What did I do wrong with my grow medium?

M

MadButcher

Well-Known Member
The other week I started my second grow, using 3 parts promix xp and 1 part perlite. My plants all look droopy, and have been for over a week. The mix dries really slow and seams to take in a lot of water till I get any run off at all.
I wondered if the droop was from the water but I ph it to 5.8 - 6.0.
The plants look healthy aside from the droop and when I up potted yesterday I checked the roots and they looked good too.
Any ideas would be appreciated.
 
Indacouch

Indacouch

Well-Known Member
Pics would help ....and how much are you watering the pot compared to it's size ?? .....also how long between waterings are you going ???...info
 
bobtokes

bobtokes

Well-Known Member
sounds like you have a small plant in a big pot if its taking that long to dry out, so the roots are being starved of oxygen
 
M

MadButcher

Well-Known Member
I'll put up pics when lights come on. I feed fox farm trio every third watering at 1/2 strength and I water until I get runoff of roughly 20 percent.

It took the pots about 3 days to dry
 
M

MadButcher

Well-Known Member
bobtokes said:
sound like you have a small plant in a big pot if its taking that long to dry out, so the roots are being starved of oxygen
Click to expand...
The pot where it started to droop was a 1/2 gallon pot. Worked fine that way in my last grow. I've not watered since I up potted and there's no change of droop
 
twostrokenut

twostrokenut

Well-Known Member
How long does the 1/2 gallon pot take to dry out......like noticeably lighter in weight when you pick it up?
 
M

MadButcher

Well-Known Member
I noticed something tho. When I splash water in this, itll absorb where it hit and then just sit there. Like the surrounding area is not taking up any from it. I'll take a pic shortly to show what I mean.

Also, the pots they where in when droop started are absolutely ok in size. Had a nice root mass without binding. Roots came out the bottom a few days ago so I up potted into their final homes. 4.6 gal air pots
Shit just doesn't seem to drain well, even with 25% perlite.
 
bobtokes

bobtokes

Well-Known Member
have you used that soil before ?, i dont like perlite myself i prefer to use growstones gs-2, i think perlite holds too much water
 
Chunky Stool

Chunky Stool

Well-Known Member
Not sure what's going on, but droopy plants are usually a symptom of overwatering and/or too much food.
It's common to see what looks like a magnesium deficiency if you've got root probs from being too wet too long.
A foliar of kelp & humic acid might hit the spot. Floralicious Plus by GH works great as a foliar. It's pricey but super concentrated & lasts a long time.
 
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
Are they on a stone or tile floor keeping the root or pot too cold? Just a thought. I like perlite it helps drainage usually.
The mix your using is a sphagnum peat mixed with coco?
 
bobtokes

bobtokes

Well-Known Member
coreywebster said:
Are they on a stone or tile floor keeping the root or pot too cold? Just a thought. I like perlite it helps drainage usually.
The mix your using is a sphagnum peat mixed with coco?
Click to expand...
good point about the stone floor, i have a soil warming cable under my grow, and i have my plants on upturned saucers so there not in direct contact with the floor to stop them cooking,
 
M

MadButcher

Well-Known Member
coreywebster said:
Are they on a stone or tile floor keeping the root or pot too cold? Just a thought. I like perlite it helps drainage usually.
The mix your using is a sphagnum peat mixed with coco?
Click to expand...
They have been in saucers on a tent floor which sits on laminate/wood flooring and not in a basement either.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top