Friend needs help

Have a friend who’s plant is having some issues. I’ll try to provide as much information as possible I know it’s hard to help without it.

It’s under a 600w full spec led - actual output around 110w.
Medium is 50% tupur 50% FF Strawberry Fields.

I’ve never done a 50/50 mix so unsure how to tell them to water it. I recommended maybe every other day so I’d imagine they keep it wet. Told them to allow some time for it to dry.

They have been using distilled/RO water with no nutrients so far. I got them some BioThrive Grow (4-3-3) but hasn’t been used yet.

They don’t have a pH meter either so unsure on inflow or runoff pH.

Wondered if this is characteristic of a particular issue or if it could be a range of things? Calcium possibly since it’s 50% coco and they haven’t used calmag in their distilled water?

They look like they were touching the soil at some point the new growth looks good so my guess is poor watering habits

Yeah I agree with the poor watering. You can see droplets on the leaves. Those droplets are magnifying lenses for the light.
And the growth medium is definitely looking too wet. Let it dry out for a while.

Tell them to water around the plant. It t is too young (imo) for foliar misting if that is what was done to leave the droplets on the leaves.

Agree, you plants are not getting enough air to the roots. All wet. Let the pot dry until the pot gets a lot lighter. Then only water again. If the plant has not rooted through the pot fully, dont make the soil too wet, because it will just stay wet and you will have the same probem again.

JimmiP said:

Those droplets are magnifying lenses for the light.

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Common misbelief. If that was true the earth would burn after it rained. What really happens is that water evaporates leaving a condensed area of salts that burns the plant. Using a wetting agent prevents that from happening.

Stop over watering. Let the soil dry out. Whats the humidity?

Renfro said:

Stop over watering. Let the soil dry out. Whats the humidity?

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Unsure. Like I said this is not my plant. I figured they were likely overwatering just wanted more opinions.

Thanks!

DaFreak said:

Common misbelief. If that was true the earth would burn after it rained. What really happens is that water evaporates leaving a condensed area of salts that burns the plant. Using a wetting agent prevents that from happening.

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That's true. Just been my observation that the effects of water droplets on the leaves of cannabis are way worse indoors. And then like you stated mineral concentrates are left behind to damage the leaves. -But, there was a study done about this centuries long held belief. And the findings were interesting. On smooth (water loving) leaves the droplets spread out and even though they are magnifying the light and focusing heat the droplets cooled the area as they evaporated. On water hating leaves like ours it was found that water droplets could be suspended on trichomes above the leaves and indeed produce sunburns.
Not that the damage would be all that significant. And the breeze from a small fan would be enough to help move the water away. Just a good idea to avoid getting them wet when it is not necessary. Especially when they are young.
Tell them they are watering too much.

I never spray once buds form

DaFreak said:

I never spray once buds form

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Nope done that once and caused bud rot

The only time I spray leaves is with CalMag water if I have a calcium deficiency in coco. Never in flower.

But I’ve told them to quit watering so much and to wait until the pot is light and looks light brown on the top. Does anyone here have experience watering a coco/soil mix and how it should be approached?

Cwmoore577 said:

Does anyone here have experience watering a coco/soil mix and how it should be approached?

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Thats a very sketchy thing. Not only for watering frequency but for pH as well. With coco you don't want it to dry out as much as soil and the coco generally likes the pH a little lower. Honestly it's not a good combo IMO. It's something that will have to be figured out by trial and error and even then the results may not be optimal.

Renfro said:

Thats a very sketchy thing. Not only for watering frequency but for pH as well. With coco you don't want it to dry out as much as soil and the coco generally likes the pH a little lower. Honestly it's not a good combo IMO. It's something that will have to be figured out by trial and error and even then the results may not be optimal.

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That’s what I was thinking.. I don’t know if the soil would help buffer the cocos pH or what. Seems to me that you would have to let the soil dry which would dry the coco and raise the pH dangerously.

Oh well really, I don’t have all that faith that they wouldn’t screw the plant regardless of the medium.

Sucks to see a plant that took off so well in their hands lol

Cwmoore577 said:

They have been using distilled/RO water with no nutrients so far. I got them some BioThrive Grow (4-3-3) but hasn’t been used yet.

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feed it

Also, I personally mix water with rainwater or distilled water max 50/50, but you have to check your water where you live. Cal/Mag is in tap water and the plants need that too.

Also, I personally mix water with rainwater or distilled water max 50/50, but you have to check your water where you live. Cal/Mag is in tap water and the plants need that too.