Overwatering issues, one plant only, would love to save her...

[Nectarivorous]

Day 29 from seed in coco, 3 girls are absolutely praying, one has taken the hit from my poor effort at watering for a few days there. I tried to go to more smaller waterings, not considering that the roots need time between to actually breathe, and also underestimating just how much of the pot the roots have access to. Wasn't until I moved my sick one that I saw the roots coming out the bottom and realised they had already started to fill out the pots. Guess I underestimated them somewhat. So I totally underestimated how much water they have access to to cut a long story short.

Not overly surprised this one struggled, she's a genetic weirdo, but I'd still like her to live and see what she's about. This commenced 2 nights ago, so yesterday and today she's had no water. She is definitely better, but at the bottom of her leaf rise/fall cycle she sitting in dirt. A little shorter in the trunk than the others, partly I think genetic and partly stunting from overwater.

Her roots do show a little bit of brown on the end, so I've made my peace there's some root damage. Would love some advice on how to fix this, though I will say as soon as flower starts I will use Cannazym on all of them to keep roots white and pristine and break down the junk to make room. Priority now is to get her praying like her sisters, especially as she is ripe and ready for topping but can't do it while she's stressed. She's still making beautiful new veg which makes me think the damage has been caught early, but don't want to get hopes up just to watch her die.

I've drained the runoff that was in the bottom pot below, and stuffed the space with paper towel, which is drawing water out the bottom at a pretty good rate. As it soaks up I'll change it until it stops coming out soaked. If I understand coco (first grow), gravity will pull water from the top as the bottom empties which will leave loads of air around the top roots and start to restore the balance. I've poked some air holes around the outside with a chopstick to let some air in, I know it opens up for gnats but that room is basically hermetically sealed and right now priority is to dry her out. Increased the fan on her and brought temp up in the room a couple degrees too.

Anything else obvious I should be doing? Anything that helps me save her is much appreciated. I'm so close to having a beautiful room of praying plants on my first grow and would love to bring this lovely girl to her peak. She has a lovely low flat profile that should work beautifully, and that's before she's been topped. Cheers all.

 

[Tracyfri]

The pots are sitting well above the runoff Collection? If not I'd remedy that first and foremost
Def still looking good though. Sounds like you know when to pay attention

 

[Nectarivorous]

The pots are sitting well above the runoff Collection? If not I'd remedy that first and foremost
Def still looking good though. Sounds like you know when to pay attention

Thanks mate, yep there's a good couple of inches clearance. Although the roots have already bottomed out so have to keep an eye on it. Would it make sense if I said it was actually a bit thirsty? I think I spotted the overwatering, pulled back, and the coco quickly corrected and was ready for water and I gave it none for two days. When I felt what I thought were overwatered leaves they were thin and dry and papery. Gave it a full litre and all the knew growth rose two inches in about three minutes. Just think it's a weird plant that gets big old leaves and flops a bit. Imagine it will just be its own beast. :)

 

[Tracyfri]

Thanks mate, yep there's a good couple of inches clearance. Although the roots have already bottomed out so have to keep an eye on it. Would it make sense if I said it was actually a bit thirsty? I think I spotted the overwatering, pulled back, and the coco quickly corrected and was ready for water and I gave it none for two days. When I felt what I thought were overwatered leaves they were thin and dry and papery. Gave it a full litre and all the knew growth rose two inches in about three minutes. Just think it's a weird plant that gets big old leaves and flops a bit. Imagine it will just be its own beast. :)

Yeah coco does recover quickly from a dry back. Good save. My leaves are papery as well with the small inside sucker growth and petioles that snap all juicy. I can clip small shoots w my fingers w no stringy mess. Gotta be a very turgid plant!
I'm going to lower my shot amount a tiny bit. Baby steps.

 

[quirk]

You can't overwater coco or any well draining medium for that matter. The problem is watering too often, keeping roots saturated instead of giving them access to air pockets critical to healthy growth and nutrient movement. Water well, then hurry up and wait for it to dry out before repeating.

 

[Nectarivorous]

You can't overwater coco or any well draining medium for that matter. The problem is watering too often, keeping roots saturated instead of giving them access to air pockets critical to healthy growth and nutrient movement. Water well, then hurry up and wait for it to dry out before repeating.

Exactly what I've learned, and the mistake I made. Watering 'too much' in Coco is simply watering too often. They gotta breathe. Cheers mate

 

[Ponky]

Looks like everything is going to be fine.

 

[Aqua Man]

What size pots? You can't really over water coco... it has a very high air holding capacity. You should feed with nutrients everytime to run off.

Check the EC of that runoff and post if you can.

I'm kinda leaning to a transpiration thing. Make sure they get some air flow so you don't get humid microclimates around the leaves... especially the ones Cloe to the soil.

If you look it appears to be the leaves closest to the coco having issues and I believe this is why. Also the plants will drop a little overnight and those leaves are likely resting on the media and pot. I personally would just remove those.

 

[Nectarivorous]

Amazing thank you. So I think in this instance what you've said is correct but I've interpreted as overwatering and stopped watering. I was also doing lots of small waters in 8 gal pots which I don't think is ideal, getting better results with once at morning once at night and bigger waters with full soak and lots of run off.

So last couple of days run off has changed, I've moved EC in up to 2.1 from 1.7 because they could be a bit greener, but that's a big jump I'm realising. But I'm only getting 1.3 out. And I'm pH to 5.8, been getting 6.3 out, now getting 6.8. I'm told that is not high enough to cause a huge issue but outside ideal. I read that high pH can be due to rapid nitrogen absorption - there's certainly no lack of explosives growth. Note 3 of them have been topped in last two days. But just this morning after watering I noticed this appearing. Want to nip it in the bud immediately. Any of these numbers suggest anything to you based on these pics? Cheers mate. This is mostly on the new growth on the secondary shoots that are no doubt getting lots of everything as the plant responds to topping.

 

[Nectarivorous]

General plant response to topping and overall health otherwise seems great. This is from day 29.

 

[Nectarivorous]

What size pots? You can't really over water coco... it has a very high air holding capacity. You should feed with nutrients everytime to run off.

Check the EC of that runoff and post if you can.

I'm kinda leaning to a transpiration thing. Make sure they get some air flow so you don't get humid microclimates around the leaves... especially the ones Cloe to the soil.

If you look it appears to be the leaves closest to the coco having issues and I believe this is why. Also the plants will drop a little overnight and those leaves are likely resting on the media and pot. I personally would just remove those.

I actually asked that question on a different thread but you weren't around and I never really got a straight answer. I actually wanted to remove the first two sets of true leaves as these are the ones that are struggling but the solar panel folks would say the plants need those to grow. Are you saying even if that is true the net negative effect of having those in the dirt and getting manky outweighs any photosynthetic benefit they are getting?

 

[Aqua Man]

I actually asked that question on a different thread but you weren't around and I never really got a straight answer. I actually wanted to remove the first two sets of true leaves as these are the ones that are struggling but the solar panel folks would say the plants need those to grow. Are you saying even if that is true the net negative effect of having those in the dirt and getting manky outweighs any photosynthetic benefit they are getting?

Absolutely.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

Absolutely.

Leaves do not heal. When they are damaged, they cost more than they earn in sunlight. Get rid of them.

 

[Nectarivorous]

Absolutely.

Amazing thank you, exactly what I needed to hear. Should've trusted my gut but glad to get definitive answer.

 

[Nectarivorous]

Leaves do not heal. When they are damaged, they cost more than they earn in sunlight. Get rid of them.

Thanks so much mate. I was starting to suspect this when I saw those lower leaves were staying damaged while the new growth responded beautifully to the changes. The main damaged ones are the node two and three leaves, node two petioles are huuuuge. Take these off right at the base of the stem? Many thanks for your help.

 

[Nectarivorous]

Absolutely.

Just such a scary thing to do. I'll basically be taking off her first true leaves (node 1), first 3-leaf (node 2), and possibly even node 3, the first 5-leaf. This will of course open up all the new growth underneath from the topping, and nodes one and two would've been cut off before flower anyway. I imagine the loss of those leaves equals loss of photo power but if they're damaged they're not providing any anyway right? Node 2 leaves are on petioles 8 inches long, cut em right off at the base of the stem? Cheers as always for your help mate.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

Take these off right at the base of the stem? Many thanks for your help.

I like to leave a small nub just to make sure I don't whack'em too close.

 

[Nectarivorous]

I like to leave a small nub just to make sure I don't whack'em too close.

Just to prevent shaving a wound into the trunk that can infect? Makes sense. You guys are legends man, reckon this page has already saved me a full day worth of lost sleep . I look forward to the day when I actually know something and can help other peeps

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

Just to prevent shaving a wound into the trunk that can infect? Makes sense. You guys are legends man, reckon this page has already saved me a full day worth of lost sleep . I look forward to the day when I actually know something and can help other peeps

Yes, to protect the trunk.

I am glad we can help, but the only legend here is my wife (@BionicKroniK) for putting up with me for so many years! Of course, @Aqua Man is royalty, so... be sure and kiss the ring.

 

[Nectarivorous]

O

Yes, to protect the trunk.

I am glad we can help, but the only legend here is my wife (@BionicKroniK) for putting up with me for so many years! Of course, @Aqua Man is royalty, so... be sure and kiss the ring.

Oh I know, that man has basically held my hand through the whole thing, he's a legend. I want to buy him a bottle of scotch but I see the maple leaf so maybe Rye haha. I am lucky enough to also have a wife who let's me do what I want in the spare room. I never forget how rare that is haha