Root Bound? What else?

This is a Nirvana Blackjack.

It is the only plant out of 8 (5 strains total) in my grow that is showing this.

From looking around on some sites, it looks like what a lot of people diagnose as being root bound.

Truly, it is by far the tallest plant in my room. So I looked down the sides of my container and I didnt see much rootage, not like after it's done flowering. There aren't even any roots coming out of the container holes at the bottom.

She was ready for a drink, so I mixed in some epsom salts in the water.

Looks like a Calcium/Magnesium issue to me. What is the pH of your soil and the water you use? You need to be between 6.5-6.8. If you are any lower than 6.5 you will start locking out Cal/Mag. The epsom salts would help, but if your pH levels are wrong your plant will not be able to absorb them correctly. You need to do a full flush to wash out any acid salts and help correct the pH, and then try adding some CalMag+ or similar Calcium/Magnesium supplement.

Where did the necrotic spotting begin on the plant? On the bottom leaves, the middle leaves or the top leaves? Has it spread and if so in what direction or directions?

Another possibility besides what has been mentioned is K – potassium. Affected plants are usually tallest and appear to be most vigorous. Necrotic spots form on lower leaves. Red stems. Leaves appear pale or yellow.

In one picture the leaf shown did look pale, though that might have been the lighting. Are there any other symptoms?

As was mentioned though, check your pH and if it needs altering, do so as soon as is possible.

Thanks for the replies guys..

The leaves that are showing this are in the TOP 3RD.
It's not what I would call widespread...but enough to take notice.

Water is around 7.6.. then probably around 6.5 after adding the nutes.

It could be lower, say in the 6.2-6.4 range. I will check it tomorrow.

Brick Top said:

In one picture the leaf shown did look pale, though that might have been the lighting. Are there any other symptoms?

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It was just the lighting.. other than the necro spots, she looks very good.

if the soil gets too dry the nutrients build up and become toxic , turn into salt more or less it looks like a salt toxicity , i'd like to know what brick top's opinion is on this he is a true botanist

When plants have a manganese deficiency necrotic and yellow spots will form on upper leaves. Mn deficiency occurs when large amounts of Mg are present in the soil.

thanks brick top ,....rob

robert 14617 said:

if the soil gets too dry the nutrients build up and become toxic , turn into salt more or less it looks like a salt toxicity , i'd like to know what brick top's opinion is on this he is a true botanist

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I am not a “true botanist” by any means. I just have 38-years of growing experience, am a part owner in a nursery and have four family members with degrees in botany. I have only picked up tidbits of information over the years and managed to retain some of it.

Frankly I do not like trying to diagnose plant problems from pictures. Between the quality of pictures and their lighting, at times it is very easy to misread something or part of something when there are multiple problems. At times what is shown is the first the grower spotted but might be the second or third symptom in a chain of events and not knowing what previously happened, and was not seen or shown or even told, can at times make what should be a simple diagnosis anything but simple.

I think the reason I dislike it so much is I think about what someone has riding on their grow, especially if a medical grow, and I think what if the coloring/lighting is off a shade and those veins sure look bleached but they are actually green and I don’t ask and just advise and make their problems worse.

sorry i had it backwards, i knew you were involved some how ,and i'm with you dig. from a pic is the shits

Brick Top said:

When plants have a manganese deficiency necrotic and yellow spots will form on upper leaves. Mn deficiency occurs when large amounts of Mg are present in the soil.

Click to expand...

Thanks for this comment Brick Top, it got me thinking . . ..

I had my plants get necrotic yellow spots on my top leaves for the first time this grow, and I thought it was due to Cal/Mag lockout from pH being too low . . .. The other thing I did differently this grow is use "Berry Sweet" from Botanicare, which after I read the bottle is Mag and Sulfur. I wonder if the spots were from me using too much of the Sweet and not really pH related at all . . .. Do any of you have any experience with the Botanicare Sweet and/or do you think that was probably the cause of my necrotic spots?

Brick Top said:

When plants have a manganese deficiency necrotic and yellow spots will form on upper leaves. Mn deficiency occurs when large amounts of Mg are present in the soil.

Click to expand...

so how does all the Mg become present in the soil? too low a ph?

Did a complete flush..

Probably ran 20 gallons through her.
Got the runoff to a consistent 6.8

Shes looking good now.