Huge plant problems please help!

Hi this is my first grow, summer has started and plant is in veg right now and showing some serious issues.

Firstly the fan leaves are drooping down, this could be due to overwatering or too much N I’m not sure though would someone be able to tell for me?

Secondly a few fan leaves have been getting brown spots which look sort of like rust and seem to not stop so I thought this was another issue.

Thirdly some lower fan leaves and the older big fan leaves start to go yellow with some brown spots on them which eventually fall off my plant.

Fourthly, on the lower side growth leaves and some other there are these little white spots shown in the photo. No idea what this could be. Any help would be appreciated a lot.

Some information about my growing conditions etc:
Strain is skunk special which a strong Sativa
Water ph: 6.1-6.8
Soil ph: 6.9
Growing outside weather is usually between 20-30 degrees but had a lot of cloudy, windy days which have pushed my plant fully over but have now secured it with plant ties.
Watering when I feel with my finger that a few layers of soil is dry or when pot is light.
Feeding tomato fertiliser once every few weeks because the soil is a premium potting mix which has slow release nutrients in it so I don’t want to overdo it with N. Also adding a Bloom fertiliser as well which is strong P (0-2-14) every once and awhile.

Just flushed this plant with a lot of water to see if that will help in the following days. Still have like 3 months of veg left as summer has just started so I can luckily afford to make noob mistakes now but any tips or advice on what could be wrong with my plant would be really appreciated. Thank you :)

(Wild thought, maybe I’m overwatering and not adding enough N seeing I can’t even remember when I last used it, but am fearful of N toxcicy) anyways please help thank you <3
 

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Bernie420

Well-Known Member
Hi this is my first grow, summer has started and plant is in veg right now and showing some serious issues.

Firstly the fan leaves are drooping down, this could be due to overwatering or too much N I’m not sure though would someone be able to tell for me?

Secondly a few fan leaves have been getting brown spots which look sort of like rust and seem to not stop so I thought this was another issue.

Thirdly some lower fan leaves and the older big fan leaves start to go yellow with some brown spots on them which eventually fall off my plant.

Fourthly, on the lower side growth leaves and some other there are these little white spots shown in the photo. No idea what this could be. Any help would be appreciated a lot.

Some information about my growing conditions etc:
Strain is skunk special which a strong Sativa
Water ph: 6.1-6.8
Soil ph: 6.9
Growing outside weather is usually between 20-30 degrees but had a lot of cloudy, windy days which have pushed my plant fully over but have now secured it with plant ties.
Watering when I feel with my finger that a few layers of soil is dry or when pot is light.
Feeding tomato fertiliser once every few weeks because the soil is a premium potting mix which has slow release nutrients in it so I don’t want to overdo it with N. Also adding a Bloom fertiliser as well which is strong P (0-2-14) every once and awhile.

Just flushed this plant with a lot of water to see if that will help in the following days. Still have like 3 months of veg left as summer has just started so I can luckily afford to make noob mistakes now but any tips or advice on what could be wrong with my plant would be really appreciated. Thank you :)

(Wild thought, maybe I’m overwatering and not adding enough N seeing I can’t even remember when I last used it, but am fearful of N toxcicy) anyways please help thank you <3

water in some mag/epsom salt at 1.5gr per gallon. Pick off all the yellow leaves. and the white spots look like thrip damage. What nutes are you using
 
water in some mag/epsom salt at 1.5gr per gallon. Pick off all the yellow leaves. and the white spots look like thrip damage. What nutes are you using
Thanks man! Will put the epsom salt in the next watering. Just picked off all the yellowing leaves and with thrived, can I just leave it? Or do I need rock do something about it ASAP?

I’m just using a tomato fertiliser (14-1-9)
And occasionally might add a bloom fertiliser to make sure there isn’t any deficiencies with PK and that is (0-2-14)
Thanks.
 

Bernie420

Well-Known Member
Thanks man! Will put the epsom salt in the next watering. Just picked off all the yellowing leaves and with thrived, can I just leave it? Or do I need rock do something about it ASAP?

I’m just using a tomato fertiliser (14-1-9)
And occasionally might add a bloom fertiliser to make sure there isn’t any deficiencies with PK and that is (0-2-14)
Thanks.
whats with thrived - you mean the thrips. You need to check if i am right then yes you need to do something about it.

I dont like you nute ratio at all cant say why cuz idk but it doesnt seem right to me. maybe somebody can recommend a better ratio/nutrient??
 
whats with thrived - you mean the thrips. You need to check if i am right then yes you need to do something about it.

I dont like you nute ratio at all cant say why cuz idk but it doesnt seem right to me. maybe somebody can recommend a better ratio/nutrient??
I’m 99% sure you’re right I did see some tiny tiny little thing moving on my fan leaves a few days ago and so yes I’m sure it’s thripes. Sorry for the typo before. Any easy methods to get rid of them?

Alright well if anyone has suggestions about nutes I’ll happily take it on. Thank you!
 

curious2garden

Well-Known Mod
Staff member
The thripes and fungus gnats which are in my medium and on some fan leaves that’s the only two pests I’m dealing with right now. The more worrying issue is the problems with my fan leaves...
Spinosad 15 ml/gallon with 1 drop dishwashing liquid. You don't have a nutrient issue you have a pest issue. Work on the thrips and make sure you don't also have mites (use magnification). You could have a secondary light penetration issue but it doesn't look nutrient to me. Good luck.
 
Spinosad 15 ml/gallon with 1 drop dishwashing liquid. You don't have a nutrient issue you have a pest issue. Work on the thrips and make sure you don't also have mites (use magnification). You could have a secondary light penetration issue but it doesn't look nutrient to me. Good luck.
Okay so no mites just thripes but it doesn’t explain the yellow fan leaves falling off and the downward drop of the fan leaves though. I thought this could of been a nute issue.
 

JSheeze

Well-Known Member
It looks like bugs to me, maybe a lil root issue as well. I've had thrips, mites, and fungus gnat all at the same time, when one comes it lowers your plants health and others easily take hold. I had them ironically using a similar grow as yours. I was grinding up tomato fertilizer spikes and adding to my water that I used for the plants. I was in a 7gal metal pot filled with mystery potting soil.

I found their were to many variables to try to decipher what was going on in the roots because I didn't know the makeup of the potting soil or how fast my fertilizer spikes were being absorbed. I flushed I flushed I flushed, but there was so much junk in the mix I had no idea what was going on, what to add, ect. I tried to use vinegar to pH my soil but it was pathetic. Moral of the story, take time to make your own soil or figure out whats in the stuff your buying. Don't cut corners on tomato spikes (or pH chemical) because you don't know how much your giving, and you don't know how fast what parts of them are dissolving. A lot of outdoor guys make their own "Super Soil" designed to give the plant exactly what it needs and when it needs it. Its not expensive to do, I'd recommend looking into it next time. The overall greenness of your leaves suggests your using enough N, imo.

For your nutrient schedule, I've found equal parts NPK in veg to be a good ratio and then for flower you'd want a higher PK value and lower N. Ex, veg, 5-5-5, flower, 1-5-6, or something similar.

How wet is your soil? Dont want it perma-wet or it will rot your roots. Water them in stages (like once a day or every other) and make sure you're not drowning them. Add Southern Ag (D747) to your water, it's loaded with bennies that help keep root rot away (very concentrated, only need 1-3mL per gallon and that'd be plenty, 15-20ml will typically treat 1000ft2, so it's plenty).



As for the bugs... How do you know you don't have mites? Did you use a scope and check under leaves? Russet and cyclomen mites are super small and can't be seen by the naked eye (imo the worst pest to get cause they are like un-killable have to use strong chemicals), you'll need to get a scope if you don't have one, I got a 500 x for cheap that hooks up to your computer so you don't have to look through a lens, check Amazon.

I'd recommend Avid or something of that strength and nature (Forbid, Floramite, Eagle 20) if you're still in veg. I'd spray your plants, and then a few days later water in SF nematodes and buy ladybugs (eat thrips) and predator mites to release to help with the pests. The lady bugs won't stay long but they're cheap and some do stay and help. Don't add your predators till your done applying the pesticide, some people advocate for 2 applications of the pesticide staggered by 5/6 days, either way add your predators a few days after your last pesticide application or it'll kill them. I'd also dust the soil around your stalk with neem seed meal or neem cake (same thing). Also, if you haven't yet, remove white spotted leaves or infested leaves.

So it'd be a 4 part deal, spray w a strong pesticide to wipe out your current pest population (under the leaves, get it good really good, or do 2 applications), wait a couple days and water in SF nematodes to kill any root pest larvae, as well as hang the cucumeris sachets and release the ladybugs, and lastly use neem seed meal at base as a preventative (its hot, high N, so just a dusting, could use DE too but I prefer neem), and next time use 1 cup neem meal per cubic yard or somewhere in there to prevent soil pests from killing roots. I can't quite remember my ratio but I mix in with my coco grows which are notorious for bugs and don't have any to date.

I used to think all these people running IPM (integrated pest management) were cucoo, crazy, but after a few unplanned battles I can say I'm a firm believer now lol, early prevention is way easier to deal with pests compared to trying to curb symptoms later.

I use neem meal (cheap) mixed in with the growing medium, I spray one of my 3 strong chemicals before flower (rotate your spray chemical so bugs don't build a tolerance), I buy cucumeris predator mites (cheap) and lady bugs and release a few days after my spray (the predators will eat pest for me during the flower stage so I don't have to spray toxic chemicals onto bud) and I water in SF nematodes for root aphid (any root pest) because lady bugs can't get to em. If I get flare up despite my efforts I buy Swirskii predator mites, they are more expensive but are more aggressive than the cucumeris and do a good job when needed.

I'd say you got thrips (white spots on leaves) maybe some root rot (drooping discolored leaves) and just looking at those skinny curled leaves it looks like some small mite, russet or cyclomen to me, but can't say for certain.

Grow like you plan on getting bugs. Good luck, I think it'll salvage just fine if you can kill the pests, outdoor is pretty forgiving..
 
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It looks like bugs to me, maybe a lil root issue as well. I've had thrips, mites, and fungus gnat all at the same time, when one comes it lowers your plants health and others easily take hold. I had them ironically using a similar grow as yours. I was grinding up tomato fertilizer spikes and adding to my water that I used for the plants. I was in a 7gal metal pot filled with mystery potting soil.

I found their were to many variables to try to decipher what was going on in the roots because I didn't know the makeup of the potting soil or how fast my fertilizer spikes were being absorbed. I flushed I flushed I flushed, but there was so much junk in the mix I had no idea what was going on, what to add, ect. I tried to use vinegar to pH my soil but it was pathetic. Moral of the story, take time to make your own soil or figure out whats in the stuff your buying. Don't cut corners on tomato spikes (or pH chemical) because you don't know how much your giving, and you don't know how fast what parts of them are dissolving. A lot of outdoor guys make their own "Super Soil" designed to give the plant exactly what it needs and when it needs it. Its not expensive to do, I'd recommend looking into it next time. The overall greenness of your leaves suggests your using enough N, imo.

For your nutrient schedule, I've found equal parts NPK in veg to be a good ratio and then for flower you'd want a higher PK value and lower N. Ex, veg, 5-5-5, flower, 1-5-6, or something similar.

How wet is your soil? Dont want it perma-wet or it will rot your roots. Water them in stages (like once a day or every other) and make sure you're not drowning them. Add Southern Ag (D747) to your water, it's loaded with bennies that help keep root rot away (very concentrated, only need 3-5mL per gallon and that'd be plenty).



As for the bugs... How do you know you don't have mites? Did you use a scope and check under leaves? Russet and cyclomen mites are super small and can't be seen by the naked eye (imo the worst pest to get cause they are like un-killable have to use strong chemicals), you'll need to get a scope if you don't have one, I got a 500 x for cheap that hooks up to your computer so you don't have to look through a lens, check Amazon.

I'd recommend Avid or something of that strength and nature if you're still in veg. I'd spray your plants, and then a few days later water in SF nematodes and buy ladybugs (eat thrips) and predator mites to release to help with the pests. The lady bugs won't stay long but they're cheap and some do stay and help. I'd also dust the soil around your stalk with neem seed meal or neem cake (same thing). Also, if you haven't yet, remove white spotted leaves or infested leaves.

So it'd be a 4 part deal, spray w a strong pesticide to wipe out your current pest population (under the leaves, get it good really good), wait a couple days and water in SF nematodes to kill any root pest larvae, as well as hang the cucumeris sachets and release the ladybugs, and lastly use neem seed meal at base as a preventative (its hot, high N, so just a dusting, could use DE too but I prefer neem), and next time use 1 cup neem meal per cubic yard or somewhere in there to prevent soil pests from killing roots. I can't quite remember my ratio but I mix in with my coco grows which are notorious for bugs and don't have any to date.

I used to think all these people running IPM (integrated pest management) were cucoo, crazy, but after a few unplanned battles I can say I'm a firm believer now lol, early prevention is way easier to deal with pests compared to trying to curb symptoms later.

I use neem meal (cheap) mixed in with the growing medium, I spray one of my 3 strong chemicals before flower (rotate your spray chemical so bugs don't build a tolerance), I buy cucumeris predator mites (cheap) and lady bugs and release a few days after my spray (the predators will eat pest for me during the flower stage so I don't have to spray toxic chemicals onto bud) and I water in SF nematodes for root aphid (any root pest) because lady bugs can't get to em. If I get flare up despite my efforts I buy Swirskii predator mites, they are more expensive but are more aggressive than the cucumeris and do a good job when needed.

I'd say you got thrips (white spots on leaves) maybe some root rot (drooping discolored leaves) and just looking at those skinny curled leaves it looks like some small mite, russet or cyclomen to me, but can't say for certain.

Grow like you plan on getting bugs. Good luck, I think it'll salvage just fine if you can kill the pests, outdoor is pretty forgiving..
Down that was a beautiful read! Thank you for all of that and the time you spent to write that all. I have taken notes of what I need to pick up and will do so tomorrow and give it all a go for sure. Again thanks so much man and I’ll get back if the issue is getting better or not. Hopefully it will go away with these preventative methods. Cheers!
 

JSheeze

Well-Known Member
Down that was a beautiful read! Thank you for all of that and the time you spent to write that all. I have taken notes of what I need to pick up and will do so tomorrow and give it all a go for sure. Again thanks so much man and I’ll get back if the issue is getting better or not. Hopefully it will go away with these preventative methods. Cheers!
How's it going?
 
How's it going?
Still some persistent yellowing on fan leaves. It’s mid summer here still so plant is still in veg. Been adding lots of magnesium sulphate and got rid of all the bugs but the yellowing with some black and brown spots continues. I have watered with N and used bloom fertilisers and mixed them all together. I will be going away for around 2 months so I won’t be able to PH water or use fertilisers so I’m just going to use a all purpose 7-7-7 before I go away feed it we’ll and put the water timer on for every few days.
 

Attachments

Bernie420

Well-Known Member
Thanks man! Will put the epsom salt in the next watering. Just picked off all the yellowing leaves and with thrived, can I just leave it? Or do I need rock do something about it ASAP?

I’m just using a tomato fertiliser (14-1-9)
And occasionally might add a bloom fertiliser to make sure there isn’t any deficiencies with PK and that is (0-2-14)
Thanks.
these nute ratios suck imo wheres the phosphorous at?

what microbe product are you using?

What ppm are you feeding at.?
 

Bernie420

Well-Known Member
Still some persistent yellowing on fan leaves. It’s mid summer here still so plant is still in veg. Been adding lots of magnesium sulphate and got rid of all the bugs but the yellowing with some black and brown spots continues. I have watered with N and used bloom fertilisers and mixed them all together. I will be going away for around 2 months so I won’t be able to PH water or use fertilisers so I’m just going to use a all purpose 7-7-7 before I go away feed it we’ll and put the water timer on for every few days.

When you say lots of mag what does that mean?
The brown spots are a p deficiency.
Plant looks worse that it did before. What size pot is that , might be root bound, ?
The plant stay in that spot all day? Just how hot does that wall get during the hottest part of the day.
You provide a sunscreen for the hottest part of the day?

Pik off all the dead yellow leaves

What ppm are you feeding at.?

what did you do to get rid of the thrips.
 
When you say lots of mag what does that mean?
The brown spots are a p deficiency.
Plant looks worse that it did before. What size pot is that , might be root bound, ?
The plant stay in that spot all day? Just how hot does that wall get during the hottest part of the day.
You provide a sunscreen for the hottest part of the day?

Pik off all the dead yellow leaves

What ppm are you feeding at.?

what did you do to get rid of the thrips.
Most definitely is root bound for sure. It’s been in that pot for awhile now but it’s the biggest pot I have so will need to go out and get another bigger one tomorrow. The roots are coming out the bottom as well so yes it could likely be the pot size. With the mag I put 5g per L of water so 6l of water with 5g per L.
Been adding bloom fertiliser which is high in P so I’m not sure what’s going on there.

The plant does stay mostly in that spot but do move it onto grass every few days and do turn it around. It would likely get very hot as some days heat gets to 30 degrees and high 20s.
 
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