What is wrong with my leaves???????

Ok, first time grower. I'm going with bag seeds. I'm using 8 26w cfl's. 6 at 6500K and 2 at 2700K all within 3" of the plants. I'm using Scott's potting soil. They were started in small styrafoam cups and transferred into 6" pots....I have 3 plants. They are 2.5 weeks old. One is doing nice, one is a bit slow growing, but its the 3rd that is causing me worry...The base of the leaves are shriveled and crooked. They are also growing an even number of leaf points. I just got done fighting a gnat infestation so I haven't watered them in about a week. They have been getting the insecticidal soap spray and I have treated with neem oil and I think I have won the battle with them...(for now). Again...any help with the odd leaf growth would be greatly appreciated!

how about um whats your pH?

To be honest I don't know...I'm just using tap water that I've let sit out over night. I had wondered if it had anything to do with pH, I was going to go see if walgreens sold kits.

I wouldn't worry about that. wait and see what happens looks like nothing

Check whats in your Tap water, call your water company or check out http://cfpub.epa.gov/safewater/ccr/index.cfm?OpenView
Could be chemical burn from chlorine or something.

Maybe heat burn, was you watering/misting them with the sun beating on them?

I have not encountered this sorta problem .

Looks like it would clear itself up. Lloks like improper cell division or some crap. The whole plant looks kinda mutantish. Id figure that itll grow out of it........hopefully. Seems genetic to me.

these are examples of pH issues from the watermarked site

I had gnats and weird growth, killed the bugs now I've got beautiful colas and big plants.. ride it out friend.

Stress can do it too. Plants are resilient. Give it at least a full week to see what's going on with new growth.

ok, I gave it some time and everything seems to be back to normal. The new growth is looking pretty good I think...I will say that one of my plants looks like the bottom pic hexthat posted...very broad, roundish leaves. I was just thinking it was the strain or something...The first pic is the plant I had initially posted about, I think she's recovered pretty well. The second plant is the one I mentioned with the broad, roundish leaves...I'm still just watering with tap water. I can't afford a pH tester at the moment. Also does anybody know anything about whether watering from the bottom is ok or not?

Boutros420 said:

To be honest I don't know...I'm just using tap water that I've let sit out over night. I had wondered if it had anything to do with pH, I was going to go see if walgreens sold kits.

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OK, make sure you always use PH right water. You can get a cheap test kit (http://generalhydroponics.com/site/index.php/products/maintenance/ph_buffers/ph_test_kit/) anywhere. Always make sure your PH is right around 6 (a little higher for soil is OK). Other than that seems like you got the pest problem under control. Slowly re-introduce nutes (1/4 recommended strength) and hopefully you'll be OK.

I stuck two nute sticks in the soil. They are a 13-4-5 mix per stick and feed for 60 days(according to the package). I'm using 9" pots, the package recommends 4 per pot...I've read that I should shoot for a 30-15-15 during veg and 15-30-30 during flower. Putting 4 per pot seems like an overload, doesn't it? Are the sticks worth it or should I go with actual food that gets mixed into the water?

Boutros420 said:

I stuck two nute sticks in the soil. They are a 13-4-5 mix per stick and feed for 60 days(according to the package). I'm using 9" pots, the package recommends 4 per pot...I've read that I should shoot for a 30-15-15 during veg and 15-30-30 during flower. Putting 4 per pot seems like an overload, doesn't it? Are the sticks worth it or should I go with actual food that gets mixed into the water?

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Way overload!!!!!!!!!!! Start with just ONE stick, NOT four!! Good God almighty, you will kill them if you start with all four!!! Start with 1, see what happens, then 2 if they look like they are OK and need some more nutes, then 3, etc. Always, always, ALWAYS start with 1/4 strength of nutes, regardless what nutes they are and what stage your plant is at. Make observations, see how they react and then go from there.

Good luck!!

lamopa said:

Way overload!!!!!!!!!!! Start with just ONE stick, NOT four!! Good God almighty, you will kill them if you start with all four!!! Start with 1, see what happens, then 2 if they look like they are OK and need some more nutes, then 3, etc. Always, always, ALWAYS start with 1/4 strength of nutes, regardless what nutes they are and what stage your plant is at. Make observations, see how they react and then go from there.

Good luck!!

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I think you mean always stay away from nute sticks and time release in general. get a water soluble

everything looks back to normal... Thanks for your help everyone!

If you drink your tap water regularly its fine for your plants, let sit till its room temp.

I got a pH tester...I'm using tap water which is reading at 7.2...Is I've read that I could mix lemon juice in to lower the pH if necessary. Any opinions on whether 7.2 is ok or on how to lower it if needed?