SOIL Leaves yellowish & wilting, Plant stopped growing

[papa420]

I started the seedling 3 weeks ago in compost soil & about 30% perlite, and since transferred it into a space bucket with 100W of CFL lights, and fans for ventilation. However, seems like it stopped growing and turned yellowish. Leaves are also wilting, and the top part of the stalk is somehow reddish, like the skin has peeled off.
Normally I water the plant only when the top soil looks dry, therefore I don't think overwatering is the issue here. I haven't started any nutrients for the plant, since I don't want to damage it further by over stressing it.
Anyone please provide some advice on this? Thanks in advance!!

[Canyon Grower]

Papa, in my opinion this plant needs more light, more(better) soil and better drainage. You didnt say whether you are an experienced grower but space buckets can be a challenge because of the restrictions on space, grow medium, light and ventilation. You might want to invest in a more traditional set up. If you go this route you will find many eager helpers here. Just my thoughts for your consideration.

[Californiakid]

Are there holes in the pot for water to drain? It looks like it's drowning. The roots needs air between watering. Root health is vital for overall plant health.

[D.A.A.S.69]

Hello 420, it looks like it needs way more light ,if your using cfls you need them within an inch or two of your plant for them to be effective, I also agree that it looks like it might have root problems, have you been checking your ph?

[papa420]

Canyon: Sorry I forgot to mention this is my first grow, that's why i went with the space bucket route, which is more economical and parts easily obtainable.
Californiakid: Yes there's plenty of holes for drainage, and the soil drains pretty well from what I can see.
DAAS69: I did raise the plant to be 1 inch away from the CFLs, but it didn't improve the issue. I maintain my water pH at 6.7-6.8, but after reading your comment, I've checked the soil pH from the excess drained water and it's very high (>8.0). What should I do to lower it, and any idea why it's that high?

[Trichomefarmer88]

I think you should really transplant into a cannabis friendly soil for your first, would make life so much easier on you so you can focus on things like light, circulation, an feeding. Get that all tuned in then get complicated with trying different things out.. but the number one thing I've learned the hard way is environment!!!! But to help get that pH down for now.. What worked for me my first grow was sphagnum peat moss... Take out as much of your media as you can on top, go down until as much as you can without messing with ANY ROOTS.. then I would take a few hand full of the peat and get all the chuncks of wood or if it an fill up your cup, or pot and water good.. let that get down in there should help... Sorry I've never grown with just compost so hope this will work for you! Can't hurt it tho!

[papa420]

Thanks Thrichomefarmer for your advice, will definitely try it later! My plant is getting weaker day by day, can't get any worse i suppose. Cannabis friendly soil? You mean compost is not cannabis friendly?
You mentioned you never grown in just compost, maybe share your secret formula? :P

[Trichomefarmer88]

Yeah sorry I really have no idea would have to look into growing in just straight compost.. I know it's great to mix in soil... An thought compost was very acid pH wise... But again I really dunno? But by cannabis friendly I mean soil that is known to work an not be hot! I use fox farm ocean Forest an mix it up with sphagnum peat moss Coco dolomitic lime an little perlite.. works great and I only feed compost tea for the first three weeks to a month.. I really try to sex it before I use nutes..

[Trichomefarmer88]

is good to incorporate regular compost into your garden soil as organic matter, but it still needs to decompose further before the plant roots can take up the nutrients they need. Mixing in some worm compost will speed up that decomposition and will, by itself, release nutrients that are needed. Those microbes work wonders!

Found this in another site and many others like this looking around since the topic kind of caught my interest.. hope it helps... Makes sense.. peace out and Merry growing too all!!

[Potted]

Is that charle Browns Christmas tree ? Merry,merry...um sorry I’ve taken a bit too much medication

[papa420]

Transplanted the seedling to a 60% coco & 40% perlite combination medium, and it's still dying! Am at a loss of ideas. Anyone out there can pinpoint the exact problem here?
I'm just glad the plant is still alive, but I do not wish to make the same mistakes int he future.

[Californiakid]

Growing in coco you need to use a calmag supplement.
And nutrients. There isn't any in coco.
So if you transplant into coco and perlite without using nutes and calmag the plant doesn't have anything to use to grow.

Best of luck friend.

[Trichomefarmer88]

Any luck yet with it grow? Still standing up it's self.... Maybe okay.. But I would start another one fresh start in the Coco just make sure you use nutes very lightly and you need Cal mag!! To grow in Coco.... Best of luck happy growing

[papa420]

No luck with this one. Germinating a few new ones, to make my pain go away. I guess trial and error is the name of the game.

[Californiakid]

papa420, growing is like any craft. You can read and study about it, but you really learn by doing. Learning what doesn't work is as valuable as what does.
Good luck with the next batch.