Help solving a yellowing/curling problem

Hi there -

Here's my story:

I have 4 plants growing a closet under CFL's. This Sunday will mark 4 weeks since I transplanted them from Solo Cups into pots. They have seemed to be doing really well until recently.

Some of the leaves have been turning yellow all of sudden, and some of them are curling more than I would like to see. (See pictures)

I have only watered them once - all of the guides say wait until the soil looks crusty, but after about 2.5 weeks of the soil not looking crusty, I figured they needed to be watered, so I did.

I am not adding any nutrients or anything - they are just sitting in Fafard potting soil under very bright CFL's.

I am thinking it is one of 2 things - either I watered them when they didn't need it (any way to correct that??), or they were getting too much light, so yesterday I moved the lights up a bit.

Any suggestions? See the attached pictures - the first one shows what my whole setup looks like, the second shows how close the lights are now, and the rest show various leaves that are turning yellow/curling.

Thanks in advance!

Have a looksee at http://www.ganjaguerrilla.net/ if that helps. I believe you might be looking at the section on nitrogen deficiency.

That looks like it could be it, but the thing is that I have 4 plants all in the exact same type/brand of soil, and it only seems to be a problem on 2 of them. I'm just trying to be really cautious and I don't want to end up giving them a nutrient they don't need.

thanks again

Nitrogen Deficiency looks like the culprit. The recovery of deficient plants to applied nitrogen is very quick and you will defiantly see the difference in a matter of days

Thanks

merc1286 said:

That looks like it could be it, but the thing is that I have 4 plants all in the exact same type/brand of soil, and it only seems to be a problem on 2 of them. I'm just trying to be really cautious and I don't want to end up giving them a nutrient they don't need.

thanks again

Click to expand...

i know what you mean by being cautious, im worried sick im gunna over water or under water my plants, ive got one plant thats starting to get little brown spots on the very tips of the leaves, possiably same problem your having...

OK, I'm ready to admit that ti's a nitrogen deficiency. Any suggestions on what type of fertilizer/etc to is good for adding Nitrogen?

Also, I assume that in order to add this fertilizer, I will need to mix it with water and re-water my plants. But I think it's way to early to water them again. Is there any way I can add the Nitrogen without over-watering the plants?

Thanks once again!!

merc1286 said:

OK, I'm ready to admit that ti's a nitrogen deficiency. Any suggestions on what type of fertilizer/etc to is good for adding Nitrogen?

Also, I assume that in order to add this fertilizer, I will need to mix it with water and re-water my plants. But I think it's way to early to water them again. Is there any way I can add the Nitrogen without over-watering the plants?

Thanks once again!!

Click to expand...

You do not have to re-water. You can foilar feed them. Get some FoxFarms grow big and follow the directions. Even Miricle grow would help. They need N.

merc1286 said:

OK, I'm ready to admit that ti's a nitrogen deficiency. Any suggestions on what type of fertilizer/etc to is good for adding Nitrogen?

Also, I assume that in order to add this fertilizer, I will need to mix it with water and re-water my plants. But I think it's way to early to water them again. Is there any way I can add the Nitrogen without over-watering the plants?

Thanks once again!!

Click to expand...

Foliar Spraying of nitrate 1.5g per litre set to very fine mist. That is one solution

Homer Hudson said:

Foliar Spraying of nitrate 1.5g per litre set to very fine mist. That is one solution

Click to expand...

Follow the directions on the product you are using. Not Boners 1.5g advice. The mix ratio will vary depending on what you use.

Thanks again for all of the info. So is Fox Farms Grow Big the best one to get for this type of problem? Also, any guides around on how to do foliar feeding? Or is it as simple as mixing the fertilizer according to the package, and then putting it in a spray bottle and spraying on the leaves?

merc1286 said:

Thanks again for all of the info. So is Fox Farms Grow Big the best one to get for this type of problem? Also, any guides around on how to do foliar feeding? Or is it as simple as mixing the fertilizer according to the package, and then putting it in a spray bottle and spraying on the leaves?

Click to expand...

FF Grow Big is an all around great veg nute. Humboldt Dark Energy is a great instant source of Nitrogen. Like they say 'it stinks but it works!'
As far as foliar feeding goes, yes, mix and spray. Both the tops and bottoms of the leaves. Just do not foliar feed once flowering has really kicked in. Dont want any budrot. I personally do most of my veg feeding this way. Save the soil feeding for flowering. That way salt build up is not as big an issue late in flowering. Oh ya, Mexican Bat Guano is also a great source of N.

merc1286 said:

Thanks again for all of the info. So is Fox Farms Grow Big the best one to get for this type of problem? Also, any guides around on how to do foliar feeding? Or is it as simple as mixing the fertilizer according to the package, and then putting it in a spray bottle and spraying on the leaves?

Click to expand...

You need a food that is high in N like a 30-10-10. You don't need box name recommendations without the NPK values. Truck on down to a nursery or Walmart and get a soluble high N food like a 30-10-10 or an Azalea food 21-7-7. It will also be high in iron. That's a good thing. Use at a rate of 1/2 tsp/gallon and add a non-ionic surfactant (spreader/sticker) to the mix for foliar applications. If you don't have a surfactant (High Yield brand, Red River, etc.) then give it a squirt of Ivory liquid dish soap. Spray well in the morning until run-off, concentrating on the under side of the leaves.

For a long term solution, scratch about 2 tsps. of blood meal into the soil's surface and/or drench with 1 tsp/gallon of a high N food. You want to maintain your plants in a mid to dark green condition like this 42" tall brute:



IOW, you need to insure the leaves have plenty of chlorophyll and maintain that color until harvest.

See my sig link for help on the curling issue.

Good luck,
UB

You got it down Ben