Do I need a flush? Potential nute lockout?

Ok so I've put all 3 plants(afghani autoflower) under my 2 600w bloomspect LED's(20/4). They are on day 16 from germination. I'm in a 50/50 coco perlite mix. I have given less water since when I started(now giving 1 gallon split between 3 plants(5 gallon smart pots). I never get any runoff. In the beginning I watered until runoff but my plants were really droopy and over watered. I'm feeding 2.5ml of silica, 3ml cal mag, 4ml micro, 8 ml bloom, and 2.5ml slf-100 root enzyme, all per gallon of water ph'd to 5.7-6.0(I give the biggest one a little more than the other 2). The plants are all growing, but I just have a funny feeling something may be wrong, and maybe I am having some kind of nute lockout. Would you guys recommend a flush?(have not done that yet). Or do things look normal? The new forming leaves in the center are what have me worried. Pics attached, thanks for any replies/help.
 

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shawnery

Well-Known Member
They look fine to me.

When it comes to nutes though it would help more to know the percent of full dosage you are using and your ec or ppm as well. Your dosage is out of context because we don't know the recommended dose.

You should water until runnoff and you should only water when they need it. Every two to three days as a general rule of thumb. Next time you water/feed them see how they feel in your hands by weight. In two days see how they feel again and you should get to feel the difference over time.
 

raggyb

Well-Known Member
just my guess, maybe nute burn on the second pic. don't flush with plain water in coco. You can flush with nute mix such as camg and light nutes and keep flushing until ph out = ph in. I only know this from reading about coco. Just trying to help but get more ops. :cool:
 
Thanks guys. So I'm using the lucas formula(for autos). Which is half strength compared to the lucas formula for photo's. It cuts out the "grow" nute. General hydroponics trio. Starting with RO water and my ppms are about 675 right now, and for the last week. Week before that they were 275-350, and before that 150 with just cal mag.

Ok so I have been watering/feeding daily(but with no runoff). I know I'm supposed to with coco, but since I direct seeded into 5 gallon grow bags(won't do that again), it was really hard to judge how much water to use, and when I was watering to runoff in beginning of grow, I over watered. So do you think when I water tonight that I should water until runoff, and then not water again until the bag is light? Probably would take 2-3 days or so maybe more. Or should I just water how I have been doing until my roots and plants fill out my large grow bag first, and then start watering to runoff? This is the only part(watering small plant in big pot) that has given me trouble so far. Thanks for your advice
 

raggyb

Well-Known Member
They say don't let it dry out with coco. I see your predicament because it's an auto you went straight to the 5 gal. Auto feed must mean a gravity drip, or a pressure with a timer, etc. Sounds like a fair idea for your situation.
 
Yup that's my exact predicament! I'm going to look into auto feeding right now. And also do you think it would be a bad(or good) idea to keep watering like I'm doing(no run off) for maybe like a week more or so(until plants can handle watering until runoff), and then do a big time flush to remove any salts that were built up from me not watering until runoff? And then from there, water to runoff every time. Or would that run the risk of nute lock or something in this next week? Sorry I know its a very confusing question! Thanks
 
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shawnery

Well-Known Member
I'll allow someone with more detailed experience to answer that one.

I'm guessing so do some reasearch but I bet you'd be better off moving it to a smaller pot?

Like I said though, don't count me on that and wait for a coco specialist.
 

Budzbuddha

Well-Known Member
You DO NOT need to saturate container... only a simple water around base of plant.

The idea is to allow the emerging roots to SEEK moisture, which will have them shoot to bottom and build mass.

Plant looks fine. Don’t throw the kitchen sink at it or unnecessary flushing.
Let it do it’s thing.
 
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