Pistils/leaves turning brown?

Chalcy · #1 09-17-2006, 10:18 AM

Hi, everybody.

This is my first post and my first grow. I'm not sure whether I have a problem or not.

First, I have three plants, all female all growing outdoors. All are in early bud. I saw the first white hairs around September 1. The hairs don't seem to stay white, though. They turn brown, which I thought wasn't supposed to happen until the final stages before harvest.

The buds don't seem to be dying. They're continuing to grow and I'm feeding them with Miracle-Grow bloom formula. They just don't stay white. Is this normal?

Also in the last couple of days, a few small leaves on one plant have turned brown on the tips. Not a dry brown. The leaves actually seem to turn to mush. It's always the small leaves. In all but one case the mush was on the leaf tip. I worry because in the one exeption, where the whole leaf turned, the mushy brown started right next to a bud.

The other two plants, which are in a different location, aren't affected by the mush problem, but their buds also have brown on them.

Can any of you more experienced people tell me what's happening and what I can do?

Thank you!

Sublime757 · #2 09-17-2006, 10:35 AM

is there any way you could get a picture? i could tell you a lot more if i can see it

Chalcy · #3 09-17-2006, 10:59 AM

Thank you, Sublime757. I'll try to get pix, but my digital camera is a POS and won't give me any closeup resolution so I'm not sure what I can do.

Reading up on nutrient deficiencies and pests, the only thing I can come up with (for the leaf problem not the buds) is a copper deficiency. The Marijuana Grower's Guide says to treat that with fungicide, but it also says a Cu deficiency is rare.

The mush sure looks like it could be a fungus, though.

Chalcy · #4 09-17-2006, 11:47 AM

I've been reading some more and I have a guess.

I found this quote at Cannabis Health Issue #4 May/june 2003

"Excess phosphorus could cause micro nutrient deficiencies in zinc and iron. Cannabis uses phosphorus for photosynthesis, respiration, storing carbohydrates, cell division, it is also involved in energy transportation (ATP, ADP), nucleic acids, enzymes and phospholipids that are important for membrane structure. Phosphorus helps build strong roots, is vital for seed and flower production. Highest levels of phosphorus are used during germination, seedling growth and flowering. However, that does not mean that cannabis is a phosphorus hog. It is not. It consumes more potassium and nitrogen and magnesium than phosphorus. It will use more phosphorus in flowering than in its vegetative (growth) stage. Also, excess phosphorus can cause a decrease in uptake of zinc, iron and copper, which will start a chain reaction of other macro and micro nutrient deficiencies."

I'm thinking maybe the Miracle-Grow bloom formula, which is loaded with phosphorus, could be causing a micronutrient deficiency.

Just in case, I'm going to flush the soil and back off on the fertilizer. I already washed the leaves off. But any other advice will still be a big help. I'm shooting in the dark.

My own pictures didn't work out. The closest picture I found online to my problem is this: http://www.marijuana-seeds.net/Thanks/P_Decifient_G.jpg

But that says P deficiency. It also says the leaves would be brittle. My leaves that are affected more like dissolve between my fingers.

Sublime757 · #5 09-17-2006, 07:01 PM

definitely flush the soil and id stop using the miracle grow. miracle grow is a company that i would never use for a cannibus. go ahead and pull off all the effected leaves to avoid this spreading

Garden Knowm · #6 09-17-2006, 11:24 PM

Are you PH ing your water?
Gardners can be split into 2 camps.. those that use MG and those that hate it.. LOL

If you do use it.. make sure you PH your water to 6.5 - 7.0 and start with a heavly diluted formula... you DON'T want to burn your PLANTS..

iloveyou

Chalcy · #7 09-18-2006, 06:16 AM

Okay, I flushed the soil, replaced the top inch or so, pulled the affected leaves, and took a vow to stop trying to help my plants with so much MG.

The PH of my water is around 6.8, so I'm okay there. Now I just need to watch and see what develops.

I'm still confused about why my white buds aren't staying white, but maybe that's related to the leaf problem?

I was going to ask why not to use MG, but I see somebody else just started a thread about that, so I'll just watch the discussion there.

Thank you!

Chalcy · #8 09-18-2006, 05:35 PM

Keeping an eye on these plants, I realized that at least some of the browning in the pistils was because they were turning into the same gray-brown fungal-looking mush as those small leaves. Damn damn damn damn.

So besides everything I already did, I sprayed the worst-off plant with some dilute copper fungicide. Pray for my sick babies, okay?

Spraying the copper also got me wondering about all the crap I've been putting on these plants. I mean, I just sprayed heavy metal on something I plan to be smoking two months from now. And I don't know what exactly is in all that Miracle Grow I've been using, either.

I know plants grow in dirt and all, so it's not like they're sterile. I know you stop fertilizing a week or so before harvest to avoid the worst of the gunk. But still, am I making these plants toxic by treating them with fertilizers and fungicides?

Garden Knowm · #9 09-19-2006, 10:08 PM

You Need A Sulfur Burner...
Pest Control > Sulfur Vaporizer

potroast · #10 09-20-2006, 01:37 PM

Oh yeah, a sulfur burner for your outdoor plants. You'll really stink up your neighborhood!

The fungus that you are seeing will destroy your buds. Spraying with a fungicide may help some, but it may be too late.

Spraying your buds with anything is risky, it may affect the taste. In the future, maybe try a natural fungicide, like garlic. I've found that it doesn't affect the taste at all.