Diagnosis help

NightSpider

Active Member
Also, I was thinking maybe I need some kind of mulch because the surface dries like hell but when I put my finger in below is moist. I am worried about pests and bugs the mulch materials like hay or woodchips might bring into the grow tent though because this is only my second grow, I never had pest issues so far and if I do have them, I will have no experience to battle it. What can I use as mulch to protect the top soil from drying out quickly and protect the microbial ( If I have any lol) life from the lights?
 

Wastei

Well-Known Member
The organic fert I use has molasses in it, I can smell it. I put some canna rhizotonic in the flush water but how can I introduce those microbes?

I use bluelab ph pen for liquids. I do not normally water until runoff. Should I? I will start checking the ph of the runoff.

I flushed each plant only once recently when the problems got very serious.

Right now If I understand you guys correctly even though I see nitrogen deficiency I will stop feeding.

I use fabric smartpots but I fear overwatering so I dont really water until runoff but I am guessing its near impossible to overwater in smartpots. Should I be a bit brave and saturate the pot with water?

I will measure runoff and bump up my feeding ph to 6.5-6.6?
You use Calmag (Calcium nitrate, magnesium nitrate) both containing nitrogen in your first waterings/feedings. Your nitrogen levels are probably way high causing nitrogen lockout.

Why are you using calmag when you're not growing in coco?
 
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The organic fert I use has molasses in it, I can smell it. I put some canna rhizotonic in the flush water but how can I introduce those microbes?

I use bluelab ph pen for liquids. I do not normally water until runoff. Should I? I will start checking the ph of the runoff.

I flushed each plant only once recently when the problems got very serious.

Right now If I understand you guys correctly even though I see nitrogen deficiency I will stop feeding.

I use fabric smartpots but I fear overwatering so I dont really water until runoff but I am guessing its near impossible to overwater in smartpots. Should I be a bit brave and saturate the pot with water?

I will measure runoff and bump up my feeding ph to 6.5-6.6?
Yes, definitely water until runoff, i do that in plastic pots and you are using smart pots which is perfect.
Over time, salts build up in the soil, mostly at the bottom and make it very acidic over time.
That's mostly the cause of incorrect ph in soils.

When it comes to overwatering, if your soil has good drainage, you shouldn't worry about it.
Edit: That doesn't mean to water it too often, make sure the top 2 inches of soil dries between each watering but when you do, fully saturate rhe soil with a slight runoff and measure it. Don't panic if the ph comes out 4 or something, that:s all the salts and cal-mag you've been feeding her.

Ideally, i would suggest to fully saturate your soil, with 20% runoff at least every second watering.
If you don't, the soil in smart pots dries quicker on the outside and stays moist inside which keeps roots from expanding, they stay in their safe zone.
 

NightSpider

Active Member
You use Calmag (Calcium nitrate, magnesium nitrate) both containing nitrogen in your first waterings/feedings. Your nitrogen levels are probably way high causing nitrogen lockout.

Why are you using calmag when you're not growing in coco?
cal1.jpeg
Cal2.jpeg

This says CaO and MgO but it might be as you say.

Today I watered all 4 with 6.6 ph water with no calmag or bottled fertiliser.
The runoff was between 7.0 and 7.2 ph in 4 pots.

I use calmag because when I posted my problems with the previous grow some people advised me to use it since they said it was mag deficiency.
I stopped for now until I can figure out what the problem is.

Yes, definitely water until runoff, i do that in plastic pots and you are using smart pots which is perfect.
Over time, salts build up in the soil, mostly at the bottom and make it very acidic over time.
That's mostly the cause of incorrect ph in soils.

When it comes to overwatering, if your soil has good drainage, you shouldn't worry about it.
Edit: That doesn't mean to water it too often, make sure the top 2 inches of soil dries between each watering but when you do, fully saturate rhe soil with a slight runoff and measure it. Don't panic if the ph comes out 4 or something, that:s all the salts and cal-mag you've been feeding her.

Ideally, i would suggest to fully saturate your soil, with 20% runoff at least every second watering.
If you don't, the soil in smart pots dries quicker on the outside and stays moist inside which keeps roots from expanding, they stay in their safe zone.
This time I saturated the pots with a little runoff but the plants do not look invigorated, instead a bit like overwatered, saggy.
The ph of runoff was around 7.1, not acidic :( I am more confused now
 

Wastei

Well-Known Member
View attachment 4740531
View attachment 4740530

This says CaO and MgO but it might be as you say.

Today I watered all 4 with 6.6 ph water with no calmag or bottled fertiliser.
The runoff was between 7.0 and 7.2 ph in 4 pots.

I use calmag because when I posted my problems with the previous grow some people advised me to use it since they said it was mag deficiency.
I stopped for now until I can figure out what the problem is.



This time I saturated the pots with a little runoff but the plants do not look invigorated, instead a bit like overwatered, saggy.
The ph of runoff was around 7.1, not acidic :( I am more confused now
There's a joke going around on this forum about everyone suggesting "Calmag" to every single plant problem. "Calmag" problems only exist in Coco Coir because of its leaching capability.

Every other calcium/magnesium related issues can only be down to overferting/lockout and as a result of that also pH issues.

Here's the chemical decomposition of dissolving Calcium nitrate in water.:

Ca(NO3)2 = CaO + NO2 + O2

Calcium nitrate = Calcium oxide + Nitrogen dioxide + Oxygen

Magnesium Nitrate:

Mg(NO3)2 = MgO + NO2 + O2
 
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NightSpider

Active Member
There's a joke going around on this forum about everyone suggesting "Calmag" to every single plant problem.

Here's the chemical decomposition of dissolving Calcium nitrate in water.:

Ca(NO3)2 = CaO + NO2 + O2

Calcium nitrate = Calcium oxide + Nitrogen dioxide + Oxygen

Magnesium Nitrate:

Mg(NO3)2 = MgO + NO2 + O2
I see, thanks for the info man. I might be asking for too much but could you have a glance over this thread quickly and tell me what you think is the route to follow right now as in some simple instructions? There were also some questions I had that we just skipped in the process of the conversation, maybe you will also see one you hadnt before. If not, thanks anyways.
 

Wastei

Well-Known Member
I see, thanks for the info man. I might be asking for too much but could you have a glance over this thread quickly and tell me what you think is the route to follow right now as in some simple instructions? There were also some questions I had that we just skipped in the process of the conversation, maybe you will also see one you hadnt before. If not, thanks anyways.
You probably got a lot of lime in the medium buffering pH on the high side. This is why you don't need to worry about Calmag on already amended soil.

Just give it water to runoff and practice patience. She will recover. My first successfully grows I only used premixed soil without any nutrients added to the feedings/waterings. Plain water

I just transplanted in "royal mix" or something similar before entering flowering. You will be steered to use a lot of product because most people don't understand plant nutrition and think more is better. Give the plant nutes when you see some changes in appearance ie lighter shade of green. Best of luck!
 
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