Help Identifying Plant Stress: pH problems?

Hello there! I'm having some upset plant problems, and I just wanted to get some input. I'm fairly certain it's a pH issue, as I have a wide variety of issues despite doing the same things with all of them.

I also, of course, foolishly overfertilized in my initial zeal. I think I've been good for the last month or though, where I've seen really good growth and healthy plants.

Here's an album of an assortment of my plants that require attention. Please note these pictures were taken just before watering.

However, I'm mostly concerned with the browning in the space between the veins of the leaves, the uneven colouring, browning around the edges, yellowing lower leaves, and for the last one, stunted growth.

Thoughts? They are doing generally pretty well, but I'm worried these might be signs of trouble to come.

http://imgur.com/a/xcWhA

It looks like light burn. What's your temps at the top of the canopy? How's close are the tops to the light?

Looks like pH fluctuation. Check your pH

Ok, thanks, I'm working on that. I have a pH thermometer. I've been checking my runoff. Is that sufficient? I have some pH down on the way, but I want to make sure I adjust carefully.

Southerner said:

It looks like light burn. What's your temps at the top of the canopy? How's close are the tops to the light?

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I had them a little too close the lights a while ago. My lights are also vertically mounted along one wall, so only a few plants are close to the lamps on one side, but I'm using florescent tubes for light, so they don't get too hot.

My room temp is currently 32C and 29% RH.

redlazer said:

Ok, thanks, I'm working on that. I have a pH thermometer. I've been checking my runoff. Is that sufficient? I have some pH down on the way, but I want to make sure I adjust carefully.

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What was your run-off pH?

DirtyMcCurdy said:

What was your run-off pH?

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Oh, right

Damn, I forgot to write it down after I watered. It's been sitting for a few hours, and it clocked at 7.5. I'm going to water one of them again just a bit and measure that runoff for a fresh result, which I will then write down

Just measured the pH again with fresh runoff, looks like it's 7.1-7.2.

Bingo! There's your main problem and first one you need to correct

redlazer said:

Oh, right

Damn, I forgot to write it down after I watered. It's been sitting for a few hours, and it clocked at 7.5. I'm going to water one of them again just a bit and measure that runoff for a fresh result, which I will then write down

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redlazer said:

Just measured the pH again with fresh runoff, looks like it's 7.1-7.2.

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Needs to be 5.8-6.2, ideally. You are in a soilless mix, right?

No, I'm in regular soil with vermiculite. My soil is pretty claylike, but it's standard potting soil. Should I cut it with sand the next time I repot?

redlazer said:

No, I'm in regular soil with vermiculite. My soil is pretty claylike, but it's standard potting soil. Should I cut it with sand the next time I repot?

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You say its potting soil? Then its more than likely soilless mix(sphagnum and peat moss with vermiculite and perlite) correct? If so, you're pH needs to be lower.

You can use vinegar until the PH down arrives. Thats what I just started using.

DirtyMcCurdy said:

You say its potting soil? Then its more than likely soilless mix(sphagnum and peat moss with vermiculite and perlite) correct? If so, you're pH needs to be lower.

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It is a "special blend of soil, peat moss, and perlite". Unfortunately, ratios are not listed. It feels like mostly regular soil, but it gets pretty packed and won't drain sometimes.

I actually didn't know that it had peat moss in it. That does explain its wetness resistance.

So it seems to be a halfway between the two, but still, my pH is certainly too high.

I don't have any white vinegar, but I do have lemon juice. Should I just go get some white vinegar?

And allright then - if my runoff is at 7.1, what pH should I get my water to? 6.5?

redlazer said:

So it seems to be a halfway between the two, but still, my pH is certainly too high.

I don't have any white vinegar, but I do have lemon juice. Should I just go get some white vinegar?

And allright then - if my runoff is at 7.1, what pH should I get my water to? 6.5?

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Lemon juice can work. With your soil being at a 7.1 I would drop it to around 6.0.

redlazer said:

It is a "special blend of soil, peat moss, and perlite". Unfortunately, ratios are not listed. It feels like mostly regular soil, but it gets pretty packed and won't drain sometimes.

I actually didn't know that it had peat moss in it. That does explain its wetness resistance.

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Peat or sphagnum moss naturally has a wax in it that, once dry, almost repels water at first. The top of the soil can get a crust on it. Its good to break up that crust before you water sometimes just using your hands/fingers.

DirtyMcCurdy said:

Lemon juice can work. With your soil being at a 7.1 I would drop it to around 6.0.

Peat or sphagnum moss naturally has a wax in it that, once dry, almost repels water at first. The top of the soil can get a crust on it. Its good to break up that crust before you water sometimes just using your hands/fingers.

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Hey thanks, I really appreciate it!

I managed to find some vinegar, so I used that. I guess it's all the sameish, sorta.

I have some pH Down on the way. It's my understanding that this stuff will perform significantly better, because it has a pH buffer in it. Is that right?

Anyways. I put 6.0 water in, and got 7.3-7.4 water out. I presume this doesn't bode all that well.

They all look sorta unhappy, but I think my temperature problem is starting to become a compounding problem too. I'll be setting up proper ventilation tomorrow or monday. But they're never any warmer than 29C, so that's not too bad, right?

Anyways, thanks again for your help! I'm trying to do this project to keep me busy and get my spirits up. It's pretty amazing watching them grow, they've come so far!

redlazer said:

Hey thanks, I really appreciate it!

I managed to find some vinegar, so I used that. I guess it's all the sameish, sorta.

I have some pH Down on the way. It's my understanding that this stuff will perform significantly better, because it has a pH buffer in it. Is that right?

Anyways. I put 6.0 water in, and got 7.3-7.4 water out. I presume this doesn't bode all that well.

They all look sorta unhappy, but I think my temperature problem is starting to become a compounding problem too. I'll be setting up proper ventilation tomorrow or monday. But they're never any warmer than 29C, so that's not too bad, right?

Anyways, thanks again for your help! I'm trying to do this project to keep me busy and get my spirits up. It's pretty amazing watching them grow, they've come so far!

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Yeah, pH down will work better. Once you get your pH down and your runoff is where it should be they'll be just fine.