Problem with leaves

arnic

New Member
Hi there.
Have problem with my firs grow - I'm in a 6th week of flowering stage with Blue Mystic, and all of the leaves are starting to die off. I know that's OK if the lower leaves die off in the ending stage of flowering, but I worie that too much leaves are getting brown. Maybe its normal for this strain to get rid of the leaves before harvest - have anybody experienced this?
 

Alienwidow

Well-Known Member
The plants showing calcium deficiency. Unfortunately you dont want to be adding calcium to the grow at this point in flower. I actually cut calcium out this late in the cycle. Next time add more before week six of flower. Out of curiosity how much calmag or substitute were you running?
 

arnic

New Member
The plants showing calcium deficiency. Unfortunately you dont want to be adding calcium to the grow at this point in flower. I actually cut calcium out this late in the cycle. Next time add more before week six of flower. Out of curiosity how much calmag or substitute were you running?
I run as usual as from the first day my fertaizer two cups in 5l water and with that mixture I watered them. Till the last watering time everything was great. Today I watered them with plane tap water. Much of the leaves are getting brown and leaves near buds aswell - what can I do to stop this? And can it affecf my buds? Would be very sad to lose all my harvest at this point this very close to the end.
 

az2000

Well-Known Member
To me it looks like a ph problem. I'm thinking salt buildup. I always think of that in flower. If you could measure your runoff ppms/ec it might rule that in or out. If you performed the "NCSU Pour-through runoff method" it might indicate something about your soil ph (which, IMO, is affected by salt buildup, and the runoff ppms would show that more reliably.).

If it were me, I would feed mild nutes next time (1/4 what you normally do) with 50-100% runoff. Feed half-strength in subsequent feedings.

Part of what makes me think overfeeding is the glossy green leaves? The orange speckles in the veins look like ph to me (not just Ca def). And, salt buildup usually causes acidic soil.
 

Alienwidow

Well-Known Member
I run as usual as from the first day my fertaizer two cups in 5l water and with that mixture I watered them. Till the last watering time everything was great. Today I watered them with plane tap water. Much of the leaves are getting brown and leaves near buds aswell - what can I do to stop this? And can it affecf my buds? Would be very sad to lose all my harvest at this point this very close to the end.
What? You run two cups of calmag? How much calmag do you use?
 

arnic

New Member
What? You run two cups of calmag? How much calmag do you use?
No it's not the calmag, it's universal fertilizer for vegetables wich I used for my plants. They where healthy and green till now. I dont have the special fertilizers for marijuana I used what I could get in a store. Didn't buy a ph tester aswell couse my plants looked healthy and I thought everything was OK with them.
 

az2000

Well-Known Member
I dont have the special fertilizers for marijuana I used what I could get in a store.
If you have a link to those products and how you use them (the quantities used) it might reveal something. You don't need special (cannabis themed) nutrients. But, it's easy to get the wrong NPK ratio (or strength).

Salt buildup often affects plants quickly like that. It seems to reach a tipping point and goes bad very fast.

Do you have a ppm/ec meter?
 

arnic

New Member
If you have a link to those products and how you use them (the quantities used) it might reveal something. You don't need special (cannabis themed) nutrients. But, it's easy to get the wrong NPK ratio (or strength).

Salt buildup often affects plants quickly like that. It seems to reach a tipping point and goes bad very fast.

Do you have a ppm/ec meter?
No unfortunatwly I dont have ppm/ec meter, I didn't buy any tools couse my grow went well till now. So you think watering with cleaner water should help? I'm afraid if this doesnt affct my buds, cause it's max 3 weeks till harwest and it goes bad realy fast right now. :( I'm thinking if it doesnt get any better or stop I will cut them down as they are not to lose them, but they are not 100% ready. Here some pics.
 

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az2000

Well-Known Member
No unfortunatwly I dont have ppm/ec meter, I didn't buy any tools couse my grow went well till now. So you think watering with cleaner water should help? I'm afraid if this doesnt affct my buds, cause it's max 3 weeks till harwest and it goes bad realy fast right now. :( I'm thinking if it doesnt get any better or stop I will cut them down as they are not to lose them, but they are not 100% ready. Here some pics.
Without more info it's like shooting in the dark. In that case, I would feed next time with weak nutes and a lot of runoff (modest flush), then half strength going forward (for awhile).

Can you buy an ppm or ec meter?

Can you give me the details about the nutrients you're using and how much you use of each?

Without information, I assume salt buildup and acidic soil. Adding some fine-textured dolomite lime to the top of the soil might help (but takes 10-14 days to do anything). You cultivate 1tbsp/gal (of soil) into the top and let it water in over time. (But, reduced nutrients with 100% runoff should be a better solution).

Be sure to let the soil dry very well before doing anything more. It's common to chase these things, watering/feeding/treating too frequently. The soil's ph rises as it dries. So, chasing a problem that way can hold the ph lower, adding to the problem.

They don't look bad. I doubt you're going to lose them. Less food, let the soil dry between waterings. You should be ok even if it doesn't improve.
 

arnic

New Member
I'll post the nutrients later. In this case I will need to buy ppm meter. But what about buds, can this affect them?

Without more info it's like shooting in the dark. In that case, I would feed next time with weak nutes and a lot of runoff (modest flush), then half strength going forward (for awhile).

Can you buy an ppm or ec meter?

Can you give me the details about the nutrients you're using and how much you use of each?

Without information, I assume salt buildup and acidic soil. Adding some fine-textured dolomite lime to the top of the soil might help (but takes 10-14 days to do anything). You cultivate 1tbsp/gal (of soil) into the top and let it water in over time. (But, reduced nutrients with 100% runoff should be a better solution).

Be sure to let the soil dry very well before doing anything more. It's common to chase these things, watering/feeding/treating too frequently. The soil's ph rises as it dries. So, chasing a problem that way can hold the ph lower, adding to the problem.

They don't look bad. I doubt you're going to lose them. Less food, let the soil dry between waterings. You should be ok even if it doesn't improve.
 

az2000

Well-Known Member
I'll post the nutrients later. In this case I will need to buy ppm meter. But what about buds, can this affect them?
My first salt-buildup problem was a massive disaster. I was pouring hydrated lime into the soil trying to raise the ph. (I could find some pictures.). Much worse than yours, and it was like nursing the plant along for a month. I had to foliar feed a lot because of the nutrient lockout. (I'm not recommending you do that. It's a risk of but rot.).

That plant produced some of the *best* bud yet (taste, potency).

I use the HM EZ-TDS (about $15 US on Amazon). The TDS-3 is a little better at $20-$25. It has automatic temperature calibration. But, for what we do, that's not important. If you're in europe, you might have only EC meters available to you. HM makes a "com" model which displays both numbers (if you have $50 to spend).

You can calibrate these with 1g table salt in 1L distilled water. (That makes 1000ppm).

My gut feeling is that a modest flush with weak nutes, then weaker nutes will get it through harvest. But, the info about what you feed will clear things up more.
 

arnic

New Member
My first salt-buildup problem was a massive disaster. I was pouring hydrated lime into the soil trying to raise the ph. (I could find some pictures.). Much worse than yours, and it was like nursing the plant along for a month. I had to foliar feed a lot because of the nutrient lockout. (I'm not recommending you do that. It's a risk of but rot.).

That plant produced some of the *best* bud yet (taste, potency).

I use the HM EZ-TDS (about $15 US on Amazon). The TDS-3 is a little better at $20-$25. It has automatic temperature calibration. But, for what we do, that's not important. If you're in europe, you might have only EC meters available to you. HM makes a "com" model which displays both numbers (if you have $50 to spend).

You can calibrate these with 1g table salt in 1L distilled water. (That makes 1000ppm).

My gut feeling is that a modest flush with weak nutes, then weaker nutes will get it through harvest. But, the info about what you feed will clear things up more.
So heres what I'm giveing to them - instruction say mix one cup in 5l of water, I usualy mixed one and a half cup. So will tray to flush them tomorow and then leave still for a couple a days. Many thanks for advices, realy apreciate it. ;)
 

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az2000

Well-Known Member
If I understand correctly, you mixed 1.5 cups (355ml) in 5 liters. That is 71ml per liter.

Using the info from the bottle, that is 16,162 ppm. (People usually feed 400-800 ppm).

So, something's not correct. I have heard some countries list the nutrients as % of volume, not % of weight. Maybe something like that is happening.
 

az2000

Well-Known Member
I was just thinking, did you mean 1.5 Tabelspoons? (1 tablespoon = 15 ml). That would produce 728 ppm in 7 L. (3.2ml in 1 L produces 728ppm).

That sounds reasonable. I feed 20-25% weaker. But, using hydro nutrients in soilless I fed 20-30% stronger.
 

Alienwidow

Well-Known Member
No unfortunatwly I dont have ppm/ec meter, I didn't buy any tools couse my grow went well till now. So you think watering with cleaner water should help? I'm afraid if this doesnt affct my buds, cause it's max 3 weeks till harwest and it goes bad realy fast right now. :( I'm thinking if it doesnt get any better or stop I will cut them down as they are not to lose them, but they are not 100% ready. Here some pics.
Well it looks like youve done an amazing job raising thise plants so far. Since you didnt add a calcium or magnesium supplement (calmag) and theres clearly dots on the veins, im pretty damn sure your lookimg at a calcium deficiency. I looked at the fertilizer blend your using and it contains magnesium but no calcium. But as i said before calcium and nitrogen pretty much get cut out twards the end so just add some calcium next round and you should be golden.

Personally i never ph, havent in five years and never had a problem. I do agree with the suggestion of a ppm or ec meter. They really do wonders, and you can measure the runoff to see if the root zone is holding salts. Besides calcium id say your doing just fine raising those plants. Dont change anything besides the Ca. They will be just fine.
 

arnic

New Member
I was just thinking, did you mean 1.5 Tabelspoons? (1 tablespoon = 15 ml). That would produce 728 ppm in 7 L. (3.2ml in 1 L produces 728ppm).

That sounds reasonable. I feed 20-25% weaker. But, using hydro nutrients in soilless I fed 20-30% stronger.
It's one cup (lid) of that bottle, it's about one tablespoon. So you think my fertilizition was too strong?
 

az2000

Well-Known Member
It's one cup (lid) of that bottle, it's about one tablespoon. So you think my fertilizition was too strong?
Without a precise measurement of the nutrients you fed, it's only guessing. The reason I leaned toward the possibility of overfeeding is because it's common for new growers, and it often appears as salt-buildup in early flower. And, your Ca def looks a little different to me, like a ph problem (which usually arises from salt buildup).

If you get a ppm meter for your next grow you can watch the runoff ppm trend and that would be useful info if/when this kind of thing happens. It wouldn't hurt to feed with 30-50% runoff when you treat the Ca def. That would reduce salt buildup if it's happening (without going too crazy with "flushing.").

You can treat Ca def using inexpensive and commonly-available gypsum.
 
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