First Grow: Phosphorus, Calcium, or Potassium?

What's the problem?

  • Shifts in pH

    Votes: 1 50.0%
  • Not enough nutrient

    Votes: 1 50.0%
  • Too much nutrient

    Votes: 1 50.0%
  • Not enough sub-nutrient

    Votes: 1 50.0%
  • Not enough Phosphorus

    Votes: 1 50.0%
  • Too much Phosphorus

    Votes: 1 50.0%
  • Not enough Calcium

    Votes: 2 100.0%
  • Too much Calcium

    Votes: 1 50.0%
  • Not enough Potatssium

    Votes: 1 50.0%
  • Too much Potassium

    Votes: 1 50.0%

  • Total voters
    2

JJohan

New Member
My first grow! I'm here to learn and have tried to use the resources identified in other threads to no success (yet, but I'm still looking!) so I'm hoping someone can help me out a bit as I get on my feet. I've posted photos from two different plants and strains exhibiting somewhat similar issues: yellowing at the tips of some of my bigger leaves that are situated in the middle of my plants (not the very bottom or very top, new leaves) and some spotting at especially the tips (first photo is an odd tinted green from the light coloration, not the plant, other photos are more accurately tinted):
IMG_20170920_193057.jpg
IMG_20170920_192911.jpg
The new growth especially at the top is a lighter shade of green, as if it's lacking a bit of Nitrogen. Some stems are purpling as if it's phosphorus, especially on the Crystal strain. In the crystal, with darker purple stems, I also see more red intravenous markings on the leaf, the leaves "pray" upward as if a nutrient burn is present, and they're dry:
IMG_20170920_193116.jpg IMG_20170920_193127.jpg
IMG_20170920_062309.jpg

In the trainwreck I see more small, brown spots that look like calcium deficiency. The leaf markings on the Trainwreck are not red or as big (they don't completely cover from one vein to the other, as they do in the crystal) but are instead smaller brown spots. I've given them some extra CalMag solution and a bit more of the Advanced Hydroponics Micro solution yesterday in the hopes it would improve. Photos below.

Problem for about two days now.
Gorilla 5X5
5-gallon bucket deep water culture with 10" aqualung air diffuser + air pump
One strain trainwreck, one is Crystal (both from ILGM)
Started from seeds
Vegetative stage. About 4 weeks since planting seed (planted in a plug)
They've been in the hydroponic system for about 3.5 weeks
Tallest plant is approx. 30"
Expanded clay medium
Water temperature is 76 degrees
Roots are white and clean
Using Advanced Hydroponics 3-stage (brown, green, and pink), and Cal-Mag
Per 4 gallons I'm using approx 3/4 cup bloom, 1/3 cup micro, 1/3 cup flora
Feeding weekly, washing down substrate daily, changing water weekly
Mixing in order of: micro, flora, then bloom
PPM between 800-900
PH is 6 but has been drifting down toward 5.4 by day's end
Testing using electronic meters, calibrated in solution and calibrated weekly
Watered last 5 days ago
Changed nutrients 5 days ago
Light is Hydroponic Lighting Group HLG 550, 1265 PPF, new bulbs
Light is 24'' from canopy
Humidity is 45% today
Temperature is 78 degrees today, controlled within +/- 2 degrees
400 CFM air flow, fresh air from outside tent pulled through and scrubbed on the inside of tent before exhausting out the tent
Fans blowing indirectly on plants
Water is neither hard nor soft
Water is 60% RO, 40% tap (de-chlorinated 24 hours with air diffuser)
Tap water is 140PPM, RO is 5 PPM
Plants have been pruned lightly
No chemicals used
No pest infestations
 

JJohan

New Member
I suspect it's a different issue in each strain but awaiting replies. I tried to post photos of the respective strains in separate parts of the post to differentiate.

Thank you in advance, folks!
 

SPLFreak808

Well-Known Member
Take a good look at your nutrient ratios, then take a good look at this chart and use it as a base guideline.Screenshot_2017-09-20-15-50-30.png

Look what happens when the root zone accumulates too much phosphorus.CannabisPoster4000.jpg
 

JJohan

New Member
Thank you -- I was utilizing those guidelines and the person at my local hydroponic shop said he used a different ratio and to ignore using the FloraGrow altogether, which I did not do. I'll flush everything tomorrow, hit the ratio provided in the chart you posted, and see what happens next. Based on what you're suggesting, the plants are likely missing most the Micro solution and getting way too much of the bloom. I appreciate your help and I'll write back to update in either way. Warm regards,
 

SPLFreak808

Well-Known Member
Thank you -- I was utilizing those guidelines and the person at my local hydroponic shop said he used a different ratio and to ignore using the FloraGrow altogether, which I did not do. I'll flush everything tomorrow, hit the ratio provided in the chart you posted, and see what happens next. Based on what you're suggesting, the plants are likely missing most the Micro solution and getting way too much of the bloom. I appreciate your help and I'll write back to update in either way. Warm regards,
Pretty much yes, that's too much phosphorus for a mature plant in veg.

Im sure you could skip the floragro but you would need to replace it with the micro and alot more micro than bloom, Not a good way to run down a 3 part system with 2 bottles in dwc lol, once the plants start ticking in veg you'll be running back to the hydro shop even sooner and you'll be stuck with some extra shit.

If it were me i would use the chart and keep chasing the ppm untill i find a sweet spot
 
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