Bug Problem?

[O RLY?]

This is a picture of Mandala's Sadhu. I am growing it and 8 other plants.



2 other plants have some minor "nibbles" but the other 6 are untouched. The 2 that have nibbles don't seem to be getting worse. But, I think the Sadhu has. Only the top set of leaves on the 3 plants are showing these "nibbles."

I have never seen any bugs in the month that I have been growing but I think that if there are bugs that they are coming out when the light is off. But I am not sure.

Also, If it is a bug problem why are 6 of my plants untouched and why have only the top leaves been affected?

 

[MynameStitch]

That is weird... you have any pets in the house?

You see any flying bugs or bugs'larva from out when you water your plants?
You check the underside of the leaves with a magnifying glass?

For a bug to take that much out of the leaves you should be able to see them with the naked eye......

I would leave out no pest strips to see if bugs are coming out at night; if they fly they will get stuck on them.

 

[O RLY?]

I do have pets... two cats... but they can't get into the room with my plants. I do not see flying bugs or any bug larva.

I think I might know the cause... And if it is the cause I am really stupid for not realizing it.
Recently I decided to check my water with a pH tester I found at Petco in the aquarium section. It was a good thing I did because my water sucks, but this is a tangent. I also found that they had pH down. The pH down that I got uses Sulfuric Acid. I went and looked at what other pH down products use and they use phosphoric acid. Is there a chance that this is causing the problem? Because I have a feeling that it is.

Well I am going to order some different pH down and hope that this is the problem.

 

[MynameStitch]

Why are you using ph down in the first place?
If it does not say safe for plants then I would not use it. You have to use ph down that is safe for plants.

Both sound bad If I remember correctly . But as for the holes in your leaves they would not cause bite holes like that. I think your cat may have bit a part of the leaf; cats love MJ like they do cat nip; trust me you are ttalking to someone who lost 20 or more seedlings due to cats!

 

[10k]

Could be mice too.

Phosphoric acid IS good pH down btw.

 

[MynameStitch]

Eh? Now that you mention it; it was sodium bicarbonate that was not good to use; I know you was telling me a long time ago and I could not remember which one was which, but checking over some posts now I remember which one is which lol.

THank you 10k

 

[O RLY?]

Well after I posted about my pH down (which was for aquariums btw) I over watered with my regular tap water (which is above 7.6) and when I woke up today nothing got worse. So that is good. Also, I dumped all my water and washed out my water jugs thoroughly. I also ordered some pH down from a garden/hydro store. I guess until it comes I will just water with regular tap water.

What if they aren't bite marks... What if they are acid burns? There is a possibility that I got water on the leaves directly and that caused the problem.

 

[MynameStitch]

Well what kind/brand are you using; like I said if it does not say safe for plants it's not safe. 10K told me that phosphoric acid is good to use so that one is safe; which one are you using?

I have heard of nutrient burns and water splashes on the leaves; but with this issue plain water and your ph down I do not know because I Do not know which one you used nor have I heard of an issue involving ph down and plain water like this doing i to leaves; but those bite marks are not caused by water droplets with ph down.

 

[O RLY?]

Well the pH down is made by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. I made a horrible mistake when I assumed that all pH down is the same... Also I did not look to see what the main ingredient was (horrible mistake #2)...

If I remember correctly from chemistry class Sulfuric acid can be some pretty nasty stuff... (wikipedia it) Sulfuric acid is what makes acid rain so nasty. This is my field of work and thus why I immediately stopped using it once I saw the ingredients. Just reading the stuff on wikipedia makes me realize how dumb my assumption was and makes me feel dumber for making the mistake.

Although I am not going to rule out a possible bug problem... But I really do think that Sulfuric acid is the culprit...

If you would like to follow this current grow I have a journal in the Mandala forum call "New year... New grow"

 

[MynameStitch]

Ya, I would stop using that man....... Not sure but this is a tough call considering how big those bites are........
You would have to have a hell of a lot of ph down in there to cause that IF that is what it was; if it did you would have more issues than just those bites your plants would be crispy and not healthy.


Alright I would like that send me a link and I will join in

 

[O RLY?]

I can't send PMs yet... here is a link to the grow journal

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=71878