First time grow, plant issues and advice please.

First time growing. On a cheap budget. Here are some pics of my setup and of the plants. I am curious about finding out what issues they are having and what I need to do to remedy it before it gets worse. 3 Mendocino purps and 1 Durban poison. This is my set up. Its a storage tote with 2x 64quarts miracle grow moisture control potting soil... I know some people say miracle grow is ok others say different. That's not what I need advice on. I'm using a 4' T5HO 6400k lights. and just random lights for help in the side. And a small fan to help strengthen the stocks. this is one of the issue plants. Mendocino purp. The yellow on the side is just from the light. Its not turning yellow. But the curling leaf and what looks like a white spot. These leafs where the farthest from the light. They are a darker green. another Mendocino purp.. notice the leaf starting to drop at the tip also darker green. And also farthest from the light. third Mendocino purp. This one is the runt. It is small and really hasn't grown much. But seems to be doing ok. this is the Durban poison. It seems to be doing ok. It is shorter with larger leaves.

They are about a month old. Started in a cut in half gatoraid bottle for easy transplant which was done about a week ago.

My watering is, I use a small spray bottle and spray around the base of the plants at the morning and evening as well as around and on the plants. Every other day I use about a gal and a half water for all 4 plants. And pour it around the plants and between to soak up the entire soil.

I know your suppose to see run off water. But I never do, but figured that was because it's in such a big soil pot. I have tons of tiny drill holes on all sides and on the bottom.

Any advice or tips please. Especially any diagnosis help on the curling and dropping leaves. I don't use any nutrients as I have read they don't really need them as they are ment to grow without them anyway and over nutrients can make it worse and its better without.

This is my first grow and I'm not really interested in super high quality or anything. I'd be happy with them just growing and surviving and getting some buds out of it. Currently I don't have much cash, that's why it's a cheap set up.

Thanks!

First thing... Ain't nothing wrong with your plants. That little bit of curling and different color isn't anything to worry about at this point. More light should correct the curling and color...

Second thing... All plant need nutrients to live. They get it from the soil naturally (some from water).
When the soil gives out it's nutrients to a plant the soil becomes depleted and needs to rejuvinate it's source of nutrients in order to
produce any healthy plants.

You can grow plants to maturity on a shoe string budget, but you will need more light and some nutrientrs (not a boat load of different products) and other things on the way.

Have fun growing and learning!

Thanks. Glad to hear it's doing ok and that it's normal. I know I need more lights and was planning on at least one more t5 ho when I get the cash, maybe 2. Its about $75 each. $45 fixture, 10 each light, tax and shipping.

So I should look into nutrients? How would I know when the nutrients in the soil need to be replenished?

I use generic miracle grow for vegging. I used to spend a fortune in nutrients for vegging and flowering. Now I go cheap on vegging and the plants always kick ass. I have my own recipe for flowering and it ain't cheap. You can flower on a budget too so don't think you have to spend a lot on that phase of growing. During vegetative growth use a fertilizer that is higher in Nitrogen. Your plant uses Nitrogen for stems, leaves and the other green parts of your plant. Look for nutrients that have a fertilizer analysis that is something like
12-4-8 The first number tell how much nitrogen is in the stuff your buying.

I wouldn't use any nutrients anytime soon using that soil. It's probably got a bunch of shit in it already. Miracle-Gro isn't the best for mj but you can definitely make it work. I would stay away from the moisture control one tho. I know they have an "organic" one out now. Check out it for your next grow

SuperKush89 said:

I wouldn't use any nutrients anytime soon using that soil. It's probably got a bunch of shit in it already. Miracle-Gro isn't the best for mj but you can definitely make it work. I would stay away from the moisture control one tho. I know they have an "organic" one out now. Check out it for your next grow

Click to expand...

Ok thanks. Yeah I'm hoping by the next grow I'll have the money for either hydroponic setup or organic soil like you mentioned

All grow mediums have NPK values in them.. this is caused by the natural breakdown of the medium. Most all grow mediums are made from the same things, composted forest materials. Miracle Grow is one of the only grow medium manufacturers that put the NPK values on the front of the bag. The values are so low that they really don't matter much.. it's not like they added any nutrients to the medium.

Moisture control simply holds more water for longer, meaning less waterings per week. Moisture control holds 33% more water and keeps the gardener from over/underwatering.

there young keep um moist let them grow a bit

So I switched them over to flowering about a week ago. Only 2 of the 4 have any signs of sex. I am pretty sure the first one is a male.

Any thoughts on if I am correct in saying this will be a male plant and I should pull it? Or give it a bit longer?

The second one I'm not sure on.

I am not sure if this one will be male or female. Not sure how the female looks at very early stages. Does it first look roundish as it grows its shape into a arrowish thing?


Any advice and tips please and thanks!

id give it just a bit longer but from the pics there looking malish u have a jwerley loupe 30x min. if so look to see if there one hair or 2 coming out them only way to know for sure besides time

there lil blurry hard to tell but my guess male also