My first grow crisis help

[Marcos666]

Hey guys
So i got a ph tester and already put it to good use
All my pots with plants in them showed values between 5.9 and 6, i dont know if thats good or bad… And yeah i havent done my homework yet, work been crazy lately
Need to tell that the model i got was the cheaper between the 2, i have a pic for it, it cost me 12$, the other option was 55$, i dont know how accurate it is but it was consistent with the readings, i tried it on 2 other pots which i freshly prepared yesterday and the reading went down to 5… Still dont know what that means
Big thanks for the humidity dome and taking the fan out advice! It worked beautifully! No more crooked leaves and my girls look so healthy and happy
I also got the seedling mix so the next batch is in for a treat
I took some temp readings, its around 31 Celsius on the plants
Humidity is about 45% outside of the humidity domes and dunno how much inside, couldnt fit the bulky agrometer, thats why ill switch this 30$ german made for a digital 25$ chinese one tomorrow. But you can tell its another story inside the humidity domes from all the condensation on their walls))

Any feedback??

[kabongster]

Eh…so so for the meter…they , honestly, show wear and tear fastest…clean the tips for accuracy…it is a start!!!

When you get comfortable with pH, you will test your water, not the soil. Water you use pH(with and without nutes), water in the tray at the bottom, the run off pH. Good times!!

So, Digital pH meter on Amazon

These types are better, really aim for this kind, please

25C-26C is better for babies, 30C getting high, 31C is high…the babies just don’t grow well

Condensation on the domes means good, high humidity…if nearby, open them to air once in awhile…

Looking great, sorry for the critical, but imo honest, opinion

you should aim for a pH of 6.5 in a soil grow, ±.3…so 6.2-6.8 is best, 6.5 the “sweetspot”

The fan only helps a spindly, tall plant, at this stage…your plants are a good height…and better light helps a tall, spindly plant more, anyways.

More to read A note about digital pH glass globe electrode probes

[garrigan62]

There way to youg for nutrients. Stop the nutrients or all will be losr.
Just water and if your soil has nutrients. Well then you just added more to the problem.
Seedlings don’t need nutrients w
Untill they have 4 - 6 sets of true leaves…

Will

[Marcos666]

Hahaha
About the high temp, what would u suggest? Am thinking about turning on the fan while the humidity domes are still on to cool it down a bit
So i shouldnt worry abt the soil ph being 6 now and monitor my watering ph? If its too high or low how do i adjust it? Should i buy acide and alkaline solutions?
And please feel free to give all the critics you see, am a bit of an ocd perfectionist and would love to adjust and improve the setup
The 4th set of leaves is coming out so when should i take off the humidity domes

[Marcos666]

Yeah all is good bro
They are doing fine and dandy and i stoped the nutes for now

[garrigan62]

Ok thats good real good.

Will

[kabongster]

yep, fan on!
the domes will block the bad, drying breeze, but will allow cooling.

Info on raising pH in soil:
http://www.savvygardener.com/Features/soil_ph.html

pH in water info:

Lowering the pH of my water

Is it true that white vinegar added to water lowers the water’s pH? I know the water I will be using will have a pH of 9.2 after filtering. I know I want to lower that to 6.0-6.5 in the safest way possible for my plant. How do I do that, without spending a lot of money? If white vinegar works and is the best/cheapest way, then how many ml’s of white vinegar per Liter of water would lower my water pH to an ideal range? Thank you. Good luck growers. If it’s of any difference plant to plant, I’…

the plants can live with less humidity, now. mist them daily, not all day, once will work.
40%-50% humidity is great. The breeze from the fan should barely move the leaves, very light, most times an oscillating fan is best if possible.
take off the domes, no direct, strong breeze, tho.

How can I raise my ph in soil?

My soil’s ph,Black Gold all purpose, had a 6.5 when I planted but it’s reading 5.0. All of my 3 and 5 gallon containers after 4 weeks now read 5.0.I’m using Miracle Gro fert at 25% strength. Can I dissolve lime in water until it ph’s at 7-7.5 and use it every 2-3 waterings until ph comes back up to 6.5? Would vineagear or baking soda work?

[Marcos666]

Mucho mucho appreciated! Am gonna wait till tonight to take off the domes just before the 4 hours dark break am giving them from 8pm till 12 midnight.
Well noted about the fan.
I guess there will be having their 5th set of leaves when next watering will be due. Should i buff them then?

[kabongster]

What do you mean…buff them? What are you using to fertilize? Keep it mild to start. All nutes should be applied quarter strength the first time…not all plants react the same…see how your girls like their feeding AND next feeding, make it stronger, half strength…increase to full strength…then try a little extra. You have months, don’t rush the feeding.

Whatever, give them a few days, at least, of healthy growth before you stress them again. Every stress slows development, pushes harvest back weeks.

[Marcos666]

Am back! hektic last 2 days at work
These are the fertz am intending to use:

What do you think ??
I tested my ph meter and seems he is indicating 1 value lower, so my actual soil ph is 7, from here a question: does the fertz help it go acidic or alkaline?
Am gonna attach some pics of the girls, i think they are looking amazing! : D but please do tell if you notice anything or what i can do to improve))

The temperature at the top of the plants is about 28 degrees celsius, humidity 40-45%, 20/4 hours light cycle, 5th set of leaves coming up, and btw these are auto so am expecting onky 2 more months 2 go or…not?

[Marcos666]

Guys what i have noticed that the outer part of the leaves of some of the girls is lighter green then the inener part,
What is that from? pH is at 7, no excess feeding.
And also i feel that the new set of leaves are curling up a bit and show yellowing tips
I think it might be from the lights, they were 33cm away and temp at the top of the plants was abt 32 degrees Celsius
I put the lights 50cm away, the current temp is 29 degrees Celsius and 49% humidity

[kabongster]

They like 25C during the day, 19C at night…do what you can. Watch those 29C and 30C, no good, slow to no growth or death
No direct, strong breezes from the fan, they dry the plant=dead

You were using an organic garden soil? It might have spots of nutes, hot spots, or pH, and high heat causing leaf burn. Aim for 6.5 pH in soil.

Are you adding all those dry fertilizers to you organic mix? Do you have a formula? Get one.

You’d need to mix your soil, test it’s pH, the fertilizers have their own pH’es, and adjust with pH’ed water or with additives to the soil mix.

My feelings…you want to kill your girls with kindness…too much light (high temps), rich fertilizers, you’ll be overwatering again, too.
Excuse me while I yell…

KEEP IT SIMPLE!!!

[Marcos666]

Your absolutly right about the high temps and slow growth rate, they are looking much better since this morning since i put ghe lights farther
About the fertz i didnt use except that one time, in very small quantity and very diluted in water not added directly to the soil
Now that the 6th pair of real leafs is pointing am gonna feed them this upcoming watering
Am being attentive at not overwatering, since i learned that lesson the hard way the first time, but nthg beats the look of your girls when you check on them after a fueled watering
Ill manage the formula myself, following the ratios for veg and flowering cycles for the NPK and the % indicated on each bag, and dilute in water according to 1/4th of the proportions indicated by the manufacturer and escalate from there.
Now the humidity is at 50% and the temp 28 degrees during light and 20 during dark
Am thinking to add a fan blowing directly on the hps lamp, would it help geting the temp dow 2-3 degrees Celsius more?

[kabongster]

yes on the fan, and all else sounds real good…keeping my fingers crossed that you harvest and share the photos!!
watch your temps and start slow, see how they respond…they have months to go.

[Marcos666]

Same here!! and surely counting on it will happen!! If all goes according to plan should be smoking in May if you’dbe passing by Beirut drop by broda

Ill be updating all along, cheers

[Marcos666]

As am intending to install a Scrog later, overnight I topped 3 out of the 5 plants at the 4th internode, 5 hours after i fed them, they are looking fine

[garrigan62]

Marcos666, your plant looks like it one that I / just posted. I cant remember if posted on this or not so here it is

Picture shows a mid grade magnesium deficiency.
Does this pic look like your plaint ?

W i ll

[Marcos666]

Yes exactly Friend, i dunno why only this one out of the 5, cz it was the same soil, but maybe what was grown in that pot absorbed all the nutrients
Also i shouldve turned yhe soil in it cz there were lot of roots from the previous plants in it… 101 mistake
Here is a pic of the girls now
They are all doing great except abt that s one plant that showed, as per you, magnesium deficiency
I think she was getting the most of the fan breeze and wilted over night
I didnt expect that as i was checking regurlarly and till yest night evthg was fine
I misted it with water and put a humidity dome back on hoping she will recover fast
Am not that sad cz she was already struggling and not catching up with the rest but indont like to leave any girl behind
The white widows are looking much more agressive then the Sskunks
Temps are around 20 celsius in the 4 dark hours and around 25-28 in the light period
Humidity between 40 and 50%
They are 20 days old since germination
Have 4 new borns between them that germinated and in humidity domes
I will transfer these outdoors mid April or as soon as i run out of space

[garrigan62]

Ya, that was your mistake from the beginning. Hey dont even feel bad about it. I did the same dam thing until I figured it outafter every grow place your used soil in black plastic bags. Clean out your pots real good and start over with new soil.
Now the soil in the bags tie them up and place in the hot sun for two weeks to ma more nth. The heat in the bag cooks your soil killing and impurities thus you have clean soil to use once again. You can freashen it up to.
But hey give her a few more days… she was pretty sick after all you know.
And the rest are looking pretty dam good there my friend.

Will

[Marcos666]

We lost her :…(
I put outside on the balcony to recover cz the fan was drying her up, and Sushi (my cat) ate it
She used to eat the trims when i was cleaning my buds earlier last year i didnt see that coming
But am still very happy with the 4 girls remaining
4 more coming as i said earlier, all 4 already germinated and 2 are ahead, but i guess the temp got too high when it hit the 31 Celsius ( misplaced the fan) and was expecting them to be all much more grown now… Relocated them and corrected the fan, lets hope they will recover quickly
Thanks for the tips bro
I cant wait till their next watering, it will be 5 days today since their last, i will see if they can make the 1 week looking not too dry
I am feeding them at every watering now, starting very light and escalating each time, is that fine?