New Grower with a few problems...

Hey guys this is actually my second time growing, this time im serious about getting good results.
Im having a few problems...

1. Both my plants have little black flying bugs everywhere, how do i get rid of them without harming the plant?

2. Iv been in the veg stage for about 3-4 weeks and my plants aren't taking off like I feel they should.

3. The tips on one of my plants are dead and dry (i had been using miracle grow fert on this one for a few days so that may be the prob) and the other has leaves toward the stalk curling up, any suggestions on what to do about that?

What im doing:
Im using miracle grow organic choice soil.
I water about once a day with distilled water.
I have one florescent grow light to help with vegetation and one 150 hps both at about one foot above both plants.
I also have a one gallon jug with a yeast mixture for added co2.
 

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cowell

Well-Known Member
They are too hot.. the one is sweating.

joke^^

When the edges of your leaves curl up like that, it's usually the plant respiring to cool off.. check your temps.. they may be creeping up there..
I think you are seeing some nute burn on your leaves.. it's not too bad, just back off them a little and you should be ok.
 

cowell

Well-Known Member
You could try that.. I wouldn't jack them too far away.. HPS makes them stretch a little bit as it is.

Maybe I can help more- What do you do for venting?
We can start there if you want.. what temps do you usually have in your room?

Edit.. and is your soil got the nutes already in it?
They aren't burnt that bad.. so if you back off a bit you should be fine to resume what you're doing in a week (3 weeks is a good time to start light nutes from the strains I have grown.. before that and they get a little burn)
 

Jakenbake

Active Member
I had those fungus gnats too, and they can be a pain in the ass but what worked for me was gently scooping off the top 1/4 - 1/2" of soil with a spoon and replacing it with a fine sand I bought at Lowe's. The sand dries out in a hour or two after watering and it seems to prevent the gnats from laying more eggs. If you try this, make sure you wash the sand first.

I've heard that a bad infestation of those gnats can cause problems because the larvae munch of the roots of your plant. I'd raise your HPS and stop watering daily. You want those plants to go looking for water and fill up your pot with a strong root system so you want the pot to dry out before you water it again. And when you water it you should water it enough to see some water drain out of the bottom. You want to evenly wet all the soil, let the soil dry out a bit, and then water it. Those baby plants are going to be pulling much water out of the soil so you might have to wait a couple days before each watering. When my plants were that small I was waiting anywhere from 4-8 days between waterings.
 
For venting i have them in my closet with my ceiling fan going to provide good circulation, i dont have a fan in with them directly. As for temp, in my room its probably about 70ish, in my closet with the plants its probably a bit higher, 75 - 80 maybe. My soil is miracle grow organic choice so im assuming that it doesn't have any type of nute in it. And like I said im watering with distilled water with no nute, although i just ph tested it and its about 6.5.

As for watering ill back off a bit and water every 3 or so days.
 

cowell

Well-Known Member
ok..

Not sure on what ph is for soil.. hydro is lower (5.8 is about optimal.. but again, I know soil is different, and I don't know off the top of my head if you are supposed to adjust according to run off or adjust your ph before you water.. I can ask a buddy of mine he's out here and knows his stuff too.)

Your temps are good... 90+ is getting too hot, and although you don't know exactly, I'm confident that you would know what 90 degrees feels like and know it's too hot..
Try raising the light like 3 inches.. OR get a small fan and blow it at the light.. that would be the best way - keep your lights lower by cooling the light. Don't believe the hype about fans blowing on your plants equals a thicker stem.. that's not true. my fans all point at my lights and my stems are thicker than quarters..

other than that you are doing fine by the sounds of it...

Edit: I also like throwing out there that an exhaust fan is pretty beneficial too.. you need some way to exchange the air in your closet.. I know it's not always possible, but if you live on your own, I can help get your room more efficient too.. Room design is like a hobby of mine.
If you have roommates - then it is sometimes harder to do some modifications..
as things progress if you want a quick answer to questions as they come up- this is a good place to come. Lots of guys who know their shit who are willing to help where they can...
 
Thanks for the help dude, I raised the lights and there is already a difference! The little one with the burnt leaves is much bigger than it was this morning. Ill start giving them nute in a week or so.
 
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