Help diagnosing deficiency

T

TokoLoco

Member
Hello everyone, hope all is well. Im growing a small autoflower that has developed a deficiency and has gotten pretty bad over the last 5 days.
My first guesses are either a phosphorus deficiency or my ph is messed up. There are big splotches on the leaves I haven't seen before.
  • Strain is gsc auto if I remember correctly, or some sort of cake or pie. It's about 7 weeks old.
  • I'm using mg performance organic potting soil with some lime(1tbs/g), heard ph of this soil can be on the lower end. Also 2 cup perlite/g and ewc at a 1:5 ratio with soil.
  • I top dress with dr earth 4-4-4 every 3 weeks. Last top dress about a week ago I switched to the flowering feed of same brand which is 3-9-4. I go off the bag and spread about 2.5 tbs and cover with fresh soil mix and water in.
  • I water with plain tap water, with recharge every other watering. I don't adjust the ph but I test the water every time and it's high 6s low 7s.
  • Temps are 80-82F, humidity 48-52%.
Hope that's enough info, maybe I'm just not top dressing soon enough when it starts flowering. Last watering I did water with some 2-3-1 liquid fish and seaweed fertilizer but it diddnt seem to help much.
I also have some foxfarm tiger bloom but avoid using it because there's already dry amendments and I don't want to burn the plant or damage the soil.
Thanks for any advice, here's some pics:
20230311_131526.jpg20230311_131726.jpg20230311_131716.jpg20230311_131700.jpg20230311_131625.jpg20230311_131614.jpg20230311_131602.jpg20230311_131542.jpg20230311_131534.jpg
 
Herb & Suds

Herb & Suds

Well-Known Member
Not sure but it seems you have been low on nitrogen in every various nutrient you are using
Switch back and forth like that makes it hard to diagnose
Were these nutrients you had laying around or did someone persuade you to use those combinations?
Next run just try a two part system I like running jacks 321 system for the entire grow
I would add every-time you make nutrient it takes time for the plant to adjust
You are making it difficult by this cocktail you have been experimenting with
In summation just throwing it out there but a bit of Epsom salt might help unlock what ever isn’t feeding your girls
 
T

TokoLoco

Member
hotrodharley said:
Phosphorus deficiency
Click to expand...
Alright that's what I was thinking.
Herb & Suds said:
Not sure but it seems you have been low on nitrogen in every various nutrient you are using
Switch back and forth like that makes it hard to diagnose
Were these nutrients you had laying around or did someone persuade you to use those combinations?
Next run just try a two part system I like running jacks 321 system for the entire grow
I would add every-time you make nutrient it takes time for the plant to adjust
You are making it difficult by this cocktail you have been experimenting with
In summation just throwing it out there but a bit of Epsom salt might help unlock what ever isn’t feeding your girls
Click to expand...
They're dr earth dry amendments, one for veg and for flower. Had good luck growing veggies outside so thought I'd try it with this.
In hindsight I probably shouldn't have had my first go with an autoflower.
Haven't noticed a nitrogen issue, I could be wrong though. The nitrogen is kinda low but I figured it was because it's a slower release nutrient.
I'll try some epsom salt next watering. Should I try an organic liquid flower nute just to slow down the deficiency while the dry stuff breaks down? I can get neptunes harvest which says it's fast acting organic
2-6-4.
Believe me I just want to stick to the dry amendments and water if I can.

Heard good things about Jack's and I've been researching using it with coco coir but I wanted a successful run with this.
Would it work well with soil?
Thanks for the advice guys.
 
Herb & Suds

Herb & Suds

Well-Known Member
TokoLoco said:
Alright that's what I was thinking.

They're dr earth dry amendments, one for veg and for flower. Had good luck growing veggies outside so thought I'd try it with this.
In hindsight I probably shouldn't have had my first go with an autoflower.
Haven't noticed a nitrogen issue, I could be wrong though. The nitrogen is kinda low but I figured it was because it's a slower release nutrient.
I'll try some epsom salt next watering. Should I try an organic liquid flower nute just to slow down the deficiency while the dry stuff breaks down? I can get neptunes harvest which says it's fast acting organic
2-6-4.
Believe me I just want to stick to the dry amendments and water if I can.

Heard good things about Jack's and I've been researching using it with coco coir but I wanted a successful run with this.
Would it work well with soil?
Thanks for the advice guys.
Click to expand...
I use it in promix and like it for ease
I can’t post pics of current grow as I’m incapacitated for a few weeks…
 
PadawanWarrior

PadawanWarrior

Well-Known Member
TokoLoco said:
Alright that's what I was thinking.

They're dr earth dry amendments, one for veg and for flower. Had good luck growing veggies outside so thought I'd try it with this.
In hindsight I probably shouldn't have had my first go with an autoflower.
Haven't noticed a nitrogen issue, I could be wrong though. The nitrogen is kinda low but I figured it was because it's a slower release nutrient.
I'll try some epsom salt next watering. Should I try an organic liquid flower nute just to slow down the deficiency while the dry stuff breaks down? I can get neptunes harvest which says it's fast acting organic
2-6-4.
Believe me I just want to stick to the dry amendments and water if I can.

Heard good things about Jack's and I've been researching using it with coco coir but I wanted a successful run with this.
Would it work well with soil?
Thanks for the advice guys.
Click to expand...
Kinda looks like multiple issues or lockout. Has the soil stayed fairly moist? And what water are you using? If it dries out activity slows. And it can be tough if you don't top dress in time too. You should have enough Mg already especially since you also added lime. A little Epsom isn't gonna hurt them but I doubt it's gonna do anything unless you've been using too much Ca and have an imbalance. That plant doesn't have a ton of leaves so it's gonna be more picky than one would if it had tons of leaves.
 
T

TokoLoco

Member
PadawanWarrior said:
Kinda looks like multiple issues or lockout. Has the soil stayed fairly moist? And what water are you using? If it dries out activity slows. And it can be tough if you don't top dress in time too. You should have enough Mg already especially since you also added lime. A little Epsom isn't gonna hurt them but I doubt it's gonna do anything unless you've been using too much Ca and have an imbalance. That plant doesn't have a ton of leaves so it's gonna be more picky than one would if it had tons of leaves.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply, I water every 4-5 days when the pots lighten up or when the moisture meter is at the lower end for moist but not dry.
I've had a very difficult time getting the edges of the pot moist, maybe cause they're in fabric pots.
I use tap water, 250 ppm if I recall.
Don't believe I was timing the top dressings right either.
I can get https://www.google.com/shopping/product/16333314431416308033?q=neptunes+harvest+rose+and+flowering+cannabis+schedule&client=ms-android-samsung-ss&sa=X&biw=412&bih=756&tbs=vw:l&prds=eto:3956088755033384440_0,cdl:1,prmr:1,rsk:PC_708151044554364950,pid:2129452299146714242,cs:1&ved=0ahUKEwir97-3qdf9AhXAhIkEHUJjApkQgTYIsw8

Was wondering if I can use it for a one or two waterings while the dry stuff breaks down.
 
PadawanWarrior

PadawanWarrior

Well-Known Member
TokoLoco said:
Thanks for the reply, I water every 4-5 days when the pots lighten up or when the moisture meter is at the lower end for moist but not dry.
I've had a very difficult time getting the edges of the pot moist, maybe cause they're in fabric pots.
I use tap water, 250 ppm if I recall.
Don't believe I was timing the top dressings right either.
I can get https://www.google.com/shopping/product/16333314431416308033?q=neptunes+harvest+rose+and+flowering+cannabis+schedule&client=ms-android-samsung-ss&sa=X&biw=412&bih=756&tbs=vw:l&prds=eto:3956088755033384440_0,cdl:1,prmr:1,rsk:PC_708151044554364950,pid:2129452299146714242,cs:1&ved=0ahUKEwir97-3qdf9AhXAhIkEHUJjApkQgTYIsw8

Was wondering if I can use it for a one or two waterings while the dry stuff breaks down.
Click to expand...
If the soil gets too dry it'll become hydrophobic. Add a wetting agent like yucca. I use plastic pots since the fabric dries too fast here. I'd be hesitant to add a bunch more stuff now, but the Neptune's might help a little. If you have EWC I would make a tea or topdress with some EWC.

Do you know what the majority of that 250 ppm is? Do you get lots of Ca buildup in faucets and stuff?
 
BongerChonger

BongerChonger

Well-Known Member
That's a fair bit you've added already to try and rectify. And you've been regularly supplementing 4-4-4. I doubt it's a deficiency if you haven't seen any improvement, and you've been adding more.
Sometimes less is more.
I'd be using caution at this point. Could get a lot worse if it isn't a deficiency and you add more again.

What was the pot size?
It's not much aeration you added per gallon.
The outside edges of your pot maybe drying a bit fast, but is the centre staying a bit damp?
Have never really liked the fabric pots for that reason. They're better suited to more aerated media like coco, so it dries/aerates more evenly.

When did you start to see symptoms?
How available is the 4-4-4 and 3-9-4?
Is it coincidence it started getting worse the past 5 days, after giving 3-9-4 and 2-3-1 liquid fish?
Be cautious, I don't think so.
Careful with liquid fish emulsion. In my own experience it's better suited to foliar applications than soil drenches. I've crashed my soil pH before using it as a soil drench. Not suggesting it's the same for you.

There's a lot you've added already. In my own opinion less is more in this case.
For the reason you can always add more, but can't really take it away. What's done is done.
And it's gotten worse since last watering when you gave liquid fish and top dressed with 3-9-4.
 
Last edited:
T

TokoLoco

Member
PadawanWarrior said:
If the soil gets too dry it'll become hydrophobic. Add a wetting agent like yucca. I use plastic pots since the fabric dries too fast here. I'd be hesitant to add a bunch more stuff now, but the Neptune's might help a little. If you have EWC I would make a tea or topdress with some EWC.

Do you know what the majority of that 250 ppm is? Do you get lots of Ca buildup in faucets and stuff?
Click to expand...
Not sure what's in the water but I don't see alot of calcium buildup.
I'll look into the yucca and switch back to plastic pots after this plant.
I put a layer of the same potting mix on top of the amendments when i top dress which has the ewc in it, but not straight ewc. Need to start making teas too.

BongerChonger said:
That's a fair bit you've added already to try and rectify. And you've been regularly supplementing 4-4-4. I doubt it's a deficiency if you haven't seen any improvement, and you've been adding more.
Sometimes less is more.
I'd be using caution at this point. Could get a lot worse if it isn't a deficiency and you add more again.

What was the pot size?
It's not much aeration you added per gallon.
The outside edges of your pot maybe drying a bit fast, but is the centre staying a bit damp?
Have never really liked the fabric pots for that reason. They're better suited to more aerated media like coco, so it dries/aerates more evenly.

When did you start to see symptoms?
How available is the 4-4-4 and 3-9-4?
Is it coincidence it started getting worse the past 5 days, after giving 3-9-4 and 2-3-1 liquid fish?
Be cautious, I don't think so.
Careful with liquid fish emulsion. In my own experience it's better suited to foliar applications than soil drenches. I've crashed my soil pH before using it as a soil drench. Not suggesting it's the same for you.

There's a lot you've added already. In my own opinion less is more in this case.
For the reason you can always add more, but can't really take it away. What's done is done.
And it's gotten worse since last watering when you gave liquid fish and top dressed with 3-9-4.
Click to expand...
I added 3-9-4 in response to the first signs of the deficiency a little over a week ago. The liquid stuff was given last watering 3 days ago. At half the recommended dose.
Figured I waited too long to top dress, that's why I thought to add a little liquid stuff while it broke down.
It's In a 3 gallon pot, I've used ocean forest in all my other grows and it dried more evenly, even in the fabric pots. The mg seems to hold more water so should've added more perlite.
She doesn't need water yet so I'll wait another day at least. But it's getting worse by the day.
Thanks again for the advice.
 
S

SBNDB

Well-Known Member
Grab u some Jacks Classic Blossom Booster (10-30-20) its cheap,available at alot of stores or online of course. Use it a couple times til the dr earth kicks in. Also maybe you didn’t add enough dr earth. I don’t get why people are saying you’re doing some weird mixing of nutrients, it’s the same as switching from grow to bloom with other kinds of nutrients. It’s easy to get behind with dry fertilizers and plants get super hungry when they start to flower. But the jacks classic is a good and easy way to feed plants.
 
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