First Time Grower [White Widow] dark green, edge curling, and slight clawing

Whaddup y’all!

First time grower here…

I’m experiencing a bit of edge curling, some slight clawing, and leaves are darker green the further down the canopy you go.





-2x4 gorilla tent
-7gal fabric pot
- Foxfarm “ko ko bop” (N 0.69, P 0.40, K 0.40) [ blend of renewable coconut coir and aged forest products with perlite for aeration]
- updayday 1000w full spectrum LED


(The plant had been in veg for two weeks before it was given to me, came to me pretty dark green).

First off I’ll address the dark green color… Is this hue of green, and the slight clawing indicative of too much nitrogen? Or possibly over watering?


-clawing happened on day 2 after transplant into my 7 gal fabric pots. This appeared after I watered the day after the initial transplant watering…I was worried I under-watered a bit during the transplant and when I saw the edge curling start to happen, I watered til runoff. (ph’d water, no added nutes)

• if I could do it over I would have went with something a little less nitro heavy.

• Hopefully as time passes and the plant eats more, the tip curling will disappear as the nitrogen is processed more quickly.

As far as the edge curling goes…


At first I thought maybe it was due to overwatering the day after transplant, but after reaching out to some folks, they suggested also raising the light to max height to let the plant get used to it, considering most of the curling is clustered towards the top of the canopy. The leaves with the worst curling are feeling a bit “crispy”.



I’ve now raised the light to max height and I’m reading around a 315ppfd at the top of the canopy.



I was doing some research and noticed some folks saying with LED’s you need to get your room temp up to facilitate photosynthesis. Unfortunately at the moment my power situation won’t allow for a space heater as the one I have keeps flipping the breaker.

• Are there any power friendly tips for heating up the tent?
• Should I introduce a small amount of cal mag on my next watering?
• Should I be adding some veg nutes in to help with deficiency due to my lower veg temps? (Weary of this as I already suspect a nitrogen surplus)

Thank you for any advice you may have!

Your assumptions are probably correct. A bit too much nitrogen. The new growth looks good though.
The plant will be fine and get used to the excess fertilizer, quickly. Cal-mag is a good idea, but a lot of bottle ferts use the nitrate form. Adding more nitrogen.
Dolomite would be my recommendation. Cal and mag plus pH correction, nitrogen is an acidifier. A better thing to add would be microbes, either bought as a product or extracted from EWCs or compost.

Red Hard Head said:

Your assumptions are probably correct. A bit too much nitrogen. The new growth looks good though.
The plant will be fine and get used to the excess fertilizer, quickly. Cal-mag is a good idea, but a lot of bottle ferts use the nitrate form. Adding more nitrogen.
Dolomite would be my recommendation. Cal and mag plus pH correction, nitrogen is an acidifier. A better thing to add would be microbes, either bought as a product or extracted from EWCs or compost.

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Thank you for the microbe suggestion, will head to my local shop today and see what they got!

does it look better at lights on vs lights off?
i am also having a simliar issue. it looks better at lights on that just before lights off.
one note, this plants look well fed on a lot of leaves, darker than a bunch of other strains. it almost got waxy leaves at one point.
So, maybe there is some interplay with N. That said, when i started to feed calmag a lot more the leaves would flatten out for a bit after watering. weird.

that same one has had some odd discoleration or larger lightening spots. i think i have slowed/stopped it with calmag.

i can't tell if this is an ok trait or i am messing up something. when i posted about it some suggested a root issue.
so, another question is does it risk going herm in flower.

Splinter7 said:

does it look better at lights on vs lights off?
i am also having a simliar issue. it looks better at lights on that just before lights off.
one note, this plants look well fed on a lot of leaves, darker than a bunch of other strains. it almost got waxy leaves at one point.
So, maybe there is some interplay with N. That said, when i started to feed calmag a lot more the leaves would flatten out for a bit after watering. weird.

that same one has had some odd discoleration or larger lightening spots. i think i have slowed/stopped it with calmag.

i can't tell if this is an ok trait or i am messing up something. when i posted about it some suggested a root issue.
so, another question is does it risk going herm in flower.

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She’s been looking the best about an hour after lights on actually. Watered with cal-mag, and the edge curling went down slightly. Still seeing some clawing tho. Think I’m gonna let er dry back even more until the next watering and might add some veg nutes in on the next water.

Before todays cal-mag watering (1 hour after lights on) :


3 hours after cal-mag watering:

High far do you have your lights from the plant ? And do you have anything blowing hot air, or maybe even a strong fan blowing accross the top of the plant. Your problem is only near the top of the plant, apart from that the plant looks very healthy.

TheWholeTruth said:

High far do you have your lights from the plant ? And do you have anything blowing hot air, or maybe even a strong fan blowing accross the top of the plant. Your problem is only near the top of the plant, apart from that the plant looks very healthy.

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My light is just under 3 ft. away from the top of the canopy, and the only fan I have blowing is my exhaust fan. I noticed that as well, that’s why I moved my light up to max height (Atleast without re-rigging it closer to the tent top).

Beaturn said:

My light is just under 3 ft. away from the top of the canopy, and the only fan I have blowing is my exhaust fan. I noticed that as well, that’s why I moved my light up to max height (Atleast without re-rigging it closer to the tent top).

View attachment 5272344

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Yes thats more than enough hight. Im a bit concerned at all the little dimpling on your leaves coupled with the slight leaf edges rolling up. Have you used soil mixed for indoor plants, or introduced anything from outside, or maybe have any pets in the tent ? If you zoom into your pictures and look at the leaves it looks like there are tiny white bits on the leaves. Might be worth taking a closer look to make sure everything is ok.

TheWholeTruth said:

Yes thats more than enough hight. Im a bit concerned at all the little dimpling on your leaves coupled with the slight leaf edges rolling up. Have you used soil mixed for indoor plants, or introduced anything from outside, or maybe have any pets in the tent ? If you zoom into your pictures and look at the leaves it looks like there are tiny white bits on the leaves. Might be worth taking a closer look to make sure everything is ok.

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Yeah that wrinkly crispy look and feel on a couple leaves didn’t look healthy. I’m only using foxfarm kokobop soil. Yes I do have a pet (that sheds a lot), but I try to keep her out of the room as much as I can (she’s a playful husky), and tbh it could be my dandruff as well lol.

EDIT* it’s def my dry skin lol I have psoriasis and I just saw some fall in when I was leaning over. all the white specks come off when I blow on them… Will wear a hat from now on!

What would I be looking for to make sure it’s not an issue?

I’m considering topping that whole section anyway to slow down the upward growth as I’m waiting for my flowering LED, and wanted to scrog In my 4x4. Should I clip now, or wait til next watering and give some veg nutes and wait a few days for those to absorb, to give the plant what it needs to heal?

Beaturn said:

Yeah that wrinkly crispy look and feel on a couple leaves didn’t look healthy. I’m only using foxfarm kokobop soil. Yes I do have a pet (that sheds a lot), but I try to keep her out of the room as much as I can (she’s a playful husky), and tbh it could be my dandruff as well lol. What would I be looking for to make sure it’s not an issue?

I’m considering topping that whole section anyway to slow down the growth as I’m waiting for my flowering LED, and wanted to scrog In my 4x4. Should I clip now, or wait til next watering and give some veg nutes and wait a few days for those to absorb, to give the plant what it needs to heal?

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1 hr before lights off:

I’m almost wondering if the plant wants to get rid of those leaves to get more light into the lower parts. Is this a thing?

Beaturn said:

Yeah that wrinkly crispy look and feel on a couple leaves didn’t look healthy. I’m only using foxfarm kokobop soil. Yes I do have a pet (that sheds a lot), but I try to keep her out of the room as much as I can (she’s a playful husky), and tbh it could be my dandruff as well lol.

EDIT* it’s def my dry skin lol I have psoriasis and I just saw some fall in when I was leaning over. all the white specks come off when I blow on them… Will wear a hat from now on!

What would I be looking for to make sure it’s not an issue?

I’m considering topping that whole section anyway to slow down the upward growth as I’m waiting for my flowering LED, and wanted to scrog In my 4x4. Should I clip now, or wait til next watering and give some veg nutes and wait a few days for those to absorb, to give the plant what it needs to heal?

Click to expand...

Look for tiny microscopic pests. They usually hide in the folds of the leaves or around the leaf vein areas. Google different types of plant mites, especially hemp mite and russet mite so that you have an idea of what your looking for. If you spot anything or for precaution you could just give the plant a little wash under a strong running tap and rub down the leaves abit. Hopefully its nothing.
Yeah pets love cannabis plants for some reason, my cat used to love eating all the leaves. She used to pull a face at some of the plants that had a more stronger skunky smelling bud and try and stear clear of those ones. Its nice to chill with your pets and plants, its very relaxing and rewarding. But unfortunately we run the risk of transmitting unwanted pests through pets visiting the grow area, and some of those pests can be awfully hard to get rid of and very destructive. Outdoors nature and good predators/insects and microbes keep everything in balance but thats harder to do indoors.

TheWholeTruth said:

Look for tiny microscopic pests. They usually hide in the folds of the leaves or around the leaf vein areas. Google different types of plant mites, especially hemp mite and russet mite so that you have an idea of what your looking for. If you spot anything or for precaution you could just give the plant a little wash under a strong running tap and rub down the leaves abit. Hopefully its nothing.
Yeah pets love cannabis plants for some reason, my cat used to love eating all the leaves. She used to pull a face at some of the plants that had a more stronger skunky smelling bud and try and stear clear of those ones. Its nice to chill with your pets and plants, its very relaxing and rewarding. But unfortunately we run the risk of transmitting unwanted pests through pets visiting the grow area, and some of those pests can be awfully hard to get rid of and very destructive. Outdoors nature and good predators/insects and microbes keep everything in balance but thats harder to do indoors.

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Thanks a bunch for the response! I’ll whip out the microscope after work today and give her a good look. Pretty sure it’s my dry skin tho from psoriasis (I bumped my head against the zipper door and saw some dry skin fall on to the plant).

she’s looking the best she has so far today:



I’m thinking tomorrow we give her a good de-fol as long as she’s still trending upward. Played her classical music all night lol

Beaturn said:

Thanks a bunch for the response! I’ll whip out the microscope after work today and give her a good look. Pretty sure it’s my dry skin tho from psoriasis (I bumped my head against the zipper door and saw some dry skin fall on to the plant).

she’s looking the best she has so far today:

View attachment 5272464
View attachment 5272469
I’m thinking tomorrow we give her a good de-fol as long as she’s still trending upward. Played her classical music all night lol

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That plant does not need defoliation.

Nope_49595933949 said:

That plant does not need defoliation.

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Can you elaborate? I wanted to take out some of the growth underneath, and then top it as well…

Beaturn said:

Can you elaborate? I wanted to take out some of the growth underneath, and then top it as well…

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Sure go ahead and top it. But that plant is small and in veg still, it needs its leaves.

Nope_49595933949 said:

Sure go ahead and top it. But that plant is small and in veg still, it needs its leaves.

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Right on. Appreciate the advice!

Beaturn said:

Thanks a bunch for the response! I’ll whip out the microscope after work today and give her a good look. Pretty sure it’s my dry skin tho from psoriasis (I bumped my head against the zipper door and saw some dry skin fall on to the plant).

she’s looking the best she has so far today:

View attachment 5272464
View attachment 5272469
I’m thinking tomorrow we give her a good de-fol as long as she’s still trending upward. Played her classical music all night lol

Click to expand...

i am guessing you didn't find any mite? i never found any on mine.

Splinter7 said:

i am guessing you didn't find any mite? i never found any on mine.

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Haven’t been able to check over with the microscope yet, but I can confirm the white specks you saw are indeed dry skin haha

I wouldn't fuss too much over her and let her get cozy in the new environment. I know first grows are exciting and every turn is a new challenge in a fun way but less is best in many aspects of herb gardens. Happy growand please keep us posted