Thriving to Struggling Overnight — Need Eyes on My Setup

G

GrindMind

Member
Not exactly sure what’s going on—things were looking great with the plants, and then suddenly… they weren’t. Nothing obvious changed, but here’s a little context. I’m growing Skunk #1 from seed in a 1-gallon fabric nursery pot using a 70/30 coco-perlite mix, feeding with Jack’s 321. Everything was going smooth until I switched from top-feeding to the Tray2Grow AutoPot system. At first, no issues, but then I noticed the plants started looking a bit off—first about an hour before lights out, then it became two, and eventually they just never perked up at all.

Thinking they might’ve been rootbound, I transplanted into 3-gallon square fabric pots about 3–4 days ago, but they still look the same. The pots always feel heavy, so I know they’re getting water—maybe too much? It’s confusing because I figured the AutoPot system and fabric pots would help avoid overwatering. If anyone has any insights, I’d really appreciate it. I’m open to ideas, happy to answer questions, and willing to try different things to figure this out.

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Are you using only coco and perlite? List the brand bag as some are listed as coco but are not really just coco/perlite. But if it is, the optimal way to grow is to feed at least once a day. Overwatering is not a concern because coco/perlite provides the roots enough oxygen even at full saturation.

When you grow in 1g coco/perlite, you want the plants to get root bound when you top feed dtw (if you're not planning on potting up at any point in the grow). I grow in 1g coco and feed multiple times per day all the way to harvest. With a bound plant, it just basically becomes hydroponic and the coco just functions to keep the plant upright.

That said, you can use 3g or 5g pots. You won't need to fertigate as often if you don't want to, but should still hit it at least once a day at lights on.

With that said, what was the EC and pH of the jacks you were feeding? How often were you feeding? Were you giving food and then plain water (if you were, do not do this - only give water with nutrients). Were you letting the plant dryback? Please answer these questions as they're important to know.

What you should do right now is fix up a nutrient solution of about 1.0 EC at about 5.8 pH. Top feed through the plant and collect the first bit of runoff in a clean container and measure the EC of that. That will give you an idea of what is going on with the rootzone as bottom feeding can lead to EC spikes and if you were doing drybacks when doing top feeding will also lead to EC spikes. Give the EC runoff number here.

After you collect your runoff EC for testing, keep feeding that 1.0 EC through the top until your runoff comes out 1.0 (or thereabouts). Now it's been basically reset.
 
Person above me pretty much nailed it. I do dtw coco and so were you but you switched to a whole new method. One I wouldnt recommend because of what was already said. At that point Id just look into flood and drain if you really want to bottom feed.

Interesting, I never quite realized this but did see people do it from time to time. Never thought about it like I just did.
 
There's been guys on here that feed to no runoff. Seems to work for them, but i don't really buy it. Whatever the plant doesn't take up, will accumulate in the medium.You may be able to feed light, but i feel the accumulation still occurs. I'll admit I've never tried though. Id be too worried.
 
ec121 said:
Are you using only coco and perlite? List the brand bag as some are listed as coco but are not really just coco/perlite. But if it is, the optimal way to grow is to feed at least once a day. Overwatering is not a concern because coco/perlite provides the roots enough oxygen even at full saturation.

When you grow in 1g coco/perlite, you want the plants to get root bound when you top feed dtw (if you're not planning on potting up at any point in the grow). I grow in 1g coco and feed multiple times per day all the way to harvest. With a bound plant, it just basically becomes hydroponic and the coco just functions to keep the plant upright.

That said, you can use 3g or 5g pots. You won't need to fertigate as often if you don't want to, but should still hit it at least once a day at lights on.

With that said, what was the EC and pH of the jacks you were feeding? How often were you feeding? Were you giving food and then plain water (if you were, do not do this - only give water with nutrients). Were you letting the plant dryback? Please answer these questions as they're important to know.

What you should do right now is fix up a nutrient solution of about 1.0 EC at about 5.8 pH. Top feed through the plant and collect the first bit of runoff in a clean container and measure the EC of that. That will give you an idea of what is going on with the rootzone as bottom feeding can lead to EC spikes and if you were doing drybacks when doing top feeding will also lead to EC spikes. Give the EC runoff number here.

After you collect your runoff EC for testing, keep feeding that 1.0 EC through the top until your runoff comes out 1.0 (or thereabouts). Now it's been basically reset.
Click to expand...
1750365384105.png


This is the medium I’ve been using, and since my setup runs on AutoPots, I don’t control how often they’re fed—they’re consistently supplied and take in what they need. I had been feeding at an EC of around 1.2, but I’m starting to think that may have been too high. I recently picked up a BlueLab Pulse, and it read an EC of 2.0 near the bottom of the fabric pot. I’ve since diluted the reservoir a bit, but I’m considering doing a full flush just to be safe.
 
medidedicated said:
Person above me pretty much nailed it. I do dtw coco and so were you but you switched to a whole new method. One I wouldnt recommend because of what was already said. At that point Id just look into flood and drain if you really want to bottom feed.

Interesting, I never quite realized this but did see people do it from time to time. Never thought about it like I just did.
Click to expand...
Autopots recommends starting as top feed until roots get established. Then switch over to the autopot method.
 
GrindMind said:
Autopots recommends starting as top feed until roots get established. Then switch over to the autopot method.
Click to expand...
Yea thats my way of saying idk what Im talking about so ignore me lol. People do what youre doing its just interesting how quick it turns to a new method. Simply autopot coco is what Id call it. Id see youtubers do it. They would add myco but thats just not needed in it lol. Also EWC or some shit like that.
 
Have you checked all your autopots valves are seated right and all the silicone plugs are seated so they're square on so that they are working right?

Did you put two inch of hydroton in the bottom?
I'm not sure they still recommend that, but they certainly used to.

Do you have anything circulating the res so it remains well oxygenated?
That seems like a good idea to me.
Though I know its not part of the system.

@Star Dog , any other suggestions, I know you've been running autopots for a while.
 
I watched a video to get a general understanding of its flood/drain system. Its supposed to give the plant time to breathe for at least an hour before it floods the tray again. From my experience, your plant looks over watered and a little hungry for more N. Check to make sure that your system is functioning properly. I would also double check the ph of the reservoir, and make sure your ph pen is properly calibrated.

 
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