Ph issues or ? , NL, Banana Hawaiian in Coco

[mtbermitch]

Hi Everybody!
I'm a newbie grower and need some advice. I have three clones, two nl #5, one banana hawaiian, rooted in rockwool obtained about two weeks ago. I planted them in 3 gallon pots with Royal Gold Coco and fed them as clones for the first week. Last week I upped the nutes (Pure Blend Pro Grow for Coco) to 5 ml/gallon. This week I increased them to 7.5 ml/gallon (half the amount recommended on the bottle for coco) and added 1 tsp of molasses/gallon because I thought I saw signs of cal/mag problems. Now I think I have what is referred to as the claw, as can be seen in the pictures. The girls also seem to be growing slowly but I'm a newb so what do I know? I tested the ph of the runoff and it came in at 6.6-6.7. I ph the nutrient solution to 5.7-5.8 after adding the nutes and molasses. All the research I do seems to indicate nutrient lockout likely due to ph issues. Is this the correct diagnoses and if so how do I fix it? Btw, I did not rinse or otherwise pre-treat the coco. Although the bag said it was rinsed and buffered I think that this might have something to do with my problems.

Strain of Mj? Northern Lights, Banana Hawaiian
Hydroponic or soil? Hydro
From seed or clone? Clone
Age of plant in question? 2-3 Weeks
What stage (Veg/Flower; how many days into)? 10 days Veg
Medium (Soil, Rockwool, Hydroton etc.)? Coco with 1 inch hydroton on bottom
Container/Pot size? 3 gallon
Have they been transplanted, if so how long ago?
If soil, composition ratios (peat moss, perilite, vermiculite etc.)?
Water runoff Ph?6.6-6.7
Nutrients added? Pure Blend Pro Grow at 1/4 to 1/2 strength, molasses
Ratios of nutrients (N% P% K%)? Not sure
Feeding schedule? Every one to two days
When were they last fed/watered? Two days ago
How are you determining when to feed/water (weight, wilting, etc.)?Feel of the Coco
TDS/EC/PPM? Not sure
Tap/RO/Distilled water? Tap
Ph before and after adding nutrients? Before about 7.5, after about 6.6
Is your Ph equipment properly calibrated? Calibrated about 2 weeks ago
Light intensity/Age of bulb/Wattage? 150 watt hps (unknown age)+ 4 26 watt cfls
Distance to the canopy?10-12 inches
Temps at canopy? 75-79 degrees F
Temps at root zone or reservoir? Unknown
Day/Night temps (Min.-Max.)? Min unknown, max about 80 F
Current air flow (CFM)? 172 cfm
Is there air blowing directly onto plant? Yes, PC Fan
Using CO2? No
Relative humidity?~30%
Growing technique (Scrog, Sog, Supercropping etc.)?
Has plant recently been pruned, clones taken, fimmed or pinched? The banana hawaiian was pinched two days ago.
Pests? None detected

Thanks for taking the time to look and please let me know if you need other info, I tried to be complete.

 

[Bigbillyboy05]

i guarantee this:
Those pots are WAY too big for that size.
I got 2 weeks in solo cup
2 weeks in 1 gallons
and then i flower in 2 gallons after 1 more week of veg in 2 gals.

transplanting is a lot less stressfull in coco. dont worry about that.

NEXT TIME SMALLER POTS, those guys cant handle that size right now.

for now tho, water less. I say let the pot dry out until the top STARTS drying out, not compelty dry. GIVE THEM ONLY 1/2 a cup of solution a day, everyday, for about a week. When you start seeing roots pop out the bottom, feed away. Right now the roots are being smothered! HOPE THAT HELPS!

 

[EvilTwin]

Hi Mitch,
That's pretty good coco and reasonably coarse. The manufacturer states 40% air so that's excellent drainage. It's a coco designed for hydro and not as a soil substitute. So I don't think there's any problem with either your coco or your nutrient choice.

One little comment on the hydroton in the bottom. It's totally not needed, complicated cleaning the coco if you're going to re-use it, and I know one grower who claims that it actually caused problems with his grow. So next time...skip the hydroton.

BigBillyBoy was right-on regarding pot size. With soil and with coco, it's always best to go through several up-pottings. The Royal Gold website suggests starting with 4" pots and up-potting as roots grow.

Unfortunately the claw is a sort-of generic stress sign and can be caused by multiple problems. Do an advanced title search using "claw" and you'll find many threads of people having the same problem.

I'm going to go out on a limb and tell you what I'd do...you'll have to make your own decision.

I feel with that coarse coco, under-watering is a real possibility. I'd keep the nutes at half strength and ph at the low end of the coco range and water twice a day. I know that's opposite of what BBB said, but that's my gut feeling. That coco was ground coarse as a hydro medium and so use it as such.
ET

PS: Truth be told, I'd probably set up a timer and a top drip system too. A true run-to-waste coco grow.

 

[!!!]

I add hydroton to the bottom of my coco sometimes. I prefer adding coarse perlite because later on you can just mix it in with the coco for added drainage, unlike hydroton which must be removed if you want to reuse the coco. I add these because in my experience the drainage holes get plugged up very easily with coco. You can always just make bigger drain holes though.

 

[jebus loves u]

ph in and out should be 5.8-6.2 if u dont have that u got problems. so ur 6.7 is pretty much locking out ur plant plus hydrotron is worthless in the bottom. u should not mix 2 types of mediums that are grown 2 diffrent ways

 

[mtbermitch]

ph in and out should be 5.8-6.2 if u dont have that u got problems. so ur 6.7 is pretty much locking out ur plant plus hydrotron is worthless in the bottom. u should not mix 2 types of mediums that are grown 2 diffrent ways

Thanks, any suggestions on how to correct it?

 

[EvilTwin]

Mitch,
Since you're not that far off, my suggestion above (post 3) which is to lower your feedings to the minimum coco ph is the easiest thing to try. I'd even drop it down to mid 5s.
ET

 

[mtbermitch]

Thanks ET I think I will give your suggestion a try