Why are my leaves dying from bottom up? (pics)

hot cheetos

Active Member
About week 4 into flowering i noticed my leaves started dying from bottom up. I started week 6 today and its still going on and has progressed further up past the scrog screen. New growth unaffected.

I had lollipopped all my plants except one that i couldnt reach in the corner. That one plant is the first one i noticed it on since it actually had lower leaves as opposed to the lollipopped ones. Now most if not all of them have dead leaves but obviously the rest of these were lollipopped so they have dead leaves from where the screen starts. I suppose it took a little time to slowly progress up the plant which is why the lollipopped ones started later than the plant that wasnt lollipopped.

Any idea why? I've read its normal and the plant its taking energy from the leaves, but I think i have too many leaves dying and its progressing up into the canopy now which is what prompted me to seek help.

And the leaves dont seem to be yellowing. They just kind of turn a lighter shade of green then start browning and crusting and curling up/inward...dead. (last pic)
 

Attachments

hot cheetos

Active Member
When did ya start feedin bloom nuts?
Ive been on the 2:1 Lucas formula. I started feeding 2.75:1 about a week ago, shortly after I noticed the issue. I guess that would be considered feeding bloom nutes? I decided to up the bloom to micro ratio at week 5 when all vertical and new growth had stopped and i thought it might help the issue. Thought maybe too much nitrogen is being fed that isnt being used and is locking other nutrients out.

Top of canopy is pretty much unaffected, for now. Unless the issue continues to progress all the way up. That is what I fear.
 

Attachments

hot cheetos

Active Member
Give em a dose of veg nutes
Thank for the reply! They were on a steady 2:1 Lucas formula at 1.5-1.6ec and were doing fantastic up until week 4 when the buds started growing and the leaves started dying. Why would they need more nitrogen once the stretch has stopped if they didn't need more when they were stretching and growing aggressively? Just trying to understand the reasoning behind the suggestion.
 

too larry

Well-Known Member
Assuming a 9 week flower, I try to use veg food for weeks 1-3, half veg half bloom for weeks 4-6, then bloom for the rest of the way.
 

hot cheetos

Active Member
Assuming a 9 week flower, I try to use veg food for weeks 1-3, half veg half bloom for weeks 4-6, then bloom for the rest of the way.
I think I'm about where you are. Starting week 4 I was using 2.75:1 bloom to micro in the lucas formula.

I dont know if I'm allowed to tinker with the lucas formula ratios....
 

Sureshot2

Well-Known Member
I get crispy dead leaves at the bottom of the canopy on almost every grow, but all the top growth is lush green and still finishes fine. My setup looks similar to yours with the scrog screen, and my dead leaves appear in the same areas down under the screen. Usually starts showing up near the end of week 3 for me, and I'm pretty sure its not a nute issue since I run foliage pro until week 4 and then switch to bloom nutes. I wouldn't worry too much about it - unless your seeing dead leaves from the top of the canopy?
 

hot cheetos

Active Member
I get crispy dead leaves at the bottom of the canopy on almost every grow, but all the top growth is lush green and still finishes fine. My setup looks similar to yours with the scrog screen, and my dead leaves appear in the same areas down under the screen. Usually starts showing up near the end of week 3 for me, and I'm pretty sure its not a nute issue since I run foliage pro until week 4 and then switch to bloom nutes. I wouldn't worry too much about it - unless your seeing dead leaves from the top of the canopy?
Yeah, thats what I've read from many places. Nothing dead from the top, but it appears to be gradually going upward. Its just barely passed the screen now. Leaves right above the screen are now turning brown and dying. I just hope that it doesnt continue to go all the way up. Thats what im worried about. Week 6 just started....so all of week 6, 7 and 8 at a minimum. Thats 3 more weeks, 4 if it goes to 9. Its a skywalker OG, I think...
 

Sureshot2

Well-Known Member
Yeah, thats what I've read from many places. Nothing dead from the top, but it appears to be gradually going upward. Its just barely passed the screen now. Leaves right above the screen are now turning brown and dying. I just hope that it doesnt continue to go all the way up. Thats what im worried about. Week 6 just started....so all of week 6, 7 and 8 at a minimum. Thats 3 more weeks, 4 if it goes to 9. Its a skywalker OG, I think...
Yeah that sounds about right to me, I usually have crispy leaves above the screen by week 5-6. Usually by the time I have dead leaves above the screen there's around 16-18" of lush green canopy though, so it never really concerns me since any leaves that are 18-24" below the tops probably aren't getting enough light to be that useful anyways.
 

hot cheetos

Active Member
Yeah that sounds about right to me, I usually have crispy leaves above the screen by week 5-6. Usually by the time I have dead leaves above the screen there's around 16-18" of lush green canopy though, so it never really concerns me since any leaves that are 18-24" below the tops probably aren't getting enough light to be that useful anyways.
Yup! I have about 16-18 inch colas (unfortunately) lol. Theyre starting to lean now, been tying them up. But yeah, i have 16-18 inches of lush dense foliage.
 

Sureshot2

Well-Known Member
Yup! I have about 16-18 inch colas (unfortunately) lol. Theyre starting to lean now, been tying them up. But yeah, i have 16-18 inches of lush dense foliage.
Sounds like your on the right track then. I love those fat 16" colas that each weight several ounces dry.
 

hot cheetos

Active Member
Was looking around underneath the canopy today and I found this. Did you have anything like this? The buds on this lower branch have turned brown and died. The leaves arent in great shape but they dont look too much like the other leaves that are browning crusty and dying, perhaps if given a few more days they would.
 

Attachments

Sureshot2

Well-Known Member
Was looking around underneath the canopy today and I found this. Did you have anything like this? The buds on this lower branch have turned brown and died. The leaves arent in great shape but they dont look too much like the other leaves that are browning crusty and dying, perhaps if given a few more days they would.
Hmm I don't normally notice this even when I have the dying crispy leaves. The last time I noticed this was when I had a plant with a nute lockout and once with root rot.
 
Top