Dealing with hot soil

[Gjourney101]

Flushing simply "flushes" an excess of salt and nutrients out of the soil. If there was a nutrient lockout, flushing it would have removed a loy of what may have been blocking it up. Do note that later down the line you might have to add nutes sense you flushed. Happy growing though. Glad it's getting better

[katkootsharmoot]

Dears, UPDATE:

So by the time I have posted here initially, I have flushed my three plants with 6 PH water, and after some advice regarding too much light here, I decreased the lights from 60k Lux to around 25-30k now. I've also added lots of perlite to the new seedling's new transplant pot. A day after I decreased the light (which could or not be related), I noticed that stems were getting longer/taller than their usual stunted rate. I was not sure and thought maybe I am fooling myself. Today I can CONFIRM that the two big plants are getting better! Growth rate is indeed much higher, and the branches are getting longer and moving further away from one another (compared to before where there was no changes in length but A LOT of foliage). What made me confirm is that one of the plants that had very curved leaves from the sides now began going back to being broad and wide like it was before I transplanted them into the new soil. I think we are getting somewhere! Thank you!

Could this all might have been from the excess light? Or does flushing usually work like that?

[Rwise]

If you dont ever make a mistake it is because you are not doing anything.
You are at the right place now.

[Gjourney101]

We respond because we care! Everyone here has had to start as a beginner. Even with 20+ years of experience you still have things to learn. I know it's overwhelming, but it comes with time. Learn and live

[katkootsharmoot]

I apologise if I sounded like I am complaining about you guys. I was more complaining (or bitching) about myself not knowing and how confused I am getting. This is my very first grow and the way I see it is that everyone here has more experience and arguably there is more chance that your judgement is better than mine. That's why I was complaining about how uncertain I am, because your opinions matter more than mine - I might have better physical view, but I have much less insight/experience that I can apply it to that view. I do not believe that I am entitled to any response or help, and that every response I received here only came from kindness and eagerness to help another fellow human. That itself is enough for me to be very grateful to, and I am sorry if I sounded like anything else, because I really am grateful to being a part of such a helpful community.

I have actually gathered a lot of potential next-steps based on suggestions given here and already planning on apply them. All interactions were really helpful and I feel like we are going somewhere. I'll investigate this further and come back with updates (if you would have me do so). I might have a question or two based on your last given analysis. Thank you for taking the time to write me this thorough response (even when you felt like I am being condescending/entitled)!

[Tersky]

The problem is a lot of symptoms look alike. Root rot and root issues can look literally like anything as root rot hinders nutrient absorption making it look like ph issues or deficiencies. Only you can judge accurately because it's your grow. All we have to go off of is pics and stats. I still personally think its a root issue with a little too hot soil, but thats just my take from the pics and description.

As far as the nitrogen tox, i just cant see it. You say that everything points to nitrogen tox but i personally dont see the dark dark green and waxy leaves. Perhaps it is because your phone is adjusting it but unless we see what you see we cant agree. You talk about yellowing but yellowing is a nitrogen deficiency. I see burnt tips which tells me it's nute burn, but nothing that is a definitive nitrogen tox.

I mean i could say that it is too hot and the answer would be to either a) hope it doesn't have kill the plant or b) put it in some different soil. Sure you could super flush the soil, meaning just keep poring water into it in an attempt to wash away some of the extra nutes, but with vermiculite i wouldn't do that as it will probably drown the plants. I'm sorry we cant give you the answer you are looking for but were just a bunch of hobbyist growers doing our best to help each other out.

[katkootsharmoot]

I've googled so much and it all points to too much nitrogen. I came here to ask how do you deal with hot soil. Almost not a single person agree that it is indeed too much nitrogen

Also, I have noticed today that other plants (non cannabis) which I have transplanted to the same soil, are also showing nute burn leaves. One plant has its lower leaves yellowing at the tips. Another plan that looks like a mini tree has all of its lower leaves turn completely yellow. Everything shows that it has to do with the soil and nothing else. The two other plants do not need wet/dry cycles so it's not overwatering there either I guess. Is that relevant? Also, thank you so much for bearing with me!

[Gjourney101]

Don't feel hopeless. Just analyze your plants. Look at the leaves. The stems. Growth rate. Etc. Google can do amazing things

[katkootsharmoot]

I might try H202 indeed. While I don't think it's overwatering (because I have a moisture meter and I make sure I don't water unless it's not already moist). It's very weird that with all these pictures no one can accurately identify what's wrong with the plant. This feels hopeless. =/

[Gjourney101]

Over watering can cause root rot. If you added perlite and vermiculite, those 2 basivally cancel each other out. Perlite encourages drainage while vermiculite resteicts it. If your roots are sitting in water (not just the first inch down) then you'll start encountering some really odd symptoms. If you have nothing left to lose, try hydrogen peroxide on one of the plants. Dilute it to 30ml pef gallon of water (3% HP). It will kill all pathogens in the soil near the roots and improve oxygen , but it also kills good bacteria so keep that in mind. It's more of a last call option.

[katkootsharmoot]

Added older pics in my post below.

[katkootsharmoot]

Adding some older pics of the plants that made me think it's nitrogen toxicity. Leaves with tips that look like "claws" and bent downward. These leaves were cut.

Also thank you for everyone who's commented and tried to help so far. I really appreciate it.

[katkootsharmoot]

Thank you for the thorough response.
1- Nitrogen tox: leaves look darker in reality. My mobile keeps 'correcting' the color but it's a bit darker in reality. Lots of leaves had "clawing" on their tips too; that is tips that are bent downwards with a right angle. Those leaves were cut so I will add older pics.
2- Light too close: your note is actually very insightful and a very good guess. I think the plants might indeed be too close. My Lux meter is measuring 50-60k lux so I will try and get it down to 30ish. I sadly don't have the ability to 'raise' the light, would decreasing the intensity helps?
3- Soil: Yes the soil has vermiculite (amongst other things) and perlite too. I've added lots of perlite to the newest pot and I'm moving the seedling to it. I have two questions for you (if you can): 1- how do you test drainage? 2- is there a way to improve aeration (by adding perlite for example) to plants that are already in a pot?

Thank you again!

[Tersky]

Yellow tips tends to be nute burn, so the soil may be a tad hot but i dont see nitrogen tox. That is dark green waxy leaves. I've never heard of excessive foliage as being an issue. It usually depends on the strain and how it's trained and light distance on how bushy the plant is. To me it looks like the light might be too close keeping the growth between nodes minimal and "crowded" raise the light a little and see if the plant stretches to the light.

As far as soil is concerned, you dont need fancy soil, but it makes it easier to the new grower. I am not versed in soil so i will leave most of the advice for that to someone who has experience in soils. That said, it seems to me that the soil you have is not draining very well and almost looks like it has vermiculite? If so that is not the best choice for cannabis as vermiculite retains water and can cause poor aeration and drown cannabis roots. My advice is if you repot, add a good amount of perlite to help soil drainage and increase aeration

[katkootsharmoot]

Added more pics of the new growth.