My girl may be in trouble. Help needed.

[Ohioguy85]

New guy on here from Ohio. First time dwc and I’m looking for some advise and better direction. My temps in my 2x4 grow tent regulate between 75-77 Fahrenheit. Relative Humidity at 58-61 percent at the plant. Ph is kept between 5.7 and 6.2 in my dwc buckets. I started this plant in soil for the first month and noticed it only had two first leaves and the coty’s. Since swapping to dwc with it this past month (wasn’t able to sooner due to my motorcycle accident june 7) this is where she’s at. Can you guys point me in the direction as to what’s going on and what should be done to get where she needs to be? I’ve been babying her and checking in every couple hours this past week and even keeping check on my camera in tent. Anyone have any experience with this ? At this point what stage is she at? She just started growing top section 3-4 days ago after transferring to dwc. All help appreciated in advance.

 

[JIMKSI64]

How strong is the light setting?
Your humidity needs to be much higher. Imo you are in extended seedling stage due to some growing issues.
Lay out the plan you have and let's see how we can help. Understand DWC and you have listed pH. What is the nutrient EC/ppm and what nute selection. Be specific please.
What light/distance/ lux or ppfd and schedule 18/6 12/12 ect.
Your environment, fans duct and sweep. Heater? Dehu? Lung room specs.
More we know more we can help.

 

[Illbill]

Looks like a mutant. I’ve had some do this. I Chuck them. Mine seem to just be genetic when I get them.

 

[JIMKSI64]

My first DWC looked like that.
29.95 PH pen

 

[closettrapper217]

Idk how people say this I’ve been using a 14 dollar ph pen in coco for over a years with no issue. Seriously mind blowing to me.

 

[LoveGrowingIt]

Can you guys point me in the direction as to what’s going on and what should be done to get where she needs to be?

I'm not a DWC grower, so I can only try to read the symptoms.

Anyone have any experience with this ?

It looks familiar.

At this point what stage is she at?

I'd say it's transitioning from the establishment stage to the vegetation stage.

She just started growing top section 3-4 days ago after transferring to dwc. All help appreciated in advance.

What I see makes me think the pH might be too low. I know you have it at the range recommended for DWC, but a plant started in soil might need some time to adjust to the lower pH range. Is it possible to bump it up to 6.4-ish?

 

[Ohioguy85]

I’m using the sf1000 lighting at 16” on a 18/6 schedule, ac infinity exhaust and duct that is on a temp switch set at 76f. I’m waiting on a new humidifier from ac infinity that should be here tomorrow to try to maybe raise the humidity just a tad more to try. I know every plant is different depending on genetics but this is permanent marker strain from seed cellar in Michigan. I have had a problem getting past first signs of t root with sour diesel strain from them so maybe it’s a genetic issue but my other cam members have had great success with their supply using same methods. I use tps one nutes as I like to try to keep things as simple as possible. Started at half strength last week, today moved up to 3/4 strength trying not to burn it.

 

[Ohioguy85]

Also just relocated my circulation fan to up top blowing downward towards back wall as in the floor facing upwards didn’t seem to have enough flow to keep her lightly swaying either

 

[Ohioguy85]

Also lastly umol2 at canopy where my lighting height is and settings is at 264 which is about where should be from my understanding for . I really hope maybe it’s just in a late transition however the main stalk still looks really puny

 

[JIMKSI64]

Idk how people say this I’ve been using a 14 dollar ph pen in coco for over a years with no issue. Seriously mind blowing to me.

When you read 300+ diaries you see trends and patterns. The cheap PH pen was an ongoing concern for at least 2 dozen problematic grows that were fixed with proper PH controls.
Paper colored strips were not the cause of any failed grows. Zero.
I wish I would have read every single one of those journals before I started growing hydro. I would still be running Jacks and stacking buds.

 

[closettrapper217]

When you read 300+ diaries you see trends and patterns. The cheap PH pen was an ongoing concern for at least 2 dozen problematic grows that were fixed with proper PH controls.
Paper colored strips were not the cause of any failed grows. Zero.
I wish I would have read every single one of those journals before I started growing hydro. I would still be running Jacks and stacking buds.

Keep buffering solution. Stick pen in there for five seconds. Press calibrate. Close buffering solution. Do it again tomorrow.

 

[Ohioguy85]

Keep buffering solution. Stick pen in there for five seconds. Press calibrate. Close buffering solution. Do it again tomorrow.

I’ve actually had similar issues with reading ph with liquid tests when I first started setting up my dwc systems a week and half ago and finally broke down and bought a high end pen. However it’s an electronic so even batteries being low could throw them off from what I underStand

 

[Ohioguy85]

I did notice this morning however that there are several new leaves emerging from the top so maybe it’s close to straightening g itself out. Maybe it is just shock idk but I’ll be happy to get her going

 

[Ganjafiend420]

New guy on here from Ohio. First time dwc and I’m looking for some advise and better direction. My temps in my 2x4 grow tent regulate between 75-77 Fahrenheit. Relative Humidity at 58-61 percent at the plant. Ph is kept between 5.7 and 6.2 in my dwc buckets. I started this plant in soil for the first month and noticed it only had two first leaves and the coty’s. Since swapping to dwc with it this past month (wasn’t able to sooner due to my motorcycle accident june 7) this is where she’s at. Can you guys point me in the direction as to what’s going on and what should be done to get where she needs to be? I’ve been babying her and checking in every couple hours this past week and even keeping check on my camera in tent. Anyone have any experience with this ? At this point what stage is she at? She just started growing top section 3-4 days ago after transferring to dwc. All help appreciated in advance.

Ahoy!

One of the best ways I’ve improved my grow game is by using ChatGPT. I pasted your question in there along with what I noticed in your photo, and it gave me some solid insight.

What They Should Do:​

1. Stop micromanaging every few hours.
   • DWC is sensitive, but over-fiddling often creates more instability than it prevents. Let her settle.
2. Keep environment steady.
   • Don’t change lighting schedule, nutrients, or anything else drastically. Stability helps recovery.
3. Ensure strong aeration.
   • The air stone should be bubbling like mad under the root zone. If it’s weak, roots will suffocate.
4. Mild nutrient mix (300–500 ppm)
   • If they’re running full strength nutes, it could be too hot for a stressed plant. Keep it light but complete (with microelements too).
5. Clean water, no organics.
   • If soil got into the DWC bucket, that can lead to root rot. Make sure water is clear, no smells, and change weekly.
6. Patience.
   • This plant has been through a lot (weak start + late transplant + accident delay). She’s showing signs of growth, so don’t give up — but don’t expect normal growth speed just yet.

Based solely on the visual and without knowing the full background, it looks like the plant stretched too much early on, as indicated by the thin, pale stem, and is now showing signs of stress. The mutated leaves could be a result of environmental stress from transplant shock, light intensity, or even pH fluctuations, despite the readings being within the acceptable range.

 

[Ohioguy85]

Ahoy!

One of the best ways I’ve improved my grow game is by using ChatGPT. I pasted your question in there along with what I noticed in your photo, and it gave me some solid insight.

What They Should Do:​

1. Stop micromanaging every few hours.
   • DWC is sensitive, but over-fiddling often creates more instability than it prevents. Let her settle.
2. Keep environment steady.
   • Don’t change lighting schedule, nutrients, or anything else drastically. Stability helps recovery.
3. Ensure strong aeration.
   • The air stone should be bubbling like mad under the root zone. If it’s weak, roots will suffocate.
4. Mild nutrient mix (300–500 ppm)
   • If they’re running full strength nutes, it could be too hot for a stressed plant. Keep it light but complete (with microelements too).
5. Clean water, no organics.
   • If soil got into the DWC bucket, that can lead to root rot. Make sure water is clear, no smells, and change weekly.
6. Patience.
   • This plant has been through a lot (weak start + late transplant + accident delay). She’s showing signs of growth, so don’t give up — but don’t expect normal growth speed just yet.

Based solely on the visual and without knowing the full background, it looks like the plant stretched too much early on, as indicated by the thin, pale stem, and is now showing signs of stress. The mutated leaves could be a result of environmental stress from transplant shock, light intensity, or even pH fluctuations, despite the readings being within the acceptable range.

Thanks allot. I’m actually due for a water change this Saturday so it’ll get changed again. I’ve been avoiding opening my tent up the past two days but do have a camera in there so I’m going to post an updated pic as it’s definitely starting to fill out more and in veg stage as of yesterday evening. The mutated leaves are starting to open up and spread a little more over the past couple days and are looking a little better but not sure how well it’s going to hold up as I said with the puny stalk.