HELP PLEASE! Young plants Turning Brown.

My plants are about 7 days old. I am growing in an Aerogarden Hydroponics system. PH level of water is 5.7 (checked daily), lights are not even close or get hot enough (CFL) to cause "burn". Leaves on the bottom are starting to turn brown. It is NOT nute burn as I have not added any nutes into the resevoir yet. Lights are on a 18/6 schedule.

Anyone know what this may be and how to fix it?...perhaps they want me to add nutes now?

Please help I do not want to loose these plants. Sorry for the pics blurry...best my cheap cam will take.

Sorry wanted to add this. Do you think it may be lack of oxygen as we use this grow room to smoke in as well?

With hydroponics, as long as your using a complete line up of a brand of fertilizer,you shouln't have those issues. Can you tell us what fertilizers you are using. Also, check the roots, they should look bleached white. If they dont you have some biofilm issues.

I would suggest getting some Dutch Master Advance Grow A&B along with some Dutch Master Zone (Copper Sulfate). That simple two part fertilizer has everything the plants need to veg and is quite stable ph wise. As for the Zone, that prevents the biofilm from growing.

I dont think the above info is going to help all much so, here is a list of questions for you.

What fertilizer are you using?
How much water is your reservoir holding?
How much fertilizer do you add to you reservoir?
Can you post more clearer pictures of the plant, plants roots and, the inside of the reservoir?
Do you spray anything on them?

Past time to start feeding. Classic phosphorus deficiency.

Use whatever your nute line is. I'd recommend 300-400 ppm

Thanks for the reply..here is all the info you asked.

1. Have not added any fertilizer to the reservoir yet (read that I should wait 2 weeks before adding. The Fert that I was going to use is the stuff that came with the Aerogarden in 5.5ml packets...there is no info on the packets as to what they contain..(pic below).


2. The Reservoir holds 1 Gallon of water.

3. Never sprayed anything on them.

Pics below.

AEROGARDEN SETUP Brown Spots 1 Brown Spots 2 Brown Spots 3 Reservoir


The inside of the reservoir has an air stone in it, so hard to see. The roots are not that visable yet as they are only 7 days old, and have not yet broken all the way through the sponges yet.

I just ordered a PPM meter today as my last one broke..so I have not received it yet..pehaps maybe I should just add one of the 5.5ml packets in the 1 Gallon res?..

P.S. The light that is leaning on the side is because my freggn' cat knocked the other ballast off and broke it...so it is "make shift" till I get a new one.

I have read on other forums that it is a Magnesium deficiency and can be quickly resolved by watering with 1 tablespoon of Epsom salts/ per gallon of water. Until I can correct nutrient lockout..does this sound correct?

Update: After reading many, many, many, many posts I think it is just a nutrient problem as I have read not to give ANY nutes for 2 weeks when starting, and that is what I did. Never again!. I added some nutes today (day 7) 5.5ml per 1 gallon of water that came with the system..hope this will help and solve the problem. Will keep you updated as I know there is A LOT of posts on this issue with mixed thoughts/ideas/info.

Does anyone know that if this was the issue..will the leaves rid the brown spots? or will they still stay brown even though the problem is fixed? (just want to make sure that I found a solution to the problem by just looking at them)...and how long do you think it would take for the porblem to go away if I found the proper solution?

Was just going to suggest giving them nutes but you beat me to the punch, the brown leaves will not revert back they will fall off or later on as your plants grow taller you can remove them, would be a good idea to get a PH meter if you don't have one. Ok to not give nutes while they're in grow cubes or net pots ( whatever you use ) but once in the reservoir you should start the nute treetment, You may want to get some better nutes, I use GH Flora series with good success. Hope this helps.

DeeTee said:

Was just going to suggest giving them nutes but you beat me to the punch, the brown leaves will not revert back they will fall off or later on as your plants grow taller you can remove them, would be a good idea to get a PH meter if you don't have one. Ok to not give nutes while they're in grow cubes or net pots ( whatever you use ) but once in the reservoir you should start the nute treetment, You may want to get some better nutes, I use GH Flora series with good success. Hope this helps.

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Ya dude, da nutes. I would just give them a quarter dose of the nutes you have. I would think a full dose would be for a big ol girl so id go a quarter. Good luck.

What Ninja said, btw I meant to say get a TDS meter too, I start with this chart then adjust as needed, bare in mind not all strains can tolerate high ppm's just keep an eye on your plants, they will tell you.

PPM for Hanna Chart PPM

Seedlings, Early Sprouts ..100 to 250
Early Vegging ......................300 to 400
Full Vegetation ....................450 to 700
Early Blooming ...................750 to 950
Full Mature Blooms ...........1000 to 1600

Ive heard that you can go under a bit in dwc and other hydro. When they get older especialy, 1600 would gaurenteed kill my plantas. I just hit 900 with trees at week five fl and may have burnt them a bit on the tips. Dont know for sure yet but ive never gone over a thousand with them yet.

Destillat said:

Past time to start feeding. Classic phosphorus deficiency.

Use whatever your nute line is. I'd recommend 300-400 ppm

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Much agreed. Time to fertilize. Also Jay, you should feed once the first true leaves appear.

Thank you all for the help...gave them a shot of nutes Yesterday, and today they look a little better. Thanks again.