Too far gone? Autoflower deficiency

[space.jam]

So I figured I had a calcium def and started feeding calmag at full strength rather than 1/4 to 1/2 strength. but the progression has not seemed to have stopped. are these too far gone?

sweet mango auto GHS day 50
RO water. ph'd 6.2-6.5. calmag added during just waterings when no feed. 900 ppms feedings.
FF OF soil
FF dirty dozen nutrients fed at 1/4 strength
1000w led light set to 70% 34 inches or so from canopy

 

[RGWD0202]

Looks like either a calcium deficiency or pest issue. Look under the leaves for pests if nothing there what all have you been using during feedings? Something could be locking out your calcium so adding more may not help.

 

[ArtfulCodger]

To me, the leaf thickness, texture, and leaf miniaturization suggest too frequent watering. The dark color and tip burn suggest over-feeding. The edge curl suggests more light than the plant can handle. The brown spots are consistent with a calcium issue, but that might be a function of the over-feeding and over-watering, as opposed to not enough Ca in the pot. You're far enough along that I'd let it finish, but I'd back off all the inputs. If you have a TDS meter, you could check your runoff to get an idea about how much salt is in the pots.

 

[space.jam]

I will check the runoff on the next water. I water 3/4 gallon per 5 gallon pot every 2 days. I have been letting them dry out thouroughly. I was concerned about salt build up so I did 2 waterings with sledgehammer about 2 weeks ago. Thats when the problem started.

I am using the fox farms dirty dozen. grow big, big bloom, tiger bloom, microbe stuff, kangaroots, and 3 dry salts. Beastie blooms, cha ching and one more I cant remember off the top. I use the fox farms feeding schedule and do 1/4 doses.

I do not think I overwater. The issue really started during a dry back that went too far and after I used sledgehammer. I let them dry to the point of nearly wilting. I have been feeding 900ppm feedings. The fox farms chart suggest something crazy stupid like 2500 or something.

They are receiving 550 par at the canopy. I have a meter. They are on a 24/7 light schedule.

I have not seen any indication of pest. Anywhere on the leaves. Is it possible to have a infestation under the soil? Would I be able to see this with the naked eye? If not a I have a handheld digital microscope. I just need to know what to look for.

The small leaves I believe are from me doing too much defoliation and at the incorrect time. Many leaves grew back that I did not expect. I also fear that I have stunted them at the start with too much light. So I do think they are stunted for sure. Once I lowered the PAR they started growing and no tacoing. I thought it was praying. But it was light stress. I bought a meter and have that part figured out now I believe.

 

[ArtfulCodger]

I'm just guessing, based on your pics. One thing I'll add is that over-watering is watering too frequently, NOT giving too much water at a time. I've done many runs in Ocean Forest, and I've never watered every two days, except at the very end of flower with plants that are huge relative to the pot size. I water slowly to runoff, and water again only when the pots get very light. There are lots of ways to grow...that's just what's worked for me.

 

[space.jam]

When I started the plants I was only watering about every 5-6 days. I haven't watered on a schedule I go by when the pot is bone dry light. I have wilted the plants twice going too long between watering. I am only watering 3/4 of a gallon so that I dont get runoff and to keep my humidity down. I also run a spider farmer dehumidifier to help keep the humidity low now that I am in flower. I water tomorrow likely and will increase the volume so I can check the run off. what should i be looking for in the runoff? ppm and ec

 

[space.jam]

It is beginning on other plants now. Do you add calmag to every watering with RO? I don’t see how I am having this issue. I have one plant in a large pot, 15 gallons. It gets water like once a week. I run a high (But normal range) vpd. It may contribute to the need to water every 2 days. I’m just not sure what’s happening. I checked for bugs. None.

 

[ArtfulCodger]

I water tomorrow likely and will increase the volume so I can check the run off. what should i be looking for in the runoff? ppm and ec

Comparing your input ppms/EC and your runoff ppms/EC is a start. If you had those measurements over time, you could see if the TDS was trending up or down.

 

[Grownsince95]

With RO yes cal/mag every watering

 

[space.jam]

With RO yes cal/mag every watering

I will do that. My RO filter has a remineralization process. But it mustn't do much as the ro water ppm is still under 10. I will add cal mag at every watering. Full strength I assume. I have been doing some reading on it. 5ml per gallon should do it.

 

[Grownsince95]

I will do that. My RO filter has a remineralization process. But it mustn't do much as the ro water ppm is still under 10. I will add cal mag at every watering. Full strength I assume. I have been doing some reading on it. 5ml per gallon should do it.

You want to add it first and have a ppm of 100-150. Then build the rest of your feeding on that.

 

[space.jam]

No watering today. Not ready.

 

[space.jam]

Water in 150ppm. 330uscm. 6.3ph.

Water out 1,110ppm. 2700uscm. 6.1ph

 

[space.jam]

Comparing your input ppms/EC and your runoff ppms/EC is a start. If you had those measurements over time, you could see if the TDS was trending up or down.

Is there an issue with these numbers?

 

[ArtfulCodger]

No. Comparing that to a reading from the next watering will give you an idea if you're feeding more than it's eating.

 

[space.jam]

No. Comparing that to a reading from the next watering will give you an idea if you're feeding more than it's eating.

I got to thinking it was a problem before I read your response and flushed the plants with 20 gallons of tap each. So here is to hoping I did not fuck it up. I ran water through the pots until runoff was under 500ppm.

 

[RGWD0202]

I got to thinking it was a problem before I read your response and flushed the plants with 20 gallons of tap each. So here is to hoping I did not fuck it up. I ran water through the pots until runoff was under 500ppm.

Best advice I can give is to not panic. It’s recoverable and the flush will not harm your plant. It might set your plant back a week or so but not a terrible idea to try it.

After flushing with tap, good news is there might be enough calcium in there to correct your issue… but let it dry back like you have been and ease in to your nutrients. Not gonna lie, and full disclosure I’m in living soil, that seems like a lot of bottles. But start with a half dose of calmag. Add the calmag before adding any other nutrients unless you are using silica then add the silica first, followed by calmag then your base and then the rest. If not everything will fall out of solution and then you’ll have a real problem.

 

[space.jam]

The progression has seemed to have stopped. The plants don’t look the greatest. They are leafy. But it’s my first grow so hopefully they finish out strong.

 

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9.1 ounces dry off of 3 plants. Got one more ready for the chop. 2 of them got a few weeks yet.

 

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First grow. 3 out of 6 plants harvested. 9.1 ounces dry. 1 plant in the dry tent. Those 4 are sweet mango from ghs. The 2 I’m still waiting on are gorilla candy from Seedsman.

Hoping to break a pound for my first harvest. And the smoke ain’t too bad either.