New Growth Doesn’t Look Right. Cause??

Hi everyone,
This is my first time growing outdoors. I’ve noticed some of the newer growth on my plants doesn’t look quite right.

a little back drop.
1. Growing in FFOF
2. Transplanted to the 25 gallon pots May 2nd with fresh soil.
3. Temps here have been 70-80 during the day
4. I have them covered so they are not getting rained on
5. I’ve used RO water with added cal/mag
6. PH kept at 6.2-6.5
7. I’ve only added Kelp me Kelp You by Fox Farms a few times at half the recommended strength. Every other week. I’ve used this because I read that kelp extract can help the plant be resilient to heat stress and such factors. No other nutrients have been added.
8. Great white has been added every other week.
9. I’ve been watering the 25 gallon pots with 2 gallons of waters when I feed. Since it hasn’t been too warm out and humid because of the rain I’ve only been watering every 7 days. It’s hard to tell if this is too much because the 25 gallon pots are pretty heavy and it’s tough to judge the moisture in the soil that way. I’ve been using a moisture reader to help tell when they are kind of drying out.
10. I did add 30% perlite to the soil to help with aeration.

Im thinking I’m either over watering or under watering? Maybe it’s a nutrient deficiency? They haven’t been in those 25gallon pots for even a month now so I figured there was still a lot of nutrients in that Fox Farms Ocean Forrest soil

25 gallon pots...with 15 gallons of perlite ?? - I don't use perlite although I hear it can pull out heavy metals

You are watering for pot size not plant root growth
Roots need to reach before the foliage, cut back until the plants get bigger
For now go with 1 gallon a week and write it down cause it is tempting to water again sooner

Herb & Suds said:

You are watering for pot size not plant root growth
Roots need to reach before the foliage, cut back until the plants get bigger
For now go with 1 gallon a week and write it down cause it is tempting to water again sooner

Click to expand...

Will they bounce back if they have b

Herb & Suds said:

You are watering for pot size not plant root growth
Roots need to reach before the foliage, cut back until the plants get bigger
For now go with 1 gallon a week and write it down cause it is tempting to water again sooner

Click to expand...

Overall they should bounce back fine once I get the watering down, correct? They don’t look too bad right? I’ve never grown in that large of a pot so it’s tough to tell the moisture level. The top will dry out but down below it’s probably not drying out good I guess?

Weedhuntfish said:

Will they bounce back if they have b

Overall they should bounce back fine once I get the watering down, correct? They don’t look too bad right? I’ve never grown in that large of a pot so it’s tough to tell the moisture level. The top will dry out but down below it’s probably not drying out good I guess?

Click to expand...

Only way to be sure is feel a pot with soil dry and feel one wet to compare

overwatering might have caused a root problem those look way to under established to be watering that much, just let the plant tell you when it needs water, other wise youre going to screw her up

What are your night temps?

I have the same issue and a kelp foliar on the new growth has helped. Mine was caused by low night temps + overwatering locking out zinc or iron.

sirtalis said:

What are your night temps?

I have the same issue and a kelp foliar on the new growth has helped. Mine was caused by low night temps + overwatering locking out zinc or iron.

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My night temps have been about 55 to 65. I have been doing kelp in my water. I was actually thinking about starting a foliage spray this weekend.

I was looking to do aloe from buildasoil.com, organic neem, and dr bronners organic soap. I’ve read that aloe can be beneficial and the neem and soap help keep pest away. I’ve noticed A few leaves that have little spots where insects have eaten. Luckily it’s only like a couple leaves.

john wishmyer said:

overwatering might have caused a root problem those look way to under established to be watering that much, just let the plant tell you when it needs water, other wise youre going to screw her up

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How much water should they be giving them at this stage? I’ve only been watering once a week but I may have been watering too much.

is there anything I can do besides letting them dry out real good and then reducing the water moving forward?

My guess is to much water. I’m using a 15 gallon pot, and I watered when I transplanted a week ago, and haven’t needed to water yet.

turbobuzz said:

My guess is to much water. I’m using a 15 gallon pot, and I watered when I transplanted a week ago, and haven’t needed to water yet.

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that seems to be the consensus and I have to agree. At this point they seem to still be alive and growing. Is there much I can do now beside really let them dry out before watering again?

Weedhuntfish said:

that seems to be the consensus and I have to agree. At this point they seem to still be alive and growing. Is there much I can do now beside really let them dry out before watering again?

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Nope, just quit watering. I bought one of those cheap moisture, ph, light meters off eBay that has the two long probes on them. Gives me a pretty good idea when they need more water.