Second Grow, Same Problem

StrawberryYields said:

I have one successful harvest under my belt now and decided to pop two more from the same bag seed (Strawberry Fields).

The biggest difference between the two grows was the medium I started in and I think it's where my biggest problems are. For my first grow I started in 100% FoxFarm Ocean forest. By the time it was in its last container, I ran out of the original bag and had to buy more. Hydro store was out of OF so I grabbed ProMix. Towards the end of flower I was seeing lime green/yellowing leaves, leaves got nasty brown spots in the middle.

I know the difference between the two soils, one being "hot" soil and the other being a neutral medium. I don't think I supplemented the ProMix correctly and it's causing these problems. First I thought not enough Nitrogen, but was so late into flower I didn't see anything I could do. Now I'm still vegging on my second grow and it's already happening.

First grow started in sunlight, switched to CFL, then finished with a blurple LED. The thing grew wildly believe it or not, and I walked away with 3.38oz.

Having started growing in a hot mix, I'm realizing I never had to worry about mixing different nutes together. I only had to supplement if I saw something lacking (which didn't happen a lot even thought my light sucked). So I need some help.

For nutes I've mostly been trying to stick to FoxFarm Big Bloom and Grow Big. I've got Mykos in the soil, and I've hit it once or twice with Calyx Magnum by Humboldt for Cal/Mag problems I thought it was having. I recently transferred from a 3G to 5G fabric pot and I added some Microbe Life's All-in-One (0.5 - 0.5 - 0.5) to try and get the micros it needs. Nothing seems to be helping, though.

I've attached a picture of a pretty bad leaf. I could really use a hand, I'm trying to be less dependent on hot mixes and want to learn to have more control over my soil. Any advice and tricks or tips are much appreciated.

(Working on getting more whole-plants pics.)

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hotrodharley said:

Adjust pH to around 6.0-6.2 and keep nitrogen low.

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JohnDee said:

Hi Harley,
Long time...hope you're well. I was curious about this stement. The N, not the ph. What's the rationale for that?
Just curious and always like to learn.

Still trying to pop old seeds...and building veg area. Bloom room almost done.

Strawberry Fields...Promix, as Harley pointed out, is a whole different type of media. Not soil. Best not to make such a radical change mid-stream. Good luck...
JD

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hotrodharley said:

In nature nitrogen is the element most quickly depleted. That's part of leaves changing color. We try to imitate nature and nature doesn't throw nitrogen at everything. Legumes and lightning the 2 main sources for fixing nitrogen in soil.

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JohnDee said:

OK, yes I agree with what you said. So your comment was across the board...and not just aimed at promix. That was what puzzled me. Cheers dude,
JD

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hotrodharley said:

Straight Pro Mix doesn't have coco. It has no nutrient value. Treat like hydro basically. Water by container weights and not a schedule. Use cal mag even with tap water occasionally. Feed with every watering if you can refrain from overwatering. Adjust pH to around 6.0-6.2 and keep nitrogen low.

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JohnDee said:

Hi Harley,
Long time...hope you're well. I was curious about this stement. The N, not the ph. What's the rationale for that?
Just curious and always like to learn.

Still trying to pop old seeds...and building veg area. Bloom room almost done.

Strawberry Fields...Promix, as Harley pointed out, is a whole different type of media. Not soil. Best not to make such a radical change mid-stream. Good luck...
JD

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StrawberryYields said:

Thanks, gents! That was entirely my mistake. I'm not sure why I was thinking that ProMix was also a soil. I just looked at my packaging and it's almost all peat.

I had no idea that these other mediums were closer to hydro than soil for feeding. I'd have starved the poor bastards at this rate lol

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