Is this mold/salt build up/harmless fungus?

Hi, as my soil dries, some white stuff appears on top of it. I think it's from the water or something since it also sticks to the side of the pot a little (looks like a salt stain). What do you think?



High resolution image: http://i.imgur.com/W309rc4.jpg

looks like saltpeter

probably just nutrient salts, nitrogen is extremely water soluble and as the water evaporates it pulls nitrogen to the surface ....long ago they used it as an ingredient to black powder

That makes sense as the soil i'm using is for "green house plants" and it was pre-nuted. Thanks a lot.

Since you look like an expert I'm going to ask one more thing here. I'm also experiencing some chlorosis on my plants, should I be worried about it? It looks like MG deficiency, but it could be nitrogen. Newer leaves are brighter than the older leaves and it looks like there are brighter areas on a darker background. Although new leaves are also showing signs of yellowing on the outer side. I don't have a PH meter or any special setup here. This is the first time I'm growing with this soil.

High res image: http://i.imgur.com/9FRtMna.jpg

Looks like Mg deficiency. But if it is just Mg it is a severe deficiency. I would hesitate to recommend adding Mg supplements without knowing more. It could be a nutrient lockout.

How old are they? They look hungry, maybe the nutes in your soil are running low.

Do you know the PH of your soil or the water you are using? Have you fed them any nutes?

*Without knowing more I would say foliar feed some Epsom salt and give a light dose of a grow nute.

Ph is yout problen I got a dollar on it

It's an autoflower and it sprouted about 2 weeks ago. About the soil (reading from the package) PH: 5.5-6. Pre-Nuted with Osmocote® NPK 15:9:9 and Start NPK 10:52:10. I'm using a very small pot and they could indeed be hungry. I've grown decent plants in the same sized pot before so I gave it another go.

Right now my plan is to wait a little until the smaller plant has grown a bit larger and the soil has dried up so I could add a little bit of organic fertilizer (urine) with my next watering. If that doesn't help I'll go find some Epsom Salts for MG.

Overview: http://i.imgur.com/308a1fB.jpg
1st plant (starting from top): http://i.imgur.com/X2lvwCV.jpg
Middle plant: http://i.imgur.com/BS1tpuX.jpg (i had trouble germinating Northern Lights [2 out of 5] and this plant is about week old).
Bottom: http://i.imgur.com/TscOzAr.jpg
Bucket: http://i.imgur.com/H1FjqS0.jpg

Strains: Super Skunt auto, White Widow auto, Northern Lights auto (middle and bucket). All from Vision Seeds.

I know these growing conditions are not optimal (sharing the same pot for example), but I'm trying to make the best out of what I have available to me (space is very limited too). I had the seeds and I wanted to grow some smoking material. My autos in the past have not grown very large and I've harvested them too early so I planted a couple extras this time in case I fuck something up I accept the fact that there may be complications and I don't expect perfect results, so please don't point any fingers. This is fun

It's probably limestone or bone meal (calcium carbonate or calcium phosphate).

That would also explain any Mg deficiencies. (i'm not able to see the pics so i can't diagnose that). Excess Ca will cause a blockout of Mg as well as solid precipitates.

Cascadian...How are you making a plant diagnosis without even a picture of a plant or a question about a plants health? Question was about the soil pictured??

church, can you explain how lime will cause a problem? I've heard people mention that before, but didn't understand how it could be an issue?

filthy refer to post #3 for a pic at the bottom of his post

Lime (calcium carbonate) acts as a pH buffer from the carbonates and a source of calcium.

Calcium and magnesium ions both have a +2 charge and thus can antagonize each other.

Also, when pH is higher, more of the phosphates ions are in HPO4(2-) form instead of H2PO4(-).

The plant wants to take up the H2PO4(-) form, which is most available between a pH of 5-7 approximately..



Finally, when calcium and phosphate ions are both in relatively high concentrations, and pH is high, calcium phosphate precipitates out as an insoluble white solid, and is thus not available.

Nizza said:

church, can you explain how lime will cause a problem? I've heard people mention that before, but didn't understand how it could be an issue?

Click to expand...

If the readings on my soil package are accurate, my pH is out MG availability range (5.5-6). What would be the easiest home remedy? I honestly looked for the best soil possible, but none of the gardening shops sell what I need over here so I picked the closest one. Thanks a lot for the discussion everybody.

Nizza. thanks for pointing that out. I didnt even click any links not used to someone posting images like that. I apologize and stand corrected in my questioning.

FilthyFletch said:

Cascadian...How are you making a plant diagnosis without even a picture of a plant or a question about a plants health? Question was about the soil pictured??

Click to expand...

Dude, you need to look at any thread more carefully before calling someone out. He posted a second question about chlorosis and provided a second pic. My response was clearly to the second question...

I think it's ph, myself.....

She's hungry!!! Feed her quick...start 1/4 strength and work up...good luck...and welcome to RIU...

Hi guys, thanks for checking in. Since this thread caused some confusion and original post was about a different subject, I created a new thread where discussion continues about curing the plant, please don't reply here, thank you. https://www.rollitup.org/marijuana-plant-problems/783485-curing-magnesium-deficiency.html

You dont need a new thread, you need some damn calmag. Aaand your gonna hate life growing in that window planter box. Those things are a bitch. Have fun with that

LOL! @alienwidow...... I love you, man..... I was going to say something about that lame ass planter box.... I didn't want to start anything though, people learn by experience faster than they do by being told in some cases.

Seems something might be really wrong with the site right now. I did not see filthyfletch's post above until now... and would not have responded that way if I had.
I am assuming moderators cannot change time/date stamps...
Whatever glitch or maybe mistake that was, accepted and moving on.

Peace,
Cascadian

BenFranklin said:

LOL! @alienwidow...... I love you, man..... I was going to say something about that lame ass planter box.... I didn't want to start anything though, people learn by experience faster than they do by being told in some cases.

Click to expand...

Well now hell learn both ways on this one. The best thing he could do is to keep adding soil around the edges because the soil shrinks away from the sides and the water just flows right around it. And its so unpredictable. All the plants could end up different sizes. Id make a line of grow bags and cut those plants out and repot before they get too far in and tangle more.