First Time Grow Moderate Problems

[whitewalled]

Hi everyone,

I'm on my first grow and everything started great but I have issues here. The plants aren't behaving like I think they should.

1. Are you growing from seed or clones?
Seeds - DJ Short's Blueberry OG

2. How old are your plants?
Just over 4 weeks

3. How tall are your plants?
Range from 12"-16"

4. What size containers are they planted in?
8"diameter pots with ~1 gallon in each pot

5. What is your soil mix?
I'm using the Miracle-Gro potting mix, allegedly 6 months of nutrients provided. I don't have access to foxfarm or any of that, or at least I can't find it anywhere

6. How often do you water and what type of water do you use?
Every 3 or 4 days, tap water that has sat out for 24 hours

7. What is the pH of your water?
I don't know, I dont have a pH meter

8. What kind of fertilizer do you use and what is its NPK ratio?
Haven't used any chemical ones, I added a small amount of blood meal (organic N fert) because I thought that the yellowing leaves on the bottom of the plants was a N deficiency

9. Do you foliar feed or spray your plants with anything?
No

10. What kind of lights do you use and how many watts combined? (HPS, MH, fluorescent, halogen, incandescent "plant lights")
I know this sounds lame, but I started with 1 CFL 55W (200 replacement) for all 5 plants. Finally last week I got my 400W MH/HPS setup and I'm running the MH bulb 18/6

11. How close are your lights to the plants?
1.5 to 2 feet

12. What size is your grow space in square feet?
7-8 sq ft

13. What is the temperature and humidity in your grow space?
between 78-88 probably. Its kind of dry since I live in the desert but it's more humid in the space than not. I'm sure water evaporates from the soil to make it more humid. It is the A/C return closet so it gets good airflow and cooling when it's on

14. What is the pH of the soil?
I have no idea, no pH meter

15. Have you noticed any insect activity in your grow space?
Randomly house flies will appear in there. I don't know how they get inside since I keep the windows and doors shut all the time. Other than that I see no pests eating the plant or anything.

16. How much experience do you have growing?
First time. I've seen my friends' grow ops but this is my first time doing everything

Here are pictures of them. I just want the leaves to stop dying and for the plants to take off. I've looked all over for suggestions as to what to do and I can't find anything definitive. Any help you can have would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
WhiteWalled

 

[caregiverken]

Welcome

Maybe the New Stronger Light was a little too strong for them?

Are they drinking lots of water? (Are the pots drying out in a day or two?)

 

[whitewalled]

Maybe the Light was a little too strong for them?

are they drinking lots of water? (are the pots drying out in a day or two?)

I initially had the MH at 12-18 inches but I moved it to 18-24 yesterday. Hopefully it wasn't too close, only time will tell

Every day I feel the soil to tell if it's dry or not and it feels like it holds moisture for 3-4 days

I don't think I'm underwatering them :(

 

[caregiverken]

Im new at this...But I know they tend to stop drinking as much water when they are sick..

And then, its easy to Over water them..

 

[jkbeing]

Miracle grow soil=problems! The fertalizer will not last 6 months. Bloodmeal is not complete to use by itself. Buy a base grow and bloom fertilizer. The yellow plant might be a runt, I always take out the runts so everything stays strong. Do you have a PPM meter? If not they are cheap and can get you by without a pH meter.
Are you going to top them?

 

[whitewalled]

Miracle grow soil=problems! The fertalizer will not last 6 months. Bloodmeal is not complete to use by itself. Buy a base grow and bloom fertilizer. The yellow plant might be a runt, I always take out the runts so everything stays strong. Do you have a PPM meter? If not they are cheap and can get you by without a pH meter.
Are you going to top them?

Yeah Im starting to realize that about the miracle gro soil. Only disappointment. For the first few weeks they looked green and healthy but now it's all going to hell :( Some of the leaves are starting to twist upside down, and another leaf turned dark green and became brittle in the middle.

I don't have a PPM meter. Isn't that only for hydro or am I just misinformed?

And what fertilizer do you recommend? Do you have a personal favorite?

Sorry for all the questions I'm just a noob, but thanks for taking time to reply

 

[jkbeing]

A ppm meter will tell you the parts per million of nutrients in you water. If I put 700 ppm into my plant and get 1200 ppm coming out, I know I need to flush more solution through the pot. The major problem with Miracle Grow soil is it drains very poor. My pH meter broke, so I am using CNS17 at this time. I don't bother pH-ing with this stuff as it will put your water in range. A $10 bottle of CNS17 grow and $30 bottle of CNS17 ripe will get you threw this grow. Do you know those plants will double in size when you start to flower?

 

[kolah]

I' suggest getting a pH meter and check your soil and water.
Basic growing 101.

May I ask where you got DJs BB OG?

 

[Rasta Man]

will the soil not buffer the ph. ph meters are only really important for hydro coco imo.. most guys growing in soil dont use them.. maybe when you put the stronge light in the plants started to use more nute in the soil so start feeding :)

 

[Mississip Hip]

I grow in soil and I ph everything.

those plants look overwatered to me....

 

[Classic Remix]

i grow in soil and dont PH anything.....

i say overwatered too.

 

[Classic Remix]

okay i retract that statement, i'll PH my runoff every now and then just to make sure i dont see anything weird.

water out of a brita filter has been 6.2 for YEARS. never fixed something that wasnt broken...

 

[Mississip Hip]

My water is 6.3 and 20 ppm.

I dont feed straight water very often.

I made a ACT that ph'd at 11.3 yesterday....I'm not dumping that on my plants. I feed fairly aggresively...why take a chance?...imho

If all I watered with was tap water....I wouldn't ph anything.