What the…??

I’m new to coco and I figured that I would try a coco hempy bucket and see what happens, but I’ve run into an issue that I can’t find out anything about. I’ve tried searching for info based on photos and haven’t seen anything that really matches…
This is happening on lower/older growth, but plant development hasn’t taken much of a hit. She’s still vigorous…

This is a Gorilla Glue auto by Barney’s
In 5 gal. Hempy
Coco Nation 70/30
I use distilled water since my well is a tad hard.
Using extra Cal-Mag and GH Flora Series Trio
Ph to 5.8-6.2
Water/feed once a day to 10% runoff
RH 50-65%
Last runoff was ph of 6.8
She’s 2.5 - 3 weeks old.

Thank you in advance for any info you may be able to provide. I’ve gone down a few rabbit holes and haven’t found an answer on my own.
Looks like Ca deficiency to me.
 

BenGman

Well-Known Member
Pretty sure ur bottled nutrients would contain enough micro/macro elements without needing to add all this extra cal/mag with it, some just don't know that adding more only can cause more issues, but the main issue ( IMO ) and as stated is the ph of the medium is way to high in coco and also as stated the dark green with them sorta spots just screams bad ph/fluctuations.. it looks like a cat is shitting faeces into it. I'd expect run off to be no higher that 6.2 in coco / perlite whatever..so if it was me , i would make some fresh nutrients with a ph of 5.5 as also stated and flush it though the medium till i got a better reading and see how she reacts over the next few days.
 

curious2garden

Well-Known Mod
Staff member
I have a simple TDS meter but I’m new to this and not well versed and am not sure. I ordered an ec meter today for the simplicity. My tap has a TDS of 79-80, with a ph of about 9.1-9.2. (I might also be an idiot, but I’m trying to learn)
As far as calmag, I’m learning as I go… I may have been adding too much. I was under the assumption that extra calmag was needed when using coco.
The FF Coco Nation 70/30 is buffered…
Your tap water is fine unless it's high in iron (Fe) or sodium (Na). If it has more than trace of either get a Reverse Osmosis filter.

I run Canna Coco with GH Flora Trio and CaliMagic. I've run the Trio since '96 beginning in NFT rails, eventually moving to Coco. I'd go with @MickFoster on Septoria. I have killed plants in a myriad different ways and I've never seen that. I think Mick got it. I'd cut those leaves off and watch that plant like a hawk. Septoria is a fungal infection.

How many ml/gallon do you mean you say you're adding extra Ca/Mg? I use their CaliMagic and have never needed to use more than 2-3 ml/gallon max. It's easy to get into lockout territory doing that in hydro (and you're in hydro).

This is a hydro chart, uptake is just a little different in soil because you have a micro herd helping you out.
1685014154820.png

I run my res on a swing and I start at 5.8 and swing to about 6.3. The N clawing and lack of deficiency functionally demonstrates your adequate nutrient uptake so I wouldn't panic. As for flushing in hydro using a coco substrate if you aren't really careful you will get build up and no I have only measured my run off once or twice when I was losing a plant. Every two weeks I run my tap water ( 250 PPM TDS) through to remove excess nutrients since I'm always on a strain/pheno hunts for pain relief strains my grows aren't dialed to a plant and I'm not particularly careful. So I'm sure I get salt build up. So I flush.

The trick is you don't really want to run so much flush that you upset the CEC (cation exchange capacity) @Jjgrow420 distilled it down really nicely the other day. Further you need a low osmolar solution (not zero) to leach salts so 250 is about right.

I'd remove those shocking leaves to make it easier to see progression. Best of luck on the grow and welcome to RIU.
 

curious2garden

Well-Known Mod
Staff member
@curious2garden Do you think the tapwater ph 9.1 is right? I've never heard of anything above 8.
Yes I do. Mine runs mid 8's and some people pay to drink high end alkaline water. But what his water comes out of the faucet at isn't as important as what he pH's it down to. Based on how his plant looks well fed and a hint of overfeeding (nitrogen claw), his uptake proves he's in range. I ran a 12 buck pH meter for years until it finally crapped out and I went to a BlueLab. As long as you can calibrate them and actually follow through with calibrating them they can work fine for years. hth
 

skinnys

Member
Yes I do. Mine runs mid 8's and some people pay to drink high end alkaline water. But what his water comes out of the faucet at isn't as important as what he pH's it down to. Based on how his plant looks well fed and a hint of overfeeding (nitrogen claw), his uptake proves he's in range. I ran a 12 buck pH meter for years until it finally crapped out and I went to a BlueLab. As long as you can calibrate them and actually follow through with calibrating them they can work fine for years. hth
I've got a $30 ph meter that is all over the place. I suspect you got lucky if that cheap one worked well.

Well, he's watering with 6.2 and runoff is 6.8, so the ph in his coco is deffinitely higher than 6.8. I would lower it if it was me.
 

curious2garden

Well-Known Mod
Staff member
I've got a $30 ph meter that is all over the place. I suspect you got lucky if that cheap one worked well.

Well, he's watering with 6.2 and runoff is 6.8, so the ph in his coco is deffinitely higher than 6.8. I would lower it if it was me.
........snip.....
I run my res on a swing and I start at 5.8 and swing to about 6.3. The N clawing and lack of deficiency functionally demonstrates your adequate nutrient uptake so I wouldn't panic. As for flushing in hydro using a coco substrate if you aren't really careful you will get build up and no I have only measured my run off once or twice when I was losing a plant. Every two weeks I run my tap water ( 250 PPM TDS) through to remove excess nutrients since I'm always on a strain/pheno hunts for pain relief strains my grows aren't dialed to a plant and I'm not particularly careful. So I'm sure I get salt build up. So I flush.

The trick is you don't really want to run so much flush that you upset the CEC (cation exchange capacity) @Jjgrow420 distilled it down really nicely the other day. Further you need a low osmolar solution (not zero) to leach salts so 250 is about right.

.....snip.....
Possibly you missed my text below the image. I re-quoted the salient advice above for you. As for my luck and meters several people on the this forum had the same luck with the same meter. I bought it off recommendations from some of the stellar growers we have here. I've also seen a bad BlueLab or two. Money isn't the only determinant of quality and much of the luck involved in handling meters is based on their care and calibration.
hth
 

skinnys

Member
@curious2garden I fail to see the relevance of the bolded text? When I was talking about ph 6.8 etc I was talking about OP, not you.

Regarding the cheap ph-meter, good for you! You are fortunate to live in a country where they apparently work. In my country the cheapest one is Milwaukee at $60. I bought mine from China, which is incredibly unstable.
 

PopAndSonGrows

Well-Known Member
Well, i mean. . .. the top of the plant looks great.

Pull that bottom row of ugly leaves. IMO they're too close to the soil anyway. If the problem doesn't persist, you're good.
 
Top