Crinkled and deformed new growth, stumped.

For the life of me I cannot figure this one out and i happening once every few grows.

It is not bugs. I repeat, it is 1000% NOT bugs. Freshly sanitized grow with IPM schedule on point and confirmed by microscrope.

The new growth starts becoming malformed, with some leaves failing to develop properly and taking on a crinkled or mutated look with a much small stature compared to the older, healthier growth.

It is happening across 30% of the plants and it keeps popping up just after I think I have it under control.

I’ve combed through so many damn nutrient deficiency charts and I haven’t seen anything like this.

I have multiple plants in veg displaying the same symptoms, all in coco drain to waste feeding Advanced Nutrients Cultivator Series at 1.2 EC ph 6.0. Temps average 25c/77f with 60-65% RH. RO water

Runoff is around 1.1-1.4 EC with ph averaging 6.3-6.5

Lighting is being supplied by a 300 watt Mars Hydro panel at 70% powered metered at 350 umol (down from 500 umol in an attempt to reduce stress). Also happening under a 315 watt CMH on another table set at 550 umol.

I have a suspicion that this all may have something to do with the somewhat recent introduction of Potassium Silicate. I always add it first to RO water then Base then Grow. It is only thing that has changed in the past couple of months. Might not be related at all, but thought I’d mention it.

i would love to be able to finally solve this mystery. Any help folks?

looks exactly like russet mite damage.

I agree, looks like russet mites to me..

I hear what you’re saying but I’ve been all over these plants with a microscope and can’t find any mites. Nothing.

I’ll check again and report back.

Just my 02 cents, but it looks like the leaves pretty much straighten out once they mature, I suspect it may have to do with nutes (too much) and/or the potassium silicate. (I've never used it). I've had seedlings do that before, and it was too many nutes too early. It didn't burn the plants, but the growth was so fast that is caused the leaves to be malformed.

Update: I spent all afternoon going over every plant with a fine tooth comb to no avail. The most messed up plants were unremarkable. The worst looking plant of the bunch (first and second images - underside of leaf and petiole) is spotless as far as I can tell

But, I do have four very young seedlings in the bunch which have not been sprayed as of yet due to their immaturity. One is exhibiting symptoms and I stuck that one under the scope and I think I may be seeing eggs here (last two images).

Is that what I’m seeing?