I dont know why this is happening! Help!

Hi everyone,

I have been growing for many years but have always grown in soil. This is the first year I have changed to peat moss. The peat moss I got started with a pH of 5,5 but has since risen to about 7,1. All my plants are looking absolutely shocking. Some seem to have nutrient deficiencies ranging from phosphorus to potassium while other plants which received the same feed have nutrient burn. I have tried flushing the medium three times but doesnt make such a difference. Any and all help is so welcome. See photos of issues. I have never in the last six years had such a bad run of plants. Freaking out here.

How many days did you season the medium before sticking plants in it?

Stabilize your medium at least three days before ever starting the grow. Once its stable, then you plant.


I use coco. My pots are seasoned for 3-4 days in a cal magic soak. 15ml to a gallon solution. Pots are stuck in the room after the soak and drain. Then its another two days of the pots being in the grow room environment to get the temperature correct.

RO water, GH ferts. Starting at 200ppm working up to 730ppm after the forth node. 5.8-6.1PH. 67.5°F fert solution temp.

What do u mean the peat started with a ph of 5.5?
Now at 7.1?
How did u check it?

Is it plain peat or a mix from a bag

I had the peat tested at a lab because I was interested to see how it was still. It is a premix of: perlite, white peat, green fibre medium and white peat fiber. See picture attached of all the elements.

It doesn't matter what's it in. The good stuff comes from the fertilizer. All the medium needs to do is hold enough air, drain well and...maintain a PH.

I should add it had been sitting out in a bag in the elements for over a year. Am thinking this is what's caused the high pH. Thoughts anyone?

Did it get dry as paper? If not, it should have. Moisture over a year and it starts breaking down. If its kept dry-dry. Its more stable and the bugs don't mess with it as much.

So to answer your question. You Bet.

What nutes
Ppm
Ph in
How often do u water/feed

Whats your peat- perlite ratio?

I am in south Africa so I use a company called Easy Hydro Grow, they have a good npk grow, micro and bloom feed.
Ppm is about 1,4 and pH going in is between 5,5-6,0

I use peat based

Feed every other day, cept early veg, they can go one more day

Those plants look bad, have u looked for mites by chance

Beehive said:

Did it get dry as paper? If not, it should have. Moisture over a year and it starts breaking down. If its kept dry-dry. Its more stable and the bugs don't mess with it as much.

So to answer your question. You Bet.

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Damn. So would that result in all the issues I'm having? Is that possible?

BobThe420Builder said:

I use peat based

Feed every other day, cept early veg, they can go one more day

Those plants look bad, have u looked for mites by chance

Click to expand...

We dont have mites....ye they looking shocking and I am trying everything but nothing seems to work. Will try a feed every other day. How wet are your plants in between feeds?

I try and never let them dry out or they get issues

Could be as simple as you letting them completely dry out

Peat is like hydro,not like coco and feed every day,but I've noticed bad things when they get too dry

A-smoke said:

Damn. So would that result in all the issues I'm having? Is that possible?

Click to expand...

Your medium has been cooking for a year. Mother Nature won't let it last forever. The only way to slow the process down is to dry it out. That's if its going to store between grows. I cycle grows. I only grow during winter. There's about 8-10 months between grows. The medium is stored in a trash can during that time. Making sure it stays as dry as I can store it.

Coco breaks down during a grow. (5 months). After that, its rinsed with tap water. To remove the 'dust'. Then dried out in the sun. Later placed in the garage can. Where it further dries. Root ball isn't removed until its paper dry.

Next grow, more coco is added to replace what was stuck to the root ball. Soaked with calmag. Rinsed and its ready to go again. The secret is letting it dry out for storage.

BobThe420Builder said:

I try and never let them dry out or they get issues

Could be as simple as you letting them completely dry out

Peat is like hydro,not like coco and feed every day,but I've noticed bad things when they get too dry

Click to expand...

This is so interesting! Thank you for sharing this info. I am going to put them on an e very second day feed and see how it goes.