Yellow Leaves every time

Hi everyone,
I have read hundreds of posts on this topic but still cannot seem to get my problem fixed.

Here is the exact situation:

I have skunk #1 growing in 2 gal. buckets with ocean forest soil.

I let them grow about 16" tall before flowering

They are under 1000W HPS that are 2.5 ft above the plants

The water here is natural ph of 7.8 but I fix it to be 6.4 when I water

I use terra flora at about 1/2 strength every third water cycle during the flowering stage

The Problem:

Every single time, about 1.25 months into the flower, the plant fan leaves start to yellow and then it progresses to the entire plant including the buds. I just cannot seem to get the leaves to stop yellowing. I have tried more fertilizer but that seems to burn them. I have tried less fertilizer and it does the same thing. I have tried small changes in the pH but that doesnt seem to change it.


Any ideas would be great help.... Thank you!!!

Buckets too small for the size if plant? Maybe u need a 3 or 5 gallon if u go 16" before flower.

another thing I thought of.. tested your runoff ph? the flowering nutes I use say they lower the ph. perhaps yours is gettin too low or high?

If it progresses slowly over the last few weeks thats normal .

I am thinking that it may be the pH getting too high or low. I use a large container of 55 gals and adjust the pH (my tap water is 7. when I water under a drip system to the soil. I adjust to 6.3 pH. I am using a good high quality meter. Most days though when I come back the next day and test the water tank, the pH is above 7. Should I be letting the tap water sit in the tank overnight and then adjusting the pH and watering? Any ideas?

Whats the end ratio of NPK when you mix your nutes? It is common in flower for people to use way to much bloom enhancer and way to little of the grow nutes... the end result is the plant lacks nitrogen and you get pre-yellowing. My plants used to do exactly what yours are doing. Now that I have adjusted the NPK ratios, they stay nice and green till about the last 2 weeks... which, IMO, is just fine.

very simple..

if the leaves yellow at the bottom and work its way up? - N deficiency
If the plant yellows in the middle and upper portion its likely a calcium/magnesium defeciency.. usually brought on from PH problems.
If they yellow from the top down you are over feeiding/over watering them

Yeah, it can be something else, but its usually the simple..

best of luck my friend.

~cheers