Newbie with possible light burn ?

MsJazzy

Active Member
Hey Everyone!! So I initially posted this in the wrong place, and I am reposting here. Excuse my computer illiteracy. :)

So I've been reading around at different forums, trying to gather information, and decided to go ahead and register here, since it appears to have a well respected number of users. I just signed up, and still haven't figured out how to change my picture, but that's not my concern right now.

I have not grown in quite some time, but recently I was given what seems to be, a pretty nice lighting system. I have 2 450W MH and 1 600W HPS, all with digital ballast. I have a grow space of 4'x6', inside the walk-in closet to my spare bedroom, walls all painted white. Three days ago I got 4 clones, of Blue Dream. My guess is they are a few weeks old. They all have at least 4 leaf sets. The grower I got these from had them as extra's under CFL's. I wish I could contact him to ask him more questions, but that seems to be an issue right now. I got the plants home, three days ago like I said, and transplanted into an organic soil I purchased from a local nursery that was recommended to me. The soil contains worm castings, bat guano, chicken manure, forest compost, and sand. Sounds ok? lol. In conjunction with the potting soil, I did 1/3 peat moss and 1/3 pearlite. I have been an avid container gardener for a few years, but not with MJ. Anyways, three of the four seem to be doing well. It's one that I am somewhat concerned with, as it appears to have some bleach or white spots. This started occuring within hours of the transplant. I am only using one light for now, which is the 450MH. I am thinking maybe this is the problem? I had it 18" away, and immediately when I noticed the plant was going into stress, I raised the light to 30". The spots did get lighter, they were yellow and then went to white over the last few days. The plant in stress, does seem to be growing slower than the others that seem to be doing well. Or possibly, could it be from the soil? I always use the finger method for checking water with all my other container plants. Now the soil I got the plants in were wet, and when I transplanted into the new containers, I did go ahead and water again.

I also purchased PH test strips. I see people are saying for soil, PH is not as much of a concern, is this true? I have a thermo-gro that reads around 81 degrees, give or take a degree here or there. Humidity is at 30%, which is probably low?

As for fertilizers, I already have organic fertilizers on hand, such as bone meal, blood meal, and a fish and guano liquid fertilizer. I have read so much information online, my brain is a little jammed, but from what I gather I probably wont need to start fertilizing for a few weeks. Is this correct also?

As for the additional lights, I am not sure if I will ever use the second 450W MH, but I do know that when it goes into flower is when I start using the 650W HPS. Any other advice or suggestions on this?

The pictures I uploaded, one is of a few of the plants that appear to have adjusted just fine, and then the one that has the white spots. I hope they uploaded correctly.

Anyways, I appreciate any advice or suggestions you have to give.View attachment 2159135View attachment 2159136
 

Vindicated

Well-Known Member
pH still matters in soilless mediums. pH matters less in true soil like what you'd find in your backyard. From what I'm seeing in your photos, I would look towards a micro nutrient deficiency possibly by high pH or high alkalinity.
 

MsJazzy

Active Member
Oh. Ok I better pull out the test strips then. So from the transplant into the new soil, the deficiency can appear that quick? If I have a high PH, what would you recommend to fix that? Thank you for your response, I appreciate it.
 

MsJazzy

Active Member
Well, I tested the run-off water and I got about 6.8. Isn't that good? lol. I do not have a soil tester at the moment.

I have an organic blood meal on hand.

Any place to go from here? Is new growth that isn't showing the spots, a sign of recovery? It's weird how the spots occur in random places. Dunno.
 

scroglodyte

Well-Known Member
hold the boat.....................that looks like heat stress and burning. do nothing. observe results of moving light......re-assess.
 

MsJazzy

Active Member
Ok!! That is what I thought.. Especially since it happened so fast, right after I put them under the 450W MH. when before they were under flo's. I moved the lights up and no further burning occured, it's just the one that reacted is growing slower. I didn't do anything after testing the PH. Keeping the lights at 30". Could I eventually move the lights a little closer? Or would you say 30" is a good distance? Thank you so much. :)
 

MsJazzy

Active Member
Also, I noticed the plance are growing bushy, instead of tall.. I am guessing that is because they are getting adequate light? Today, I started LSTing two of them, since they now have about 5-6 full leaf sets..
 

scroglodyte

Well-Known Member
yes.......you'll be able ease the lights down lower. make sure you measure your canopy temp, and keep it under 80F
 

Coho

Well-Known Member
Yep...light burn on one.. They have good light so they are not strretching. Thats good except one doesnt like it yet.Edit: I see they are the same strains-. You can raise the light and the 3 that like it and leave the one lower.
 

MsJazzy

Active Member
I am using one light for all of them right now, I do have another 450W MH I can put up, so that will work. Good idea!! Ok so raise the light on the 3 good ones or vise versa? Thank you for your advice.
 

MsJazzy

Active Member
Ok I figured that is what you were getting at, I just read that incorrectly. Makes sense. Sweet, thanks!
 

marc88101

Well-Known Member
Your getting good advise...rememeber to keep that temp down, Do you have a fan moving in the room at all times? is the glass on your hood? do you exaust the heat out of the room? do you have an a/c unit in the room? keep your temp gauge at the same heighth as the top of the plants. I hang mine from my hood and put ir right in the center of the canopy...my lights just came on so I will go snap a pic for you
 

MsJazzy

Active Member
Lol, I just started a threat about proper ventilation. I do have a fan going in there at all times, and I leave the door slightly open to allow air to escape in and out. I do have AC running throughout my place, but there is no vent in the actual walk-in closet.. I monitor the temp every few hours or so and the highest temp has reached 82. I keep seeing ppl talk about ventilation set-ups and it seems so technical. When I switch over to the 6000W HPS i think the heat might be a problem..
 

MsJazzy

Active Member
Oh, no glass on the hood. All the lights and ballast were given to me.. Glass is probably a good idea??
 

marc88101

Well-Known Member
yeah the glass is good if you can vent the heat from it out of the room, I will post some pics of my set up in a few minutes..dinner is done and im starving! about 20 minutes
 
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