- they do look pale overall, worse on tops? I need more pics in normal light please,...
--- run-off pH is not an accurate tell of what the true in-pot pH is, especially if you used a nute solution or even adjusted water to generate the run-off... these will skew the results. That it's coming out more alkaline than going in hints that the pH is borderline or off on the alkaline side; this cna cause a few defc.'s, micronutes mainly... I can't tell in the pic, but if tops/newest growth is showing worst, then that's what's wrong, in part at least... 50% perlite makes that soil very very thin, poorer nute holding ability, poorer pH buffering as well,... combined with 1/4 nutes, might be underfed too, but only a TDS/EC reading of the nute solution can call that for sure.. What are he NPK#'s on the nutes?
You'll need a good pH probe made for in-pot measuring to get a solid reading on that,... the Accurate 8 (CPW) is a good unit; those cheapo skinny metal probe units are crap, avoid those....
Make sure your pH meter is calibrated and accurate as well,.... oh, what soil is this?
