First time grower, looking for a little help. I just entered week 6 of flower with a shiskaberry photoperiod strain. I am using indicanja soil. Using tap water with a declorinating liquid and ph down liquid from bloom city. Tap water runs high 7’s so I ph down to 6.5. I recently switch to spring water same pH level. I noticed today that I am getting brown tips on the leaves. Everything I looked at says nutrient burn, but with only using water that doesn’t make much sense to me. Especially this late in the grow. I was thinking possibly potassium deficiency could be a culprit as well. I also water with ac-infinity wicking system. I am brewing up some terp tea bloom tonight in case that is the case. However would appreciate any other expertise here. Also, if it progresses further would it be better to harvest early instead of losing the whole crop?
The tip burning is very minor. What are you using for nitrogen feed? Pics of the full plant would be helpful, but based on what you’ve posted, the plant looks healthy.
Here are some plant pics. My canopy is not where I want it lol, but this first grow is my figure it out grow. The soil Indicanja is supposed to be a water only medium so I have added no other nutes to it.
I would suggest to stop using the liquid for removing chlorine. I used it a while back and ran into nothing but issues. It not only removes the chlorine but it also removes other things that are healthy for the plant. Plus plants need a bit of chlorine believe it or not.
Indicaja is a water only soil dependent on the size container you are in. Its built just like Coast of Maine that i use. 5 gallon container is good for 30 to 45 days, 10 gallon up to 60 days, ect. Ive run autos in 5 gal containers water only before.
As a first-time cannabis grower, it’s great that you’re seeking advice! Let’s troubleshoot the brown tips on your shiskaberry photoperiod strain during week 6 of flowering. Nutrient issues can indeed cause leaf problems, even if you’re primarily using water. Here are some insights to help you out:
Nutrient Deficiencies and Burn:
Nutrient Burn: While nutrient burn is common, it usually results from excessive nutrients. However, in your case, you’ve been using mainly water, so this seems unlikely.
Nutrient Deficiencies: Nutrient deficiencies can occur due to insufficient nutrients. Let’s explore this further.
Common Nutrient Deficiencies:
Nitrogen (N): Nitrogen deficiency can cause yellowing of lower leaves, which may progress upward. However, you mentioned using tap water with a pH of 6.5, which should provide some nitrogen.
Phosphorus (P): Phosphorus deficiency can lead to brown or purple leaf tips. Since you’re in the flowering stage, phosphorus is crucial for bud development.
Potassium (K): Potassium deficiency can cause brown leaf edges and overall leaf discoloration. It’s essential for flower formation.
Possible Solutions:
Check pH: Ensure your pH remains stable. Even with spring water, monitor the pH to maintain the optimal range for nutrient uptake.
Inspect Roots: Check your root system. Healthy roots are essential for nutrient absorption. Make sure they’re not rotting or damaged.
Terp Tea Bloom: Brewing terp tea bloom is a good step. It provides organic nutrients and can address deficiencies.
Consider Potassium: Since you suspect potassium deficiency, consider supplementing with a potassium-rich fertilizer or additive.
Flush: If you suspect nutrient buildup, consider flushing your soil with pH-balanced water to remove excess salts.
Early Harvest vs. Crop Loss:
If the issue persists and worsens, you might consider early harvesting. While it won’t yield as much, it’s better than losing the entire crop.
Observe the plant closely. If the brown tips spread rapidly, early harvest might be the best option.
Remember, cannabis plants are resilient, and addressing issues promptly can make a significant difference. Keep monitoring your plant, adjust nutrients as needed, and best of luck with your grow! .
Its normal for leaves to start turning color towards the end of flower. They look healthy to me. I might suggest getting a more powerful light, the node spacing seems pretty far apart.
I know my light will need looked at for subsequent grows but I think some of it is related to my personal learning experiment. I decided to top 1 and not the other. I wanted to see the difference instead of just doing something because everyone says to do it. So during the stretch the non-topped plant went bonkers on the stretch and pretty huge gaps in nodes. Where the topped plant still did a lot of stretching it also kept closer nodes. I still think the topped one is spread a part a little far though.
It’s advisable to not top during the stretch. That’s a critical time for setting flowers for your plant.
If anything start cleaning the lowest parts of your plant to increase nutrition going to your top buds.
During and after the stretch you can use lst to train your plant for a more even canopy for light.
I did figure out what was going on. It was high ph and start of nutrient lockout. The one plant kept progressively getting worse while the other stayed good. I made an almost fatal mistake and did not check the ph of the water I used. It was a different brand and I never rechecked ph from the other brand I was using. Stupid mistake but it was at almost 8ph. I made a soil slurry and adjusted down. Saved the plant, but it stunted her growth to very badly while the terpenes kept maturing. All in all it was a solid experience learning, making mistakes and figuring out a few things. Just started my dry phase today.
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