plant is slow growing and has a bunch of problems

[BlazeRunner]

Hi all. New grower here. I'm growing my second plant from seed. It's burmese berry indica dominant. I'm growing with CFLs (~80W 5000k), in potting soil, I'm watering with tap water and food recommended from a hydroponics store, I'm ph balancing the water to 6.5. Temperature is mostly around 25C and RH is between 40-50%.

My first plant had a bunch of problems and only grew to be about 18 inches and produced only a few grams. The second plant is showing a lot of the same issues.

1) slow growing. The pictured plant is 4 weeks old and is only about 6 inches tall
2) older leaves turn yellow/brown and curl up and die
3) some yellow spots on one of the top leaves ( this I did not see in the first plant)
4) a couple leaf tips have turned black (I think this was nute burn when I accidently added nutrients right after transpanting to fresh soil)

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[alltatup]

Hey Blaze, welcome to the forum!! I'm sorry you are having so many problems with your plants!! Here are my questions for you:

1. Are you checking pH runoff? Not just the pH when you water, but the pH coming out of the bottoms of the pots? If your pH is off, then your roots are going to have problems.

2. What kind of soil are you using, and did it already contain nutrients? If so, it's "hot soil" and your plants are getting way too many nutes. If your soil is hot AND you're feeding your plant at regular strength with your other nutrients, then that's another problem.

3. How many lights are you using? Your plant also looks stretched. How far away from the plants?

I suggest that you RE-ASK this question in the HELP! My plant is having problems section. I'm a hydroponics grower, and you need soil growers to point you in the right direction on these problems.

And supply the additional information I asked above. You may end up scrapping this grow, but once you figure out what you're doing wrong, you'll eliminate the problems. Clearly this plant is in dire straits!!!

FINALLY, go over to the GWE site and start reading the basic articles on soil growing, types of soil, pH, etc. I'll be looking for your posts and your progress!!

[oldjarhead100]

welcome Blaze alltatup covered most of the suggestions ,are you growing in coco if so you need to provide all the nutes even the ones the plant only uses a little of . What are the nutes you are using . The statement you made the second plant is having alot of the same issues tells me its not the plant .its what the plant is getting or not getting ,so you have alot of homework lol good luck

[D.A.A.S.69]

Hello Blaze. Are you letting your tap water sit for at least 24 hours before using? 6.5 is good going in but coming out as Alltatup said is important too.Lots of questions from above you need to answer before much help can be given. Good luck and welcome to GWE.

[BlazeRunner]

Thanks a lot for the suggestions. I'll test the ph of runoff and post again in the help section.

[alltatup]

We got our fingers crossed for ya.