A little background… I have 4 tents now. I’m growing 2 with Grow Dots and 2 with Gaia Green. Was using General Hydroponics trio but tried of mixing nutrients all the time.
I’ve read much of this blog and watched numerous YOUTUBE videos. But there is a disconnect from me being able to identify what the actual deficiencies are once they start developing on the leaves. And what to do and use. Boy, I’ve spent a lot on money. But more importantly I just to get a good gardener to my pets.
It takes about 4 months from seed to harvest. That is too much time wild guessing on what is going on with the plants and knowing exactly what to do when issues arise.
I enjoy growing more than partaking so I really want to learn the ins and outs. I don’t have a hands on mentor so it’s a guessing game.
Are there any online courses that can be taken or detailed books with clear pictures that can be referred to me? I’m open to anything that will clarify the deficiency knowledge I’m lacking.
Like now. Attached are 2 plants using grow dots. The one on the right is getting brown leaves. I have no clue why. Could be this or could be that. How do I put my thumb on it?
Using Happy Fog soil, ph always close to 6.5, water till I see a little water coming out the bottom or sides. Then put a little in AC Infinity auto pots and don’t re-water till the auto pot dries out. (Trying to avoid over watering)
Light PPFD is around 500. Lights at top of tent never adjust the light height. Use recharge once a week. Fighting low humidity this winter it’s about 26% in lung room so I put humidifier exhaust down low because it exhausts too fast if I had it at the top of the tent.
Grow dots are supposed to be “quote” easier…. Now this.
I know what it feels like to put in months worth of effort for messily returns. I’m try to learn now, if all possible. To avoid this in the future.
It’s in the teens outside in chicago. Will crank up the AC Infinity heater to get it up to 78. That pictured thermometer is laying on the floor of the tent so not so accurate. And doing the best I know how with humidity right now.
Humidifier putting out so much exhaust, does anyone know what that white dust is covering the inside of the tent? You can see it good if you blow the pic up of the fan.
Probably the minerals left behind after your water completely evaporates.
One of the benefits of mixing is we get to adjust the NPK based on the stage of development the plants are in. Veg & flower have different requirements that grow dots isn’t meeting. Plus you need other items like CalMag and silica or black molasses and myco supplemented, etc… Consider it all worth your 4 months. There’s no shortcuts really to top notch bomb diggity. Patience is the key.
But the stage of development offers hints like in flower you know the P & K are being consuming higher. Or that your led’s cause the plant to need Mag more than they would under other lighting styles. Experience is the key.
One thing newer growers don’t account for is: once a def happens that affects leaves, they will never improve. You always have to look to new growth for signs of improvement. Things like wind damage can also be mis-read. Frankly it takes time to look at different plant issues to be able to diagnose properly.
Also; most issues are related to N, P, K, Mg and C. You don’t see iron or manganese defs very often FYI.
The affected leaf could also just be a beat-up old fan leaf ready to be removed.
Not sure how you are watering: top watering but using Autopot bases? That could be an issue.
My own growing has taught me the same things cars have taught over the years. Once you identify the problem you still need to find the reason for the problem.
When car parts go bad it can be age, abuse, or something that caused the fault.
When leaves go bad it can be age, abuse, or something caused the problem.
From following along with dozens of grow journals from experienced to nubes like myself watering still seems to be the main issue. Overwatering organics ( not letting it dry back or watering damp soil) has a huge effect on the natural furnace of the grow. This may present it’s self as a deficiency but the root cause is not the nutes you shut off the biological furnace for 3 days and hell yes it’s going to throw some yellow leaves at and perhaps rust spots. Adding cal-mag or EWC is going to mask the symptoms or in now way help the situation.
I am in this pickle right now. Started 5th week of flower and now I am showing a deficiency. I am treating it for cal def BUT reviewing the journal I had an issue 4 days ago when I went to water the plants. Started by wetting the soil and waiting. I get about a 1/2 liter in and wait 10 minutes. It let’s the water sink down quicker instead of puddling. I just started watering the 2nd day like I have been but the pots were still heavy. Simple mistake and I caught it.
But the damage was started. Partial watering screwed up the drying process. Now I had wet on the top and the bottom. So much for oxygen penetration. So much for all my Benny bacteria who love to turn fish shit into nutes.
So now I am waiting for pots to dry out on a tent full of pot so I can stop making mistakes. I have been running lights pretty high and I know that can cause cal- mag issues and from what I read a few waterings with cal-mag should not hurt at all if not needed.
Still fun.
Thank you for bringing to my attention that the Leaf will never look healthy again. So the issue could have been corrected. So stop focusing on that and pay more attention to new growth.
May I ask how you learned to evaluate issues with your plant?
I see EWC on this site a lot. I think it means
-something-worm castings. Thinking I’m wrong. Can you enlighten my poor soul?
What brand Cal-mag do you use? I only have a liquid synthetic. Which I heard that organic and synthetic nutes can’t be mixed because the roots can not consume both types at the same time. I better get some on hand if needed.
Reading grow journals, watching Dr. Bugbee on YouTube, growing many different styles with many different plants.
There’s a BUNCH of really fine boutique growers here. Spend time here reading and asking questions. We’re all hopefully learning no matter the experience.
You will get good and not so good advice here. Often it’s a good idea to follow one or two growers as you learn.
EWC Earth Worm Castings. Very inexpensive organic nutrient from worm poop. Used to both amend new soil and top dress soil in a grow as the natural nutrition fades.
