Lower leaf issue

I’ve seen some other posts and read a little bit about issues with lower leaves during veg and it seems it’s often either a nutrient issue or lack of light. I have 4 plants right now (3 x blue dream, 1 x amnesia haze) just under 4 x weeks in veg (under 600W LED) but I topped them 3 days ago so I’m assuming to see the growth slow significantly until they heal (my first time trying topping actually).

Take a look at these pics and let me know what you think as far as potential causes and solutions (pics below). I planted seedlings in Fox Farms Ocean Forest potting soil just shy of 4 x weeks ago but have not yet added supplemental nutrients (I was actually debating whether to buy Fox Farms Nutrient Trio or look to go all organic with guano, casings, etc. - but that's a question for another post).

All 4 plants look pretty healthy except for the one blue dream that looks healthy up top and has some messed up leaves at the very bottom (see pics). I lowered my 600w mars hydro led to 20" now (from 24" too so hopefully that helps with light penetration).

Healthy looking tops:


Same plant as pic above but here are lower node leaves. Discoloration just on these lower leaves:


Same plant as above - Lower leaves looking awful:

First take it out of the led light so we can see..looks like some sort of deficiency on the second pic but can't tell with light...third pic could be normal depending on the size of the plant..lower leaves die first to feed the top growth

Very hard to tell in the LED light I am afraid, but judging by your stem thickness I would say that the dying off of those first leaves at the base is perfectly normal and expected, they've done all they can do for the plant and bigger leaves are doing more work now, shading them over to boot.

The spots and marks on the upper leaves are more cause for concern and on the face of it as far as I can tell in the poor light, looks like nutrient burn to me. You've got curling tips and nutrient burn from over feeding tends to manifest itself in blotches on the leaves. Ease off on the nutrients, but I reckon your water levels are okay.

On the whole looks good.

Here are some better pics (sorry about that):

As above ease off the nutrients my dude.

Much better thanks

Yep I'd eat my hat if that isn't early signs of nutrient burn. It comes up in spots and yellow patches and in bad cases from the tips of the leaves downwards - that is what you will start to see if you don't ease off on the nutrients.

It is an extremely deep green colour which shows just how well fed it is. Nothing that easing up on the feed won't cure I reckon. Keep the water going to effectively give them a little bit of a flushing.

For posterity, this is one of my 4 at the moment and I think this is the sweet spot you want to aim for. They're lush and green, but no so dark green as to be overfed. Hope this helps!

Dark leaves too much nitrogen ..too much nutes ..its a weed she will grow brother...give her some water when it dries and bump ur nutes solution down the next time after that

Silvio Dante said:

Very hard to tell in the LED light I am afraid, but judging by your stem thickness I would say that the dying off of those first leaves at the base is perfectly normal and expected, they've done all they can do for the plant and bigger leaves are doing more work now, shading them over to boot.

The spots and marks on the upper leaves are more cause for concern and on the face of it as far as I can tell in the poor light, looks like nutrient burn to me. You've got curling tips and nutrient burn from over feeding tends to manifest itself in blotches on the leaves. Ease off on the nutrients, but I reckon your water levels are okay.

On the whole looks good.

Click to expand...

So I posted some better pics (without the LED light on)

So far I haven't been giving them any nutrients as I'd been told by the local shop where I bought my soil that the type of soil I'm using (Fox Farm Ocean Forest) would have enough nutrients to provide for about a month of growth.

The soil is too "hot" then not a whole lot you can do at this point water less give her a nice dry and wet cycle

Give those lower leaves a tug over the next few days but don't force them off..when they're ready it will take almost no pressure to take them off and then you know the plant has used all the energy inside of them

Deso718 said:

So far I haven't been giving them any nutrients as I'd been told by the local shop where I bought my soil that the type of soil I'm using (Fox Farm Ocean Forest) would have enough nutrients to provide for about a month of growth.

Click to expand...

Blimey that soil must be adulterated to buggery then if you haven't been feeding. I just buy cheapo coco coir as it has no nutrients at all. I find its easier to keep control of things by administering the nutes yourself from the off rather than trying to guess when the medium has depleted itself.

That is quite surprising. As Kage suggests, not a whole lot you can do other than water on the dry and wet cycle =/

He's in Fox Farm. It's not that hot.
And it doesn't hold it's charge very long.
Some phenos are just really green. Or the light/shade can make it appear that way.

The bottom single leaf is the first one it grew after the cotyledons. No big deal. They usually exhaust first.

The spot can be anything. Water on the leaf. A simple mutation. So many things.
I'm not very concerned if that's my plant and I'm not sure I'd use just plain water more than the next watering. Its been 4 weeks you say. Getting near time to feed them (lightly ... 1/2 strength).

Good luck!

Silvio Dante said:

Blimey that soil must be adulterated to buggery then if you haven't been feeding. I just buy cheapo coco coir as it has no nutrients at all. I find its easier to keep control of things by administering the nutes yourself from the off rather than trying to guess when the medium has depleted itself.

That is quite surprising. As Kage suggests, not a whole lot you can do other than water on the dry and wet cycle =/

Click to expand...

I love growing with super soil and never have to worry about nutes. Organic is my path the downside is the pests....

drsaltzman said:

He's in Fox Farm. It's not that hot.
And it doesn't hold it's charge very long.
Some phenos are just really green. Or the light/shade can make it appear that way.

The bottom single leaf is the first one it grew after the cotyledons. No big deal. They usually exhaust first.

The spot can be anything. Water on the leaf. A simple mutation. So many things.
I'm not very concerned if that's my plant and I'm not sure I'd use just plain water more than the next watering. Its been 4 weeks you say. Getting near time to feed them (lightly ... 1/2 strength).

Good luck!

Click to expand...

I think you're on point here^^^ it looks like it may be a little water spot on the one leaf. Yeah close to 4 weeks had me thinking I might have problems because lack of nutrients, but with the Fox Farms soil it should provide enough natural nutrients for those first four weeks from what I've heard. you're right though I think I'm gonna go 1/2 strength with Fox Farms Grow Big starting in a few days.

thank you everyone for the input, definitely feeling a lot less worried about it. Thanks again!