Plants getting Pale / Yellowing - 3 weeks flower

Hi All,

First time poster here, but I've learned so much reading these forums over the last 6 months. I am grateful to all the folks that have provided expertise and opinions over the years - even those that don't seem to have the best recommendations, so that those more experienced growers can provide refuting feedback .

I am 3 weeks into flower on my first tent grow. I am growing one Elvis plant, and two Don Carlos. I have grown Bonsais, and am happy with the training and spread I have achieved with my midgets. These are soil grows using Coast of Maine Platinum, mixed with approx. 30% dried rice husks. I use an HLG 600w Rspec LED, and have used FF nutes (trio) since about week 6 in a full dose every other watering (once a week) - so essentially half of the recommended dosage. I always adjust pH to around 6.4 whether watering with tap water or nutrient water. My light has been close to the recommended height throughout.

I have noticed some slow and even yellowing occurring in the two bigger plants over the last couple of weeks, and was hoping to get some thoughts as to why that may be. I have slowed down on the higher Nitrogen fertilizer according to the feed chart, only using it once every 2 weeks. As the flowering has gotten further in, I have increased the light from 80-90%, and then 90-100%. The buds are developing nicely as you can see, but the leaves on 2 of the plants are not looking as healthy as they could. Just very even yellowing occurring. The runt plant (one of the Don Carlos) is still looking healthy green however! This plant is about 2" shorter than her sisters, and has really tight node spacing (almost too close). My watering has been spot on I believe, but I am just learning that they will drink more in flower, so aiming to increase watering from 2x per week to maybe 3x per week. I don't have any bugs in the tent as far as I can tell. Temp is running at around 77F avg, with humidity steady in the mid 40s. Lastly, the Elvis plant (Sativa dominant) runs off much faster than her sisters - I think it just has a much tighter root ball holding the soil together. She runs off more than a third of the gallon I give her every 3.5 days, but is regularly the driest of the three come watering time.

So I am phishing for some some thoughts - Is the yellowing somewhat normal as flowering gets going? Is it perhaps the slight increase in wattage applied - given the 2 inch difference in height? Am I killing them with salt nutes, or starving them? Could it just be watering frequency? What do y'all think? Posting photos below.

I'm not an expert on the FF line but those plants look like they need more nitrogen. Are the tip burns new or old ? definitely increase watering to 3x a week minimum. I usually have my HLG 550 at 100% 6-12 inches away from my flowering plants never experienced light burn from it.

Tip burns are pretty new. I can try lowering incrementally, but 12 inches seems low for the spread of these girls. the outsides wouldn't get any light. HLG recommends 28-30 inches at flower, which is just under 1000 in the center. I have seen some say over 1000 will burn, but there are always differing opinions it seems. Definitely going to increase watering.

Looks N deficient.

Soil grown plants will do better with daily waterings. Useing plain tap water( no phing). You want to ph your nutrient solutions but expensive soil like coast of Maine should have you covered for the most part on nutrients if you treat the soil better.

thisis where growers start to chase their tails with bottles in soil. The buffet is HUGE in your containers. Tons of food. Just every steam lid is shut and locked the fuck up. Cause employees (microherd) all walked off the job. Some asshole boss only gives em water every 4 days and they are sick of it.
Just playing around be you get the point. I’d you don’t treat soil like the living thing it is soil will never do well for ya. And vice versa….

Also what’s your night time temp?

green_machine_two9er said:

Soil grown plants will do better with daily waterings. Useing plain tap water( no phing). You want to ph your nutrient solutions but expensive soil like coast of Maine should have you covered for the most part on nutrients if you treat the soil better.

thisis where growers start to chase their tails with bottles in soil. The buffet is HUGE in your containers. Tons of food. Just every steam lid is shut and locked the fuck up. Cause employees (microherd) all walked off the job. Some asshole boss only gives em water every 4 days and they are sick of it.
Just playing around be you get the point. I’d you don’t treat soil like the living thing it is soil will never do well for ya. And vice versa….

Click to expand...

I just love over the top metaphors. I'll be thinking about it when I water later today. That is all.

FF trio is low in magnesium. Try adding some epsom salt to water/feed solutions. The progression will stop and slowly she'll get some of her green back

Thanks All! Night temp is low 70's.