Greetings, growers! I’m a retired, small, home grower with minimal experience, this being only my third growing year.
I searched for similar posts but failed to find any that looked precisely related, so I hope my photos will help lead to a proper dx.
This year, I decided to do all feminized auto-flowers, growing in coco (Botanicare ReadyGrow Aeration). I have 6 plants, 4 strains - 1x Mohan Ram and 3x Northern Lights (all about 4 weeks old), 1x Cropical Fruit and 1x Girl Scout Cookies (both 8 days old). One of the three Northern Lights is struggling with rust spots that began somewhat subtly on the first pair of true leaves, larger and more prominent on newer leaves. One of the other northern has slightly mottled leaves, the third one (but first to germinate) is smaller than the other two. But only the 1 of 6 has the rust spots. Other than slightly different germination techniques (seeking best practice after experiencing some sad failures), all four plants have received the same care - light/water/nutrients/temp/medium. I’ve never seen this type of problem, so I can’t tell if it’s a disease or a pest, though I’m leaning toward some nutrient or uptake problem. I see no obvious signs of pests on top or bottom of leaves. I didn’t keep records well enough to be sure, but I think the ailing plant may have been the only one germinated in a MiracleGrow seed starting soil. And due to my inexperience I may have started it out with a slightly more acidic pH (in the 5.8 - 6.0 range); so those differences may be responsible for its suffering - is that likely? Has anyone seen rust patches like these before? It seems like the very newest leaves are looking a little healthier, so perhaps more time with new, stable conditions will resolve the trouble?
I was about to trash the ailing plant, but I decided to join this forum first, to see if some community advice might help me rescue her.
Nutrients I’m using at this stage:
Botanicare Cal-Mag Plus (5ml/gal)
General Hydroponics Flora-Grow/Bloom/Micro (5 ml/gal each)
I’m adjusting the pH after adding nutrients, now aiming for 6.0 - 6.2
They are all in 3-gal equivalent air pots. I move them outside whenever the sun and temp are favorable, and they spend the rest of their time in my garage under 900W LED with an oscillating fan providing a gentle breeze.
One photo shows the ailing plant with obvious rust patches, another shows its Northern Lights mate with slightly mottled leaves, otherwise healthy. The third plant photo shows all 6 together as of today. I added photos of the coco bag to illustrate its contents and pH/feeding recommendations.
Thanks in advance for any insight!
I searched for similar posts but failed to find any that looked precisely related, so I hope my photos will help lead to a proper dx.
This year, I decided to do all feminized auto-flowers, growing in coco (Botanicare ReadyGrow Aeration). I have 6 plants, 4 strains - 1x Mohan Ram and 3x Northern Lights (all about 4 weeks old), 1x Cropical Fruit and 1x Girl Scout Cookies (both 8 days old). One of the three Northern Lights is struggling with rust spots that began somewhat subtly on the first pair of true leaves, larger and more prominent on newer leaves. One of the other northern has slightly mottled leaves, the third one (but first to germinate) is smaller than the other two. But only the 1 of 6 has the rust spots. Other than slightly different germination techniques (seeking best practice after experiencing some sad failures), all four plants have received the same care - light/water/nutrients/temp/medium. I’ve never seen this type of problem, so I can’t tell if it’s a disease or a pest, though I’m leaning toward some nutrient or uptake problem. I see no obvious signs of pests on top or bottom of leaves. I didn’t keep records well enough to be sure, but I think the ailing plant may have been the only one germinated in a MiracleGrow seed starting soil. And due to my inexperience I may have started it out with a slightly more acidic pH (in the 5.8 - 6.0 range); so those differences may be responsible for its suffering - is that likely? Has anyone seen rust patches like these before? It seems like the very newest leaves are looking a little healthier, so perhaps more time with new, stable conditions will resolve the trouble?
I was about to trash the ailing plant, but I decided to join this forum first, to see if some community advice might help me rescue her.
Nutrients I’m using at this stage:
Botanicare Cal-Mag Plus (5ml/gal)
General Hydroponics Flora-Grow/Bloom/Micro (5 ml/gal each)
I’m adjusting the pH after adding nutrients, now aiming for 6.0 - 6.2
They are all in 3-gal equivalent air pots. I move them outside whenever the sun and temp are favorable, and they spend the rest of their time in my garage under 900W LED with an oscillating fan providing a gentle breeze.
One photo shows the ailing plant with obvious rust patches, another shows its Northern Lights mate with slightly mottled leaves, otherwise healthy. The third plant photo shows all 6 together as of today. I added photos of the coco bag to illustrate its contents and pH/feeding recommendations.
Thanks in advance for any insight!
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