Help with deficiency - Possibly calcium related?

Hi everyone,

I'm new here and although I've creeped these forums many times, I've finally registered. I need help. I have a plant growing in Deep Water culture and she's showing some sort of problem. I'm wondering if you can tell what the problem is from the pictures? I will give you as much details as I know right now to help you possibly render an opinion.


1. Blueberry/Northern lights cross
2. Deep Water Culture (5 gallon)
3. 3rd week of flower
4. Nutes are as follows - Rhino Skin, Beastie Blooms, Cyco Grow A, Botanicare calmag (not every bucket change), Tiger Bloom micro nutrient
5. I try to keep the PH between 5.5-5.9, but some days it gets above or below and I fix it quickly.
6. PPMs are between 650-750 (500 scale) - she showed slight nute burn on the tips when I took her to 750, I tapered off shortly after
7. Light is a HLG scorpion diablo
8. Plant is about 12 inches from the light (light is only at 50%)
9. No bugs in the garden or on the plants
10. Temps are 77 degrees daytime and 72 at night
12. Humidity is right around 40% but does drop down to 32% at times



The plant is growing nicely regardless of the issue. But I'm acutely aware that flowers will never grow to full potential if there is an issue like this. At first glance, I thought it may be a potassium deficiency caused by calcium lockout, but I don't see any yellowing of the leaves like a potassium deficiency would do. I also don't give enough cal-mag to cause a lockout. So is this a calcium deficiency? If so, what would you recommend the dose be? I've learned that plants can be picky with calmag in DWC. I would hate to over do it and cause a precious potassium lockout, as that would definitely hurt flower growth.

Thanks for listening. I will post pictures in this thread. I hope i do it right. Apologies if they don't come out great. I'm new to this.

It’s your witches brew of nutes.

Dump the rhino skin , beastie first. Although not a big fan of tiger bloom either , if that’s what you got then it is what it is.
You will find 1 or 2 part bloom easier than mixing different brand items together.

I do simple DTW ( drain to waste ) instead of DWC with GH Maxibloom and pretty much that’s it.
I’m thinking the intermixing of different elements like rhino skin and the ridiculously high PK ratio of Beastie is antagonistic to other elements the plant wants and needs thus the deficiency ( s )

Budzbuddha said:

Dump the rhino skin , beastie first. Although not a big fan of tiger bloom either , if that’s what you got then it is what it is.
You will find 1 or 2 part bloom easier than mixing different brand items together.

I do simple DTW ( drain to waste ) instead of DWC with GH Maxibloom and pretty much that’s it.
I’m thinking the intermixing of different elements like rhino skin and the ridiculously high PK ratio of Beastie is antagonistic to other elements the plant wants and needs thus the deficiency ( s )

Click to expand...

Thank you kindly for the info. Being a DWC grow, wouldn't the plant need the silicate? I agree with the Beastie and Tiger though. It's all I have for now and was using it at about 1/3 strength. With a PPM range of 650-750, I wasn't expecting to see these problems, but as you said, the high concentration of PK could be locking out other needed micros. I wouldn't mind trying the Maxibloom though. I've heard it can take a plant from seedling to harvest with the one product alone. Do you need macros with it? Or do you use it exclusively. Thanks again, pal. Much appreciated.