Help with dying plants in living soil

StuporDave · Jan 24, 2025

I need help. I have these girls in 30 gallon mineral tubs with relatively new soil. I actually mixed it early last year, but these are the first plants in it. It is a build a soil amendment kit from build a soil with peet, perlite, bagged compost, worm castings and a small bag of biochar w/ mico. The compost, castings, and biochar were all from Walmart. The plants came from a couple bag seeds. They have had stress on all levels, but I haven’t been able to get them to come back this time. We had a spider mite infestation that was fixed with foliage spraying and environment control (lower temps, higher humidity). Temps and humidity have been an ongoing problem and I have had to settle for lower temps to get my VPD right (1.2-1.4). The soil is overwatered (I have pulled most of the mulch trying to get some evaporation. They have been too dressed with build a flower, craft blend. They have also had a compost tea with build a flower, big 6 and some worm castings. They popped on oct 21st or so.

They are under a mars hydro tsw2000
F.L. is around 15, (for various reasons the lights have been turned down.)

What should I do?

StuporDave · Jan 24, 2025

Here are some additional pics

Week4Bytch · Jan 24, 2025

StuporDave said:
Here are some additional pics

I hope I'm not being punked here...wow what a mess, way too much nutrients here...way too much, DO NOT add any more. take that straw off the top for now until they flower, (shit, if you make it to flower) you know what, just take it out completely.. let the soil breath a bit, and do you have any drain holes bottom of those pots? So that water isn't collecting at the bottom. Wow, 2.5 months of veg and they look like that... Bruh.. come on man, you should have asked for help at week 2.

GNick55 · Jan 24, 2025

ya agree with above,..
plus some..

StuporDave · Jan 24, 2025

Week4Bytch said:
I hope I'm not being punked here...wow what a mess, way too much nutrients here...way too much, DO NOT add any more. take that straw off the top for now until they flower, (shit, if you make it to flower) you know what, just take it out completely.. let the soil breath a bit, and do you have any drain holes bottom of those pots? So that water isn't collecting at the bottom. Wow, 2.5 months of veg and they look like that... Bruh.. come on man, you should have asked for help at week 2.

So for real, yes, it’s for real. Life has been rough and they’ve paid the price. Do they stand a chance? Should I scrap them and try again with good genetics? Yes there are drain holes.

Week4Bytch · Jan 24, 2025

StuporDave said:
So for real, yes, it’s for real. Life has been rough and they’ve paid the price. Do they stand a chance? Should I scrap them and try again with good genetics? Yes there are drain holes.

Tough call, looks like you were trying to mainline here too. Seems like you have some major root rot going, I'm not really an expert here, just going from the pics. Anyway to tell how wet your soil is? If you have the time then try to save them, let the soil dry back. Keep them warm for now, plants do better in warmer temps. Unless their the Afghani type .. and that's just a guess on my part seeing that they're from the high mountains. But anyways.. watering or bad watering practice is my guess to what's going on. Roots need to breathe.

bruce420forthewin · Jan 24, 2025

1. Do u follow the soil horizon principle with 30 gal?
I guess u didn't .
2.lower temps, higher humidity?
Ya'd better keep temp and humid on the same level to help plant recover ASAP, cause environment is key element when growing, and definitely u faced some environmental issues
3.don't feed anymore organic amendments or nuts /watering now that too much for the plant to handel
4. lower light intensity for plant recovery and be patient , I 100%sure they gonna recover back when a few days .

StuporDave · Jan 25, 2025

Week4Bytch said:
Tough call, looks like you were trying to mainline here too. Seems like you have some major root rot going, I'm not really an expert here, just going from the pics. Anyway to tell how wet your soil is? If you have the time then try to save them, let the soil dry back. Keep them warm for now, plants do better in warmer temps. Unless their the Afghani type .. and that's just a guess on my part seeing that they're from the high mountains. But anyways.. watering or bad watering practice is my guess to what's going on. Roots need to breathe.

They are definitely too wet, but they are drying back now. They have been overtrained with more than a couple accidental tops. They seem to be coming back.

StuporDave · Jan 25, 2025

I didn’t watch the video. I will listen to that later on the road. Lower temps and higher humidity is to get VPD right. The humidifier I have can’t quite get me where I need to be. I’m trying to keep around 1.2, but the only way I can do that is to lower temps to match RH. I’m definitely not adding anything else anytime soon. Lights are down significantly allowing them to come back.

bruce420forthewin · Jan 25, 2025

StuporDave said:
I didn’t watch the video. I will listen to that later on the road. Lower temps and higher humidity is to get VPD right. The humidifier I have can’t quite get me where I need to be. I’m trying to keep around 1.2, but the only way I can do that is to lower temps to match RH. I’m definitely not adding anything else anytime soon. Lights are down significantly allowing them to come back.

I am Vpd firm believer, Who think lower temps and higher humid is ideal, which its far from unless the lights are out and even then it's still too cold.

Week4Bytch · Jan 25, 2025

StuporDave said:
I didn’t watch the video. I will listen to that later on the road. Lower temps and higher humidity is to get VPD right. The humidifier I have can’t quite get me where I need to be. I’m trying to keep around 1.2, but the only way I can do that is to lower temps to match RH. I’m definitely not adding anything else anytime soon. Lights are down significantly allowing them to come back.

Where do you live to have to lower temps and what's the room size where the tent is sitting in?

GNick55 · Jan 25, 2025

Week4Bytch said:
Where do you live to have to lower temps and what's the room size where the tent is sitting in?

ya some pictures of grow area

Week4Bytch · Jan 25, 2025

bruce420forthewin said:
1. Do u follow the soil horizon principle with 30 gal?
I guess u didn't .
2.lower temps, higher humidity?
Ya'd better keep temp and humid on the same level to help plant recover ASAP, cause environment is key element when growing, and definitely u faced some environmental issues
3.don't feed anymore organic amendments or nuts /watering now that too much for the plant to handel
4. lower light intensity for plant recovery and be patient , I 100%sure they gonna recover back when a few days .

This is my dream setup when and if I ever get my 4x4 raised bed setup in the backyard. Just the dam summers are killer here. It's doable though we have farms ...and I mean farms of cannabis all around here in the valley. Been meaning to poke my head in one of them farms but probably get shot at if I approach them ..

bruce420forthewin · Jan 25, 2025

Week4Bytch said:
This is my dream setup when and if I ever get my 4x4 raised bed setup in the backyard. Just the dam summers are killer here. It's doable though we have farms ...and I mean farms of cannabis all around here in the valley. Been meaning to poke my head in one of them farms but probably get shot at if I approach them ..

I recently setup 40gals , here is my E horizon

Week4Bytch said:
This is my dream setup when and if I ever get my 4x4 raised bed setup in the backyard. Just the dam summers are killer here. It's doable though we have farms ...and I mean farms of cannabis all around here in the valley. Been meaning to poke my head in one of them farms but probably get shot at if I approach them ..

I recently setup 40gal outdoor, here is E horizon mixed with crushed stone and sand clay.
indoor soil bed have been used 5*。

Stinkysgenetics · Jan 26, 2025

StuporDave said:
I need help. I have these girls in 30 gallon mineral tubs with relatively new soil. I actually mixed it early last year, but these are the first plants in it. It is a build a soil amendment kit from build a soil with peet, perlite, bagged compost, worm castings and a small bag of biochar w/ mico. The compost, castings, and biochar were all from Walmart. The plants came from a couple bag seeds. They have had stress on all levels, but I haven’t been able to get them to come back this time. We had a spider mite infestation that was fixed with foliage spraying and environment control (lower temps, higher humidity). Temps and humidity have been an ongoing problem and I have had to settle for lower temps to get my VPD right (1.2-1.4). The soil is overwatered (I have pulled most of the mulch trying to get some evaporation. They have been too dressed with build a flower, craft blend. They have also had a compost tea with build a flower, big 6 and some worm castings. They popped on oct 21st or so.

They are under a mars hydro tsw2000
F.L. is around 15, (for various reasons the lights have been turned down.)

What should I do?

Im not being mean. I used to do this too. First and only, your mixture is too hot, Hot means rich in nutrition. Start over by taking what you have done and dividing it in half. From there only add items like Pearlite. Cocco coir, Peet moss, vermiculite and finally and not to be forgotten is Ditanatous Earth which i misspelled. This will kill your spider mites as well as add a micronutrient that's an essential element. If you need help with seeds friend me on FB. I understand the costs associated with learning. What was your lesson learned? Its when you choose a grow system, follow the directions and dont deviate. This is not a game but a science with many ways to get to the same spot. Just follow one path to get there. Try another path next time. You will find what works best for you. Build a soil is not for beginners.

StuporDave · Jan 26, 2025

I didn’t watch the video. I will listen to that later on the road. Lower temps and higher humidity is to get VPD right. The humidifier I have can’t quite get me where I need to be. I’m trying to keep around 1.2, but the only way I can do that is to lower temps to match RH. I’m definitely not adding anything else anytime soon. Lights are down significantly allowing them to come back

Week4Bytch said:
Where do you live to have to lower temps and what's the room size where the tent is sitting in?

its an unusual situation. I don’t have a tent but a dedicated room. It is 10x10, but the ceiling slopes from 4’ to 8’. I’ll get pics when I get home.

LoveGrowingIt · Jan 26, 2025

StuporDave said:
its an unusual situation. I don’t have a tent but a dedicated room. It is 10x10, but the ceiling slopes from 4’ to 8’. I’ll get pics when I get home.

That's not unusual. Lots of growers have a dedicated room. You could do a lot with that room.

As for your plants... I'm not a living soil grower, but I do grow organically. I agree with those who recommended starting over. The plants you have might be able to be cloned or transplanted. The soil could be remixed and the plants or clones put back in it. That is if you want to save them.

driftingantics · Jan 26, 2025

I would start over, unless that was some unforgettable weed them seeds came from. Use it as a learning experience, the seeds were free. Rebuild the soil as recommended above and move onto your next grow. For me it’s hard to let go of plants but in some situations it’s necessary, and if you have a compost pile then it’s not so bad they are being put to use.

Week4Bytch · Jan 26, 2025

StuporDave said:
I didn’t watch the video. I will listen to that later on the road. Lower temps and higher humidity is to get VPD right. The humidifier I have can’t quite get me where I need to be. I’m trying to keep around 1.2, but the only way I can do that is to lower temps to match RH. I’m definitely not adding anything else anytime soon. Lights are down significantly allowing them to come back

its an unusual situation. I don’t have a tent but a dedicated room. It is 10x10, but the ceiling slopes from 4’ to 8’. I’ll get pics when I get home.

You don't want to lower them too low is my concern. Having said that my plants can get down to 65F (not on purpose) because of the winter months. I had to Google it real quick and this came up.

Like all plants, cannabis likes comfortable temperatures. For most grows, the ideal temperature range is between 65-80°F (18-26°C). Keeping temperatures within this range helps maximize plant growth and development and contributes to large and healthy buds.

Those are "Ideal" ranges, your plants can live outside that range but most likely not thrive.

From the pics it looks like you have new growth coming back, if you want to keep them just let it grow naturally with no more training. Just add a little water at a time, one gallon of water is enough during veg for each pot when the soil is dried back a bit.

If you want to start over, like mentioned above, mix half of the soil with new and don't add anything. 30g is a lot of soil and should keep your plants happy all the way to mid flower without adding any nutrients.

guitahplayah · Jan 26, 2025

StuporDave said:
I need help. I have these girls in 30 gallon mineral tubs with relatively new soil. I actually mixed it early last year, but these are the first plants in it. It is a build a soil amendment kit from build a soil with peet, perlite, bagged compost, worm castings and a small bag of biochar w/ mico. The compost, castings, and biochar were all from Walmart. The plants came from a couple bag seeds. They have had stress on all levels, but I haven’t been able to get them to come back this time. We had a spider mite infestation that was fixed with foliage spraying and environment control (lower temps, higher humidity). Temps and humidity have been an ongoing problem and I have had to settle for lower temps to get my VPD right (1.2-1.4). The soil is overwatered (I have pulled most of the mulch trying to get some evaporation. They have been too dressed with build a flower, craft blend. They have also had a compost tea with build a flower, big 6 and some worm castings. They popped on oct 21st or so.

They are under a mars hydro tsw2000
F.L. is around 15, (for various reasons the lights have been turned down.)

What should I do?

Help with dying plants in living soil

Help with dying plants in living soil

StuporDave

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StuporDave

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Week4Bytch

Loyal To The Soil

GNick55

StuporDave

Week4Bytch

Loyal To The Soil

bruce420forthewin

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bruce420forthewin

Week4Bytch

Loyal To The Soil

GNick55

Week4Bytch

Loyal To The Soil

bruce420forthewin

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Stinkysgenetics

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LoveGrowingIt

driftingantics

Week4Bytch

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guitahplayah

Help with dying plants in living soil

Help with dying plants in living soil

StuporDave

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Week4Bytch

Loyal To The Soil

GNick55

StuporDave

Week4Bytch

Loyal To The Soil

bruce420forthewin

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Loyal To The Soil

GNick55

Week4Bytch

Loyal To The Soil

bruce420forthewin

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Stinkysgenetics

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