Extreme Leaf Curling + N deficiency? Not sure what this is....

I have been growing outside for a few years now, and decided to start trying at dialing in an indoor operation.

I am using the same organic super soil that I typically use outdoors. It's consistently brought me decent results. I had a little issue keeping up with Nitrogen last year, so I upped the amount of Nitrogen amendments this year hoping it would solve the problem.

It took me a few weeks to get Temperature, Humidity and VPD down, but I think I finally have a good range with those regards. Averages include:
Temp: 82F Day / 72-69F Night
Humidity: 64-68% with a slight spike to 75 in the hour or so prior to lights on (my dehumidifier isn't keeping up)
VPD: .85 - 1.2 average

All that being said, I am seeing extreme leaf curling on one of my autos that I am running (whiskey zulu). I am also seeing leaf discoloration which is making me think Nitrogen might still be an issue, even with my adding more than typical this spring to refresh the soil. I am also seeing a few leaves with copper speckles.

I am not seeing this on any of the other plants, minus the suspected nitrogen issue.

I have included 2 shots of the leaf curling and another shot of a photo that is going outside in the near future showing yellowing. A second auto can be seen in the background also with yellowing.


I am thinking I am going to feed fish emulsion to the plants to see if that helps, but any input or questions are appreciated, as I can't quite figure out the cause of the significant leaf curling.

Thanks in advance!

Yeah, yellowing from the bottom definatly looks like typical N-deficiency and 2nd picture pretty typical calcium deficiency.
But both are reasonably mild and definatly shouldn't cause nothing, but dropping some older growth.

As for the curling I'm not really sure, my guess would be root related.
So could they be overwatered? I mean starving for some oxygen?
Maybe pH's out of whack and stressing the plant?

What’s the medium? What’s your source of water?

cage said:

Yeah, yellowing from the bottom definatly looks like typical N-deficiency and 2nd picture pretty typical calcium deficiency.
But both are reasonably mild and definatly shouldn't cause nothing, but dropping some older growth.

As for the curling I'm not really sure, my guess would be root related.
So could they be overwatered? I mean starving for some oxygen?
Maybe pH's out of whack and stressing the plant?

Click to expand...

Yeah, I thought nitrogen for sure. Thanks for the input on the calcium. Hoping I can hop on these 2 very quickly.

The leaf curling is the one that has me really unsure of whats going on.

I thought over water also, but cutting down on water over a period of 4 or 5 days made it worse.

Oxygen, I have a hard time thinking thats the cause. I have never had that problem in the past with this medium, their in fabric pots, my inline is running 24/7... different speeds, but always going on some capacity.

Maybe pH? But if it was pH I would think the rest of the brood would be seeing something similar. Maybe to different extents with genetics playing a role, but I haven't seen anything on the others relating to leaf curling.

Thats my main quandary here.

Billybill said:

What’s the medium? What’s your source of water?

Click to expand...

Medium is a super soil that was a FFOF and Happy frog 3:1 ratio... but i started this soil up a few years back. Every year I re-up on amendments according to the results of the previous year, always adding worm castings, perlite, typically blood meal, fish bone, lobster meal, Azomite, Nitrogen Based Bat guano, Epson Salt, Dolomitic lime, and a few others at small amounts.


Water is either 0ppm filtered water, or straight RO when I fill up at a buddies.

mbrowne1620 said:

Yeah, I thought nitrogen for sure. Thanks for the input on the calcium. Hoping I can hop on these 2 very quickly.

The leaf curling is the one that has me really unsure of whats going on.

I thought over water also, but cutting down on water over a period of 4 or 5 days made it worse.

Oxygen, I have a hard time thinking thats the cause. I have never had that problem in the past with this medium, their in fabric pots, my inline is running 24/7... different speeds, but always going on some capacity.

Maybe pH? But if it was pH I would think the rest of the brood would be seeing something similar. Maybe to different extents with genetics playing a role, but I haven't seen anything on the others relating to leaf curling.

Thats my main quandary here.



Medium is a super soil that was a FFOF and Happy frog 3:1 ratio... but i started this soil up a few years back. Every year I re-up on amendments according to the results of the previous year, always adding worm castings, perlite, typically blood meal, fish bone, lobster meal, Azomite, Nitrogen Based Bat guano, Epson Salt, Dolomitic lime, and a few others at small amounts.


Water is either 0ppm filtered water, or straight RO when I fill up at a buddies.

Click to expand...

I’m with cage. I would say calcium and possibly a little overwatered. I had a tent do the same exact thing but I think mine was locking out a little due to cold temps. It’s the only thing I could come up with. I use suns super soil and throw in about 150 ppm of calmag. It has worked pretty good. I hate using bottled stuff in super soil but when you’re starting with nothing in the water I feel like I’m just putting in what it’s lacking. Still better than tap water.