Healthy plants just fell over! help!

mg1529

Member
How's it going guys, i've been a lurker on this site for a while and usually just read posts and take suggestions for my grow. Well last night i had an issue with my grow and need some help. Im growing 5 fem autoflowers; 2 northern lights, 2 diesel and 1 AK. Im on day 29 and the grow has been going real smooth with no main issues until last night. Soo here's the story, i was rearranging the plants, like i do every night trying to get equal exposure of light to the plant. I started by raising my 4ft, 4 bulb, t5 light about 3-4 feet above my plants so i could have some space to work and turned off the 6 42w cfl's. While rearranging, I got distracted for about 20 mins and returned to see all the plants severely wilted with my biggest plant's bent completely in half at the main cola ( I first thought it was a full break holding on by a thread). I noticed it didnt actually break, but was just severely wilted. I freaked out and immediately lowered the t5 back to 2" from the leaves and replaced all the cfls. The plants slowly began to recover and were back to looking healthy and perky this morning.

So here's my question, would the lack of light for this 20 mins be enough to do this damage? I am currently running 24/0 even though i originally did not plan this. I planned on starting them at 24/0 for 2 weeks and then switching them to 18/6. I never switched them and got nervous about shocking them with changing the light schedule. After week 3 i decided i would just finish the grow with 24/0.

The only explanation i had for the wilting was the lack of light or temperature drop. Im currently growing in a mylar lined closet, and it has been more than adequate for the grow with temps between 75-85 and humidity between 25-40. I just got a new grow tent, and i plan on moving the plants over, im just nervous about what happened last night.

I know from past grows that regular photo plants will wilt at night in the dark, but this is my first autoflower grow and this was some serious wilting. The main cola never broke, but several smaller branches did end up snapping in half. I tapped the stems back together hoping they may make a come back, but i'm not really concerned if they do as its only a very small portion of the plants that broke.

Im currently growing in FF OF in 4 gal pots with good drainage. I water about every 4-5 days and started very light FF nutes between week 2-3. As i said the plants have been really healthy with no signs of nute burn or watering issues. I last watered 3 days before this incident with plain water and no nutes. I can rule out under/over feeding and over/underwatering as i did nothing with this prior to or after this wilting episode.

Was this an issue of lighting, or could this be a temperature issue? The temp did drop in the closet (by feel), but i had a feeling my thermometer was not working properly, and may have been giving false readings. I replaced the thermometer and temps are back to normal. Any thought's? I need to transfer all plants and equipment to the new grow tent, but i dont want a repeat of last night. Thanks for the help guys. I'll try and post some pictures later of my girls.
 

SeeRockCity

Active Member
dude, that's crazy... I'd be surprised if it was the light...
but damn, you never expect to see them wilt right in front of your eyes.
hope your ladies have a speedy recovery!

I will throw in this though... most autoflower breeders recommend 18/6 ...
I run 20/4...and I stay away from the autos... not a fan....
 

tekdc911

Well-Known Member
do you have a fan blowing on your plants ?
any pets ? a cat maybe
i know my chinchilla's have been known to raid my grow cab
 

tekdc911

Well-Known Member
auto's are really hardy just move them it will be fine keep a eye on temps and smoke a J and chill out bro random lighting or dark doesnt throw them off
days of dark will
but 20 mins is just a nap
 

justugh

Well-Known Member
if u are worried u can always do what they do with tomatoes


put a stick in the soil and use the sitck to hold them up

back off on the water for a day or 3 then give it a quick flush to make sure not nurtient locking and stick to a 2 3 cup watering every 2/3 days and slowly increase i am using a 2 gallon pot and they get water every 3 days 1L each of distilled water ( no salt build up and it is ph of 6 from the store )
 

mg1529

Member
Made the move from closet to tent. They did a little wilting but are looking good now. Heres a few pictures, some in the closet, some in the tent. DAY 29
DSCN1381.jpgDSCN1379.jpgDSCN1378.jpgDSCN1377.jpgDSCN1376.jpgDSCN1374.jpg
 

mg1529

Member
Since the switch im having some issues with heat inside the tent. Any suggestions for a vent system for this size tent? 28"x54"x78". Like i said im using a 4-ft 4 bulb t5 and will soon have a total of 10 42w cfl's. I was thinking of a 6"inline fan with carbon filter to help with odor control, but what other fans will i need with this? duct fans? im pretty clueless when it comes to venting. any suggestions is appreciated. I currently have the front door of the tent open with desk fan circulating air. Once i close door, even just slightly, the temp will jump up pretty fast. I know i don't need a crazy vent system with my lights, but i definitely need something, and like i said, im clueless.
 
How's it going guys, i've been a lurker on this site for a while and usually just read posts and take suggestions for my grow. Well last night i had an issue with my grow and need some help. Im growing 5 fem autoflowers; 2 northern lights, 2 diesel and 1 AK. Im on day 29 and the grow has been going real smooth with no main issues until last night. Soo here's the story, i was rearranging the plants, like i do every night trying to get equal exposure of light to the plant. I started by raising my 4ft, 4 bulb, t5 light about 3-4 feet above my plants so i could have some space to work and turned off the 6 42w cfl's. While rearranging, I got distracted for about 20 mins and returned to see all the plants severely wilted with my biggest plant's bent completely in half at the main cola ( I first thought it was a full break holding on by a thread). I noticed it didnt actually break, but was just severely wilted. I freaked out and immediately lowered the t5 back to 2" from the leaves and replaced all the cfls. The plants slowly began to recover and were back to looking healthy and perky this morning.

So here's my question, would the lack of light for this 20 mins be enough to do this damage? I am currently running 24/0 even though i originally did not plan this. I planned on starting them at 24/0 for 2 weeks and then switching them to 18/6. I never switched them and got nervous about shocking them with changing the light schedule. After week 3 i decided i would just finish the grow with 24/0.

The only explanation i had for the wilting was the lack of light or temperature drop. Im currently growing in a mylar lined closet, and it has been more than adequate for the grow with temps between 75-85 and humidity between 25-40. I just got a new grow tent, and i plan on moving the plants over, im just nervous about what happened last night.

I know from past grows that regular photo plants will wilt at night in the dark, but this is my first autoflower grow and this was some serious wilting. The main cola never broke, but several smaller branches did end up snapping in half. I tapped the stems back together hoping they may make a come back, but i'm not really concerned if they do as its only a very small portion of the plants that broke.

Im currently growing in FF OF in 4 gal pots with good drainage. I water about every 4-5 days and started very light FF nutes between week 2-3. As i said the plants have been really healthy with no signs of nute burn or watering issues. I last watered 3 days before this incident with plain water and no nutes. I can rule out under/over feeding and over/underwatering as i did nothing with this prior to or after this wilting episode.

Was this an issue of lighting, or could this be a temperature issue? The temp did drop in the closet (by feel), but i had a feeling my thermometer was not working properly, and may have been giving false readings. I replaced the thermometer and temps are back to normal. Any thought's? I need to transfer all plants and equipment to the new grow tent, but i dont want a repeat of last night. Thanks for the help guys. I'll try and post some pictures later of my girls.
Hey, I know this is severely old. But I broke a branch and after a day and a half it’s wilting badly (pics provide) was your plant wilting this badly???
 

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