Need help on whether Phosphorous def. or PH issues?

pass the pipe

Well-Known Member
I got a 4x8 tent going with a 1000w MH dimmed down to 750w at about 15-16 inches from the tallest for the moment with about 6 clones going and some random bagseed going along with em. My problem is two of the clones (Strawberry Haze) are showing what I believe to be a Phosphorous deficiency for a while now. I transplanted them from solo cups shortly after getting them from a collective, but soon after transplanting (about a week) they started looking like this? The other clones don't have anything similar and are doing fine as are. Everything is potted in Fox Farms Ocean Forest mixed with extra perlite for drainage. Except for two of my clones, are in a soil mix I made. Only thing I have done is flush the two Strawberry Haze's twice now and figured they started to look a bit better but not sure as they have not gotten per say better or worse since doing so...
Here is some pics from a few nights ago, when I get a chance I'll throw up more recent ones today. Can anyone help me out here? Thanks.IMG_2082.JPG IMG_2083.JPG IMG_2084.JPG IMG_2085.JPG
 

AlphaPhase

Well-Known Member
The same thing happens to me with club cuts. To the T. My issue was under feeding. I grow hydroponically though, so I can't say that's your issue and I wouldn't be able to tell you what to feed in soil. But the exact same thing happened to my mendo Breath clones and I was severely under feeding them. Once I doubled the notes, it went away. Also, check your roots if you can, maybe there is something going on there. Club cuts drive me crazy haha
 

pass the pipe

Well-Known Member
The same thing happens to me with club cuts. To the T. My issue was under feeding. I grow hydroponically though, so I can't say that's your issue and I wouldn't be able to tell you what to feed in soil. But the exact same thing happened to my mendo Breath clones and I was severely under feeding them. Once I doubled the notes, it went away. Also, check your roots if you can, maybe there is something going on there. Club cuts drive me crazy haha
That's odd? I can understand possibly not knowing because of where the cut came from outside the clinic but, is there anyway I can fix it? I don't use bottled nutes or anything just ffof with perlite for a bit til I can transplant em in some better soil.
 

AlphaPhase

Well-Known Member
That's odd? I can understand possibly not knowing because of where the cut came from outside the clinic but, is there anyway I can fix it? I don't use bottled nutes or anything just ffof with perlite for a bit til I can transplant em in some better soil.
It might be as simple as what their mama plants are being fed and what they feed their cuttings and clones during their process. Could be they are just being fed a lot and when they go into a new room that isn't the same environment and they aren't getting the same nutrients, they kind of get a little funky. I solved my issues by feeding more but I'm in hydroponics so all I had to do was up the nutrient levels. Sorry I can't be of any more help, good luck!
 

Hawzzy

Member
I would guess its a magnesium def. I just went through the same thing. I added some epsom salts to a couple of waterings to help while I sourced out a calcium/iron/mag. Supplement. It starts like your pics...fading between veins while the veins stay green...then eventually leaves yellow as the nutrients are stolen from the bottom leaves for the new growth. If not addressed quickly the leaves start to show brown spots and edges.

A PH issue will usually show multiple symptoms making it difficult to diagnose at first.

It is reversable...my plants were hurt for a couple weeks but have come around nicely.
 

Hawzzy

Member
Are you possibly using reverse osmosis or heavily filtered water. Or on a well?
Are you adjusting your water PH....and can you test it and your soil runoff water?
 

pass the pipe

Well-Known Member
I would guess its a magnesium def. I just went through the same thing. I added some epsom salts to a couple of waterings to help while I sourced out a calcium/iron/mag. Supplement. It starts like your pics...fading between veins while the veins stay green...then eventually leaves yellow as the nutrients are stolen from the bottom leaves for the new growth. If not addressed quickly the leaves start to show brown spots and edges.

A PH issue will usually show multiple symptoms making it difficult to diagnose at first.

It is reversable...my plants were hurt for a couple weeks but have come around nicely.
Are you possibly using reverse osmosis or heavily filtered water. Or on a well?
Are you adjusting your water PH....and can you test it and your soil runoff water?
Neither, just plain tap water. An at the moment I don't have any way to test ph. Reason I said phosphorous def. is that they both have purple splotches that start on the lower leaves then consume it pretty much and it dies?
 

Hawzzy

Member
Neither, just plain tap water. An at the moment I don't have any way to test ph. Reason I said phosphorous def. is that they both have purple splotches that start on the lower leaves then consume it pretty much and it dies?
You can get aquarium ph drops from pet stores or Wallyworld. They measure from 6 to 8 ph and in soil you should be in the 6 to 6.5 range.
I looked a little closer at your pics...and I think that a phosphorous def. will show brown, or purple spots BEFORE the leaves begin to turn yellow.
I know that myfirst soil grow gave me all kinds of trouble....the ph of the soil was too low...and mag. is more easily absorbed in the higher safe ph range in soil.
 

AlphaPhase

Well-Known Member
This is what my club cuts looked like a week after I got them, does this look similar to your issues? It was a potassium and phosphorus deficiency which also creates calcium deficiency I believe. Light green leaves, dark green veins, burnt tips that curl and are crispy Screenshot_2016-03-01-12-01-00.png Screenshot_2016-03-01-12-01-24.png an eventually turn necrotic brown spots
 

Hawzzy

Member
Its a little hard to see those pics......the main difference between magnesium and potassium deficiency is new growth "pulls" mag from the lower leaves so if it starts from the bottom and spreads up...magnesium.
Potassium problems can start anywhere on the plant....sometimes it looks like too much nutrients but the burnt tips spread up the edges of the leaf before the leaf turns yellow between the veins.
 

AlphaPhase

Well-Known Member
Its a little hard to see those pics......the main difference between magnesium and potassium deficiency is new growth "pulls" mag from the lower leaves so if it starts from the bottom and spreads up...magnesium.
Potassium problems can start anywhere on the plant....sometimes it looks like too much nutrients but the burnt tips spread up the edges of the leaf before the leaf turns yellow between the veins.
I wish I had more pics of it, but that's pretty much what happened was the middle and bottom leaves started getting light green, kind of like mag deficiency, but then got crispy tips and then progressed around the leaf, I was feeding really low to be safe and after the first feeding it happened, after I noticed the issue I fed double the dose and things immediately improved. PH was fine so I ruled that out, if you can rule out pH issues I think under feeding would be the case
 

Hawzzy

Member
Good stuff....rule out PH first. Flush and or feed with phd water and or good nutrients and proceed to watch closely.
 

pass the pipe

Well-Known Member
Its a little hard to see those pics......the main difference between magnesium and potassium deficiency is new growth "pulls" mag from the lower leaves so if it starts from the bottom and spreads up...magnesium.
Potassium problems can start anywhere on the plant....sometimes it looks like too much nutrients but the burnt tips spread up the edges of the leaf before the leaf turns yellow between the veins.
Here's some pics from earlier today. Not sure if you guys/gals can see the purple I'm talking about. But all the dead, splotchy spotted areas are and were purple. The camera and or the lighting is throwing the color off a bit I believe.

IMG_2102.JPG IMG_2103.JPG IMG_2104.JPG IMG_2105.JPG IMG_2106.JPG IMG_2101.JPG
 

AlphaPhase

Well-Known Member
It's 100% a hungry plant or a pH problem, that's the only two things it can be, it looks exactly as mine did. Check pH, if it's good, feed them. It will fix them I would put money on it
 

AlphaPhase

Well-Known Member
The plants were probably being fed teas or something and since you're using organic soil, it takes a while for the organics to feed the plants, it's not instant like synthetic nutes. That's my story and I'm sticking to it, good luck :p
 

AlphaPhase

Well-Known Member
What would be the cheapest option to test the soil ph?
I'd say since you're using organic soil and you've never really had issues before getting the club cuts, that it's probably not the pH, but you can get a cheap pH meter on eBay for like 20 bucks. When you water, put a bowl under the pot to catch the runoff, then use the pH pen to take a reading. Or there are pH test strips you can use that aren't nearly as accurate but much cheaper, and would be totally fine for soil grows since soil has a better pH range needed than hydroponics. I think pH test strips are only 5$, I bet home Depot or a pool supply / petco type store sells them. I just wouldn't think it would be pH since organics buffers pH very well and if this isn't a common occurrence for you, I wouldn't think it would be the issue unless you changed your water source, or are using a different water source only for those plants. Is it only one strain that is having the issues? If so, it's definitely just under fed and needs food
 

Hawzzy

Member
They are big enough to be needing a good feed. Whether its mg or p deficiency...a good balanced nutrient dose with phd water should fix it...but a good quality soil like that SHOULD have all those nutrients available I would think. Thats one reason I suggested ph was off badly in the soil....just a thought.
 

pass the pipe

Well-Known Member
Ran into another problem... One or two of my seedlings that's a few weeks old now has a few small holes in the leaves for about a week now? I figured a bug of some kind and watched kinda close for awhile nothing seemed to come of it, and last night I was watering and a white moth I believe it was anyway? Came out of nowhere in the corner of the tent fluttering around. Is there more to do other then possible look for eggs, hatchlings?
 
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