newbie in desperate need of help (pics0

[thegrownoob]

Okay,
I'm new to growing, in fact this is really my first attempt. The plants pictured below were started from seed, and for about the first three weeks I had no problems. I look around on the forum but I can't seem to identify what I am doing wrong.

I am using a couple of 23 watt CFL bulbs, the space is small (mini fridge) but I have two vent fans running (one in and one out) and the temp stays around 80-85.

Until a couple of days ago I was using 16/16/16 fertilizer diluted in water. Now I am just using water.

About three days ago I transplanted my plants from 8oz cups to 16oz cups. I don't know if I have a nutrient problem, or if they are just suffering from transplant shock.

My plants seem to be exhibiting a variety of problems and I need to know how to fix them before they die off. Any suggestions?

I was planning to grow these in smaller containers until they began to reveal their sex, at which point I planned to transplant the best two females into larger containers. I don't really care about a big yield as this is just for fun, but at the same time I don't want all of them to die off after I have put so much work into them. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You,
Jack

 

[Sidewinder73]

Your soil looks nasty. Where did you get the soil? Check PH of the soil and water you are feeding with. If neither of those are the prob, then back off nutrients and flush with ph balanced water.

 

[thegrownoob]

The soil is miracle grow soil, I didn't get if from my yard or anything. Is there any chance they could be suffering from heat stress?

 

[thegrownoob]

I usually run my water through a brita filter and let it sit for a day or two before I use it. Also I haven't used any nutes in a couple of days, although the fresh soil I used when transplanting does have some nutes in it.

 

[catnips]

The soil is miracle grow soil, I didn't get if from my yard or anything. Is there any chance they could be suffering from heat stress?

Growers I know say Miracle Gro is crap. Yes, I think heat stress could be an issue. Check pH as already suggested.

 

[thegrownoob]

Ya I know that miracle grow isn't really ideal, I'm just using what i have on hand. I will check the ph ASAP. I am still wondering though, what in the heck is wrong with this guy?

It seems to have completely different symptoms than my others. The others are still standing straight while this one has gone as limp as a noodle.

 

[thegrownoob]

They seemed so happy just a couple of days ago, this is them right after I put them in bigger containers.

And this is them a couple of weeks ago

 

[magik*420]

Did you use MG Seedling Starting Soil or just regular MG Potting Soil??

 

[thegrownoob]

Actually it was soil for African Violet's.

 

[magik*420]

Thats probably ur problem then.. Who knows what nutes are in there and how much??

If ur starting seeds, you dont wanna use anything with nutes in it really.. Thats why they make "Starting" soils..

 

[thegrownoob]

Thats the thing though, I have successfully stated seedlings in this soil a number of times. I know I said that this is my first real attempt at growing, but what i mean is growing to flower. I have grown seedlings in this soil before with no problems. Also the seedlings pictured did just fine until a couple of days ago, before that I had three weeks of growth with no problems. I checked the bag, the soil has a very small amount of nutes in it.

 

[thegrownoob]

If it was the soil I used wouldn't I have seem problems almost right away, and not three to four weeks into growing?

 

[Sidewinder73]

Problem is that miracle grow uses time released nutrients. What's your temp? How often do you water? Think, what has changed since last time?

 

[thegrownoob]

Good point. The main thing that has changed is the containers that the plants are in. I started them in little card paper cups, and them placed them in 160z keg cups about three days ago. That is the major change that has taken place. The plant in the first pic started to exhibit problems before I transplanted though. All the others started to exhibit problems after. Placing them in the new containers did move them closer to the lights, although after they started having problems I moved the lights up another four inches. Could it just be transplant shock? If so what do I do?

 

[samsquanch]

They look pretty bad. I don't know if they would make it if you transplant them. It looks as though they are root bound. Maybe someone else on here can tell for sure. There is a lot of growers on here with a lot of experience. I have seen plants way worse that people on here talked them through it a revived there shit from the dead. So be patient. I hear the cavalry..

 

[magik*420]

Yea, the time released nutes are the shitty part about MG, thats why it's highly suggested not to use.. What happens is once the roots start to develop and start to spread thru the soil, there's usually "hot spots" of nutrients in cheaper soils from inconsistent mixing methods and such.. So once you water and those roots suck up some water from that hot spot you got pretty much instant nute burn. =/

And at such an early stage in the plants development, it's not strong enough to bounce back from it most times and ends up dying..

Also as you said you've started seedlings b4 in that soil, but what happened to those plants??

 

[Sidewinder73]

All I can think of for now is to only feed them straight water and hope you can flush some nutes. Hopefully someone else will have some better options, but do not add any additional nutes.

 

[thegrownoob]

Those plants made it for quite a while and even got to about 18 inches. The reason I never got to flower them was because I wasn't in a place that I could do that so I was forced to abandon them outside. Before I got rid of them they looked really good.

I will avoid nutes. Hopefully the four that don't look terrible will bounce back, the other two look like they may be lost causes.

 

[samsquanch]

Can water drain completely through the soil?

 

[thegrownoob]

Drainage is pretty good, also I have some small pebbles at the very bottom of the cups to help out.