HELP! Vits/Nutes Problem (with Pics)

Hey guys, I have been so busy with so many different things I haven't had a chance to be active on the forums like I had wanted to. However, you guys I know appreciate any and all help you guys give me. So without further ado!

For a long time I was just assuming my strain was different. I understand not all plants have the same look, growth rate, shapes, and even heights. But I am wrong. My plants have problems and I would love the help of the RIU community to help.

Here is Juicy Dream's diagnostics.

1) Slow Growth (Even from Seedling Stage)
2) She never sprouted many fan leaves.
3) Stretchy (partly because of how I started out with lighting - my fault but I don't know if it would play part in nute problems)
4) Old Fan leaves are turning brown and dying at the base of the plant.
5) Normal growth and leaves are DARK Green and feel real feeble. It feels like a autumn leave. Almost like a crumbly feeling but they are still doing their jobs.
6) NEW GROWTH IS ALMOST YELLOW LOOKING.
7) Very little growth since I established there was something wrong (basically, I think its gotten at a all time severity . I don't think it will kill my plant but it is making things tense lol)
Also experiencing "claw" Leaves


Info about plants:
4 months old
started day/night regiment this month around 11-1-13
given "well" water

Claw Leaves


Color Differences


Female?

I was thinking about getting a Nutrient supplement and doing a "old fashion" flush. Basically run water through the planter until its clear. Ideas? Suggestions?

Clawing may be heat, right?

What is your grow medium? Water ph?

Too early to sex...

GrowinDad said:

Clawing may be heat, right?

What is your grow medium? Water ph?

Too early to sex...

Click to expand...

I doubt its heat. I use CFL bulbs which put out very little heat and I have 2 8" fans always running during their light cycle. Grow medium is was a fertilized soil I think it was called Black Cow - I would have to check my grow journal to double check. I do not actively track my water pH.

anyone else have ideas?

bump -- still looking for ideas

You didn't give us a whole lot of info on your grow set-up.

Water:
From what you listed, I would start the troubleshooting by checking the pH in your water. You said you just use well water and don't actively track your pH (bad idea). Fill a large container with water, balance it, and then just check the container before you water.

Soil:
If the pH is balanced, check your soil. You said it was "a fertilized soil I think it was called Black Cow". The black cow I know of, is just simply cow manure and isn't a viable growing medium (comes in a yellow bag). The soil could be too hot (remix) or could not be draining properly (add perlite). I would recommend for a beginner a mixture of Fox Farm's Ocean Forest and Light Warrior mixed with some Perlite.

Lights:
CFL's put out little heat and use less energy but, at the cost of outputting less lumens. The bigger the plants the more watts they need to thrive. How many watts are you running, what spectrum, etc.?

Nutes:
What are you feeding them? Sounds to me like your plants may have Nitrogen Toxicity (http://www.growweedeasy.com/nitrogen-toxicity-cannabis). I would recommend a flush if you think you are having a nutrient problem for a week or two and then adjust your feeding plan.

okay, I am getting a soil and water pH checker. I initially planned to start with one but this was a very low budget grow and I guess it should not have been clipped from the budget.

The Black Cow soil I purchased is pre-mixed with manure. I guess this could make things a little hot for the soil.

I am currently using 4x 100 Watt CFL's each produce 1,600 lumens.

I actually don't feed them anything at the moment. (Due to lack of funds of course lol). But, my research indicated Nitrogen Toxicity as well. So I think you confirmed what I was thinking.


Also, I am super paranoid of flushing but I did flush 1 plant just to see if it would help (I flushed 5 gallons per gallon of soil so I flushed about 15 gallons)... Do you think maybe a replant with fresh soil and perilite would fix my plants? Again though, I am super paranoid of replanting as well because when I first started I think I killed 4 (root damage).

sixtyfivegalaxie said:

okay, I am getting a soil and water pH checker. I initially planned to start with one but this was a very low budget grow and I guess it should not have been clipped from the budget.

The Black Cow soil I purchased is pre-mixed with manure. I guess this could make things a little hot for the soil.

I am currently using 4x 100 Watt CFL's each produce 1,600 lumens.

I actually don't feed them anything at the moment. (Due to lack of funds of course lol). But, my research indicated Nitrogen Toxicity as well. So I think you confirmed what I was thinking.


Also, I am super paranoid of flushing but I did flush 1 plant just to see if it would help (I flushed 5 gallons per gallon of soil so I flushed about 15 gallons)... Do you think maybe a replant with fresh soil and perilite would fix my plants? Again though, I am super paranoid of replanting as well because when I first started I think I killed 4 (root damage).

Click to expand...

Don't transplant them, they'll be way worse off.

How long does your soil take to dry down completely after a watering?

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You are using a soil with manure indoors? Something about that grosses me out and wonders when bugs will find it.

Being honest here... there are likely a number things going here. First off, I bet those are 100w equivalent, not actual.
1) unknown ph
2) improper soil
3) insufficient light. You didn't mention the spectrum, only lumens. In veg you want mostly 6500k, in flower 2700.
4) pot size - 4 months of veg (assuming you are in light cycle) is a long time. That looks small you could be root bound
5) guessing your watering habits have been incorrect

So.... my guess is she is in trouble if you don't repot into something larger. but i am no expert.

You can't yield anything on zero budget. But a good harvest more than pays for all upfront costs and thereafter it is cheap!

You may want to consider clipping some clones off of her to strart over. Or in addition to seeing what you can do to her. If if this one is not on 12-12 yet, then she is going to get much much taller. With scant CFL coverage, even if you can solve the health issues, there won't be enough light to yield much.

@dirtyteddy, it takes my soil about a 3 days to dry up a little and about a week for it to dry nearly 100%

@growindad, honestly it supposedly had manure in it but I can't smell absolutely nothing. Neither could a bunch of my friends because that really worried me. Its not as gross as it sounds.
I will check on the light spectrum but yea, dude they are 4 months and just now developing buds. I am able to positively identify them now. All 3 are female.
*EDIT* The light spectrum on my bulbs are 5K

would you suggest something larger than a 5 gallon pot? I was thinking instead of doing 3 okay plants just to really dedicate my self and money to 1 huge plant (indoor huge).

I will need to look up root bound, I am not that familiar with the term but even less familiar on its effects on the plant.

I do have more lights I can put on them. I am assuming you are recommending I do so. and yea, I have had them on the 12/12 light cycle for about 3 weeks (guessing)

start over throw some clones into happy frog

well last question. They are developing really slowly right now. (However the two plants I have flushed is showing signs of getting better) should I just keep them up to see if I can yield some bud or what. I mean I don't think it would hurt but if there is 0 chance I will start some clones.

sixtyfivegalaxie said:

@dirtyteddy, it takes my soil about a 3 days to dry up a little and about a week for it to dry nearly 100%

@growindad, honestly it supposedly had manure in it but I can't smell absolutely nothing. Neither could a bunch of my friends because that really worried me. Its not as gross as it sounds.
I will check on the light spectrum but yea, dude they are 4 months and just now developing buds. I am able to positively identify them now. All 3 are female.
*EDIT* The light spectrum on my bulbs are 5K

would you suggest something larger than a 5 gallon pot? I was thinking instead of doing 3 okay plants just to really dedicate my self and money to 1 huge plant (indoor huge).

I will need to look up root bound, I am not that familiar with the term but even less familiar on its effects on the plant.

I do have more lights I can put on them. I am assuming you are recommending I do so. and yea, I have had them on the 12/12 light cycle for about 3 weeks (guessing)

Click to expand...

You need a faster drying media next time. Google is your friend.

Anyways, how are they coming?

Idk if you have done so but your best bet like I said is to flush it with clear water, and then still you may have salt (nutrient) build ups in the media.

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