First timer, need some advise

Hi there,

This is my first grow and after reading so many books, I get confused. Starters were put in 1 gal bucket on 08/14 and in Roots Organic. Following recomendations I started to feed them with "Recipe for Success" from technaflora (veg recipe) as instructed by the chart 1100ppm. I realised after 4 feed that leaves were very lush and were curling down (claws). I decided to flush them with 250ml of purified and deionized water ph 6.0. I water daily and depending on the soil moisture content. The spider mites are under control and leaves are clean, I use neem oil every 4-5 days. I use a quadra reflector with a 600W MH at 1 1/2 feet from the canopy. Temp of the canopy is generally around 80%, hygro 50%. Air supply and home made CO2.

If you look at the crop, you will notice several problems. I think it is time to feed them, by looking at the leaves I see deficiency of phosphorus, magnesium and nitrogen, am I right? is it recommended to start with only 1/4 of the strenght?

Plant 100_4026 (A10) is the most affected. Leaves are folding and there are some copper stain on the centre of upper leaves, this might be the result of the original N toxicity or def P. Lower leaves are turning yellow with some copper spot (mag).

I keep a log with pics and can show individual pics from the plants on 08/25.

Thanks a lot, I need some input here, advise, comments welcome!

The yellowing of the lower leaves is a result of the nute burn. Most of them will heal.

The fact that all the tips of the leaves are lowered is a clear sign of overwatering. Here's a useful trick: give your plants so much water so that 20% of it accumulates in the dish under the pot. Also, stick your finger 2 inches in the soil. If the soil is dry, it's time to water again.

The fact that all new growth is a bit discolored in comparison to the rest of the plant is a sign of 3 possible things: 1. iron deficiency. 2. sulfur deficiency. Both of these are fixable with molasses, 2 tbs/gallon every watering. 3. your plants are a tropic strain and the room or water is too cold for them.

Otherwise, no P, N or Mag deficiency. Yes, after 2 weeks a seedling can take a 1/4 strength solution of nutes. THe concentration should gradually be risen to full strength when the plant reaches 4-5 weeks.

Finally, I'd like to say you did a really, really good job for a first grow. Your logistics and tools are ideal for the job. All you need now is first hand experience and I wish good luck in gaining it.

Thanks for your prompt response and for your compliments. We actually worked really hard to make this happen. Yep, I'm pretty proud of my installation, it's clean and organised.

A friend helped me with the starters and yes they came in pretty bad shape (burn foliage, spider mites, copper stains, etc.)

I'm quite concern about overwatering and I do not water if down a couple inch in the soil I can still feel moisture. Plants receive a cup of water wich often is not enough to cover the all soil surface. I do not observe any drainage until about 2 cups or 500 ml. I used Roots Organic soil without adding any other components, is my drainage ok? I usually wait to see some slight detachment soil/bucket wall. Through the sensor the canopy temp is in the low 80's and moisture +/- 50%. The lighr bulb is about 18" from the overall canopy, is that correct?

I just took some close pics of leaves showing stress.

• A10-1: the edge of the leaves are drying, what does it mean?
• A2-1: is this chlorosis?
• A2-2: You can clearly see the dark spot on the leaf and chlorosis originating. Once a leaf deteriorate, is it possible to heal it?
• A2-3: Isn't that a Mag def?
• A2-4: This leaf is drying out with obvious chlorosis and signs of deficiency
• A2-5: Curling up on edges, clawing, edge burnt, check out the brown spots on the leaf above.
• A2-6:This the soil, we just feed them 1/4 strenght, 250ml, no water pocket, the soil is moist but not wet ... I try to compact some soil in my hand and 60% stay loose, no clutters of water on my fingers but I can feel the freshness enough to know it is moist.
• A3-1: This leaf use to have a considerable claws and sides are also curling downward, you can also see some copper dark stain on the leaf, stain where inexistent before yesterday. The clawing indicated me too much nitro, is that right?

I have some problems but having a lot of fun and revealing a passion! Thanks for your precious help.

In rare cases, if a plant is fed with too much N, it accumulates in leaves, the leaves turn dark green and the tips become heavy enough to droop.

The yellowing leaves are simply dying because of the N toxicity or because they're old.

Stop worrying about a magnesium deficiency, that is absolutly not one. A mag def looks, dare I say, so cool on a plant, you'd wish it wern't a problem. Mag def starts at the edges of the leaf, turning them light green. Note that magnesium is a micronutrient, so a deficiency starts at the top of the plant, not at the bottom.

That's a cool indication, imobile deficiencies start at the top .... thanks