Suspected Nutrient Lockout

[mc23q]

Growing a Dinafem Original Amnesia from seed.

Started the grow in a 7l pot. Using ordinary potting mix from local hardware.
Been using seaweed solution, Powerfeed liquid fert (once every 2-3 weeks) and organic Dynamic Lifter (once a week in very small amounts). Have also added some Phosphorous in the past week as she transitions into flowering.

I water her when she's thirsty, using ordinary tap water (PH is a little on the higher side 7.5-8.5). I don't PH adjust water.
10 days ago her rooted started reaching out the bottom of the pot, around the same time she started flowering. I figured I didn't want her to get root bound.
I filled a much larger pot with a mix of some sandy soil (from the yard) and perlite. It drains well.
I cut the bottom of her pot, gentling massaging the bottom of her root ball to free up some of the roots and put her in the larger pot.

It has been raining every day for the past 8 days so I moved her under cover to avoid root rot approximately 4 days ago (I wasn't confident that she was draining fast enough).

The problem now is, she is showing signs of nitrogen deficiency, yellow leaves. Some of the new growth tips are also starting to twist slightly.

I don't think she is lacking nitrogen because I have fed her steadily (until the tips started to burn a bit). She had been growing quite happily until about a week ago.

Initially I thought she might be getting root rot due to all the rain, but I no longer believe that is the case.

I bought a PH test kit today ( https://www.bunnings.com.au/manutec-garden-care-products-soil-ph-test-kit_p3016727 ) and tested the soil around her root ball. It came up around 8.

I tested the "new soil" of the second (larger) pot and it seems to be around 6.

I've got myself into a bit of a pickle here. I don't know what to do. I'd rather not transplant the entire plant and set her back again, but doing nothing might be worse.

Attached pics for some reference.

Appreciate any help in advance.

 

[mc23q]

For context, this is what she looked like 4 days ago. You can see the leaf tips starting to turn.

 

[Levitationofme]

Tip burn can mean you hit the upper limit of feeding. I would just use plain water for a few days. Let them get used up. Or perhaps a microbe product or Brewed EWC Tea.

 

[mc23q]

Thanks for the input.

I did a quick flush before sunset and then gave her some molasses water.

I did consider nitrogen toxicity but thought it didn't fit the bill properly. Could be wrong.

 

[Levitationofme]

You can fix the PH easily....

Flush with 3x the volume of PHed water. That should help quite a bit.
Then make sure you PH your stuff.

I think PH is your only problem. I do not know what you know about PH and nutrients. All I know is what I have read, and above 7.0 ph many of the nutrients are not effective.
and you run the risk of "Locking Out" nutrients. Below 5.5 is the same thing.
In soil there are hopefully lots of microbes which help change the PH around the roots, so
that is something else cool to think about.



You can use a little dolomite lime powder worked into the top layer as well.

Anyway your plants look good. No need to panic. Soil testing is not always 100% accurate
so you may not be far off

I use a nutrient line that has a liquid lime, Liquid Bone Meal and Sucrose Products so
I flush with a low EC mix of those 3 Ph 6.5 and it seems to stabilize the PH.

 

[mc23q]

Thanks again.

I might try PH adjusting water in the future. I've read a lot that said there's no need in soil grows (and in the past I've had no trouble) but I guess the writing is on the wall here.

I gather you've grown amnesia before. Will she typically stretch much from here? I've got her lst'd to 8 colas.

 

[Levitationofme]

Well I prefer to Ph everything, its not a big deal. I use the same water all the time so I know exactly how much I need to add. But Yes growing organically in soil is supposed to
be tolerant. Its the microbes on the root zone. Much time spent on the biozyme in that style of growing.

I am growing my first Amnesia from seed myself. I topped at 5th node and did minor LST.
Im thinking its about the same as you describe. I am using one of Dank Frank's soil recipe in a 2 gallon SIP. I had to trim the bottom growth as I was getting a bunch of Fungus gnats. My best guess is that I am at 30 or 35 days in flower. I didn't bother with a
long veg. I went 12/12 from seed. It really vegges for a month before it showed flowers.

 

[mc23q]

That's a nice looking plant.
Mine vegged for approximately 4 weeks outdoors. This rain has dented her growth because it really was rapid. Fingers crossed she'll go strong once the sunshine returns.

Do you think it's worth giving her a foliar spray of nitrogen during this lockout? She's getting too pale for my liking.

I took two cuttings off her which I'm planning to seed (using colloidal silver). I'm Impressed by her rigour and appetite. I'm looking forward to having another go next season.

 

[Levitationofme]

I am a big fan of foliars. I would try.

I keep my plants small. Stealth type grow in a couple boxes. Minimal Veg time.
But! I am really only feeding my own head. So small plants are fine. Yet to finish smoking
any of my crops. been at it almost 2 years now.

 

[mc23q]

I gave in and transplanted her. Figured it's better to do it now than 3 weeks into flowering.

Put her into some well draining soil mixed with organic compost and perlite. Watered her with some seaweed solution.

I'll leave her alone for a week and see what she does.

Thanks for your input Lev.

 

[Levitationofme]

good luck

 

[mc23q]

Update:
After repotting and flushing her soil gave her a few foliar sprays of low nitrogen + PK.

Her upper leaves and buds seem to be recovering and I don't think there is any worsening of the yellowed leaves.

Can anyone offer me any thoughts on her?

I tasted one of her stems today and it was very perfumy/bitter, almost like lemongrass. I'm presuming it's a nutrient buildup which she's struggling with. I can't flush her anymore because her soil just isnt drying fast enough in this weather.

 

[Roughrider]

PH lockout. I would suspect your soil is acidic. Top dress with Dolomite lime and stick to PH perfect water for a time. Foliar feed to get the plants over their hump if its not too late.

 

[mc23q]

Problem identified:

Winged root aphids and fungus gnats.

Now to resolve it.

Might be too late for this plant but I have two clones going strong and I can see the little fu***rs all over the soil.