Yellowing Leaves, I'm confused

[Ron]

Hi,

Sorry in advance for the long post but I'm worried I'm going to lose my 2 girls!

I've got a couple of plants, grown in soil, that are slowly dieing from the bottom up. I've attached some pictures showing leaves in different stages of turning.

1. Starts with the green veins and yellow leafs.
2. moves to all yellow leafs.
3. finally the edges turn and the leaves are brown and crispy.

This has been going on for weeks now and seems to be getting worse as time goes on. First I tried a flush with RO water then some tomato food with micro nutrients I had at 75% strength 18-19-30, no joy. I then tried transplanting about 9 days ago and it had no effect (the plants were somewhat root bound). My regular fertilizer is a hydroponics mix ( 2 parts, 1-2-5 and 2-0-0) that I'm trying with soil. All of my basil, sage, rosemary love it and it does list many micro nutrients so I suspect it is ok. The pH is around 6.5 or so ... hard to get super accurate with the ph testing drops.

Is this a Mg issue?

Thanks for lookin'
R.

[jangel]

Is it just those few leaves or is it more? They do naturally die off. The plant looks fine other than those leaves. Is this your only baby or do you have others this is happening to as well? Have to have more experianced heads than me take a look Ron.

[Ron]

Hi jangel,

Thanks for the quick reply. Both plants look about the same. They have been vegging for just over 8 weeks now. I suspect it is time to start the flowering cycle but I'm not sure as this is my first grow and I want to make sure they are healthy before I commit to flowering them. These are northern lights #5 (indica) if that matters.

Thanks,
R.

[jangel]

You never said what kind of soil you have them in. Is there perlite in it and is it airy and light? It could be something with the roots if transplanting it did not help. I need the kind of soil they are in. Also, my plants look something like that when they are root bound. you say you just transplanted it. I have to almost do it every 2 weeks to keep up with the root growth.

[justplainbill]

I have to say I agree with jangel that the rest of the plant looks fine and you may be correct in needing to start them flowering.

[ISO2BWELL]

Hi Ron,

I would not think that those leaves are going to recover, and since they offer no further benefit to the plant they should be removed. The rest of the plant appears healthy, and you don't need it spending it's energy trying to save leaves that are already toast.

I'm with Jangel...move it to flower and let her do her thing..it's time!

ISO

[Ron]

Originally Posted by jangel

You never said what kind of soil you have them in. Is there perlite in it and is it airy and light? It could be something with the roots if transplanting it did not help. I need the kind of soil they are in. Also, my plants look something like that when they are root bound. you say you just transplanted it. I have to almost do it every 2 weeks to keep up with the root growth.

The base for the soil is a generic ready to use planting mix (with no fertilizer). One pot has around 40% perlite - 60% generic mix. The other has 40% peatmoss - 60% generic mix. I figured I was feeding them with the hydroponics solution so I didn't need to worry about top quality soil. Also I have about 1 inch of wash gravel in the bottom of the pot. I don't think I've got issues with root rot as the soil is quite airy and I do let them dry out between waterings. You transplant every 2 weeks, wow are you keen! These plants are 8 weeks old and have been transplanted twice.

Thanks for the advice,
R.

[Ron]

Originally Posted by ISO2BWELL

Hi Ron,

I would not think that those leaves are going to recover, and since they offer no further benefit to the plant they should be removed. The rest of the plant appears healthy, and you don't need it speding it's energy trying to save leaves that are already toast.

I'm with Jangel...move it to flower and let her do her thing..it's time!

ISO

Sounds good! I'll switch them over to a flower cycle and let 'er go!

Cheers,
R.

PS. Until recently I was removing the yellowing leaves, I left these so I could make some decent pictures of my "problem" to post here.

[jangel]

With so many leaves it is natural to get some dieing off as they grow. They have to. Looks like all the other leaves are nice and deep green. I have two grocery bags of leaves off my plants, that just natually die off. Maybe they get rubbed, or there is a branch coming out there. If they are healthy, save the fan leaves but if they don't serve any purpose, Lop off their heads! ISO is right.

And you have to keep feeding them with that soil. .....we have to talk my friend.

There is no nutrition in that soil so the roots are going to get hungry and the leaves die off very quickly. My plants do it cause they use all the nutes I mix into the soil up, and that tells me it needs repotting. I look at the bottoms and sure enough, roots coming out of the holes. So don't stop feeding them. Also, try doing a ph test next time you water well. Save the last bit of runnoff out of the plant and test that. It will tell you what your soil ph is and that could also be a problem.

Just prune her back and set her to flower. Take clones first.

peace.

[Fredfarted]

What Kind of hydro nutes are you giveing her? I agree with the above posters. Swithch her to flower. Get yourself some hydro nutes that are for MJ. You would not believe the harvest I am getting out onf my garden. My veggy garden. I have so many damm peas, greenbeans, Zuccinie and cukes! I am so screwed! I am giveing the damm stuff away! These were all grown in dirt outside! I have trippled my crop from last year!!!!!!!! I feed the garden with Greenlightnin nutes once a week! Holy crap! One tablespoon each of A and B mixed in one gallon of water, Supposed to be hydro nutes but holy crap does that shit work in dirt!!!!!

[Ron]

Thanks for all the replies everyone, you have been very helpful. The nutes I'm using are a house brand copy of General Hydroponics. My veggie garden has flourished with it just like Fredfarted said. The pH of my soil was around 6.5 but I was using some of the first runoff from the flush. I'll check it again next time I water it which will be a few days I suspect.

@jangel: I take it you don't care for my choice is soils. No worries, I'm just wondering what is wrong with doing it this way. I figured they would be getting 100% of the nutes from the hydropnics mix in a DWC so why shouldn't this work fine? Guess I'm missin' something ... nothing new with that! LOL

l8tr,
R

[jangel]

Okay, first off the peat moss will go acidic after a while and is not buffered with anything. I use dolomite lime to help with that when I mix my soil with anything if it has peat in it. In time, it breaks down and makes a very acidic soil.

I guess as long as you are constantly feeding your babies, the soil will work, but in my opinion, you do need to add something to help the plants along. Also, if you are adding all your nutes to a soil, instead of using what is in the mix, you are risking nute build up, lock outs, and under feeding as well. It is a very fine line you are walking there in my humble opinion. I also do not think you need the gravel in the bottom. That is done in houseplants so the soil will not wash out, but not usually with pot. All your soil should allow roots to go into it. gravel does not unless you are doing hydro and then you use hydroton or some such media.

Here is a link to our FAQ: growfaq

Read that and read especailly about soils. Here is the Overgrow faq. Allso read about soils here: Drugs-Forum - Cannabis cultivation: Overgrow's GrowFAQ

Here is our Organics sections: Pay particular attention to the soil mix recipes by Videoman. Organic Growing - Dedicated to Cannabis Education, Recreational. Medicinal, and Cultivation.

I did not mean to come down on you about this. Just trying to help you and your babies. Hope this helps you understand what I mean.

Peace

[Ron]

jangel, don't worry I don't think your bashin' me (well not that much :-) ). I'll read up on it when I can as I have issues sitting in front of a computer for any length of time. I was trying to get to the GreenPassion growfaq a while ago and it wasn't working. I see it is now and from a casual read it looks very good. For anyone who doesn't know here is the link: growfaq

I'll make sure to monitor the ph level of both of them every time I feed. I do flush the plants with RO water every 4th time I water. I was hoping that it would prevent nute buildup/lockout. As for the gravel, well, you can tell I've only done house plants.

Thanks again jangel,
R
PS. The growfaq seems to be missing images starting around the How to build a flip flop section.

[jangel]

Originally Posted by Ron

jangel, don't worry I don't think your bashin' me (well not that much :-) ). I'll read up on it when I can as I have issues sitting in front of a computer for any length of time. I was trying to get to the GreenPassion growfaq a while ago and it wasn't working. I see it is now and from a casual read it looks very good. For anyone who doesn't know here is the link: growfaq

I'll make sure to monitor the ph level of both of them every time I feed. I do flush the plants with RO water every 4th time I water. I was hoping that it would prevent nute buildup/lockout. As for the gravel, well, you can tell I've only done house plants.

Thanks again jangel,
R
PS. The growfaq seems to be missing images starting around the How to build a flip flop section.

Thanks for pointing that out. Unless it is brought to our attention we cannot know it all. I will send this to the boss and see what we can do to fix it.

Anyone that sees something not working please let a mod know. It is a big site and we cannot be everywhere.

I do hope the links help you Ron. Never foreget, the soil builds the "feet" of your plants and without good feet, you will not get good bud. Hence the need to pay particular attention to the soil.

Peace.

Peace.

[Pappy]

By the pictures, I would say the lower leaves are merely too far from the light. Also, it may be that the plant is using its own stored nitrogen. I would begin 12/12 and flower them. I would also give them a little N, after checking that the pH is in the correct range. If the pH is too high or too low, some nutrients, N, may be locked out.

btw, Welcome to GP, Ron. You are in good hands.

Pappy

[Ron]

Thanks (again) for the great advice and links. I think I have seen the error of my ways and will be repotting into a better soil mix. FYI, the gravel in the bottom of the pot had tons of roots growing in it. I'll skip the gravel this time and follow a basic recipe. My plan is to transplant, make sure the plants are healthy and then move to flowering, sound good? Last Ques, is it too late to lst these plants so they get more even light? I was thinking of transplanting into a larger pot and tilting the plant over, from there I would LST it horizontally. I'm using a 400watt hps for these two plants.

Cheers,
R

[jangel]

Originally Posted by Ron

Thanks (again) for the great advice and links. I think I have seen the error of my ways and will be repotting into a better soil mix. FYI, the gravel in the bottom of the pot had tons of roots growing in it. I'll skip the gravel this time and follow a basic recipe. My plan is to transplant, make sure the plants are healthy and then move to flowering, sound good? Last Ques, is it too late to lst these plants so they get more even light? I was thinking of transplanting into a larger pot and tilting the plant over, from there I would LST it horizontally. I'm using a 400watt hps for these two plants.

Cheers,
R

Hey Ron. If those roots are in the gravel already then yes, that is why the leaves where dying off. Good plan my friend, with the fresh soil. DO NOT go too crazy removing anything, but see if you can get those stones out. GENTLY please. Read my journal to see me making a real mess of myself and my plants doing just that a bit ago.(the link is in my signature) No stones though. And I am just putting in pics of my plant the day I put them into flower, LST'ing, to bring the branches down as you are talking of, and let the branches open up to add to the BUD! I will get them on soon, so just hang tight. Have to go and take a pic of how they look now as they just woke up!

SO glad you saw the light!!!

Peace

[The HSIC]

Hey Ron, I took my coffee with me, and read your entire thread.
The advice already given seems to be on the money. The yellowing leaves at the bottom of the plant are normal. Plus, it is time to flower, now.

Here are some tidbits for you, always use 30 to 40% perlite.
I love growing in soil and here is my modified recipe for you, I changed it a little after seeing ISO having some trouble with it, using some clones.

Personally, I have had terrific success using that recipe, I'm using it now.
It is guaranteed to grow some top notch herb.

The main difference between how you do it, and how I do it is, you are attempting to feed the plant directly, I like to feed the soil, and let the plant take what it needs from the soil. next time, try my recipe, it is so easy, just a little bone meal mixed in the soil during the vegging stage, and during flowering, substitute bat guano for the bone meal. It dosent get any easier than that.

I wish you all the best with your grow my friend.
Peace

[Ron]

Originally Posted by videoman

Hey Ron, I took my coffee with me, and read your entire thread.

Geez, I know I'm not the best writer on the planet but you need coffee to keep from falling asleep when reading it? A bit harsh don't you think?




Thanks, I repotted today using a basic soil recipe. On to flower once any transplant / LST shock is over with.

Cheers,
R

[jangel]

Originally Posted by Ron

Geez, I know I'm not the best writer on the planet but you need coffee to keep from falling asleep when reading it? A bit harsh don't you think?




Thanks, I repotted today using a basic soil recipe. On to flower once any transplant / LST shock is over with.

Cheers,
R

LOL! I think it was just early and he thought he could concentrate better with his coffee. Give the man a break aiy, Ron! We run 24-7 here!

ROTFLMAO! poor vid!