First Time Grower Questions

Hello everyone! I’ve been growing a plant for about 2.5 weeks now. Everything was going well, the plant looked great. I added a little bit of distilled water to the plant yesterday and checked it right now before bed. To my shock she doesn’t look good at all!? I don’t know what to do. I think it’s a nutrient problem I just don’t know what to do to correct it. Please help my baby!

I just ordered a PPM and PH meter today should be here in a week.
I did do a soil test get today and it tested right about 6.6 to 6.7.
I have attached photos of the plant and the soil I have used.

I have not added any nutrients to my distilled water and I do a big water once every two to three days and a mist nightly before they sleep. On 18/6 light cycle. Also attached photos of the setup.

Tent is 4x2x5 using a 400watt HPS light, using carbon filter a 6in exhaust fan that can do 440cfm it’s got a variable speed control set to the lowest setting, using a 4in inlet fan which does 188cfm no speed control.

Soil used: miracle gro potting mix.
The nutrients in the photo I own and have not used at all yet as I figured the soil wouldn’t need me adding more to it...

I tried to find ways to make my own soil but couldn’t quite find a store. Nearly sold out online wherever I looked. Would like help there too For future endeavors as I now have actual seeds I purchased professionally. Glad I didn’t go with them yet until I figure this out. So any and all advice is welcome!

Thank You in advance

Better photos incase those first ones didn’t work right. They were cut off on my phone screen.

RAISE YOUR LIGHT
That poor plant looks like it’s getting cooked!

OH, on soil too. Amazon is way too expensive for things like FFOF/ happy frog unless that’s your only way to get them. It’s like $35 there vs. $14 at the hydro store by my house.
I have been using ffof/Hf but I want to try Stepwell living soil.. this kit looks awesome and you can get quite a few grows out of it!
If you can’t buy a good soil, building one isn’t too hard! Most garden stores will sell the ingredients you need, just check out the pinned organic threads.

Weouthere said:

RAISE YOUR LIGHT

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What do you recommend the height to be? I read it should be between 14 and 20 inches

SirDebow said:

What do you recommend the height to be? I read it should be between 14 and 20 inches

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What’s it at now? I’d go 24” and see if they look a little better. Maybe even higher, try 36”?
What makes me think that btw is the crunchy/twisted looking leaves along with the way they are taco-ing.
I added more to my first comment too

Okay, they are currently "sleeping" when they wake up at 4pm and lights kick on I will raise it up and go to 26 inches. What is FFOF? I don't understand all the acronyms you are using.

It looks as if Stepwell Soil does not ship to the US.

If you look at the label for the soil it says...feeds up to 6 months. That is a problem. I would look to transplant them to better soil ASAP.

The problem is you cannot control the feed levels...so sure a tree outside can handle the nutes for example, but a young plant in tender stages does not like being force fed...which is what happens with MG soil.

Now dont panic. Just think it through and plan accordingly.

ComfortCreator said:

If you look at the label for the soil it says...feeds up to 6 months. That is a problem. I would look to transplant them to better soil ASAP.

The problem is you cannot control the feed levels...so sure a tree outside can handle the nutes for example, but a young plant in tender stages does not like being force fed...which is what happens with MG soil.

Now dont panic. Just think it through and plan accordingly.

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Yup that's why(most*) ppl bash MG. They don't understand what they're using. Me personally, if that was my only option, I'd just sift through the whole bag and throw the Nitrogen balls out the window. That's what causes the real issues. 6 months is way too long for cannabis.

*I say most because some have a problem with the parent company. Understandably so.

SirDebow said:

Okay, they are currently "sleeping" when they wake up at 4pm and lights kick on I will raise it up and go to 26 inches. What is FFOF? I don't understand all the acronyms you are using.

It looks as if Stepwell Soil does not ship to the US.

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Fox farm Ocean Forest.

Just look into making your own mix and how to cultivate cannabis in it. There is coco, peat, soil, water buckets.. all sorts of options. MG potting soil isn't really for consumables though. Not gonna kill you. I've smoked plenty of Miracle Grown lol

I can head to my local store right now! I just need to know what I am shooting for here.... some instructions would be awesome. A shopping list even better.

SirDebow said:

I can head to my local store right now! I just need to know what I am shooting for here.... some instructions would be awesome. A shopping list even better.

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Well here's the deal, you gotta build a soil that has nutes already in it, and just water it until it seems like something is needed again... Or you build a basic 3 part soil and feed nutes regularly. The second option is gonna be harder for a first time grower. The first option is going to be more expensive. Which would you prefer?

Edit: those bottle nutes are the same thing unfortunately. I like HN over FF though. Big time. Better ingredients. Either brand, you will need at least two other bottles of nutes, if you choose the cheaper soil option, because they will be depending on you for most of their nutes.

Miracle grow actually makes a decent soil these days. Their Performance Plus Organics soil is made with the same stuff Fox Farms and others are using. It's the black bag with yellow writing. If you don't have a shop with anything else some big box stores carry it.

Some soils are regional so some may or may not be available in your area. If you can't get something like Fox Farms you might be able to find Dr Earth or Black Gold Organic which will both be much better for cannabis than the Miracle variety you're using.

Here’s a good recipe. Consult someone at your local nursery for the best base soil to start with, but you’ll want something with sphagnum peat, maybe some coir, perlite, mychorizzhae.. you need basically a simple starter soil to begin with. Any nursery would have good options.

Weouthere said:

Here’s a good recipe. Consult someone at your local nursery for the best base soil to start with, but you’ll want something with sphagnum peat, maybe some coir, perlite, mychorizzhae.. you need basically a simple starter soil to begin with. Any nursery would have good options.

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xtsho said:

Miracle grow actually makes a decent soil these days. Their Performance Plus Organics soil is made with the same stuff Fox Farms and others are using. It's the black bag with yellow writing. If you don't have a shop with anything else some big box stores carry it.

Some soils are regional so some may or may not be available in your area. If you can't get something like Fox Farms you might be able to find Dr Earth or Black Gold Organic which will both be much better for cannabis than the Miracle variety you're using.

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Dr Earth and Black Gold are both sold at the lowes, Home Depot, Walmart, and ace hardware near me.
Didn’t realize Stepwell didn’t ship here... my bad man but you’ll want something along those lines.
Im gonna drive up to Canada just to get some lol it seems so easy to use

xtsho said:

Miracle grow actually makes a decent soil these days. Their Performance Plus Organics soil is made with the same stuff Fox Farms and others are using. It's the black bag with yellow writing. If you don't have a shop with anything else some big box stores carry it.

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I was forced to buy this exact product due to the quarantine. Ended up being very happy,but the peat turns acidic fast. You'll need PH up for sure if you buy this. But holy shit do they love it.

It's actually a LOT closer to Royal Gold's King Mix, minus the coco! That's a VERY popular soil in the big grows.

KingQuazy said:

I was forced to buy this exact product due to the quarantine. Ended up being very happy,but the peat turns acidic fast. You'll need PH up for sure if you buy this. But holy shit do they love it.

It's actually a LOT closer to Royal Gold's King Mix, minus the coco! That's a VERY popular soil in the big grows.

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I was surprised when I read the ingredients. It's a decent base soil.

Miracle gro, like Scotts and all those brands... responds to the people and many like easy and simple. They have also recognized the cannabis market and have bought up many reputable cannabis brands of nutrients and such.

I would assume some, or many actually have learned to grow in MG very well, even from a young age. But it would not be a fun grow...

My simple 2c is if someone like the idea of MG, they really want super soil they just dont know what it is or how to get it. I run it and cannot fathom adding nutes to my grow.

Not because its bad or worse...because it requires a huge effort where my goal is to provide the nutrition the plant wants.

Not that it is truly Sun Tsu...but the idea in my head is we win the medium battle before the grow starts by having the right medium! Then we water and watch.

Weouthere said:

Im gonna drive up to Canada just to get some lol it seems so easy to use

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They pushed the border back another month I think smh

ComfortCreator said:

Miracle gro, like Scotts and all those brands... responds to the people and many like easy and simple. They have also recognized the cannabis market and have bought up many reputable cannabis brands of nutrients and such.

I would assume some, or many actually have learned to grow in MG very well, even from a young age. But it would not be a fun grow...

My simple 2c is if someone like the idea of MG, they really want super soil they just dont know what it is or how to get it. I run it and cannot fathom adding nutes to my grow.

Not because its bad or worse...because it requires a huge effort where my goal is to provide the nutrition the plant wants.

Not that it is truly Sun Tsu...but the idea in my head is we win the medium battle before the grow starts by having the right medium! Then we water and watch.

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I cannot wait to have clovers and worms in my room lol It sounds silly even saying it lol

Okay guys these was the best organic soil they had available within a 50 mile area. Opinions? Also picked up some other things incase I can order another soil.... should I add any of those into my transplant pot before transferring the planet into it.

Should I wait for the plant soil to completely dry before transplanting this time? Or should I just transplant and get it out of the MG soil?