Hi All, this plant started out with some twisted leaves but has since straightened out. Now dealing with this extreme yellowing in the middle. I used some light nutrients in week 2 per the instructions, but only used about half the rec amount. Any ideas?
Temp: Around 78°F
Humidity: 60-65%
Light: VIVOSUN VS2000 LED @ 100% for 18 hrs
It looks like an iron deficiency. What soil are you using and has the soil been reused?
What nutrients?
Using the Fox Farm Ocean Forest soil, not reused. Nutrients are Humboldts Secret base A & B, plant enzymes, and golden tree. Haven’t used any of the CalMag & Iron. Maybe I try some of that next feeding?
It’s possible that you have a high pH preventing iron uptake if you have fed a couple of times. Do you know your soil pH? Your plant isn’t big enough to water to runoff. I would do a slurry test to find out what your pH is.
If your plant is >2 weeks old, then it has been stunted. I notice the tubes in your pot. Overwatering is the most common cause of stunting. I would get rid of the tubes so that you can meter watering quantities. A plant that size should only get around an ounce of water per day.
Notice where iron (chemical symbol FE) is on the pH chart:
Thanks for this. Super helpful. It is definitely stunted. I started in a cup and transplanted after a week or so, thinking maybe the pot size had to do with the twisted leaves.
Every time I test the soil PH in the pot it says 7.0, but will try the slurry test. I use PH down every time I feed, but doesn’t seem to have any long term effect. I use that soil because I thought it was supposed to be below 6.5 to start. I’ll admit I don’t quite understand the PH part of it all yet.
I’ll have to look into meter watering as well. I don’t know anything about it honestly.
Would you consider just starting over at this point? I think I would start in large pot, with no transplanting. I’m in no rush and honestly just trying to get this right for once. It always seems to be something. Appreciate all the help!
Soil pH should be between 6.3 and 6.8.
Whether or not you start over is up to you. I doubt the plant will produce much. Be cautious of your watering going forward. A seedling should only get a few ml of water per day. More than that will stunt them.
Thanks. I’m going to start over and follow a strict watering schedule this time. I suspect this has been my main problem all along.
I did a slurry test on some new soil (same bag) and it is reading 7.0 every time with an electronic meter. The soil says it is pre-adjusted to 6.3-6.8. Do you have any recommendations on that? Should I try different soil, or just keep using PH down when I water/feed?
Use pH Down to manage it. Nutrients are alkaline and will drive your pH up. Be sure to pH correct your feedings. The water used, if tap, should also be checked for pH. Don’t worry about it if you use distilled or RO, neither of which have a pH.
You are feeding too early. The plant is too small to have consumed a month’s worth of nutes from FF OF. Manage your PPM runoff to ~1,000 once you start feeding.
So you would recommend holding off on any nutrients for at least the first month?
Do you mean the drop level from watering to runoff? Apologies, still learning the lingo.
Capture runoff water and test it. A plant in Ocean Forest won’t need to be fed for the first 4 to 6 weeks. Monitor runoff PPM, begin feeding when PPM dips to ~1,000, and then maintain that level throughout the grow.
