A little help needed - New to DWC and having troubles figuring this out

Hello, How is everyone?

I'm having some issues and am really unsure how to deal with them.. These are my first 2 DWC plants, I am following the "Useless" feeding schedule (I'll throw a link in at the bottom incase you aren't familiar).

Heres the rundown: My plants have been doing great till about 4-5 days ago, I started noticing the lower leaves yellowing with dark spots on them, its progressively getting worse, first it was only on the plant to the right, now its showing on both plants. I am really confused... looks like potassium difficiency if I followed the "Diagnose your plants" websites properly.

Also, I believe I have root rot, but I have done everything in my power to prevent it, very confused.

My Set up:
- 1 plant / 5 gal bucket - Hydroton+General Hydroponics Nutes. Currently On Week 2 of Useless Schedule: 10ml Grow / 5ml Micro / 3ml Bloom per gallon of water - Currently @ 850PPM

-I adjusted the ph to 5.5 a day after water change, right now its sitting at 5.9-6.2 (variance between buckets), I use GH PH Down for lowering PH. I change my buckets water every 2 weeks at the latest, sometimes even earlier.

-I am running 2 air stones per bucket running off of one 971GPH commercial air pump. I've been told by the guy at the hydro shop that hes run much more on less, can this be confirmed? do I need more air? It looks like its majorly boiling in there. Whats the optimal amount of air for a 5 gal bucket dwc?

-I add 2ml of 32% H2O2 per gallon of water - this is 8-10ml per bucket, each 3-4 days when I recheck PH. Bottle says I can add up to 3ml per gallon but was afraid, as with most nutrients, they tell you to use alot.

-Temps stay at 70 or below pretty constantly, I'm told 68 is best, right nwo its at 69.1 degrees.

I was told that GH Micro and especially GH Floricious would stain my roots (I used it once and freaked once I saw the brown roots, never to use floricious again) so now I will only use the 3 part, bloom/grow/micro. I believe this is more than staining though, theres a swampy smell, even though I've followed all the rules! What am I doing wrong?

To me the problems look like potassium difficiency, as its the only place where I've heard of Red stems+spotted yellowing leaves with brown necrosis spots. I was told potassium difficiency is rare in hydro... so I'm literally stumped and at the mercy of rollitup. Maybe root rot is my only problem I dont know, Total noob here.

I was also considering adding Cal-mag to my regimen, would this be necessary?

Please tell me what this is and how to fix it! Save my precious ladies! haha Thank you so much! Here's the pics.

Link to Useless Formula Instructions: http://forum.growkin...74#.VVY88vlViqk

Bump. Anyone a pro at dwc?

Not an expert but 2 yrs exclusively dwc here. I've avg 5 footers out of my 5 gal buckets too. My regimen in veg is PH 5.8 with PPMs around 300-400. I run equal micro, grow, bloom at 15ml with 15ml calmag and Superthrive at 1 drop per gallon. I found the H202 often caused me problems so I do not run that. You can use some mycorrhizal (zho) or hydroguard as a precaution for healthy roots. (Keep it simple if you can) If roots are not slimy and have an earthy smell they are most likely stained from floralicious+. If roots are slimy and smell bad you have root rot. Search here for Heisenburg's compost tea and act fast: https://www.rollitup.org/t/dwc-root-slime-cure-aka-how-to-breed-beneficial-microbes.361430/ This Tea is the TRUTH!!!

Girls look healthy and ready for flower once you clear this up.

In Flower (flip when plants are about 15 inches, they will double + in 2 wk stretch) I run at 6.0 PH and 600-700 PPM, and add 15ml KoolBloom liquid in week 2 and run 5mls of floralicious plus.

I also do not change rez weekly anymore. Only if PH starts to fluctuate alot. As long as she's dialed in and growing healthy I just top it off and leave her be. But this is a matter of preference. Please do you!

Hope this helps! Post followup to let us know how you make out - goodluck!

Thank you very much for your help, you have been very helpful.

I just went to give a touch on my roots, honestly, they don't feel slimey at all, idk how to explain it, but slimey isn't on the list. As for the smell, it smells like a earthly smell almost Identical to soil, so I guess its not as bad as I was thinking.

So tell me - Would I be better off switching from H2O2 to mycorrhizal (zho) or hydroguard as a permanant additive? to sort of prevent the problem?

Is 971 GHP air pump enough for two 5 gal buckets?

And what is the leaf deficiency that I am having? Do you think I could cure that by changing my nutes to 15/15/15 ? Is that your veg regimen?

What is your flower regimen?

Thank you so much for your help, you are too kind. As long as I can stop this leaf die off, I would feel much better!

Get yourself some hygrozyme, or pondzyme. Hygrozyme if you have the money it cost more but easier to use. Hygrozyme will get those roots nice n white, use it every other watering.

Pondzyme with barley works too, it's cheaper and last forever but don't use too much. It's almost the same thing as hygrozyme except it's concentrated.

DWC Meds said:

Thank you very much for your help, you have been very helpful.

I just went to give a touch on my roots, honestly, they don't feel slimey at all, idk how to explain it, but slimey isn't on the list. As for the smell, it smells like a earthly smell almost Identical to soil, so I guess its not as bad as I was thinking.

So tell me - Would I be better off switching from H2O2 to mycorrhizal (zho) or hydroguard as a permanant additive? to sort of prevent the problem?

Is 971 GHP air pump enough for two 5 gal buckets?

And what is the leaf deficiency that I am having? Do you think I could cure that by changing my nutes to 15/15/15 ? Is that your veg regimen?

What is your flower regimen?

Thank you so much for your help, you are too kind. As long as I can stop this leaf die off, I would feel much better!

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Heisenburg Tea is cheap to brew and will kick your roots into high gear and ultra white. You can use it or any mycorrhizal for ongoing maintenance. You can run 4-6 dwc 5 gal buckets on that 971gph air pump with a single 2x2 air stone per rez. Find details/recipe for tea at this link:
https://www.rollitup.org/t/dwc-root-slime-cure-aka-how-to-breed-beneficial-microbes.361430/

There are threads on RIU that show pics of deficiencies - just search. I'm not certain with the black spots. I would ph to 5.8 and see if the leaf damage stops, if not then rez change, wipe bucket with light bleach and rinse good, add nutes and ph to 5.8. veg nutes and calmg+

Flower regimen is lollypopping then, 30 ml micro grow bloom, 5ml of floralicious+ and 15 ml Koolbloom liquid (after wk 2)

Thanks everyone! I'll give it a shot and report back to ya! Take care ladies and gents! Thank you again for your kind help

DWC Meds said:

Thanks everyone! I'll give it a shot and report back to ya! Take care ladies and gents! Thank you again for your kind help

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Per chart looks like late stage Phosphorus! Print for future reference and/or check deficiency & toxicity thread in this forum.

I run the same line up as you. Grow micro bloom and even floralicious plus. I don't have any of the problems your having. It seems you have some mold or some type of disease. Next time use a silica based additive like protekt by dyna grow or something along those lines. To prevent and to help build a strong plant resistant to various things. Your roots will NOT be stained by flora+. Mine look pearly white. Use the expert recirculating feeding chart by GH, i posted it. You should NOT use h202 unless you know what the heck you're doing. Get a temp reading on your resovoir and change your nutes once a week. If you use tap water switch to micro hardwater. And before you change your water solution, let the water you're going to use for the solution sitting around for about a day or less. To get the chlorine out. Chlorine can cause what I see on your leaves. Also flush the heck out of it when switch. I mean FLUSH! Most important, do not skip out on floaraliciois plus. It helps roots and helps your overall health. It smells super bad but it works. Mix micro first then add grow and then bloom followed by flora +. Idk what you're doing wrong, but I think its the h202. Ha

Also are you indoor or outdoor?

Mendoza - you seem like you are talking down to me, I really don't appreciate it. Thanks anyways, but I don't even want to go there with you. I'd assume you do this to all new medical patients trying to find information for their first grow?

Temp reading is in the pics, not sure if you even looked. I don;t think you know what the problem is, so you are just chosing the H2o2, regardless what you posted didn't help me at all, and you seem to only want to talk down to me instead of actually help. Thanks anyways, I'll find help from someone else. I already was swapping out the h2O2 for a different type of preventative treatment.

Also, everyone I've talked to has said running dirty nutrients like flor+ will stain your roots and is definitely why I have this problem. My roots were completely white before I used that shit, definitely not using it again.

I use RO water, no need to be a hippy about it, you can use it out of the filter, its 10ppm.

I don't understand why you even bothered posting.

LOLQ2 - I am curious tho, how did you get phosphorus? alot of those pictures look the same, and phosphorus doesn't show the dots I am having, could it possibly be both phos and potassium? As potassium says "red stems with dotted yellowing leaves, tips browning", which is exactly what I'm having. Teach me how to use these charts so I better understand, thank you.

DWC Meds said:

Mendoza - you seem like you are talking down to me, I really don't appreciate it. Thanks anyways, but I don't even want to go there with you. I'd assume you do this to all new medical patients trying to find information for their first grow?

Temp reading is in the pics, not sure if you even looked. I don;t think you know what the problem is, so you are just chosing the H2o2, regardless what you posted didn't help me at all, and you seem to only want to talk down to me instead of actually help. Thanks anyways, I'll find help from someone else. I already was swapping out the h2O2 for a different type of preventative treatment.

Also, everyone I've talked to has said running dirty nutrients like flor+ will stain your roots and is definitely why I have this problem. My roots were completely white before I used that shit, definitely not using it again.

I use RO water, no need to be a hippy about it, you can use it out of the filter, its 10ppm.

I don't understand why you even bothered posting.

LOLQ2 - I am curious tho, how did you get phosphorus? alot of those pictures look the same, and phosphorus doesn't show the dots I am having, could it possibly be both phos and potassium? As potassium says "red stems with dotted yellowing leaves, tips browning", which is exactly what I'm having. Teach me how to use these charts so I better understand, thank you.

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I admit I have trouble reading the charts. I was basically focusing on the black splash on the leaves. Per chart it could be manganese or potash too. I would troll the thread at the top of this forum called Guide to Deficiency and Toxicity. Lots of pretty pictures of the real thing in there instead of just a chart. I think you are on the right track. Just adjust the Ph 5.8 and give a couple days. If no relief - rez change. I think you'll be find. My 1st year I worried over everything. Now I find the more I leave them alone the better they do.

Here's some shots of ladies at various stages in the garden wks 1, 2, 4 and 7(flushing). I learn something new everyday still after 2 years.

Hey man, Honestly, I really thank you for your help. I'm thinking you are right. I honestly am going to scratch the H2O2, start making heisenberg tea and using that instead as an additive to my tanks.

I also will probably start trying a different feeding schedule as it seems the one I'm using might be outdated or just shitty in nature lol. I just liked how easy it was (similiar to the lucas formula). I really think I will pick up some cal-mag while im out getting the supplies for the tea, and running it 15/15/15 + 15 cal-mag (I even got the super thrive but I never use it, I used to love it for veg so I suppose 1 drop a gallon would be helpful).

Question for you: what do you use for clones? do you go up and down on the amount of nutrients you add per stage of the plant?

I'm just confused because it seems so simple! haha. So literally, 15/15/15+15cal-mag for veg and for flower = 30/30/30 + 5 floricious plus + 15 koolbloom liquid? (I have all of those)... and no cal mag for flower?

Honestly, I'm just looking for a easy to follow feeding system that I can rely on that will supply my plants with what they need when they need it, without causing me problems.

Thank you so much LOLQ2 you are much appreciated.

and honestly, you don't have to answer all that about feeding if you know of a good thread that can point me in the right direction with good feeding schedules, I've literally found so many that I am unsure what to follow and what not to follow.

Btw, your plants look beautiful I didn't realize those were yours till a second reading. You look like you got it down man,

It truly amazed me how quick the plants grow in hydro. It;s like I open up my tent and they get 1-2 inches taller each day haha. I hear they can die just as easy as the dude at the hydro-shop said, so I'm definitely a bit fearful

You're wrong man. I was simply helping you. I am a new grower and like anything I invest money in I do my research. So I'm pretty well informed. I was not down talking you at all. I saw the resemblance in our grows and that's it. I'm sorry if it came across in a wrong way. I'm not a pro but my plant seems super happy and healthybso it must mean I'm doing something right. My grandpa taught me things on growing fruit so I'm not a newbie on growing plants. Cannabis yes I will admit. Like I said I'm sorry for seeming like a douche I was only trying to help being that we are both hydro and running same nutes. Plus I am a happy and faithful christian with a bad habit, so do I like to help? Yeah. I'm all for it. Later man good luck.

DWC Meds said:

Hey man, Honestly, I really thank you for your help. I'm thinking you are right. I honestly am going to scratch the H2O2, start making heisenberg tea and using that instead as an additive to my tanks.

I also will probably start trying a different feeding schedule as it seems the one I'm using might be outdated or just shitty in nature lol. I just liked how easy it was (similiar to the lucas formula). I really think I will pick up some cal-mag while im out getting the supplies for the tea, and running it 15/15/15 + 15 cal-mag (I even got the super thrive but I never use it, I used to love it for veg so I suppose 1 drop a gallon would be helpful).

Question for you: what do you use for clones? do you go up and down on the amount of nutrients you add per stage of the plant?

I'm just confused because it seems so simple! haha. So literally, 15/15/15+15cal-mag for veg and for flower = 30/30/30 + 5 floricious plus + 15 koolbloom liquid? (I have all of those)... and no cal mag for flower?

Honestly, I'm just looking for a easy to follow feeding system that I can rely on that will supply my plants with what they need when they need it, without causing me problems.

Thank you so much LOLQ2 you are much appreciated.

and honestly, you don't have to answer all that about feeding if you know of a good thread that can point me in the right direction with good feeding schedules, I've literally found so many that I am unsure what to follow and what not to follow.

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Use CalMg+ as needed in flower to. You won't believe this but for clones I have another 5 gallon bucket with a flat lid that I cut 10 squares around the outer rim. I cut clones from the bottom of the plant (I'm told there is a higher concentration of hormones there) and use Styrofoam to hold my cutting in place with the stem through a cutout and into the water. I run only calmag and superthrive in my dyi cloner with an air stone. I usually have strong healthy roots in about 10 days. Again keeping it simple. I don't use root hormones or cloning gels. I may add a bit of mycorrhizal powder sometimes but not really needed. And I use tap water 7ph out the tap never had a problem.

Happy to share anything I know. I trolled for a yr before I made any attempts and learned a lot in 2 yrs of actually trying. I'm just feeling like I'm hitting my sweet spot but still a lot to learn. I've had better success with AN's PH Perfect Micro, Grow, Bloom line but I still check PH a few times a week.

sorry - I meant clones as in small plants that are just rooted, seems liek for the first few weeks of the new clone being rooted in dwc it doesn't need tons of nutes, I'd be afraid to burn them. u run 15/15/15 even for the first week? or like half strength? (sorry if this is stupid question, I'm just really confused on your feeding schedule)

also, are your amounts ml/gal? or just 15/15/15 for the whole 5 gallon bucket?

The formula I'm using is this:
Week1 = 5ml grow 2.5 micro 2.5 bloom (ml per gal)
week 2 = 10/5/3
week 3 = 12/6/3

Flower
week 1=6/6/10
week 2=3/7/12
week 3=3/8/14
week 4=3/8/16
week 5=1.5/3.5/9+bud booster (mother of all blooms probs)
week 6 = 0/7/20
week 7 = 0/5/10
week 8 to harvest = flush with florakleen (unless its a longer budding plant then I can adjust as needed)

What is your exact schedule so I can follow easily? Thank you

Young rooted clones with calMag, superthrive, mycorrhizae & ph water 5.8 til they reach 2+ internodes then lite nutes under 300ppm. If no transplant shock up nutes or if signs of nitrogen deficiency, otherwise I leave them be.

Veg is 15ml M, G, B and calMag is for entire 5gal bucket Ph5.8. In flower up it to 30ml M, G, B for entire bucket, PH to 6.0, add floralicious+. Koolbloom liquid or MOAB starting wk 2 flower and CalMag in Flower as needed. I do not steadily increase nutes. Just keep in around 3-500 ppm in veg and 6-800 in flower. they will take what they need.

I learned a lot from a YouTuber called HygroHybrid. His channel is a pay channel now but worth it. You can also visit HygroHybrid.com This guy gets lbs from single plants in dwc w/scrog. Check him out! I think Medgrower1 and michigan420caregiver also have excellent turtorials on youtube. Michigan420caregiver republished Hygro's vids. Go there first. HHT = Hygro Hybrid Theory.

awesome thanks I got it man, I'll give it a shot You have been a great help. Thanks again!

Hey, Just wanted to give a update after about a week after we last spoke. Plants are looking good, the leaf damage has slowed down if not stopped completely, and I am noticing a ton of fresh white roots coming through which I've never seen before.

I am using bennes + a bit different feeding schedule and phed it to 5.5 and made sure it's stayed there. I'm a few days away from adding more tea! I didn't realize how helpful it was, fuck h202.

Thanks again for saving my babies!