Need help

[DC28]

Need help! I am a first time grower. I am growing feminized seeds in Earth Dust. Started with an organic soil and added 30% perlite for drainage and then the earth dust as directed. I live in the country (well water) so after learning you cannot grow with well water I have used rain water this entire grow. Things seemed to be going good but now most of my plants keep getting yellow leaves with brown spots. I do have a fungus gnat issue but have the yellow stickers and have sprayed plants a couple times with neem oil. Maintaining a temp between 71-75 and humidity of about 40-50% please help I really want to make a grow to flower stage!!

[Rwise]

Whats wrong with your well water?
What are you doing for PH?
When she flowers loose the neem oil.
Is it auto or photo?

[DC28]

Ph is at 7, I used well water in previous grow and I didn’t get far, plants only made it about 2” and died. Plants are photos.

[Rwise]

PH is to high, drop it to 6.2-6.5 while in veg, then 6.5-6.8 in flower.
Has your well water been tested recently? if not you should have it tested, I mean what have they pumped into the ground near you and did it get in your water, if so you need to know.

[RetiredGuy]

Rwise, would you please explain the reasoning behind the different pH ranges for veg vs flower. I have never seen this recommendation elsewhere.

[DC28]

Is the ph being too high be the reason for the yellowing leaves with the brown spots? Also any way to bring down ph until I can pick up some ph down ?

[DC28]

I have also been doing recharge for real growers every other watering

[Rwise]

If you can get unsulfured black strap molasses, it will work for PH down. If you try lemon juice or vinegar let it rest for 24 hours and test again.
Yes the spots indicate a ph issue, hit the link at the top of this page "Plant Problems" and do some homework, note that non bug issues are usually PH related, and even bug issues can be.
I dont use that product so I have no idea on it.

[Ckbrew]

What is in your well? Well water per say should not exclude it from being used for growing plants. Sometimes very hard water will cause problems, but if it is safe to drink you should be able to grow plants with it. If you are unsure get it tested.

[SoOrbudgal]

Man i sure would test your well if you use it for home drinking. It's well worth it if you own the property. Test kits are not expensive but a pro may charge you $200 to do a flow an water bacteria test.

[DC28]

Ok so I bought a digital ph reader vs the color comparison chart and ph is at 6.1. Thinking about doing a watering with epsom salt that I saw in some research. Anyone ever done this? I’m using Earth dust as an organic grow so I shouldn’t need to add nutrients but some of my plants are a yellow green and some have leaves that color. I have fans and good air flow. Also they did experience a cold spell one night (heater shut down unexpectedly) got down to about 58 but then corrected as soon as noticed. ( but the yellowing started prior to this happening)

[OlderNOTwiser]

Been a long time since I posted anything but I think I may be of service here. I'm also using Earth Dust and I admit it was a little confusing at first. I'd have to look at my diaries to be sure but I'd guess this is my twelfth grow with earth dust.

You have to keep in mind that the whole "nothing but water" is a bit of a misnomer in that you actually may need to add things as you go. Why? Not everyone uses the same starter soil. Or the same compost source or amount. Not all water sources are the same...some loaded with minerals and others stripped of them. Different plants need different nutrients or more or less of them than another plant. If they aren't there (in the water) then you will need to add calcium and/or magnesium and some trace minerals, etc... But before messing with that it is absolutely critical to get your pH dialed in. I know the literature all says that there are buffers in there and you should be good to go. HOWEVER, after weeks of pouring acidic water into the soil the buffers can't adjust enough to properly present the nutrients in the soil to the root system. (Calcium needs to be above 6.2) You'll need to help out there. My tap water is currently at 5.8pH. In summer it runs in the higher end of 6.8 or more. I use plain old baking soda to raise the pH to about 6.4 - 6.8 pH and plain lemon juice to lower it. With the color in your pics I'd run a week or so with pH drifting from 6.4 - 6.8 for at least a few weeks. Don't feed exactly the same pH every day, let it drift within the appropriate range. Different minerals need different pH to be absorbed. The damaged leaves will not improve. Watch newer growth to see if you're on the right path.

The other really big thing is watering. You don't want to water to runoff as you will leach out everything the plant needs. Also, don't let the pot dry out as the microbial life will die off, leaving you with nearly sterile soil. And, since you're not watering with liquid nutrients the plant now has nothing to use! Also, you want to keep the microbials in the soil alive and happy. They need to be kept damp. NOT wet. It's a dance for a few weeks for sure. A tiny plant in a 5 gallon bucket is tough to water properly. You need to keep the soil damp/moist but all of that soil getting wet now wicks to the roots of the tiny plant and it struggles to get oxygen. The old instructions of watering a ring around the seedling is still good. But, be sure to dampen the rest of the pot outside of your ring to keep everything else working (don't over water). Then come back to the ring...did it absorb from outside? If not enough then give a few drops or so around the plant and leave it to find the rest of the water.

I wouldn't add much of anything to the water for at least a week until you can "read" the new leaves and determine if you're heading in the right direction. Having said that, I used Epsom salts this morning. My plants (three of them) are 90 days from seed today and 36 days from flip to 12/12. I used 1/2 tsp per gallon of filtered water and pH adjusted to 6.6 for today. Yesterday I watered plain, filtered, water at ~ 6.2 pH. You need to have a pH drift so the minerals can be absorbed at their desired range.

I guess I'm babbling so let me focus in here:
1) The first pic shows a very dry medium. Can't let that happen.
2) The color of leaves and the splotchy appearance is indicative of too low pH for calcium absorption AND over-watering. If you're watering to runoff (or nearly so) and letting the pot dry for a day or two or three and then watering to excess again you are indeed over watering. Even though the total given may not be much over the course of a week the instantaneous effect is too much at a given time.
3) If you think the medium dried out and the microbes may be at risk (or gone entirely) try a tea with Earth Dust. Dan from Green Sunshine has lots of good video instructions to help.
4) I don't know the age of your plants but if you're near the time to flip to 12/12 lighting be sure to get the Boost applied and watered in. If you're still some time away consider an instant tea with Base. I use 2 tablespoons/plant/gallon. I let it work for about 15 minutes while I tend to tent chores. Split between the pots. When the pots are properly watered then stop. Don't be concerned if there is some left over.

I have eventually started to use worm castings ( a half cup or more) every few weeks. I use an Epsom tea (11/2 tsp Epsom, 1 tablespoon molasses, and 1/3 cup of castings per gallon) also every few weeks. The Earth Dust Base tea above. (I use the Base tea if I'm vegging longer or if I had the base cooking for more than a few weeks prior to planting) And of course a Boost tea same as the Base tea in proportions. Molasses added in mid to late flower (1 tablespoon per gallon, sometimes 2 but not every day)

Hope I didn't miss anything or add too much confusion. Good Luck

[DC28]

Wow! Thank you so much for your time and knowledge! I greatly appreciate all the suggestions and advice! I’ll let you know how it goes 😁

[OlderNOTwiser]

DC28 How did this grow turn out? I was reviewing my old posts and was just curious if you got things sorted out.