Outdoor organic grow problem HELP!

Dadopeboii

Dadopeboii

Active Member
hello I have multiple plants that have been going since April, but they seem to have stunted growth and unhealthy dying leaves. There are outdoor in holes filled with a soil mix; the NATURAL SOIL IS RED CLAY. Need help getting my plants a boost and healthier, at this point I'm thinking about trying an organic compost tea but not sure what else to try, any help is appreciated!

Here's the CONDITIONS:
-Very hot (90+ degrees) and humid (80%+) days
-Outdoor in direct sunlight
-have had problems with powdery mildew
-could probably use more water but are watered pretty often
-3 months old

SOIL MIX- fox farm soil with blood meal, bone meal, fox farm dry fert, cow manure and earthworm castings, lime and Epsom salt.
- soil seems to attract fire ants; and I'm thinking they may be killing good organisms such as earthworms and slowing the breakdown of the organic fertilizers?

PH? Other than the soil mix they are in red clay that is surrounded by pine trees. I added a handful of lime to mix but not sure how much it needs (ph not suppose to be a problem in organic grows but idk)

PICTURES ATTACHED- many leaves also had brown dead spots (not shown in pictures)
 

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Maggs707

Maggs707

Well-Known Member
Sounds like a nice soil mix you whipped up for yourself! Even in organic grows though, your soil pH is definitely important. Regardless of what you feed the plant, whether it be organic or synthetic, if your soil pH is off you will have various nutrient lockouts. That means, your plant will not be able to get all of the good stuff that's in the soil even though it's right there. I think what your confused about is the fact that the pH of the nutrient solution you feed your plant with is not as important when going organic. If your soil is balanced, it will act as a buffer and so the pH of your liquid feed is kind of "equalized" once it is in the soil. (dolomite is a great buffering agent). That being said, adding too much dolomite could've thrown your pH way out of range. Check your soul pH and adjust it accordingly. Most growers like to have a slightly acidic soil. Ideally ranging from 5.5-6.5 depending on who you ask. If you buy one of those cheap little soil test kits, you want to see a light/pale green colored water after you add the testing powder stuff (don't know what the scientific name is for it) lol. They are still young bro, so if you get that corrected they have plenty of time to bounce back. On a side note, your soil looks pretty dry too.
 
Maggs707

Maggs707

Well-Known Member
Also, my gut instinct just looking at the plant is that it's heat stressed. Whenever I see leaves "cupping" up like that in my grows, it's almost always an overheating problem. I'm not 100% sure on that though. If you want to help your plant out retaining moisture, and help yourself out by having to water less often then you should pile on the mulch bro. Get some rice straw it's ridiculously cheap. It will stop your soil from baking in the sun and drying out so fast and your plant will be happier no doubt.
 
Dadopeboii

Dadopeboii

Active Member
Maggs707 said:
Sounds like a nice soil mix you whipped up for yourself! Even in organic grows though, your soil pH is definitely important. Regardless of what you feed the plant, whether it be organic or synthetic, if your soil pH is off you will have various nutrient lockouts. That means, your plant will not be able to get all of the good stuff that's in the soil even though it's right there. I think what your confused about is the fact that the pH of the nutrient solution you feed your plant with is not as important when going organic. If your soil is balanced, it will act as a buffer and so the pH of your liquid feed is kind of "equalized" once it is in the soil. (dolomite is a great buffering agent). That being said, adding too much dolomite could've thrown your pH way out of range. Check your soul pH and adjust it accordingly. Most growers like to have a slightly acidic soil. Ideally ranging from 5.5-6.5 depending on who you ask. If you buy one of those cheap little soil test kits, you want to see a light/pale green colored water after you add the testing powder stuff (don't know what the scientific name is for it) lol. They are still young bro, so if you get that corrected they have plenty of time to bounce back. On a side note, your soil looks pretty dry too.
Click to expand...
Will definitely pick up a test kit and see what my soil is and also the natural soil ph, thanks for the advice!
 
Dadopeboii

Dadopeboii

Active Member
Maggs707 said:
Also, my gut instinct just looking at the plant is that it's heat stressed. Whenever I see leaves "cupping" up like that in my grows, it's almost always an overheating problem. I'm not 100% sure on that though. If you want to help your plant out retaining moisture, and help yourself out by having to water less often then you should pile on the mulch bro. Get some rice straw it's ridiculously cheap. It will stop your soil from baking in the sun and drying out so fast and your plant will be happier no doubt.
Click to expand...
Didn't even think about mulch! Imma look into that and try it out, but yea its very hot and humid here and they are getting direct sunlight all day
 
Maggs707

Maggs707

Well-Known Member
Dadopeboii said:
Didn't even think about mulch! Imma look into that and try it out, but yea its very hot and humid here and they are getting direct sunlight all day
Click to expand...
You can just use leaves and shit from the woods for mulch if you don't have the $ to buy it. But rice straw is like $10 for a whole bail
 
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