Mid Flower: Leaves are continuing to yellow and die. HELP Please

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HFJud

HFJud

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Hello all,

This is my second grow and I've been experiencing some deficiencies and it doesn't seem to be getting any better.

1.) 3 strains: Sunset Sherbet, Granddaddy Purple and Black Widow
2.) Medium: Roots 707
- - Amended with Dolomite Lime in Veg
3.) Nutrients: Mills Nutrients Full Line
4.) Water pH: 6.5-7.0
5.) Water is RO filtered (every watering and feeding is Cal-Mag 5mL/Gal
6.) Soil pH: 6.5
7.) Feeding Schedule was: (Light Feeding)//(Water)//(Light Feeding)
--- and then I switched this cycle to a (Heavy Feed)//(Water+ Molasses)//(Water+ .25 Nitrogen feed)//(Heavy Feed)
8.) Ive also been adding Orca Mycorrhizae to every watering.


This issue persisted last grow in flower and noticed my soil pH was 5.5 and thought it might have been a pH issue - but now I'm just thinking the plants are actually hungry as pH has been maintained at 6.5. Please help if you can. Its also worth noting that there were ZERO issues in Veg.. no deficiencies.

Thank you
 
Black widowjpg
Mid flower leaves are continuing to yellow and die help please 2
Mid flower leaves are continuing to yellow and die help please 3
Sunset sherbet 1st rowjpg
Sunset sherbet 3rd rowjpg
Sunset sherbetjpg
visajoe1

visajoe1

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are they all fed the same solution? running different strains at once can be a challenge, sometimes they want to be fed differently. try backing off on the molasses for now and tone down the feed a bit. double check you ph after you prep your solution, and ensure you get plenty of runoff on water days. you may have a bit of lockout going on, everything the plant needs is in the medium. you're almost there, bring her home
 
az2000

az2000

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I don't know anything about Mills nutrients. But, they look like N is too low. Maybe feeding too strong. (You mentioned heavy feed.).
 
HFJud

HFJud

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are they all fed the same solution? running different strains at once can be a challenge, sometimes they want to be fed differently. try backing off on the molasses for now and tone down the feed a bit. double check you ph after you prep your solution, and ensure you get plenty of runoff on water days. you may have a bit of lockout going on, everything the plant needs is in the medium. you're almost there, bring her home

Yes, all are fed out of my 55 gal drum. one thing I noticed is that while my partner was mixing nutrients, they didn't tell me that when they added pH up (weren't diluting) a precipitate would form causing cloudy/milky solution that you could see the precipitates in solution. They were pH'ing at 7.5. So, I took over and diluted the pH solution in 5 gal of water and then only raised the pH to 6.5 as anything over 6.8 at this point causes the precipitation to form. I haven't had any precipitate the last few waterings now.

The plants were initially 5.5 ft tall before I stuck them under the trellis netting and they were getting Light feed/water/light feed for the last 4 weeks. So, I naturally assumed I might be underfeeding. So, they have been vegging in 5 gal fabric pots for quite a while.

I don't know anything about Mills nutrients. But, they look like N is too low. Maybe feeding too strong. (You mentioned heavy feed.).

Yes, this last feeding was a heavy feed followed by a watering with molasses then a watering with a light nitrogen spike. Im positive its a N deficiency but I cant tell if its from when pH'ing the solution causing lockout there or it was just because we were feeding them so light. I have a ppm/EC meter now - hows the best way to measure EC after watering/feeding?
 
az2000

az2000

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I have a ppm/EC meter now - hows the best way to measure EC after watering/feeding?

I just test the runoff. But, I suppose the volume of runoff can dilute those numbers (or, how long it sits in the soil before running out). There is a credible method for measuring runoff ph & ppm. I've never done it. I don't know if it makes a difference. Google for "NCSU runoff extraction method." (It used to be called "the pour-through method.").
 
OldManRiver

OldManRiver

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@az2000 Realize that, at this stage in your plant's life, it doesn't make evolutionary sense for the plant to invest in rebuilding the leaves. They aren't going to green up, no matter what you do. This is normal for many plants, and OK. The plant is trying to make seeds (as you sexually frustrate it), and stealing from the leaves to build flower. It's not evolved to try to build more leaf; it's trying to get laid before it dies. My strong recommendation is to not add more nitrogen, in the futile hope that they will green up again. You plants are just telling you that they are close to being done being able to build more bud, which is the right time to harvest, more or less, depending on your trichome prefeences.
 
HFJud

HFJud

51
18
I just test the runoff. But, I suppose the volume of runoff can dilute those numbers (or, how long it sits in the soil before running out). There is a credible method for measuring runoff ph & ppm. I've never done it. I don't know if it makes a difference. Google for "NCSU runoff extraction method." (It used to be called "the pour-through method.").

Thank you - I'll look that up.

I think its just normal leaf senesence for your strain. The plant is stealing from the leaves to build the buds. The buds look good, I wouldn't try to feed you way out of it. Just keep on.

@az2000 Realize that, at this stage in your plant's life, it doesn't make evolutionary sense for the plant to invest in rebuilding the leaves. They aren't going to green up, no matter what you do. This is normal for many plants, and OK. The plant is trying to make seeds (as you sexually frustrate it), and stealing from the leaves to build flower. It's not evolved to try to build more leaf; it's trying to get laid before it dies. My strong recommendation is to not add more nitrogen, in the futile hope that they will green up again. You plants are just telling you that they are close to being done being able to build more bud, which is the right time to harvest, more or less, depending on your trichome prefeences.

I thought that may be the issue but I've not had them change like this before this early (5 weeks of 12/12 flower). I guess I'm used to seeing pictures where the fan leaves may not be present or they're green with bigger buds (sunset sherbet seems behind in size). Do you think that I should keep a heavy feeding followed by two waterings (molasses or no)? I also forgot to mention that my temperature stays between 74-76 F and humidity bounces between 40-55% RH. This seems more normal to you though?


Thank you for the help guys.
 
Kingjoshh

Kingjoshh

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I had the same problem, if your using full strength try using 1/4 and go up as needed and that’s what fixed my problem
 
OldManRiver

OldManRiver

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Thank you - I'll look that up.





I thought that may be the issue but I've not had them change like this before this early (5 weeks of 12/12 flower). I guess I'm used to seeing pictures where the fan leaves may not be present or they're green with bigger buds (sunset sherbet seems behind in size). Do you think that I should keep a heavy feeding followed by two waterings (molasses or no)? I also forgot to mention that my temperature stays between 74-76 F and humidity bounces between 40-55% RH. This seems more normal to you though?


Thank you for the help guys.
Sorry, my post at @az2000 was meant for you. No, absolutely don't feed heavily. In fact. lighten up. NUTES ARE NOT FOOD. Light is. Look at the overall plant. Your buds look good. Overall, the plant is doing what it's supposed to do, make baby plants. You will not be able to feed the green back into those leaves. Don't worry about that. You don't smoke shade leaves. Keep a medium level of bloom nute on your plants, stay the course, and learn. Putting heavy nutes on her to get the green back will worsen your grow. Plants need -available- nutrients. More nutrients to them than other conditions will allow them to use will just poison them. You are feeding heavily, and its not working. Just feed at a moderate, and declining level for the rest of your grow, and enjoy your harvest.
 
Jimster

Jimster

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I think that what you are seeing is normal leaf yellowing and die off, often seen with Sativa and Sativa dominant plants during flowering. Nitrogen is usually reduced during flowering and plants will start to draw their nutrients from the stored stuff in the leavees. When it is used up, the leaf yellows and dies. You can sometimes use a heavy nitrogen fertilizer, but this can possibly cause heavy chlorophyll production (and the taste issues that go with it), as well as change the flowering process a little. I let my plants draw this off but if it happens too early, it can affect the size and ripeness of buds. It is sort of a balance between too little and too much nitrogen.
My plants often do this after week 7 or 8, although it varies by strain. The taller Sativas really seem to be affected more.
 
HFJud

HFJud

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Thanks guys.

Something I noticed today was after pH’ing my nutrient solution to 6.5 and then waiting a few hours to check soil pH - I’ve noticed that the soil pH has climbed to 7.1-7.3. Looks like I’ll be doing a good cal-mag flush this next watering.

Any suggestions for flush pH? I was thinking 6.0-6.2 until the soil came down below 6.7.
 
cemchris

cemchris

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looks like a watering issue like they dried out at some point
 
cemchris

cemchris

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They were watered last on 7/31 and yes the soil was dry. Looks like I need to water every other day.

If that is the case back off the nutes till the bounce back. You are going to lose some leaves but looks like you caught it early enough that you arent going to lose plants. Just be for warned that is going to fuck with weight and qual some that far into flower.
 
HFJud

HFJud

51
18
If that is the case back off the nutes till the bounce back. You are going to lose some leaves but looks like you caught it early enough that you arent going to lose plants. Just be for warned that is going to fuck with weight and qual some that far into flower.

Yeah, I could just go back and water late tonight with nutes until the pH comes down properly. Thoughts? Or just wait till next watering.

It’s just strange since last watering was 6.5 and the soil was 6.5-6.6
 
az2000

az2000

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Not going to lie, this soil pH has me worried 😬

Maybe that's because it was too dry? Usually people keep the soil too wet, and it can turn acidic from that. I have a relatively expensive soil ph probe (Control Wizard Accurate 8, $70 USD). I used to watch the soil ph a lot. And it would rise as the soil dries. A full point or more swing from wet to dry. I don't know that might correlate to ph'ing the runoff. But, maybe it does. Since you went to dry. Did the leaves wilt?).
 
HFJud

HFJud

51
18
Maybe that's because it was too dry? Usually people keep the soil too wet, and it can turn acidic from that. I have a relatively expensive soil ph probe (Control Wizard Accurate 8, $70 USD). I used to watch the soil ph a lot. And it would rise as the soil dries. A full point or more swing from wet to dry. I don't know that might correlate to ph'ing the runoff. But, maybe it does. Since you went to dry. Did the leaves wilt?).

I have been on the same watering schedule since flowering. Usually 2 days pass between waterings. Leaves weren’t too droopy, just a mild turn down. I’ve noticed the Dolomite Lime has started to degrade and clouds the water with a light gray tint.

Usually directly after watering my soil pH is immediately 6.5. However, I had family to tend to and maybe 2 hours passed and the reading was 7.1-7.3

I’ve been allowing the soil to probably dry a bit too much between watering like I do in Veg. Is it correct to change that in flowering? When I water I always get about a gallon of run off from each 5 gal air pot.

Photos from today during watering

Edit: soil pen is from Blue Lab
 
D2CB38E9 FCD3 4D83 8DBA 38480A5B6583
84DE25CE 563B 46AF AE39 05805D5F6762
CD76CEE4 94D9 4374 BF5D E565D4E00454
az2000

az2000

965
143
I’ve been allowing the soil to probably dry a bit too much between watering like I do in Veg. Is it correct to change that in flowering?

I try to never do "too much" even in veg. That's a stress. Occasionally I'll do it (let them wilt a little) in veg to re-familiarize myself to what "too much" feels like lifting the container. My soil dries in 2-3 days. I try to water 4-8 hours before "too much."

When I water I always get about a gallon of run off from each 5 gal air pot.

I've only grown in 3-gal containers. I get about 1qt runoff. 1 gal sounds like a lot. In soil, I think you can wash away the beneficial microbes in the soil. (I think people who grow in true soil do minimal runoff in order to keep everything in the soil.). I do 10-20% runoff (but, that's counting what I pour in, not the container size) to have a reasonable "flush" each feeding, to minimize salt buildup. I could have minimal runoff and reduce my nute strength. But, I think my plants like having the plate wiped clean, and more fresh/balanced nutes. So, it's a tradeoff that way for me.

But, 1 gallon. You probably our 2 gallons into a 5 gallon container. That would be 50% runoff, if that's how runoff percent is reckoned. (I could be wrong. Maybe everyone reckons it by container size. I always base it on the amount I pour in, which is much less than the container size). If you're soilless, then maybe 50% each time would be a good.
 
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