Hashberry, 1x Nirvana Northern Lights, 1x Random bagseed Grow Medium: 2/3 FFOF, 1/3 Perlite Containers: Bottom half of a cut-off party cup, roughly 6oz in volume Lighting: 24/0 schedule with 7x 23w 6500k and 3x 23w 2700k CFLs for 230w total Age: 7 days (Hashberry), 8 days (NL), 11 days (Bagseed) since sprouting Water/ferts: I water them when the cups get light, usually every 2-3 days. They were fed a very small dose of Big Bloom 3 days ago, other than that they have received pure distilled water. Temps/RH: Approx 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit, 40-50% RH Distance: Plants are kept approx 2-5 in. from the CFLs Symptoms: The Hashberry and Northern Lights both have very purple stems, slow growth (this is their 7th and 8th days respectively under 24/0 and are barely developing their second set of true leaves.. they leaves they do have are relatively small for their age). Both the HB and NL's newest growth is very purple, with only the very tips of the older growth appearing purple/discolored. They both look very similar to this photograph, notice the future set of leaves coming in at the center are more completely purple than the older growth (although I cannot take a picture of my plants at this exact time.. they are almost identical to this, except the cotyledons on my seedlings aren't as discolored): The bagseed does not show any purple growth, but the leaves on it are twisting. Again, I cannot take a picture of it, but it looks VERY similar to this: The odd thing is, the bagseed is showing different symptoms compared to the NL and HB. From the research I have done, signs point to a Phosphorus deficiency. However, FFOF has phosphorus in it. So, I thought must be locked out from pH or due to cold temperatures, right? Well, FFOF is pH adjusted to 6.3-6.8 range, and I have only been watering with distilled water. Just to be sure, I took a pH test of runoff (using phenol red and a pH testing kit for my pool) and also of the soil itself (using a Rapitest pH soil tester that I bought). Both showed the pH to be in the upper 6 range. I use storebought steamed distilled water to water my plants and in these pH tests. The temperature has maintained between 75 and 85 fahrenheit throughout the grow. It's pretty constant since the lights are on a 24/0 schedule, the only thing that changed was I took my carbon filter off to better the airflow which put it from a steady 85 to 75 fahrenheit. Sorry if I included too much - I figured the more info to help you guys understand the variables, the better. Any help is appreciated!
There is no P def here. The plants are too young to be showing that. But, the twisting and curling is from a Ph issue. I believe its cuz u fed the "BLOOM" nutes now.... I have to ask, what possesed u to do that ??? U must flush or replant. Get Ph to 6.3 - 6.8 Freak
Hey Freakbro1, The FoxFarms schedule (http://www.foxfarmfertilizer.com/FoxFarm-Soil-Schedule.pdf) suggests to use Big Bloom throughout the entire plant's life. The reason why is in the FAQ section on their website: As far as I understand, it's entirely safe (and suggested) to use it during this stage - it's not necessarily a "bloom" fertilizer as the name suggests. The only thing is that my pH tests showed that the pH was fine, so I don't understand why the plant is contorting like that. Thanks for the heads up though, I'll continue to investigate pH for them.
OK... But due to process of deduction, the nutes are the only thing that could have caused this Ph problem, unless the medium has timed-release nutes in it, which I highly doubt. Or, the water is off Ph. They are too young for nutes yet. Freak
Ahh, I see what you mean by deducing it was the Big Bloom. The water I'm using is just the shitty store brand ($0.89/gal), but it is "Steamed Distilled Water" so I'd assume distilled means distilled regardless and therefore pH neutral. The soil does not have time-release nutes in it, so you are right it cannot be that. Thank you for the heads up and taking the time to read/help, +rep for the sound advice. Anyone else - if you have any input or anything to add I'm going to keep checking back so feel free to chime in! Thanks
Thanx man. Ya, I guess I should also mention that sometimes seedlings find FFOF a little too "hot" or rich, and they'll do what youre seeing. The purpling is normal at seedling stage. The purpling is the Anthocyanins (purple pigments) at work. Later on, if the purpling occurs, its one of 3 thingz: a - genetics b - P def; or c - cool growing environment Keep up the good work !!! Freak
Thanks.. I think I am going to pick up some dolomite lime to put into my mix of soil for when I transplant coming up - from what I've heard it's a great additive and people have had success using it to help balance out pH with FFOF soil. Hopefully this will take care of the twisting in that plant, and help prevent any pH issues in the future.