Towlie’s Experiments With AeroGarden

**towlie** · 10-27-2007, 09:38 AM

Hi all. I’m starting a grow journal at the suggestions of one of the moderators. I’m 3-weeks into an AeroGarden grow and things aren’t going so hot... Well not too bad... I’m just a little frustrated with what I think might be nute burn but I’m not entirely sure???

I’ve been using Fox-Farm Grow Big Hydro from the start (I know I should have used distilled water for the first 2-weeks… My bad.) The directions say 2-teaspoons/gallon, and I’ve been using1/4. I’ve also been using Cannazym root stuff as directed.

I’ve already removed two leaves due to bad burn, and it looks like two more are gonna die. It’s happened the same way both times. The tips develop small brown dots that get larger & spread. Then the tips ultimately curl up or down. The second tier (from the bottom) leaves are starting to developed tiny (pin hole size) brown dots too, so I know this shit is going to spread if I don’t figure it out.

At first I suspected nute burn, so I switched to distilled water... I’ve been in distilled water (6.0 PH) for 2-days and it still seems to be spreading? I’ve been using 17-Watt Ott-Lite ‘True Colors’ on each side for added light... however I stopped using them because I feared I might be sun-burning the plants. I was also spraying the leaves with carbonated water (no sugar) and I’ve stopped that as well because I just don’t know what’s causing the discoloration.

Another peculiar phenomena is that the leaves droop down to the point of touching the AeroGarden at the end of the 18/6 light cycle. At the start of the cycle, however, the leaves are several inches above the AeroGarden. These pics were taken at the start of the light cycle.

I’m stabbing in the dark here, and I don’t really know what the problem is. I was planning on using the AeroGarden for starting, my mother, and cloning only. I’d like to switch to a 20-gallon Rubbermaid Aeroponic system, but I’d like to get this thing healthy first. Any suggestions as to WTF I’m doing wrong would be greatly helpful.

**skunkushybrid** · 10-27-2007, 01:25 PM

Yes, it looks like nute burn... have you ever poured the feed over the plant? Even if it was youg, and some feed splashed against the leaves, it would grow like that. Although you have also overnuted slightly as can be seen from the leaf tips on the rest of the plant. Just pull off the offending leaf.

**towlie** · 10-27-2007, 01:38 PM

Thanks so much Skunkushybrid. Do I pull the leaves off now (there are two. One in the fore & one in the background), or are they still worthy of some photosynthesis??? I’ve never poured the feed over the plant.

**skunkushybrid** · 10-27-2007, 01:49 PM

Well it'd be best to leave them on... they seem to have soaked up the worse of the overnute.

Are you using a truncheon? Or EC meter?

**towlie** · 10-27-2007, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by skunkushybrid

Well it'd be best to leave them on... they seem to have soaked up the worse of the overnute.

Are you using a truncheon? Or EC meter?

Um. Didn't know what one was util I googled it. I have a PH meter... but I'm purchasing one online right now. Thanks again for all your help.

**Garden Knowm** · 10-28-2007, 08:12 PM

Hi TOWL

you can get a really cheap and effective GH pH tester (5$-20$) or you can invest $200 in a pH and ppm combo electric meter made by hana...

I recommend taking the hit and getting a good electric dual meter... it will last you forever and save you lots of headache and help insure the chronic

iloveyou

**towlie** · 11-03-2007, 12:01 PM

I noticed that the roots were getting ridiculously huge, so I transferred to my Rubbermaid system. The transfer set her back several days, but she seems to be recovering nicely. I’ve got it under a 400-watt HPS right now while I wait for my 250-watt CFL.

I still just have one successful plant, and one that might live or die. This is the start of week 4.

The leaves look a little droopy. They stand tall in the morning, but seem to spread out with the light. Does anyone think this is a problem???

**skunkushybrid** · 11-04-2007, 02:15 AM

I don't think its a problem... I have noted too, that in DWC during a dark period the plants leaves will droop.

Ther best for veg' is to not give a dark period. 24 hour light will provide you with a much bigger plant, quicker. The plant will also mature faster, meaning she'llbe ready to be placed into flower sooner.

The saving on electricity argument loses weight when you consider how much longer you are going to need to veg' the plant before you can put it into flower.

**F4t4LShot** · 11-04-2007, 08:46 AM

Stop spraying your plant. Thats whats causing that.

**towlie** · 11-04-2007, 08:47 AM

Thanks Skunk. I'm switching to 24-hr lights today. Also, I'm using FoxFarm 'Grow Big' and 'Cannazym.' Are there any other nutes that anyone recommends?

Thanks again.