Anyone growing in perlite? Results?

Porky101

Well-Known Member
Hi Everyone,

Im doing a run in perlite drain to waist.

My EC is between 1.8-2.2.
PH 6

My flowering NPK ratio is : 2-1-2 (N-P-K)

I make my own fertilizers using chemical salts.

Room temps 84F

800-1000 umol

Week 5 flower.




It looks like a calmag deficiency to me? More Mag than Calcium?

Should I feed more???

I think they have too much N. I am thinking of feeding only MKP and some epson salts until end of flower?

Am I wrong about it being Magnesium and some calcium? I am surprised shes getting deficiencies as 2.2EC is a LOT, but I guess shes telling me shes still hungry?

Thanks all!


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Nizza

Well-Known Member
Watering to runoff can be very important, always 10-20% runoff will stop salt buildup in the perlite. Excess salts can cause lockouts like this, hopefully this helps!
 

Nizza

Well-Known Member
Yes I am always measuring runoff - I see a constant rise in runoff PPMS. Does that mean I must lower the feed and add some epson salts?
That wouldn't be a bad idea, there is a lot of discoloration there.
Are you sure the plant is getting all the other micro nutrients as well? Maybe someone here could help if they knew what salts you use to make your own ferts

I use 2.0 EC water on young plants and don't show any stress from nutrients

I bet theres something missing like you're saying, probably cal-mag but maybe something else is missing too.
 

Porky101

Well-Known Member
Watering to runoff can be very important, always 10-20% runoff will stop salt buildup in the perlite. Excess salts can cause lockouts like this, hopefully this helps!

Your saying it is a lockout.

Maybe they are hungry?

Why would they get a lockout? How to avoid lockouts infuture? How can you tell the difference between lockout and hungry?
 

Porky101

Well-Known Member
That wouldn't be a bad idea, there is a lot of discoloration there.
Are you sure the plant is getting all the other micro nutrients as well? Maybe someone here could help if they knew what salts you use to make your own ferts

Im not hundred percent sure. My nutrients could be at fault.

I have stored some of my micro salts in water. And have labeled them : 100g/1L Copper Sulphate or Manganese sulphate. Is it fine to store these salts in water? I thought perhaps the metals could oxidise and this could be a MN deficiency, but I still think its MG.


There are other plants that are doing much better. The photos I posted were the most affected plant, others have lesser degree's of the same deficiency.

I do not want to rule out the potential possibility that I have messed my concentrate mix up. But I believe this is a MG issue, and adding more MG should solve it?
 

Nizza

Well-Known Member
When I say lockout, I mean I don't think the plant can really uptake the nutrients like it should because it looks like it is in poor health.

I would first make sure all the macro and micro nutrients are there for it. They look a little like a N toxicity so maybe shift the feed to have less N in it, and lower the overall feed strength and see if that helps. If you think you are missing magnesium only in your mix, try the epsom salts. The leaves won't recover but it will help
 

Nizza

Well-Known Member
Im not hundred percent sure. My nutrients could be at fault.

I have stored some of my micro salts in water. And have labeled them : 100g/1L Copper Sulphate or Manganese sulphate. Is it fine to store these salts in water? I thought perhaps the metals could oxidise and this could be a MN deficiency, but I still think its MG.


There are other plants that are doing much better. The photos I posted were the most affected plant, others have lesser degree's of the same deficiency.

I do not want to rule out the potential possibility that I have messed my concentrate mix up. But I believe this is a MG issue, and adding more MG should solve it?
The leaves will not get better in health but the damage won't progress any further
 

Porky101

Well-Known Member
When I say lockout, I mean I don't think the plant can really uptake the nutrients like it should because it looks like it is in poor health.

I would first make sure all the macro and micro nutrients are there for it. They look a little like a N toxicity so maybe shift the feed to have less N in it, and lower the overall feed strength and see if that helps. If you think you are missing magnesium only in your mix, try the epsom salts. The leaves won't recover but it will help

Ok Agreed. Yes definitly too much N. Which is interesting I am probably feeding them N of 200PPM +-. Thats not much N??? I guess they are heavily flowering so need even less N, but they seem to want Mg now.



I hope its just MG. I fed today base nutes EC 2.0 and then Epson salts at 0.2EC giving a total of 2.2EC. Tap water is 0.2EC.

My plants are 6ft tall. Do taller bigger plants need more food? Im sure they do, thats why im on such "HIGH" PPMS.

I also foiler sprayed them with epson @ 1.6EC 5.0PH
 

Porky101

Well-Known Member
Maybe try to mimic an all-purpose 1-part fertilizer like this? https://greenleafnutrients.com/product/mega-crop/

My formula (Bloom) is this:

N (NO3-) 115.853 5.3% +/- 0%
K 172.903 -1.2% +/- 0%
P 67.648 4.1% +/- 0%
Mg 50 0% +/- 0%
Ca 120.91 -3.3% +/- 0%
S 67.74 -3.2% +/- 0%
Fe 2 0% +/- 0%
Zn 1.2 0% +/- 0%
B 0.4 0% +/- 0%
Cu 0.6 0% +/- 0%
Mo 0.06 0% +/- 0.6%
Na 0.454 0% +/- 0%
Si 0 0% +/- 0%
Cl 0 0% +/- 0%
Mn 1.5 0% +/- 0%
N (NH4+) 0 0% +/- 0%
 

fragileassassin

Well-Known Member
IMO.
No way it isnt lockout with an EC that high.

Lockout happens from bad ph or overfeeding. If you throw too much nutrient at it, itll stop eating until you correct the problem or it dies.

My plants are 6ft tall. Do taller bigger plants need more food? Im sure they do, thats why im on such "HIGH" PPMS.
More yes, not necessarily stronger. Bigger plants drink more.
Ive also grown 6ft monsters on half that EC.


 

Porky101

Well-Known Member
IMO.
No way it isnt lockout with an EC that high.

Lockout happens from bad ph or overfeeding. If you throw too much nutrient at it, itll stop eating until you correct the problem or it dies.


More yes, not necessarily stronger. Bigger plants drink more.
Ive also grown 6ft monsters on half that EC.



I hear you. And I actually feel the same. But when I used less food they would land up getting similar issues, CA issues at an ec of 1.4, So I raised it and at first the deficiency stopped but then it continued too progress. Maybe at first it needed food was hungry then it went to lockout.

I have been used to feeding my plants an EC of 1.4 but lately they seem to want more.

If it were lockout, then surely all nutrients would be locked out. I am only seeing a MG deficiency. I believed lockout would mean all nutrients, not just one specific one? I can understand too much K can lockout MG. Is that what may be happening? If so, by adding more MG that should fix that issue?

Also, Why would you get burn and not lockout and vice versa?

What would you say the appropriate response is to that plant?
 
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rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
I hear you. And I actually feel the same. But when I used less food they would land up getting similar issues, CA issues at an ec of 1.4, So I raised it and at first the deficiency stopped but then it continued too progress. Maybe at first it needed food was hungry then it went to lockout.

I have been used to feeding my plants an EC of 1.4 but lately they seem to want more.

If it were lockout, then surely all nutrients would be locked out. I am only seeing a MG deficiency. I believed lockout would mean all nutrients, not just one specific one? I can understand too much K can lockout MG. Is that what may be happening? If so, by adding more MG that should fix that issue?

Also, Why would you get burn and not lockout and vice versa?

What would you say the appropriate response is to that plant?
i would up your ppm of Ca and Mg in your mix, lower the N a bit. target the individual nutes you are lacking/too much of.
 

Nizza

Well-Known Member
My formula (Bloom) is this:

N (NO3-) 115.853 5.3% +/- 0%
K 172.903 -1.2% +/- 0%
P 67.648 4.1% +/- 0%
Mg 50 0% +/- 0%
Ca 120.91 -3.3% +/- 0%
S 67.74 -3.2% +/- 0%
Fe 2 0% +/- 0%
Zn 1.2 0% +/- 0%
B 0.4 0% +/- 0%
Cu 0.6 0% +/- 0%
Mo 0.06 0% +/- 0.6%
Na 0.454 0% +/- 0%
Si 0 0% +/- 0%
Cl 0 0% +/- 0%
Mn 1.5 0% +/- 0%
N (NH4+) 0 0% +/- 0%
I really don’t know what I’m looking at here but I’m sure someone else will

one thing to also note—especially if this is the largest plant having the most issues.
When the medium gets dryer , ec increases. Under watering can cause burn like issues And lockout
 

Porky101

Well-Known Member
I really don’t know what I’m looking at here but I’m sure someone else will

one thing to also note—especially if this is the largest plant having the most issues.
When the medium gets dryer , ec increases. Under watering can cause burn like issues And lockout

Ye I know as the medium dries ec rises. I try keep them always saturated with water to avoid this.
 

cobshopgrow

Well-Known Member
to me the values look quite good, or at least theyre not complete out of the world.
would guess your plants can get away with a little les n in flower.

to sort out your micros.
have you considered buying a premixed micro mix powder to make sure the micros are there and it good ratios?
who knows, you could be right and something went south there.
 
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