Soil Grow - Deficiency or Excess ?

[KapScot]

Advice Appreciated

I’m no noob to growing but this has got me stumped – I cant work out if it’s a deficiency or an overload (lockout) situation, I’m tending to think she got too much potassium rather than it being Cal-Mag deficiency but that’s just based on I know she’s being getting extra CaMg throughout and it wouldn’t explain the thin leaf structure, clawing and chlorosis.



Mephisto : Toof Decay

Day : 44

Lighting : 2x Mars Hydro 300 96/5W Epi – Cycle
(was 20/4, been 24/0 for last week << breaking in a new grow space).

Airpots (customised size 24x24cm – 11L aprox).

Medium : Soil - Top 10cm = Plagron Light Mix, Bottom 14cm = Plagrom Bat Mix Pro

Added : Volcanic Rock Dust (don’t think this does anything short term in terms of micro-nutrients but I have a huge bucket of the stuff at the allotment – hey ho – it’s never done any harm )

I must admit I’ve been neglecting this girl a bit. Been too busy building the new stealth cabinet in the last couple of weeks that I wasn’t paying attention to what was happening in the old one. So she’s had a couple of dry-outs (heavy wilting) – largely cause it was grower No.2 in the family that was looking after her (that’s the daughter – the wife just frowns). Also I suspect she has had a heavy feed dose(s) as we failed to communicate what feed had been given.

Never had any problems with the Bat Mix before, just had to keep on top of Cal-Mag and added a weak 4-4-4 during veg (I take a weekly feed and just dilute it throughout the week) and a PK booster in flower which would take it to 4-4-10. This will have been the last feed type she will have been getting and the one that may have been overdosed.

The only other factors are environmental – the new cabinet grow space runs a couple of deg C cooler (24-26C) and has a lower humidity (35% - was 45%). So cooler and drier contrary to the norm. I don't normally have to faff with pH (water is a pretty stable 6.8).

I’m going to try and flush thru the soil mix just to make sure there aren’t any salt build ups – and then reintroduce normal feed and a full Cal-Mag dose after about 3-4 days (once the pot has more or less dried out after its flush soakings).



Unless anyone has thoughts to the contrary…

(I’m all up for suggestions as I don’t normally encounter problems in soil).

 

[Gatorbackbob]

I would say the inconsistent watering periods and dry spells fluctuated your ph levels at the root zone and created an iron deficiency. If you can't read the ph at the root zone to see if it's too alkaline (high) then you'll have to do the less actual runoff method to check soil ph, if it is high, really all you can do is feed in more acidity, depending on how high the ph went, iron is immobile, and will start at the top of the plant.

 

[Gatorbackbob]

@Waira

 

[namvet25]

How close are your lights?Usually when plants wilt like that they are either to wet or to dry.You should be feeding higher phosphorous numbers rather than high potassium like your using.

 

[Waira]

Spliff- it looks like it's hitting up high only, a clue that it's likely an immobile micronute defc.,... looks like maybe S or Zn,... your in-pot pH needs to be checked to rule out pH lockout,... S will when too acidic, Zn when too alkaline,.... The abuse can certainly kick-off this, or make it worse,... And like Nammy asked, distance to lights, ... too close can also be an exacerbating factor,...

 

[KapScot]

Many thanks for the replies.

I fell out off my apple tree pruning - damn branch caught me (broke 2 ribs) and flipped me onto my coccyx when I landed (ouch) << so I've not been sitting down at the PC or anywhere recently. [Note to self : next time aim for the nice soft lawn bit].

I did type this out before but lost it... there will be a txt file somewhere on this PC. Having seen the initial responses - I agreed lockout immobile looks likely - alas no cash left this month, and believe it or not since I got good water generally and a huge holding tank I've never bothered with a pH for run-off. I would grab one if I wasn't in soil tho.

So I flushed her out. Let her go to mildly most (light but not dry)

Then gave her good feed of er... (cough Tomorite - an organic based Tomato fert with seaweed extracts + Added CaMg (more advanced ferts were available to me but for the ratios the tomato feed had the highest iron.

Then put her back on her diluted feed (normal for me).

Seems to have picked up a bit (certainly not deteriorating) - clawing seems reduced and no further discolouration. I'd imagine within the lifespan of the auto this one will have suffered a bit and really when it comes to immobile nutes unless caught early the damage will have been done.

Will post a comparison pic tomorrow, but thanks again.

 

[Waira]

Fock me, a bruised tailbone is the shits mate! You don't even dare sneeze for the barking pain it brings ... busted ribs to boot!- ...hope you feel better soon
...well, it's wait and see now,... when you can, analyze your water for hardness and pH,...

 

[KapScot]

Thx for the sympathy. I commandeered the kids cushion that looks like a donut (sortof helped the sitting bit) - but sneezing (or coughing) wasn't fun the first few days.

Had a good look at the Toof Decay today and she's obviously had some serious problems (I'm bad). But she's still bulking the buds and as she's approaching day 60 I think it's a case of suck it and see. I will get the camera out l8r - as it's always good to know where you went wrong.