lED/Nutrients

Thanks everybody for feedback! Before the LED's I was at 5ml/gal Cal Mag. When I read to increase I went to 8mg/gal. Problems started then, so maybe that's it.
I've kept lights 2'-3' from the plants as recommended by the manufacturer depending whether in veg or flower. Been afraid to go closer for fear of burning with all the other problems going on. Going to check the ph of the soil as suggested. This is all very frustrating, expensive, and embarrassing. I had no problem with the HID's and T-5's.
Also thanks for the compliments! First time anyone has seen the room that knows anything about growing.

Blue Gill said:

I had been using 5ml/gal before LED's so I increased to 8mg/gal. Problems start to appear after 7-10 days. I increased to 12mg, no change. Then 15 then 20mg/gal.

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You're in a good position because you have a few plants. If it's too much calmag, you could flush 1 plant and see how it compare to those not flushed. Looks like 3-gal containers. You could flush with 3-4 gal of clear water, and finish with 1 gal of regular-strength nutrients. Flushing usually involves 3x container size. If your soil (runoff) ph is in the correct range, maybe I'd do the full 3x flush. Until then, I'd do a half-way flush to minimize the stress of flushing while getting an idea if it helped.

If you're worried the switch to LED is a contributor, you could add a CFL or t5 to 1-2 plants and see how they compare to the others.

You want to be careful not to stab too many times in the dark as you identify the solution. But, having a few plants gives you some options.

With your previous experience growing, you'll definitely get past this.

Regarding the manufacturer's recommendation. I don't think I would have suggested cutting nutes in half (except for the common recommendation that all nute mfg published dosages should be cut in half unless someone who's actually used them can provide a safe dosage). I would have recommended calmag calmag 3ml/gal calmag because you use RO water (which removes minerals). And then 5ml/gal during mid- late-transition and flower (prepared for more, or more specific targeting using Epsom salt, if symptoms of deficiency arose). I'm pretty sure the LED mfg meant to increase calmag during early flower. You appear to still be in veg(?).

Yes, I veg til the screens are about half full. I'm going back to how I did it before. Normal range on everything. I'm starting at 2ml/ gal on cal mag for now. I gave them ph balanced water, nothing else last watering. Next watering after that I was going to go to 5ml/gal. Then increase a little more for transition. I never knew about the increase for flowering, good to know. I've always used 5ml before and that's what's recommended on the bottle. Curious why you use just 3ml. Double checked Blue Lab and it was off. Turns out I've been using 6.3 instead of 6.6 where I usually keep it.
So between the ph being off, too much cal mag, and not enough nutrients, I'm surprised they didn't die a lot faster. The manufacturer gave all the wrong recommendations. I'm also going to move the lights closer than what they say which is 2'-3'. Where do you keep yours?
Next time I have a problem I will use only one plant to try to diagnose and correct as you recommend.

The lights I have come from China. About 1/2 the price. Most LED's sold here are made in China anyway. They're at: ledgrowlightmanufacturer. Amazon carries them. I buy them through eBay. They have a larger selection. Check out they're reviews. 100% positive which you rarely see. And there's hundreds. I've got 4 different models. What I like the best are the green ones. The have a veg/flower switch. With the others I have I add supplemental red. The thing I like the most is the increase in the potency. Now maybe I'll get the quantity up.
I've read that LED's won't produce as much bud. Then I've also read the opposite, that HID's produce more. What has been your experience?

I just saw that they're a new offering on Amazon so there's no reviews. There's plenty to read at eBay.

Blue Gill said:

Curious why you use just 3ml.

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I've never thought about it until now. I guess because 1) I default to halving all product labels. 2) I don't notice cal/mag deficiencies in veg. 3) The only reason I supplement calmag in veg is because I use RO water which removes normal levels of cal/mag a plant would receive from normal water. I don't think it requires much to replace that normal level. Maybe 2ml/gal.

I do more Silica Blast in veg for stronger stems, leaves, etc. I don't like to give both calmag and silica together because I don't think I need calmag much in veg, and no reason to have the two competing with each other for uptake. And, I stop feeding silica in flower (at the time I start feeding dissolved eggshell during transition, then I resume silica a couple times after stopping the eggshell, then I supplement closer to 4-5ml calmag in flower).

I alternate 5ml SB for one or two feedings, then 3ml calmag for one feeding.

PS: I'd still like to know your runoff ph. I know you found a calibration problem with your pen. But, it would still be interesting to see what your soil ph is. That's still a variable.

Blue Gill said:

I'm also going to move the lights closer than what they say which is 2'-3'. Where do you keep yours?

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My 3w UFO with white backboard (diffused light) I keep as close as 6". That's a 180w (85w actual). A light that's 5w with reflectors (concentrated light) would need more space. I think yours could be 12".

You've got a few fixtures. You have the luxury of trying different distances with different plants and compare effects.

Blue Gill said:

I've read that LED's won't produce as much bud. Then I've also read the opposite, that HID's produce more. What has been your experience?

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I haven't used HID. I've been happy with the quality/volume I'm getting from LED. Seems like LED is moving toward full (whiter) spectrum.