Calcium or magnesium def? First time growing... seek guidance.

Everywhere I have read, and all of the research I have done points to calcium or magnesium.. I am not sure which one it is though. It looks really wierd. Appreciate any feedback.

I'm growing in fox farms ocean forest potting soil in 2 gallon containers. The plants are roughly 3 weeks old. I mixed up a tsp/gal of cal-mag and watered the afflicted plants. I've been using distilled water up until now.. it's becoming far too expensive for me however. I just started using tap water which ph test reveals is 7.0

I also thought about looking into getting one of these..

http://www.amazon.com/Kelway®-Soil-pH-Moisture-Meter/dp/B003DWAM9Q/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1362493752&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=kelway

I was wondering if sticking it into the medium would damage the roots.

using tap will help along with the calmag+. the damage is done though when u have a calcium def. they usually wont come back on the effected areas.

It is calcium though, correct? I think one of the bottom leaves is showing some mean Phosphorus deficiency as well.

You have a low Ph issue and its beginning to lock out Phosphorous , I see no cal/mag deficiencies yet , allow it to lock out fully and you will .. Looks like you got hit with the ocean forrest , I find it to be an irregular product in its consistency of ingredients and ratio along with Ph ..

Its a good soil for ammending others or those mixing there own in my opinion

The Kelway meter is a good one but its more for outside and landscapers , try looking for a wizzard ph meter they cost half of that and have a 12" probe on one model and this will allow you to read the pH at a much lower depth as well ..

Alright, thanks a lot. So to fix the problem just ph my water higher? Or what?

Transplanting is the best advice I can give with you not having meters .. PhTest kits are worthless in my opinion and I would not rely upon them at all .. Get a cheap pH pen at the least to monitor whats going in , even cal mag will change your Ph

Narse said:

Alright, thanks a lot. So to fix the problem just ph my water higher? Or what?

Click to expand...

LOWER your pH. Check out a Milwaukee PH55. Easy, cheap, calibrates easily. Durable.

It is possible to raise a soils pH using an alkaline water source .. I have done this before and when it is at its worst Hydrated lime is very helpful.. The big problem with FFOF soil is the oyster shell used as a buffer .. I always recommend adding a teaspoon of dolomite to every gallon of this soil used

Got it, thanks a lot guys.

ProfessorPotSnob said:

It is possible to raise a soils pH using an alkaline water source .. I have done this before and when it is at its worst Hydrated lime is very helpful.. The big problem with FFOF soil is the oyster shell used as a buffer .. I always recommend adding a teaspoon of dolomite to every gallon of this soil used

Click to expand...

Ya, I thought about getting some organic amendments for the next grow I do. But isn't the Dolomite Lime for Calcium and magnesium? If it's a phosphorus issue what should I add next time? I think they're going to be root bound pretty soon anyway in the 2 gallon pots. I may add everything when I transplant.

Narse said:

Ya, I thought about getting some organic amendments for the next grow I do. But isn't the Dolomite Lime for Calcium and magnesium? If it's a phosphorus issue what should I add next time? I think they're going to be root bound pretty soon anyway in the 2 gallon pots. I may add everything when I transplant.

Click to expand...

99% of Nutrient deficiencies are related to pH when growing in a non living soil or other media , same with Hydroponics .. Here is a Soil pH chart to show you how the nutrients and ph work .. Dolomite lime is used to neutralize Ph in soil .. It is a buffer that adds calcium and magnesium yes but it does alot more than that when you look at pH and nutrients .. View attachment 2554600 Notice that Phosporous drops fast with acidity

hotrodharley said:

LOWER your pH. Check out a Milwaukee PH55. Easy, cheap, calibrates easily. Durable.

Click to expand...

Just ordered it

ProfessorPotSnob said:

99% of Nutrient deficiencies are related to pH when growing in a non living soil or other media , same with Hydroponics .. Here is a Soil pH chart to show you how the nutrients and ph work .. Dolomite lime is used to neutralize Ph in soil .. It is a buffer that adds calcium and magnesium yes but it does alot more than that when you look at pH and nutrients .. View attachment 2554600 Notice that Phosporous drops fast with acidity

Click to expand...

Ya, I have a folder with that chart in it. I just need to get a meter I suppose so I know what's actually going on in there. Appreciate all the feedback.

Narse said:

Just ordered it

Click to expand...

QUICK! Order the calibration solutions with it. I stopped adding that to my urgings to buy meters. Always buy the recommended calibration solutions.

hotrodharley said:

QUICK! Order the calibration solutions with it. I stopped adding that to my urgings to buy meters. Always buy the recommended calibration solutions.

Click to expand...

what he said i got the 20 dollar milwaulkee or whatever and i calibrate every other use normally....Its normally still right on or .1 off but i wana make sure

ProfessorPotSnob said:

99% of Nutrient deficiencies are related to pH when growing in a non living soil or other media , same with Hydroponics .. Here is a Soil pH chart to show you how the nutrients and ph work .. Dolomite lime is used to neutralize Ph in soil .. It is a buffer that adds calcium and magnesium yes but it does alot more than that when you look at pH and nutrients .. View attachment 2554600 Notice that Phosporous drops fast with acidity

Click to expand...

Definite balancing act with pH battling for Phosphorous uptake as well as magnesium and calcium all at the same time. In late bloom I allow my pH to drift up to 5.8-6.0 for cal/mag uptake after allowing lower pH for a longer period to load up on Phosphorous. This is in DWC.

44$ for that meter on amazon.. not bad. I got the GH calibration solution as well. Is the storage solution worth grabbing too? I heard they can get ruined.

I don't think it's phosphorous. Who ever said that should give some explanation cause that looks and sound just like this description of magnesium deficiency in my notes. It definitely looks like magnesium from my experiences. I would feed with some Epson salts its high in magnesium.

Magnesium deficiency: The lower and later middle leaves develop yellow patches between dark green veins. RUSTY BROWN spots appear on the leaf margins, tips, and between the veins as the deficiency progresses. The brownish leaf tips usually curl UPWARD before dying.

OP your plants are showing all signs of this deficiency I see Rusty brown spots also your leaf edges are curling upward drying out and soon dying. Who every said phosphorous is leading u in the wrong direction!

Fazer1rlg said:

I don't think it's phosphorous. Who ever said that should give some explanation cause that looks and sound just like this description of magnesium deficiency in my notes. It definitely looks like magnesium from my experiences. I would feed with some Epson salts its high in magnesium.

Magnesium deficiency: The lower and later middle leaves develop yellow patches between dark green veins. RUSTY BROWN spots appear on the leaf margins, tips, and between the veins as the deficiency progresses. The brownish leaf tips usually curl UPWARD before dying.

Click to expand...

I actually mixed up 1/4 teaspoon of epsom salts in a gallon of water in my sprayer and foliar fed them when I first saw it happening. It still seems to be getting worse on the affected plants. I have 10 plants right now and it's only happening on 3 of them. It's rather strange.

Fazer1rlg said:

I don't think it's phosphorous. Who ever said that should give some explanation cause that looks and sound just like this description of magnesium deficiency in my notes. It definitely looks like magnesium from my experiences. I would feed with some Epson salts its high in magnesium.

Magnesium deficiency: The lower and later middle leaves develop yellow patches between dark green veins. RUSTY BROWN spots appear on the leaf margins, tips, and between the veins as the deficiency progresses. The brownish leaf tips usually curl UPWARD before dying.

Click to expand...

There is a difference in Magnesium deficiency while in vegative stages verses late and mid term floral stages.. Look at the photos posted and youll see how a magnesium deficiency progresses while in vegative growth

As well most times not Magnesium deficiencies begin at the middle of a plant and progress upwards !