Need Help. Never Had Issues.

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MintyDreadlocks

Well-Known Member
Ok so I'll make this brief while trying to give you guys info. I moved into a new place. This is my first winter growing indoors. I had no issues here in the summertime and spring. I have WELL WATER.

I started using fabric pots. I suspected over watering at first but this happens to all my plants. They start off fine then they go to shit when they're suppose to blowing up in veg. Completely stalled and stunted. I've been in this phase of growing amazing pot effortlessly to having this strange problem.

I'm using nothing but water from the well and Fox Farm Ocean Forrest in 5Gal fabric pots. Every plant I start does this crap and ends up stunted.

Humidity: 50-60%
Temp: 75-84F
Tent Size: 2x4x4ft
Light: California Light works Solarxtreme 500 (400w)
Ventilation: 6inch AC Infinity + passive intake
Water Report: 337-400ppm, 7.1pH

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IMG_20240204_111641147~2.jpg
 
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MintyDreadlocks

Well-Known Member
Phytoplankton said:
Try dropping the PH to about 6.2. They look hungry, like maybe the N is locked out from the PH or possibly there's a lot of Ca in the well water, and it's fighting the N. The other option would be to use R/O water. Also, possibly looking a bit overwatered
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I'm ordering a test strip kit for water quality so I can know for sure. Your response makes a lot of sense and gives me a direction. Glad to have a informative response first post in. Thanks. I too also suspected a high mineral count in my water and you gave me a little bit of validation. Should I start adding a little lime to my soil as a buffer? The lockout from Ca has me thinking you're right. Because she looks hungry like you say but this is a fresh batch of soil so it's gotta be lockout. Do I give N nutes? My logical thinking is no since the soil has plenty and it's just not taking it up. Is there something I can do about the Ca now? Is R/O My only option? My plants are barely taking up water rn.
 
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Phytoplankton

Well-Known Member
MintyDreadlocks said:
I'm ordering a test strip kit for water quality so I can know for sure. Your response makes a lot of sense and gives me a direction. Glad to have a informative response first post in. Thanks. I too also suspected a high mineral count in my water and you gave me a little bit of validation. Should I start adding a little lime to my soil as a buffer? The lockout from Ca has me thinking you're right. Because she looks hungry like you say but this is a fresh batch of soil so it's gotta be lockout. Do I give N nutes? My logical thinking is no since the soil has plenty and it's just not taking it up. Is there something I can do about the Ca now? Is R/O My only option? My plants are barely taking up water rn.
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I am on a small water company (about 150 houses), and our water is well water, prior to about 3 years ago I absolutely couldn't use the water, my PPMs were 700-1400, sometimes as high as 2400 PPM's, mostly Ca, Mg, Boron and Manganese. I had to buy my water. Recently they drilled a new well, which is better, but certainly not good, about 400 PPM's mostly Ca and Manganese. You could try flushing with some low EC water, but it would probably only be temporary solution. Dropping the PH of your nute water would probably help. I don't think lime will do anything but make it worse, Lime is Calcium carbonate and Magnesium, it increases the PH.
 
Boatguy

Boatguy

Well-Known Member
Maybe try not going to fabric final pot till up potting a few weeks before flipping to 12/12. There is a reason nursery's use plastic, repotting is easy, and evaporation is much more uniform.
Fabric pots can be a bitch
 
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MintyDreadlocks

Well-Known Member
Boatguy said:
Maybe try not going to fabric final pot till up potting a few weeks before flipping to 12/12. There is a reason nursery's use plastic, repotting is easy, and evaporation is much more uniform.
Fabric pots can be a bitch
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Yes, not a fan of the fabric pots you're right 100%
 
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Phytoplankton

Well-Known Member
What nutes are you using, and at what strength and PH? Nothing wrong with fabric pots, they are better at drying out the soil mix. Nurseries use plastic because they are cheap, easy to transplant, are re-useable many times, and store well. In my experience I get better results from fabric.
 
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Pa-Donk

Member
Get a PH,ppm and EC tester. Test water before adding nutes test after adding nutes.
PH medium dependant 5.8-6.3
EC at that stage 1.2.
Remember also some nutrients aren't that stable and although can drop PH of water initially and be a good feed for a plant 24hours later that PH will be off and EC will be the same and end up lockedout.
I'm a newbie just like sciencey shit
 
HenryTheEighth

HenryTheEighth

Well-Known Member
MintyDreadlocks said:
I'm ordering a test strip kit for water quality so I can know for sure. Your response makes a lot of sense and gives me a direction. Glad to have a informative response first post in. Thanks. I too also suspected a high mineral count in my water and you gave me a little bit of validation. Should I start adding a little lime to my soil as a buffer? The lockout from Ca has me thinking you're right. Because she looks hungry like you say but this is a fresh batch of soil so it's gotta be lockout. Do I give N nutes? My logical thinking is no since the soil has plenty and it's just not taking it up. Is there something I can do about the Ca now? Is R/O My only option? My plants are barely taking up water rn.
Click to expand...
Sounds like you have two possible variables in play.
Winter grow = cold?
New soil = shit?
Have to doubt your water is the issue if you grew well in spring and summer??
I’m seeing what looks like a bark style potting mix in the bag. That in a cloth bag is probably giving you dry pockets and causing stress.
If your soil mix drains properly then give them a big flush and a feed and warm up the grow room with an oil heater to make it like summer.
 
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