Lovelorn

[Substrate]

Hello friends and expert growers,

I'm a new member here on ICMag and this is my first grow/post ever so please be kind!

Some facts:
A little grow box, 117W (veg.), four plants (2x fem. Skunk#1, 2x Leb), temperature: 15-28 degrees, 40-60% relative humidity, standard soil (Composana + a little Perlite), pH 6,8-7(now), BioBizz Grow (1/2, then 1/1 strenght).

I really tried to do my homework. The first four weeks were great. My plants looked healthy and vigor. I am not tempted to overwater them and the environment seemed to be okay.
But OF COURSE some problems appeared while dealing with my little ladys (unique to Skunks). As you can see on the pictures the leaves started to get yellow (not only at the bottom). A common and often discussed problem, I know. But whatever I do... nothing changes. I really need help!

1.) First thought: lack of N. So I started to feed with Biobizz Grow (fourth week, 1/2 strenght, later 1/1 strenght). No effect!

2.) Then I remembered some wise words: „Check pH-level before you do something else” :. So I did and voila, pH 7-7,2! To high. I bought some cider vinegar (while waiting for my real pH-) to lower the pH-level (without BioBizz).

What do you think what happened? No effect. WTF is going on here?

3.) Last thought: The temperature at night is to low (about 15 degrees). Am I right? Now I will try to find a solution to raise the temperature at night and hope for the best.

What do you think? Bitch terror? Is there any hope for my Skunk?

BTW the Lebs are doing fine...

 

[Snype]

The problem won't instantly fix itself and the yellow of the leaves will just stop spreading when you fix the problem. Just fix the pH and you'll be fine. Looks pretty nice for a first grow. Keep up the good work!

 

[Substrate]

Thanks a lot for your help. I really appreciate it.

Yes red_bull, I read about the problems with natural vinegar. In my case the cider vinegar just acted as a „first aid”. In the meanwhile I've bought nitric acid.

To sum things up:

1.) I have to learn to be more patient

2.) I have to keep the pH level low (about 5,5/6,5?)

3.) It should beneficial to change nutrients (I intended to switch to 12/12 anyway).

Take care and thanks for looking.

Substrate

 

[Substrate]

Lesson NOT learned, case NOT closed...

Lesson NOT learned, case NOT closed...

Hi all!

I WAS going to show you my nicley recovered plants, but now a new problem appeared some four days ago... Unfortunately I couldn't find another threat dealing with my specific problem.

The pistils look odd and there are some brownish stains on the bud surrounding leaves. The bigger leaves got droopy from one day to the next. It's maybe mold, isn't it?

All began with a new lamp I have mounted four days ago (150W HPS). Is it mold/fungus caused by the heat of the lamp? It appears on all the upper buds. 'New' lower buds look nice with white and vigor pistils. I didn't change my watering/feeding schedule or the like. Could it be (again) a nutriant related problem? PH-level should be okay I think (exactly 6).

The plants recovered really well and now that. What can I do now? I think the best would be to write off this plants and concentrate on another grow, hm?

Please tell me what you think.

 

[niluola]

Hi, how close is the 150? What's the temperature? Heat itself doesn't cause mold...you need a great deal of moisture as well...to my (somewhat untrained) eye could be lightburn/heat stress.

 

[JamieShoes]

this grow is far from lost mate.. I'd bring that pH to 6.5 for soil though... and yes 15c is a little bit low... especially as the "swing" is more than 10 degrees (from 28)

I'm not too sure what the brown spots are but maybe over watering? or maybe something is locked out from the slightly low pH...or maybe the cold...


best of luck and stick with them mate
j

 

[Substrate]

Hey guys! Thanks for dropping by.

Okay, I do not longer think it is mold. I took a magnifiying glass and examinded the ladies carefully but thoroughly (You know! Candlelight, a glass of vine, cosy music...) These stains and oddish looking spots are not located within the buds, just on the surface, and I can't see any mold or the like.
The girls just seem to be a bit dry ... ahm.. dried out ...ahm.. oh Lord.

Well, now I'm sure that both of you are right. It must be a heat issue.

@niluola: You are right mate. Heat itself doesn't cause mold. But high temperatures could get buds to transpire. Voila - moisture.
On the other hand these buds are really not especially huge or very dense.
The distance between the bulb and my ladies has been about 15cm. I lifted the HPS up to 25cm now. Still to low, isn't it? Temperatures are something about 28-29 degrees. I know it is a bit warm but I thougt it would be within the tolerance (Obviously not, hehe)?

@JamieShoes: 'Not lost'. That sounds so soothing. I can exclude overwatering but what exactly is 'too cold'? I have read someting about 15-17 degrees at night is acceptable?
Yes it could be a lock out. I lowered the pH-level one day 'couse I feared a potassium lock out... bloody greenhorn, I know.

Things to do:
- I definitely have to upgrade my 'cooling-system' 'cause of my new lamp.
- Should I lift up the lamp even more?
- I'll bring up the pH-level to 6,5.

Thanks a lot guys!

 

[JamieShoes]

Hi Substrate

It's not too cold in itself at 15c, but your swing is more than 10 degrees and they don't like that and so this "could" be an issue... for example 15 would be better if your top end was only 25.. the jump isn't as dramtic you see

I would've expected to see some other damage if it was an issue with being too close to the lamp, but if you say they're too dry, then I would defintely move it higher... the rule of "thumb" is to hold the back of your hand (huh? I thought it was thumb...anyway) under the lamp at canopy height for 1 minute, if it burns it's too close... HOWEVER.. this can only be applied once the plants have aclimatised to the lamp... so when you put plants from a veg area with fluros for example, the HPS should be as far as you can get it from the plants and then lowered inch by inch until within the "acceptable" distance for your lamp (which is a 150w which I've never used but I'd say at least 10-12 inches (30cm) from canopy top would be about right ... but don't quote me mate.. I never used a 150


be lucky
j


edit - more about temps...depending on your humidity you can actually get away with much lower temps (with high humidity this cause mildews etc) in fact to get purple buds you need to go as low as 14 and lower...

at the other end of the scale... heat damage starts to "really" occur at 33c and even though 28/29 isnt ideal (25-27 is) it's not "that" bad.. again much depends on the rest of your environment... do you run extraction during lights out? whats the RH like at lights out?

 

[niluola]

@niluola:
The distance between the bulb and my ladies has been about 15cm. I lifted the HPS up to 25cm now.

I think 15cm is way too close to start with, especially if it's not a cooltube or you have a good fan...no, even with a good fan it would be too close...25cm is still pretty close, but if you get the heat blown off the canopy, it's fine. Then again, that much air pressure might make it too dry...

I'm w/ JamieShoes on this one. Raise your bulb as high as you can and then lower it to the point where, without any fan, you can hold your hand comfortably at canopy-level for a minute. Then put your fan on and lower the lamp just a nudge.

Jus' my 2 cents...

 

[Substrate]

Good morning all!

@JamieShoes
Yes sir, now I get what you mean... the 'swing' ! As for my very professional diagnosis: I've got a problem from time to time to express myself in English. Sorry about that.
What I was trying to say is, I think it really could be heat/stress caused by my new lamp. Why? The buds, beside the odd looking pistils, look quite healthy. Lower buds and leaves (distance to the bulb?) did not suffer. BTW another inhabitant of my cab isn't affected at all (a Thai lady). Thus far she is a bit smaller than the skunks. And to be honest, in retrospect it looks quite stupid to replace the moon by the sun like I did, you know what I mean? I've not been really sensible to my girls. No extractions during lights out. This night the RH has been about 55% (lights out). Right now it is 45% (lights on). Temps are 26 degrees at daytime and about 17 at night. Should I really consider to install a little radiator?

@niluola
Yep, that is why I got droopy leaves in no time... high air pressure and heat. I'm so stupid.

You handed me some keywords I've never REALLY thought about:
- 'Swing'. Absolute logical. That causes stress.
- I didn't give my plants a chance to 'acclimatise' = stress.

It's as simple as that!?

What would you say in English? I stressed the shit out of 'em?

However. I did change some (all) of the accosted things. Let's see what will happen.

Thank you guys!

 

[JamieShoes]

I don't think you're "stupid" at all mate... it sounds like you're learning everything and realising whats happening as you find it... this is good and it sounds like you're doing well

I don't think you need a radiator, your swing is a bit better now (only 9deg) and even if you did stress them a little (replacing the moon with the sun..hehe) they will nearly always recover after a short time once they acclimatise... in future you will try to avoid these extra stresses as you realise that everytime something happens to stress them, you will lose a little bit in development and in the end a little bit in yield... but learning all this stuff is half the fun


what I would say is keep a close eye for wet patches on larger fan leaves when the lights are coming on.. if you see them it means that moisture is collecting on the leaves (much like dew) during lights out and this can cause you some problems with mold and mildew and also can leave spots/burns on leaves which can be confusing becuase they look like deficiencies etc...one way to combat this is to have extraction during lights out... but then you must watch for low temps again...

 

[Substrate]

Hello all!

Well I hope I don't bore you but I'm so glad that everything went well (so far).

This is how my plants are looking right now. The Skunk ladies did not die but stunted growth (at least compared to the Thai). It was simply too much stress I think.

The Thai was not affected at all and looks quite nice.

Now I'm waiting for the 'big day'. To be honest I would like to harvest immediately but of course they still need some time.
„...I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait.”

This grow was/is very educational and I'm looking forward to tackling my text project: Some Indica beauties. Creeeeeep-------------------buzz.

Thanks again guys

Substrate