Not necessarily sure it’s a problem but...

I posted in the newbie section but didn’t get any reply’s so I thought it may be appropriate here, so it’s posted with some edits.

I have attached a photo of my white widow that was put into soil on 4/18 after germinating. The single photo was taken today in the dark using flash. I’m using 1/3 fox farm ocean forest, 1/3 organic potting soil and 1/3 perlite and vermiculite. Up until today I have not noticed any leave discoloration like in the photo. It has always been dark green. I have been watering with distilled water if I have it or tap water that has sat out for a day or so about once a week. The PH of my tap water was around 6 or 6.5 according to the strips I have. I’m going to confirm tonight with other strips......after confirming with other strips I got a PH of 7. I may pick up a digital one in the furtive. I’ve watered twice since I’ve planted and have been misting the soil in between. If it seems too dry and to help humidity. I can also see bright white roots in the container increasing in size daily.

I have read so many different things from it just being the color of new growth, to a mag deficiency, to light bleaching, to over watering regarding. I’d just like to know what you guys thing because this is my first time and to see if I need to be concerned or am over thinking it.

I am also waiting to transplant into a two gallon fabric pot with fox farms ocean forest, perlite, a little vermiculite and dolomite lime. I’ve read the best time to transplant is when the leaves reach the outside of the container?

Blue_Walker said:

I posted in the newbie section but didn’t get any reply’s so I thought it may be appropriate here, so it’s posted with some edits.

I have attached a photo of my white widow that was put into soil on 4/18 after germinating. The single photo was taken today in the dark using flash. I’m using 1/3 fox farm ocean forest, 1/3 organic potting soil and 1/3 perlite and vermiculite. Up until today I have not noticed any leave discoloration like in the photo. It has always been dark green. I have been watering with distilled water if I have it or tap water that has sat out for a day or so about once a week. The PH of my tap water was around 6 or 6.5 according to the strips I have. I’m going to confirm tonight with other strips......after confirming with other strips I got a PH of 7. I may pick up a digital one in the furtive. I’ve watered twice since I’ve planted and have been misting the soil in between. If it seems too dry and to help humidity. I can also see bright white roots in the container increasing in size daily.

I have read so many different things from it just being the color of new growth, to a mag deficiency, to light bleaching, to over watering regarding. I’d just like to know what you guys thing because this is my first time and to see if I need to be concerned or am over thinking it.

I am also waiting to transplant into a two gallon fabric pot with fox farms ocean forest, perlite, a little vermiculite and dolomite lime. I’ve read the best time to transplant is when the leaves reach the outside of the container?

Click to expand...

The plant looks like its showing signs of a Zinc deficiency, very likely caused by continuous over watering. The plant appears to be unable to uptake nutrients due to the roots being drowned in water.

Don't water the plant until the pot is dry. Put a second pot with dry medium next to it, and compare it to the potted plant when you water. If they are not relatively equivalent in weight, don't water. Also, water at lights on. In the dark periods, the plants use far less water and just sit in it.

Do not add nutrients to fix this problem. That will eventually make the problem worse (If I'm correct with the over watering that is).

If you've added in vermiculite into your mix, that increases the amount of water being held in the medium.

spek9 said:

The plant looks like its showing signs of a Zinc deficiency, very likely caused by continuous over watering. The plant appears to be unable to uptake nutrients due to the roots being drowned in water.

Don't water the plant until the pot is dry. Put a second pot with dry medium next to it, and compare it to the potted plant when you water. If they are not relatively equivalent in weight, don't water. Also, water at lights on. In the dark periods, the plants use far less water and just sit in it.

Do not add nutrients to fix this problem. That will eventually make the problem worse (If I'm correct with the over watering that is).

If you've added in vermiculite into your mix, that increases the amount of water being held in the medium.

Click to expand...

Thank you for the input! I looked that up answer it does seem very likely. I didn’t think I was over watering but apparently I did. I will put some dry soil next to it to compare, that’s a good idea.

I haven’t added any nutrients up to this point anyways so I won’t try to add anything to fix it. Will letting the soil dry out clear the issue up itself? Should I wait till this problem is remedied before I transplant?

Blue_Walker said:

Will letting the soil dry out clear the issue up itself? Should I wait till this problem is remedied before I transplant?

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Proper watering techniques will clear up the issue if it is over watering that caused it, yes.

I would definitely fix this problem before doing anything else, including transplanting. Always focus on one thing at a time so you know what fixes or makes worse a problem. Doing more than one thing at a time prevents figuring out exactly what went wrong, because you will never find out exactly what made the issue better, or worse.

If it were me...

I'd scrap the plastic bags, I'm guessing you're using as a dome. Toss them.
I would scrap the clear plastic cups....roots grow below ground for a reason, and the plant grows above ground for a reason.
pH...you're going to need to get a handle on it. 7 is going to be too high and, if you're off much with your strips, it could be worse.

In my opinion, pH is the issue with the plant in question. Good luck.

spek9 said:

Proper watering techniques will clear up the issue if it is over watering that caused it, yes.

I would definitely fix this problem before doing anything else, including transplanting. Always focus on one thing at a time so you know what fixes or makes worse a problem. Doing more than one thing at a time prevents figuring out exactly what went wrong, because you will never find out exactly what made the issue better, or worse.

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Yes thats true doing to many things at once could cause issues. I’ll let it dry out and give some time and see if it remedies itself or not. If drying it out and utilizing proper water techniques doesn’t clear it up do you have any other suggestions what it might be?

CannaCountry said:

If it were me...

I'd scrap the plastic bags, I'm guessing you're using as a dome. Toss them.
I would scrap the clear plastic cups....roots grow below ground for a reason, and the plant grows above ground for a reason.
pH...you're going to need to get a handle on it. 7 is going to be too high and, if you're off much with your strips, it could be worse.

In my opinion, pH is the issue with the plant in question. Good luck.

Click to expand...

Ya I wasn’t using the plastic wrap to half cover it if humidity got to low when it was smaller. I’ll chuck it.

Okay thanks for the input regarding that. I do have other test strips coming in that range from 5.5 to 8 so that would give me a more accurate Ph level.

When I transplant I’m going into a smart pot. In your opinion is wise to wait to do so until this issue is cleared up?

In my opinion, I wouldn't grow in a clear container...if you're waiting on smart pots, slip the clear cups into cups or pots that won't allow light in. For now, I would say, they're fine. They could go a while in those cups...just block out the light somehow...duct tape, opaque plastic sheeting, something.

Good luck.

CannaCountry said:

In my opinion, I wouldn't grow in a clear container...if you're waiting on smart pots, slip the clear cups into cups or pots that won't allow light in. For now, I would say, they're fine. They could go a while in those cups...just block out the light somehow...duct tape, opaque plastic sheeting, something.

Good luck.

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That’s what I ended up doing. Put some black duct tape on it! Thanks for the suggestion.

I wanted to share an update let it dry completely out and new growth started coming in without as much yellowing so I did transplant the other day to my fabric pot. The yellowing in between the veins is very predominate and some of the older growth has brown spots on it so I am afraid some of them may die. I have debated cutting the two bottom very yellow leaves off. The two original leaves are almost completely yellow, for a while they were touching the soil until I placed those pebbles underneath them but I did it to late. After the transplant most of the leaves perked up and it has been growing fairly quick. The two photos are from yesterday and today. I am debating doing a foliage spray with Epsom salts and water Ph'd to the mid 6's using apple cider vinegar to see if it will help clear some of this up.

Nice...progress.

A spray of Epsom would be beneficial, but don't rely on this method over time; it's a band aid. Consider why they appear short on Mg (is it (Mg) in the soil / feed, if so is there enough, if so, is the pH right so it can be taken up, if so is there too much of something else locking it up)....step by step. Follow me? Once you figure that part out, if you do in fact need more Mg, work it into your feed, not a ritual of spraying. Good luck.

What “ organic mix “ did you cut the ocean forest with. ?

Also be aware that vermiculite “ holds “ moisture.

Budzbuddha said:

What “ organic mix “ did you cut the ocean forest with. ?

Also be aware that vermiculite “ holds “ moisture.

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In my original container it was just cut with "organic" potting mix. In hindsight this was a poor choice and I don't think I should have done it. Now, in the fabric pot, it is straight FFOF with Perlite, a little vermiculite and dolomite lime.

CannaCountry said:

Nice...progress.

A spray of Epsom would be beneficial, but don't rely on this method over time; it's a band aid. Consider why they appear short on Mg (is it (Mg) in the soil / feed, if so is there enough, if so, is the pH right so it can be taken up, if so is there too much of something else locking it up)....step by step. Follow me? Once you figure that part out, if you do in fact need more Mg, work it into your feed, not a ritual of spraying. Good luck.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the input. I do follow what you are saying it is a giant process of elimination. I have not fed any nutrients at all. I hope that being on the straight FFOF soil and proper watering techniques will clear it up.

I originally was giving tap water with a PH, according to my strips, of 7. I have ordered a meter and it is on the way to compare the results because I'd like to water with lower to mid 6 PH of tap water.

Just wanted to update. I received my ph meter and am feeling more confident about my waterings. I appreciate all the help I’ve been given! I’ve been watering once a week with PH water between 6 and 6.5 using Apple cider vinegar. Today was my first water using Nutes which was 1/4 tap of Jacks Bloom which made my water PH 6.4! Last Friday I switched to 12/12 after waiting a week after I tipped. So we will see how it goes! I also did some Lst today.

deff looks better now, good luck

Mr. Cheetah said:

deff looks better now, good luck

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Thank you! It was a combo of over watering and ph issue with my tap water. So hopefully it’s all cleared up now! Not step is try and control it’s size in my space bucket setup.

Another update since I flipped!