Please Help

**Chronald** · 01-29-2007, 03:07 AM

Hi. Before I start, I am a noob and therefore lack experience! So if anyone can help with suggestions that would be greatly appreciated!

I have been having a problem with my 2 and 1/2 week old plants - they have just recently started to form spots on the lower set of leaves, and they are turning yellowish and curling up. Ive read a similar post my "ILOVEMARYJANE", but could not find the answer I am looking for.
I am using a "grow box" set up, with allumium foil lining it, and a 6 light bathroom vanity fixture with 23watt CFLS 6500K spectrum X4 and 23watt 4100K spectrum X2. My box is approx 5 feet long, by 2 and 1/2 feet wide by about 6 feet tall. There are 5 plants in the set up. The light fixture is on ropes so it can be adjusted to be about 6-8 inches above the plants.
The soil I am using is potting soil, and right now I am using 13-4-5 plant spikes as the fertilizer. I started off using reg. tap water that sat for a day before I used it and now have switched to bottled water to see if it makes a difference.
I have read quite a bit on spotting of leaves and leaves turning yellow, and most likely the cause is an unstable PH balance, or nutrient deficiency. Ive tested the ph balance of the soil and it is around 7. I know this could be a little lower, but I have read that 7 is neutral and should be ok. I have tested the nutrients and the soil is medium in Nitrogen, low in Phosorous, and very low in Potash. I have a hydrometer to measure the humidity, which is around 40% - I know this is dry and am thinking about getting a humidifier? to raise this level. I have a fan in the box to move air around, but not a proper exhaust system to put air in and move it out since I think this will be very hard to do and don't want to spend more money on the set up.
For this reason, I have tried created co2 but using slow drips of vinigar into baking soda.
Am I doing something wrong? Any ideas what I can try to make my plants look healthy once again? They started off very well and now the lower leaves are starting to curl and they dont seem to be growing as fast as they were?
Thanks very much,

**Chronald** · 01-29-2007, 03:10 AM

Oh yeah and one more thing. I have had lights on the entire time. Am thinking about switching to 20 on and 4 off. COuld this have something to do with it? I also should mention that I have been watering fairly carefully, when the soil is dry in the top couple inches.

**btt** · 01-29-2007, 05:29 AM

Sounds to me like nute burn. I have never used those spikes which you speak of, but it seems it would be hard to give them a weak dosage especially since they are so young. You should also switch to 18/6 and with those CFL's you can keep them about 1" off from the plant. The closer the better.

**MRbudsmoker** · 01-29-2007, 05:36 AM

get some exaust fans in there dude. pc ones are fine. very cheap and can run off a 12v phone charger.i'd say maybe the gases in your grow box needs to be pushed out allowin new air in.i've had problems if u look at my threads n pics etc... don't raise the humidity to much. your cause mould and fungus.othere than this i'd also agree with btt.
peace

**farmer.joe** · 01-29-2007, 01:56 PM

yeah man i noticed that as the plants got bigger so did the moisture in the air so should be ok, maybe put a bucket of water in there.
also nutes at 2 weeks! the soil should have enough for the first 3 weeks then start slowly ,and get new air from looking at them alot=) i dont think these nute block things are good as you have no control over exactly how much your baby is getting.

**Chronald** · 01-29-2007, 09:57 PM

Thanks guys. I went out and bought new soil and changed it with the old soil - this way hopefully it is relatively nutrient free (at least from the spikes) to see if it makes a difference (although the soil contains plant food, so Im not sure what the effect will be) - I have also lowered the lights closer to the plants. Have not set up an exhaust system yet, but am thinking about it and am wondering if I ventilated out of the box into the room, then into the box from the room if this will be sufficient? Its a rented house and I dont want to drill a huge hole in the ceiling to vent to the attic.
Was thinking about drilling a hole the size of a small PC fan and sending air out at the top and then a hole in a side that sends air in?
Any suggestions? The plants seem to be getting worse (ie. yellow spots growing and taking over the first sprouting leaves (they are all yellow and falling off) and the first set of spiked leaves are yellowing and curling and drying out. The top sets of leaves still look very green but it is starting there as well at the tips of the leaves.
Just changed the soil though, so I guess all I can do is wait
Do you think my exhaust system will work/help at all?
thanks again
cheers

**farmer.joe** · 01-30-2007, 02:29 AM

i heard pc fans are good (kinnda like the A-team for growers) new soil will not need nutes for a couple of weeks( i use john innes no2, seems to be real good with good drainage) and also seedling use energy from there first set of leaves(non spikey) when there gone (or look like theyre not in use)start with the nutes slowly, if the wee leaves are good then wait.
to do with air circulation. its not just about air movement and smell you really do need fresh air, At night or on a stormy day i open a few windows so as to cause a vacume in the house, within minutes we have fresh air and no complaints of outside neighbour's( i live in a flat). got any pics?
also looking at them alot and being around them really does help! i think mine would be dead if i wasnt in there breathing on them and singing and opening doors. for me I think this is just as important as other things and the more you are in and about them the more you notice going wrong/ right and the more chance youve got to save them.
i noticed with these plants everything takes a couple of days to take affect so if they need nutes give em some and wait! for a couple of days to be sure you are not o- d -ing them. then carry on if needed

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**videoman40** · 01-30-2007, 02:44 PM

Holy cow dude! First your humidity is not the problem, forget about that. You need to get air flowing! Next thing, replacing the dirt was a pretty radical move! Taking out the spikes would have been better, and less stress too. I think at this point all you can do is wait to see if they survive the transplant.
Drill the hole into the ceiling, you can always patch it later, easy enough.
This is just my simple opinion though, good luck.