They aren't taking well to higher temps (~83-85) even with CO2. I think it has something to do with the composting soil going anaerobic at those temps. For now I'll keep it at 78 max.
It's not likely a problem with your soil. Unless you don't have adequate circulation in your room, and the temp of the soil itself is getting too high. Where's your humidity at day and night? Should be 60-70% during the light cycle, and around 50% at night, when using those temps and co2. My guess is VPD (vapor pressure deficit) is your problem. Do a little research on the subject, it's an important concept for any grower to understand.
Hmmph, could it be true that my plants will not be happy at 81*F unless the RH is 70+%? How do people complete a grow with CO2 at higher temps without mold or mildew?
When I get home from work tonight I'll be sure to get a good canopy temp measurement, which is something I haven't done yet. Instead, I've been relying on 3 thermometers placed around the room (a/c unit, dehumi, and a therm/hygrometer placed on the far wall). Maybe that will provide me some more insight.
Either way it goes, I think I'm going to be keeping the temps under 80 for this run, just to be on the safe side.
Plants will do fine at 81 and 60% humidity. This is at the canopy, not the room (very important difference). People that use high humidity successfully have LOTS of air circulation around the room, and use good hygiene to maintain a mold free area. Control over the inevitable night time humidity spikes is also paramount. Basically you create conditions where mold can't reproduce. Think about the rain forest, it's nearly 100% humidity all the time, and no mold issues. Some of the largest fastest growing plants (herb included) exist in the rain forest, it's not a coincidence .
I can't begin to tell you how much time and headache you just saved me. Any more often-overlooked concepts I need to check out while you're at it?
Thanks again.
By the way, my canopy temp was 5 degrees higher than the temp on the wall, and 4 degrees higher than what my a/c said. I don't know why I've never had issues with this in the past because I've always measured temp this way -- and these hoods run cooler than anything else I've ever used. That explains why they started having trouble when I set my a/c higher than 82. I feel like a dolt.
Live, learn, then overtake .
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I've had the same temp issues. High humidity and lots of air circulation ftw... Idk about the rainforest analogy but I'm not here to nit-pick today.
There are tons of overlooked concepts, just depends on the person as to which are over looked . Best advice I can give you is to read, read, and read some more. Start by clicking the "ratings" button at the top of right of each subforum. This will arrange all the threads in that sub forum by star rating. Read all the 5 star threads, then the 4 star and so on for each sub forum. This will take you probably a year or more, but the knowledge gained will be priceless
We all miss little things here and there, and if ya don't know any better....... Well ya can't be expected to fix a problem if ya don't know what it is now can ya? Live, learn, then overcome .
BTW what's a dolt? Never heard that one before.
Have you positively identified the bugs on your sticky strips? Looks like there are many many many of them. If its fungus gnats i suggest getting some BTI going quick or your flowers will be covered. If its something worse you better really get going on the problem.