First Grow, Discoloring in Week 2 of Flower

[LetsBeBudz]

-Problem: Discolored leaves appearing after a healthy veg and early flower
-Medium/grow method: Coco Coir/ perlite 70/30%
-Feed and supplements used: GH Flora Trio. Currently 2.5ml calmag// 2.5ml micro// 0.75ml grow//2.5ml bloom per gallon
-Water source: Tap water ph to 5.5-6.5. Started off between 5.5-6 but have increased it to 6.3 the past couple feeds because I was worried about this deficiency and read that if the ph is too low, it could cause some calmag absorption
-Strain and age: Day 50 Hindu Kushx Bloody skunk (SoFem Seeds)
-Climate: Temps hovering at 75F and Humidity around 65
- Light used: 24/0 SF2000 at 20 inches
-Additional info: This just popped up over the past few days. I'm thinking its a calmag issue. My plan is to increasing the calmag but since this is my first grow, I'd like to hear some opinions. The leaves have started turning a brighter green and these brown spots have started appearing on quite a few leaves... probably around 20% of leaves.


Any help or advice would be great.
Thanks!

 

[karlkutta]

<-- im not an expert. looks to me like they could use a proper flushing, see what your ph is coming out. I had an issue once where the plants looked bright green and super droopy and the run off was toxic. just my thought, someone with more experience might disagree.

 

[BII]

Others more knowledgeable will hopefully comment: Feeding multiple times at pH you know is too high just because you're "worried about this deficiency," while you have no idea about its cause (such as, could be lock-out), and ignoring disrupting plant access to a load of other needed nutrients, does not seem prudent.

If it were me, I'd do several heavy drain-to-waste feedings (short of 'flushing') at the usual pH.

 

[DirtDiggler]

Just a shot in the dark but if you’re running your ph at 6.3, that’s on the high side for coco. It is my assumption based on the attached graphic that you are limiting calcium uptake and that may be your issue. I am not familiar with the light you are using, but if it is an led, it will require cal mag supplement especially during flower(or so I’ve read). Another thing, you mention tap water ph but is that before or after you add nutes? I too run coco and run my ph at 5.8- 5.9 the whole run. Hope this helps.

 

[LetsBeBudz]

Thanks for the suggestions! I’m PHing after nutes. I fed them at 6.3 for only two feeds. All before were 5.6-5.9
As for Bll, I’ve heard from multiple folks that 5.5-6.3 is the range they use so I didn’t know it was too high. I appreciate the information! Anyone use these nutes in coco? What would you typically be feeding week 2-3 or flower? I feel like I could be underfeeding after doing more research. Could be wrong though!

 

[Waira]

-- first thing i see that worries me, no run-off pH or ppm info... coco cannot be run like true soil, it's a soilless medium more designed to be used in hydro' type applications,.. Frequent lower ppm feedings, 20+% run-off each time, never water alone, Ca-Mg is nutes are not coco specific which has elevated Ca-Mg in it already to deal with coco's bitchy CEC/Ca/Mg binding (cation exchange capacity)...coco binds Ca and Mg to a lesser extent until sated, only then does it give/take normally like it should,...
But that's not the suspect here, if you have not done copious run-off the purge excess nute salts and maintain in-pot pH, then thats is likely the source of the problems. Too much ion load in there screws with the roots ability to take up certain nutes, even before they reach toxic levels....
Make sure you pH meter is in good working order, ditto for your TDS or EC meter. Notes that TDS runs on a non-standard equivalency scale, depending on which brand it is,... some scale are 1.0EC= 500ppm, others 1.0EC = 700,... Reference section has a chart on this, so have a look,... Good info in coco section as well,....
I'd say you need to flush, but don't use water alone, for various reasons... try using RO/Di water, with 150ppm Ca-Mg, plus another 150ppm nute solution, pH to 6.0; pour through until run-off is at or near input values,... let the coco drain and dry for a day, then resume normal feeding as per recommendations for use in coco,.. typically that lower EC/ppm because of the frequency of the feeding, daily at least... Coco done right is labor intensive if done in hand watered pots, no way around it!
I'd get off that 24/0 schedule too, there's a great thread on this in Mythbusters, but long story short, unless you are certain light is the limiting factor in your grow (and it isn;t) anything beyond 20/4 is wasted $ and wear and tear on the light,... more light does not equal more bud as some sort of axiom...

 

[LetsBeBudz]

-- first thing i see that worries me, no run-off pH or ppm info... coco cannot be run like true soil, it's a soilless medium more designed to be used in hydro' type applications,.. Frequent lower ppm feedings, 20+% run-off each time, never water alone, Ca-Mg is nutes are not coco specific which has elevated Ca-Mg in it already to deal with coco's bitchy CEC/Ca/Mg binding (cation exchange capacity)...coco binds Ca and Mg to a lesser extent until sated, only then does it give/take normally like it should,...
But that's not the suspect here, if you have not done copious run-off the purge excess nute salts and maintain in-pot pH, then thats is likely the source of the problems. Too much ion load in there screws with the roots ability to take up certain nutes, even before they reach toxic levels....
Make sure you pH meter is in good working order, ditto for your TDS or EC meter. Notes that TDS runs on a non-standard equivalency scale, depending on which brand it is,... some scale are 1.0EC= 500ppm, others 1.0EC = 700,... Reference section has a chart on this, so have a look,... Good info in coco section as well,....
I'd say you need to flush, but don't use water alone, for various reasons... try using RO/Di water, with 150ppm Ca-Mg, plus another 150ppm nute solution, pH to 6.0; pour through until run-off is at or near input values,... let the coco drain and dry for a day, then resume normal feeding as per recommendations for use in coco,.. typically that lower EC/ppm because of the frequency of the feeding, daily at least... Coco done right is labor intensive if done in hand watered pots, no way around it!
I'd get off that 24/0 schedule too, there's a great thread on this in Mythbusters, but long story short, unless you are certain light is the limiting factor in your grow (and it isn;t) anything beyond 20/4 is wasted $ and wear and tear on the light,... more light does not equal more bud as some sort of axiom...

Thanks a lot for all of the information! I'll switch my light schedule to 20/4. I'm still having the same issues this week (pics included). I've just been using filtered water. I don't know a ton about RO systems. Is there one that you would recommend for a new grower not wanting to dive into an expensive one? Again, thanks for taking the time to write out such an informative reply! I really appreciate that.

I'm sure that my ppm are too high and that I'm not allowing enough runoff.

 

[Waira]

...just using water isn't going to fix this, that flush method and solution is what needs to be done... that run-off is key to figuring out if you have a lockout situation from either a pH issue and/or a salt build-up in there.... The pH and ppm's of it need to be determined...
Looks worse for sure, leaning toward a micronute defc./lockout, if tops are most affected,....

 

[LetsBeBudz]

...just using water isn't going to fix this, that flush method and solution is what needs to be done... that run-off is key to figuring out if you have a lockout situation from either a pH issue and/or a salt build-up in there.... The pH and ppm's of it need to be determined...
Looks worse for sure, leaning toward a micronute defc./lockout, if tops are most affected,....

I should’ve been more direct with my reply. I really do appreciate your help. I’m doing what you said moving forward but my main question was if there was an RO system you’d recommend. If not no biggie, I’ll look for recommendations elsewhere.

 

[Bluugrss]

I should’ve been more direct with my reply. I really do appreciate your help. I’m doing what you said moving forward but my main question was if there was an RO system you’d recommend. If not no biggie, I’ll look for recommendations elsewhere.

An ro system is a ro system....they all do the same thing. Some are just more expensive than others because the are better quality filters and housings.
Any ro from the big box stores will work....
.