First Time - Droopy/Claw Leaves - Hydroguard?

5 gal bucket, Tetra Whisper 40-60gph air pump, two airstones, hydroton, currently 2 43w CFL(will add up to two more in flowering)keeping them 1-2 inches away, air temps ranging 68-74 average(trying to stay at like 72, fan blowing, 40% humidity average, water temp about 69 and PH stays around 6(just got digital so keeping at 5.8ish now). GH floraseries nutes.

About 8-9 inches in height(Currently 1 month total time), three levels of main branches(not including first two little serraded edged ones). All the elbows have more leaves poppin out left n right, so when I compare to other plants it seems dominatley indica and short and bushy. Leaves are nice n green, only issue is the tips are clawing under, I've had this issue happen a week or two ago and after a res change it cleared up but then came back. From what I've researched it sounds like a Nitrogen Toxicity which I don't understand why I'm having. Well..maybe, at week 2 when I first added nutes I didn't know to start with the Micro first or else could have nute lockout which may have happened. In those weeks after first adding nutes i also got very little and only a couple on one or two leaves of brown/yellow spots that of what I've researched are some kind of nute defiancy or toxicity.

Currently I'm at about exactly 1 month in. Just did a fresh res change, added 2 TSP total of all three GH series nutes to the res. I figure I'm working with about 4 gal of water so basically I did a half dose of recommended for mild vegatation. It's been about 12 hours and have not seen my claws dissapate, hoping by tonight or tomorrow it works its way out? I'm also thinking of adding in that same dose in the next day or two just to get to the full dose of nutes. I have Hydroguard but have not used it yet. Of what I've read it sounds great to use even if you don't have problems, I'm kinda trying to save it since I only am doing 1 at a time and it's only good for 6 months from open date and its a little pricey for how much I'm going to use. Which also brings me to a question below. I don't even know if I'm going to use it for this grow since its my first and its bagseed that could probably just be a male anyway, I have fem seeds for the 2nd grow that I plan on def using the Hydroguard.

How much Hydroguard should I use per gallon? Bottle recommends 2ml per gallon, I assume that would be 2ml per gallon every week when i res change, altho bottle also says it depends on what plant.

Also, if you've used Hydroguard, how will it affect my PH?

Any other thoughts just all around, could the Nitrogen Toxicity be from nute lockout or what? I'm not going crazy with nutes at all, I feel like I've more of starved it of nutes rather than toxify(I don't think this is a word) it.

Pic?

Are your fan leaves dark green almost black? Thats a big sign of N toxicity. I get that with high N food.

Clawing leaves arent always an N toxicity.

Hydroguard doesnt effect pH. 2ml/gal. I use it every 4 days as I dont have any food for the bennies on my res.

Pics help.

OnLy have these right now, not best for showing it but in the pic showing like inside by the stem u can see them curled. And yes thats my ladybug gardener there.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/taggerung911/Mobile Uploads/image_zpsuweknnxu.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/taggerung911/Mobile Uploads/image_zpsssrtkhtv.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/taggerung911/Mobile Uploads/image_zps5bo8jffz.jpg

I'd say toxicity from the pics. But she seems to be wilting too. How do the roots look? Are they under water?

Roots are in the water, water level is 1 inch below netpot. Last week they drank about an inch. The roots are a really nice white and continue to grow great.

Anon Emaus said:

Roots are in the water, water level is 1 inch below netpot. Last week they drank about an inch. The roots are a really nice white and continue to grow great.

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Just make sure they get plenty of air from your stones and back off the micro (stinky maroon bottle) and keep an eye on them.

deadgro said:

Just make sure they get plenty of air from your stones and back off the micro (stinky maroon bottle) and keep an eye on them.

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Okay, thanks for the help. What's your thought on adding more nutes in, in the next couple days, am I at a correct assumption to run at the "mild vegatation" levels listed on the bottle(i know those should be treated as Max levels, 1 TSP per gallon of each). Altho with your advice I would back down on the Micro when adding more. Or should I just let it go through this week with no more and see if there are improvements?

PS: Yesterday did res change and added 1/2 TSP per gallon of each, ie: 2 tsp of each in a 4 gal res total.

Ehat is your feed level? Doesnt look like N toxicity. Looks like overfeeding.

In EC?

firsttimeARE said:

Ehat is your feed level? Doesnt look like N toxicity. Looks like overfeeding.

In EC?

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No idea, I basically took all my knowledge from growweedeasy.com and for some reason never read/or atleast took any notes on anything about EC or PPM, but now after reading through posts on this site I continue to read about EC and PPM readings. I have no idea what they mean(well i know ppm is part per million and gives a level of amount of nutes in system or atleast thats what my thought is) but I don't know how to understand them in ways of use.

So with that said. Any suggestion on what meter I should order and any good articles you can link me to that will give me a breif but education tutorial on using them?

Flush out nutrients with blackstrap molasses or Foxfarms root doctor Sledgehammer. Use both or one but allow only 18-24hrs with molasses as a thick gel will result in over setting. After using flush treatment keep on fresh ph water for a couple of days. Try switching out to earth juice lineup which is reasonable and much better for plants flavor. The best (more expensive) for your set-up would be House and Gardens aqua flakes or hrydros lineup. Theses are just suggestions. Also be sure to add a silica and microzides additive up to week 5 of bloom. Most hydro nutritient lines don't have silica or beneficial microzides. I like Plant Success water soluble microzides which is the exact formula of Great White which is double the price. I would only recommend GH ph down or up as it is reasonably priced.

Blue lab combo meter

5 year warranty on the unit. Get some KCl to store the probe in and some reference solutions.

You will need this. Imagine.it as a codec to listen to your plants.

at $200 for the blue lab thats way outta my range, likewise with switching to different nutes, I'd like to just use out the flora series. I'm trying to stay lower budget considering it's only 1 plant.

Of whats been said to work with what I got, my best bet for now would probably be to just do another res change and let it sit for a bit on fresh ph'ed water?

Anon Emaus said:

at $200 for the blue lab thats way outta my range, likewise with switching to different nutes, I'd like to just use out the flora series. I'm trying to stay lower budget considering it's only 1 plant.

Of whats been said to work with what I got, my best bet for now would probably be to just do another res change and let it sit for a bit on fresh ph'ed water?

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Yes you need to remove the nutrient build-up. From what I see its a lockup problem correct it now or pay later. Fresh water for at least 3 days. Use only 1/4 recommend dose on your nutes for the week after. Slowly work up from there if you cannot afford the pen stay low stay safe. With general hydro you are looking at nutrient lock frequently.

MouthOfMojave said:

Flush out nutrients with blackstrap molasses or Foxfarms root doctor Sledgehammer. Use both or one but allow only 18-24hrs with molasses as a thick gel will result in over setting. After using flush treatment keep on fresh ph water for a couple of days. Try switching out to earth juice lineup which is reasonable and much better for plants flavor. The best (more expensive) for your set-up would be House and Gardens aqua flakes or hrydros lineup. Theses are just suggestions. Also be sure to add a silica and microzides additive up to week 5 of bloom. Most hydro nutritient lines don't have silica or beneficial microzides. I like Plant Success water soluble microzides which is the exact formula of Great White which is double the price. I would only recommend GH ph down or up as it is reasonably priced.

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This is terrible advice.

Anon Emaus said:

at $200 for the blue lab thats way outta my range, likewise with switching to different nutes, I'd like to just use out the flora series. I'm trying to stay lower budget considering it's only 1 plant.

Of whats been said to work with what I got, my best bet for now would probably be to just do another res change and let it sit for a bit on fresh ph'ed water?

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Never use plain water in hydro. You will end up with toxicity AND deficiency. Make sure there's always nutrients in the reservoir if you're going to leave if for more than a few hours.

Don't put molasses in your res either. It will screw with the osmotic pressure of the water, may feed nasties.

churchhaze said:

Never use plain water in hydro. You will end up with toxicity AND deficiency. Make sure there's always nutrients in the reservoir if you're going to leave if for more than a few hours.

Don't put molasses in your res either. It will screw with the osmotic pressure of the water, may feed nasties.

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Thank you.

are you using well , city water or RO water ? 1st get an hanna ppm pen around 40 bucks ....gotta know what ppm is of the water before you add any nutes ...

Well water. Yeah i gotta read up on understanding ppm's and I'll order up a ppm tester or pick one up at the hydro store tmrw.

churchhaze said:

Never use plain water in hydro. You will end up with toxicity AND deficiency. Make sure there's always nutrients in the reservoir if you're going to leave. I can see this may not be a good site if trolls like you are about knocking advice and offering none.

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churchhaze said:

Never use plain water in hydro. You will end up with toxicity AND deficiency. Make sure there's always nutrients in the reservoir if you're going to leave if for more than a few hours.

Don't put molasses in your res either. It will screw with the osmotic pressure of the water, may feed nasties.

Click to expand...

churchhaze said:

Never use plain water in hydro. You will end up with toxicity AND deficiency. Make sure there's always nutrients in the reservoir if you're going to leave if for more than a few hours.

Don't put molasses in your res either. It will screw with the osmotic pressure of the water, may feed nasties.

Click to expand...

A troll who offers no advice but mocks advice of others. What is your solution to nutrient lock ? Are these "Nasties" you speak of pathogens? Did you know microzides eat pathogenic paricites?Do you know most nutrient lines have molasses in their products? Does your nugg spark and taste like shit without flushing with fresh water or breaking down salt build up mid way in? How do nutes eliminate toxins yet fresh water makes them? Have you ever cleaned your air stones during a change out to maintain osomatic pressure?

I care not, because all my crops have happy tops. Just my advice, which does not mean much on here, but in real life it's valued with proven results.