I can’t seem to figure out the problem

These plants have been in veg for 2 and half months now. This problem has persisted this whole grow. Soil is happy frog 50%, 25% perlite, 25% ewc. I use Gaia green dry amendments. Overwatering is not a issue cause I let them start showing signs of drying out before watering. Also they’re well fed. I was told in organics you don’t have to PH your water it’s But I’ve never wanted to risk it so I ph water to 6.3. I’ve been testing my soil and it’s been 5.6-5.7. Could it be my soil causing this problem?

weedking24 said:

These plants have been in veg for 2 and half months now. This problem has persisted this whole grow. Soil is happy frog 50%, 25% perlite, 25% ewc. I use Gaia green dry amendments. Overwatering is not a issue cause I let them start showing signs of drying out before watering. Also they’re well fed. I was told in organics you don’t have to PH your water it’s But I’ve never wanted to risk it so I ph water to 6.3. I’ve been testing my soil and it’s been 5.6-5.7. Could it be my soil causing this problem? View attachment 5190712View attachment 5190713View attachment 5190714

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side note. They’ve been stretching the whole time. Branches and main stock purple on most

you shouldnt really let organic soil dry out, soil moisture is important for soil microbes to be happy. Your pot sizes are a little small for water only soil too.

Magnesium deficiency in most pics

weedking24 said:

These plants have been in veg for 2 and half months now. This problem has persisted this whole grow. Soil is happy frog 50%, 25% perlite, 25% ewc. I use Gaia green dry amendments. Overwatering is not a issue cause I let them start showing signs of drying out before watering. Also they’re well fed. I was told in organics you don’t have to PH your water it’s But I’ve never wanted to risk it so I ph water to 6.3. I’ve been testing my soil and it’s been 5.6-5.7. Could it be my soil causing this problem? View attachment 5190712View attachment 5190713View attachment 5190714

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Looks like K deficiency. 5.6-5.7 is low. Stop using the pH down acids. How are you testing your soil pH anyways?

This might sound off the wall but I think this looks like potassium toxicity.
both magnesium and potassium are mobile nutrients and would not show on newer growth? I’m not saying I’m right, just throwing ideas out. If your ph is truly 5.6 that is a problem also but that seems unlikely.

Also causes acidic soil. Maybe 5.6 is true?

weedking24 said:

These plants have been in veg for 2 and half months now. This problem has persisted this whole grow. Soil is happy frog 50%, 25% perlite, 25% ewc. I use Gaia green dry amendments. Overwatering is not a issue cause I let them start showing signs of drying out before watering. Also they’re well fed. I was told in organics you don’t have to PH your water it’s But I’ve never wanted to risk it so I ph water to 6.3. I’ve been testing my soil and it’s been 5.6-5.7. Could it be my soil causing this problem? View attachment 5190712View attachment 5190713View attachment 5190714

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My thoughts on this, at least from your description and pics, is you have something causing a nutrient uptake issue. If you're plants are unable to absorb nutrients properly they can show signs of deficiencies, potentially multiple. In the rootzone you're really shooting for a balance of things, just trying to make something work doesn't nessecerily equate to success.
Things that can cause nutrient uptake problems include watering problems(both too much and too little), pH problems, excessive nutrients/built up of salts, and things that impact the roots in general, ect. Bottom line is if you're roots aren't happy the growth won't be happy.

PadawanWarrior said:

Looks like K deficiency. 5.6-5.7 is low. Stop using the pH down acids. How are you testing your soil pH anyways?

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I have a blue labs soil tester. My last watering I watered with 7.2 and after next day it read 5.9 still. I check calibration and it’s right on. Does it take time for the soils ph to come back up after being so low?

weedking24 said:

I have a blue labs soil tester. My last watering I watered with 7.2 and after next day it read 5.9 still. I check calibration and it’s right on. Does it take time for the soils ph to come back up after being so low?

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Ya, you could add something to raise it faster though like oyster shell flour or lime. I try not to use lime though. Just the way I do it.

Also watering with higher pH could help a little. I water with my well water that's like 7.8 or so and last time I checked my soil pH it was like 6.2 or something.

How much of those dry amendments have you used?

Chasing pH in soil will lead you down a rabbit hole. Stop with the pH to 6.3.

xtsho said:

How much of those dry amendments have you used?

Chasing pH in soil will lead you down a rabbit hole. Stop with the pH to 6.3.

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He said his pH was 5.6-5.7. Don't you think that can cause issues with K uptake?

PadawanWarrior said:

He said his pH was 5.6-5.7. Don't you think that can cause issues with K uptake?

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That's why I said to stop lowering the pH of his water.

The bluelab soil tester pens take several readings to get an accurate take. You would see the reading go up right after watering and swing downwards back towards the soil reading if you are getting accurate numbers.

I also saw the K def in the last pic especially but believe the main issue is a need for more magnesium. I grow in supersoil I make and often find no matter how much Mg or in what form it's in my soil that some magnesium added tends to help.

I caution trying to get accurate soil ph readings and adjusting from there. I usually ph to 6.5 and let it swing as it chooses. I do believe setting water ph in soil is a helpful thing in many cases.

Another consideration is simply recalibrating the pen and rechecking your water supply and the soil. Put a half tsp of epsom salt in a gallon of water and mix it and let it sit. Then check ph and do your adjustments and check your ph of the water you plan to use.

Finding out your meter is off or that your baseline for plain water is off can mess up the whole thing.