Help!

[e30driftin]

Hey there everyone. First time grower here just looking for some answers. First, I accidentally grew my plant in mulch instead of potting soil and wondering if it is safe to transfer it into potting soil 16 days into flower. Also, how does my plant look for being grown improperly? It has not had much growth at all and I’m starting to worry. The flowers haven’t really grown at all. Currently using molasses and Alaska Morbloom 0-10-10 for supplements. 600W Viparspectra light at 14 inches away. Good and bad comments are welcome.

 

[PadawanWarrior]

Looks really nice for mulch only. I would transplant her into some good soil, but try to be extra gentle since she's flowering. I'm just a little concerned that the mulch might just all fall off the roots when you transplant, and how well it will stay together. Or maybe just treat it like a soilless mix and feed it whatever it needs. I'm still a rookie, but there will be some pros answering soon. Where are you @Renfro, haha.

 

[e30driftin]

Looks really nice for mulch only. I would transplant her into some good soil, but try to be extra gentle since she's flowering. I'm just a little concerned that the mulch might just all fall off the roots when you transplant, and how well it will stay together. Or maybe just treat it like a soilless mix and feed it whatever it needs. I'm still a rookie, but there will be some pros answering soon. Where are you @Renfro, haha.

I transplanted once and completely got rid of the old mulch it had due to having fungus gnats. The plant did well but since it’s flowering I’m concerned it might harm it more than anything now. Thanks for the input.

 

[Renfro]

Mulch (bark) has the tendency to drop pH so watch for that indeed. I wouldn't transplant it in flower. Looks like you have some issues with phosphorous uptake, so thats likely due to low pH in the bark. I wouldn't sweat it, call it a learning experience, not to use mulch as a medium. A plant that size isn't gonna yield much on a good day.

 

[e30driftin]

Mulch (bark) has the tendency to drop pH so watch for that indeed. I wouldn't transplant it in flower. Looks like you have some issues with phosphorous uptake, so thats likely due to low pH in the bark. I wouldn't sweat it, call it a learning experience, not to use mulch as a medium. A plant that size isn't gonna yield much on a good day.

Will do. Any idea how to balance out the pH in the bark?

 

[e30driftin]

Mulch (bark) has the tendency to drop pH so watch for that indeed. I wouldn't transplant it in flower. Looks like you have some issues with phosphorous uptake, so thats likely due to low pH in the bark. I wouldn't sweat it, call it a learning experience, not to use mulch as a medium. A plant that size isn't gonna yield much on a good day.

Also what indicators did you use to tell it’s having phosphorus issues? Trying to learn as much as I can.

 

[Renfro]

Also what indicators did you use to tell it’s having phosphorus issues?

Purple leaves.

Any idea how to balance out the pH in the bark?

If you have a reliable digital soil pH meter you might see if you can get a reading on the moist mulch. If say it reads 4.5 and you want 6.5 then water at 8.5 and monitor the results after each watering and compensate next watering accordingly. Thing is I don't really know what the correct pH for mulch would be but I would try 6.5 and see how the plant likes it.

Without a reliable soil pH meter it's a guessing game and you may do more harm than good.

Probably not worth buying an expensive meter for a 10 gram plant at best. Would be handy in the future perhaps.

 

[Renfro]

Also know that the only reason to use some form of sugar like the molasses is to feed beneficial bacteria and I didn't see that listed so basically all you can likely feed is any bad bacteria present in the mulch. Your plant doesn't uptake sugar in anyway.

 

[e30driftin]

Damn I really messed up with this grow haha now I know. Do growers usually add beneficial bacteria as a supplement or is it part of the soil? Next grow will be much better.

 

[Bernie420]

Will do. Any idea how to balance out the pH in the bark?

add microbes to the new nutes you get. The ph of the soil doesnt mean anything what matters is the ph at the root surface in the rhizoshere and microbes regulate that for the plant. The plant feeds the microbes the microbes feed the plant. You use a product like molasses at week sevenish when the plant stops sending food down for the microbes, at that point you use molasses to feed them to keep them active.

Get a bloom nute, ditch the molasses and the other thing that is 10/10 is a pk booster and isnt needed till week 5/6, and a little plant like that it probably isnt needed at all.

I wouldnt transplant now unless you want to put it in transplant shock and stress it out or something, leave it.

With that said fuck it keep doing what your doing

 

[e30driftin]

Purple leaves.


If you have a reliable digital soil pH meter you might see if you can get a reading on the moist mulch. If say it reads 4.5 and you want 6.5 then water at 8.5 and monitor the results after each watering and compensate next watering accordingly. Thing is I don't really know what the correct pH for mulch would be but I would try 6.5 and see how the plant likes it.

Without a reliable soil pH meter it's a guessing game and you may do more harm than good.

Probably not worth buying an expensive meter for a 10 gram plant at best. Would be handy in the future perhaps.

I bumped up the pH to 8 last watering and the lower leaves are turning green again and the buds got a bit larger since for the first time. Your advice worked! Thanks again!

 

[Budget Buds]

leave it be, finish it off and don't do it next time, it looks fine

 

[Renfro]

leave it be, finish it off and don't do it next time, it looks fine

Huh?

I bumped up the pH to 8 last watering and the lower leaves are turning green again and the buds got a bit larger since for the first time. Your advice worked! Thanks again!

You are most welcome. Next run you know what to watch for with pH, it's not just the nutrients / water. Happy growing my friend.

 

[Budget Buds]

Huh?

No, since it is already flowering I would not transplant it, Just finish the grow off and remember to not do it again the next time The plant looks great

 

[Budzbuddha]

I am gonna agree ... it’s flowering already .... let in run as is.
But ... if Possible add more light - even if it’s supplemental clamp lights to surround plant . ( to get those inner buds popping ).


Learning from experience is part of the dance.

 

[e30driftin]

I am gonna agree ... it’s flowering already .... let in run as is.
But ... if Possible add more light - even if it’s supplemental clamp lights to surround plant . ( to get those inner buds popping ).

Learning from experience is part of the dance.

What are clamp lights exactly? I’ve been thinking of adding more lights especially side lights before my next grow. Do you recommend any in specific that don’t break the bank? Amazon specials or something.

 

[Frigault]

Damn I really messed up with this grow haha now I know. Do growers usually add beneficial bacteria as a supplement or is it part of the soil? Next grow will be much better.

The beneficial bacteria can come from a very good home compost and work casting you can have a ok ratio of gardening stire compost but the best king will often contain sea product. You can always make what they call a compost tea brew. That will boost the reproduction cycle of beneficial bacteria. Or had suppliment like azos and mykos from xtreme gardening. Have been using great white frim plant success for a very long time has i prepare my soil when i transplant and when a had water... Beneficial bacteria or essential in the decomposition on nutrient into a more plant available nutrient...
Try it in your next grow and try adding some in this grow it will help in your last steps of flowering it may not be the greatest grow. But dosent mean its not going to be good product in the end none the less. Everybody neds to make mistake if they want to learn something.

 

[Budzbuddha]

Nice hybrid leaf .

What are clamp lights exactly? I’ve been thinking of adding more lights especially side lights before my next grow. Do you recommend any in specific that don’t break the bank? Amazon specials or something.

Side lighting ( simple cfl ) can help you until another panel or primary light change. There is nothing wrong doing it in a pinch.
or if you double up the panel ( you are using ) with another.

Basically , try to improve the light situation.

 

[e30driftin]

The beneficial bacteria can come from a very good home compost and work casting you can have a ok ratio of gardening stire compost but the best king will often contain sea product. You can always make what they call a compost tea brew. That will boost the reproduction cycle of beneficial bacteria. Or had suppliment like azos and mykos from xtreme gardening. Have been using great white frim plant success for a very long time has i prepare my soil when i transplant and when a had water... Beneficial bacteria or essential in the decomposition on nutrient into a more plant available nutrient...
Try it in your next grow and try adding some in this grow it will help in your last steps of flowering it may not be the greatest grow. But dosent mean its not going to be good product in the end none the less. Everybody neds to make mistake if they want to learn something.

How do you make compost tea and what exactly is work castings? This isn’t the first time I’ve heard of that but have no clue what it is or how to make it. Any advice is welcomed and appreciated!

 

[e30driftin]

What light are you running. ?

I have a viparspectra 600W. I’m planning on growing 4 plants next time around and going to buy another one before that. But small side lights sounds like a good idea just gotta research grow lights some more.