Curled blue tips on new plants, what's wrong?

Fedora

Fedora

Member
Over the last few days my new plants which just sprouted through the soil are curling up and the tips are turning dark blue/purple. They feel crispy to the touch. The soil is moist and the lights have been on 24/0 since they popped through the soil 3 days ago. They are being watered with pH neutral water and I'm using these lights at 6" distance: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WM5YUCK?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01

I haven't added nutrients, so I don't think it's that. Although the perlite in the soil apparently is enriched with miracle grow. The humidity is 57% and the temperature is 77 degrees F at all times. After reading the guides, the only thing I can think is that the lights should be on 18/6 instead of 24/0, possibly? These are autoflowering seeds, though, so I thought it didn't matter. Any thoughts?





 
AimAim

AimAim

Well-Known Member
Overwatered in my opinion.

Put a fan on them and get the soil to dry out

Forget about nutes at this point, if they pull through you should not need to add any for a few weeks.
 
Fedora

Fedora

Member
Really, too much water? Considering how dry they are, I figured it was the opposite. Well, I haven't watered them since yesterday and the soil is still moist. The plants look the same so far...
 
Fedora

Fedora

Member
Well, shit. I put a fan on them. They're still growing, but everything's droopy. What are the chances they will recover?
 
cowboyferg

cowboyferg

Well-Known Member
carefully take a pencil/pen on or near the edge a push the pencil/pen slowly not to damage any roots put fan on hole will help air the soil should recover
 
Fedora

Fedora

Member
No, there weren't any drainage holes. The soil was drying up so quickly at first that I figured drainage holes would only make it worse. I thought the soil would absorb the water equally. The first time I watered them, though, I think I went overboard. There's no more loose water in the bottom of the cups now, but I'll poke holes before I water them again.

I don't know how many times I read from grow guides that it's easy to overwater plants when you think you're just helping, and yet here I am making a rookie mistake...

How often should I be watering the little guys? Any time the soil dries up and turns light brown, or less often than that?
 
cowboyferg

cowboyferg

Well-Known Member
in the small containers you shouldn't have to water much at all let them dry out really good between watering once u get them in say 5 gallon buckets stick your finger in bout 2to3 inches if it feels wet let them go for a few more if its dry water
 
cowboyferg

cowboyferg

Well-Known Member
yup that's a great way to tell also threw out the grow process learn how heavy the pots are dry to wet and vice versa right on point doc
 
Fedora

Fedora

Member
Currently the cups are about twice as heavy as they were when dry. After the first time I watered them, they were three times as heavy. The top of the soil is still a little damp, but near the outer edges it's dry. I think over the course of the first 2 days when the plants had been moved from peat plugs to Solo cups, I gave each plant about 1/3 of a Solo cups' worth of water. Since then they haven't been watered, except for once I gave a small spritz from a spray bottle over the top.
 
docter

docter

Well-Known Member
Check em every day. No spritz no water until they dry out a bit. Prob 2-3 more days.
 
Fedora

Fedora

Member
Thanks so much for the help, it looks like they may pull through for the most part. One plant has little dark green spots on the leaves and hasn't really gotten bigger, but the others are showing tiny new leaves and the initial leaves are a little bigger and brighter now. Tomorrow before I water them again I'll make sure to poke drainage holes in the cups. The soil is starting to pull away from the edges of the cups, so I'm pretty sure it's about time to water them again. I'll take pictures when I do.

docter, your timing is spot on. It's almost like you've done this before... ;)
 
Fedora

Fedora

Member
I watered the plants again 2 days ago and now the leaves are looking even worse! I poked holes in the cups so they could drain, and they've stayed moist (but not heavy) so far. Now some of the leaves are purple and others are a very pale green/yellow. What on earth did I do wrong this time?





 
docter

docter

Well-Known Member
What soil? Was the soil enriched with synthetic nutrients like the perlite? I think all the damage was done with the overwatering and accompanied root rot it's surprising they are alive. Continue as you were except for the over watering thing. I would add add a little 6500k cfl to i have seen plants do funny shit with cheap led,s. Don,t add any nutrients worm castings are okay.
 
Mr.Head

Mr.Head

Well-Known Member
90% sure it's overwatered in a hot soil and has suffered lock out.

If your soil has nutrients in it then when you water it's like you are feeding them.

They may recover, they look pretty darn rough though. What I would do is let them dry out real good and my next couple waters would be with a distilled water. The last thing you want to do is add more nutrients to the soil.

How close are you keeping that LED light? I know most powerful LED's aren't supposed to be close. I know I keep my COB rig 3+ feet over my seedlings.
 
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