This is my first grow and Im feeling very disheartened because I just can't seem to figure out what the problem is with my seedlings. My two plants are severely stunted in growth (these are a month old) and I can't figure out the issue. At first the bottom leaves were getting brown on the edges. I thought maybe I was over watering, so I've lessened the amount and the frequency that I was watering. I also moved them further away from the light incase that was causing the issue. I also checked the pH of the water and it was a little high (just over a 7) , so the past few waterings Ive lowered the pH to about a 6-6.5 and added a drop of nitrogen nutrients to the water as well (I thought maybe low nitrogen could be the cause of the pale leaves, especially since the pH was too high which I know can cause deficiencies). Now the leaves are still extremely pale and the bottom leaves are almost pink on plant 1 and plant 2 still has the brown edges on the bottom leavesnand I noticed new brown dots on the serrations today (I watered them yesterday), and both plants don't seem to be growing any faster at all. Does anyone have any ideas about what I could be doing wrong? Thank you in advance!
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HELP! What am I doing wrong???
- Thread starter pokepena
- Start date
I'm using Organic Mechanics potting soil. I didn't use a lot of nutrients at all, I used a dropper and put literally one drop of general hydroponics floramicro in a 26oz container of water. Not 100% positive on temps and humidity, I do have a reader coming in the mail in two days though. Temp I would guess is about 70-75.
crucialbunny
Well-known member
Being that they are a month old and not developing any new leaf growth makes me think they hate the medium they are in. Seedlings that are stunted like yours aren't sending out new root growth and I suspect that is because the soil is too hot with nutrients. Seedlings love bland organic compost and that is all they need to get them a healthy start. I don't think that your lights are the main issue because If they were in a good soil they would be stretching for light but they're not doing that so my best guess is your medium.
TOKABIGONE
New member
Yes, crucialbunny is right, it is a hot soil even tho having a coco fiber coir base it has a lot of organic crap in it and
looks too wet. Coco demands a lower pH level to prevent nute lockout. I'm in coco plus perlite inert base and had seedling health issues until I reduced to 5.5 pH. If you do that they should show better new growth within a few days. Also add better lighting per Canuck147.
When they recover and grow to the edge of the cup then transplant to a larger pot with a better non nutrient medium and then still don't feed until the fourth or fifth node. After that you can begin to train as you wish and feed with a half strength GH Flora trio according to Nebula's tutorial on Nutrients.
looks too wet. Coco demands a lower pH level to prevent nute lockout. I'm in coco plus perlite inert base and had seedling health issues until I reduced to 5.5 pH. If you do that they should show better new growth within a few days. Also add better lighting per Canuck147.
When they recover and grow to the edge of the cup then transplant to a larger pot with a better non nutrient medium and then still don't feed until the fourth or fifth node. After that you can begin to train as you wish and feed with a half strength GH Flora trio according to Nebula's tutorial on Nutrients.
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Okay! So you're suggesting lowering the pH to about 5.5 for now, and then once they recover and grow out of the cup, switch to a new pot with better soil? What soil do you recommend?
Also- as far as the lights go I feel like the lighting in the pictures might be making it look less light than it is. I could be wrong tho. Im using two ViparSpectra 450W lights (each actually put out about 200W, so 400W total). Is that too little? I bought these lights as recommended by this website so thats why Im wondering!
Also- as far as the lights go I feel like the lighting in the pictures might be making it look less light than it is. I could be wrong tho. Im using two ViparSpectra 450W lights (each actually put out about 200W, so 400W total). Is that too little? I bought these lights as recommended by this website so thats why Im wondering!
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TOKABIGONE
New member
Yes, lower your pH and then water with added calmag only when the medium is dry below 1/2 inch. If you don't see new growth, nice and green in 5 days you might cut your losses. For ease of use I will recommend Mother Earth Coco plus 30% perlite. It's ready to plant from the bag but drench it 2 days before transplant with full strength calmag and dry until just moist before repot.
My last recommendation for you is to make the tutorials your best friend by studying them all you can. They really are all you need to know. Don't give up. You can be a happy grower very soon, lol!
My last recommendation for you is to make the tutorials your best friend by studying them all you can. They really are all you need to know. Don't give up. You can be a happy grower very soon, lol!
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Thank you SO much, you've been extremely helpful!! I ordered the coco coir you suggested! I will definitely follow these instructions and hopefully my plants will thrive! If not, I will take the L and start over and consider this a lesson. If you have any other recommendations I would love to hear them. Thank you again!
grouchyoldman
New member
Hi pokepena, sorry to hear your troubles, must be very frustrating. Your plants should be that size after a week, not a whole month!
You have some excellent advice above to work with but I'm curious about your lights. What model ViparSpectra lights are those. From the picture they look like an older model and you have them hung pretty high. You may not be giving your babies enough energy to survive.
The wattage number you need to know is the actual amount of power used from the wall. If that is 200 watts per light you should have more than enough, but I'd bring them down a bit in addition to any of the other suggestions you adopt.
Best wishes.
You have some excellent advice above to work with but I'm curious about your lights. What model ViparSpectra lights are those. From the picture they look like an older model and you have them hung pretty high. You may not be giving your babies enough energy to survive.
The wattage number you need to know is the actual amount of power used from the wall. If that is 200 watts per light you should have more than enough, but I'd bring them down a bit in addition to any of the other suggestions you adopt.
Best wishes.
It definitely is frustrating, but Im trying to remember it's my first grow and there are bound to be mistakes. I'm hoping I can turn my luck around!
The lights im using are the ViparSpectra v450 lights, they were recommended on this website and I saw someone using them on here in a journal comparing them and HPS lights. The picture I have is pretty dark, but they are a newer model and have veg and bloom switches! The actual power draw per light is 200W per light. I was worried about frying my babies by bringing them too close since they are so little still, but I did bring them a little closer yesterday! They're a little over 24" away, do you think thats a good distance?
Thank you so much for your response!!
The lights im using are the ViparSpectra v450 lights, they were recommended on this website and I saw someone using them on here in a journal comparing them and HPS lights. The picture I have is pretty dark, but they are a newer model and have veg and bloom switches! The actual power draw per light is 200W per light. I was worried about frying my babies by bringing them too close since they are so little still, but I did bring them a little closer yesterday! They're a little over 24" away, do you think thats a good distance?
Thank you so much for your response!!
grouchyoldman
New member
24 inches is a good starting point for those lights, tho you really don't need both of them at this point. I'd drop them 2 inches every three days as your soil dries out and watch carefully. The minute you see the leaf tips bleaching, curling, or "canoeing," back them back up a few.
That may not save them but it will guide you in your next effort. I'm not going to harsh on your lights, but they are far from state of today's LED models and you'd prolly benefit more from a light upgrade than any other single investment.
I've seen a grow come back from a slow start before. On the other hand, if you have any more seeds, you might consider popping a couple new beans. Jus sayin.
Please let us know if these suggestions help save your plants.
That may not save them but it will guide you in your next effort. I'm not going to harsh on your lights, but they are far from state of today's LED models and you'd prolly benefit more from a light upgrade than any other single investment.
I've seen a grow come back from a slow start before. On the other hand, if you have any more seeds, you might consider popping a couple new beans. Jus sayin.
Please let us know if these suggestions help save your plants.
I just checked and it says on the lights they were made in July 2020, idk if that means they're new or just a not as good model made more recently. Do you have any recommendations for LED lights that are relatively inexpensive?
I do have more seeds, but I'm definitely going to see if im able to save these babies first. I will keep you updated!
Thank you again for your advice!
I do have more seeds, but I'm definitely going to see if im able to save these babies first. I will keep you updated!
Thank you again for your advice!
grouchyoldman
New member
I have posted this before and I don't want to sound like some corporate shill, but I am very satisfied with my recent purchase of the new ViparSpectra XS series LED growlights. They have a near perfect spectrum, quality components and are very energy efficient. Not sayin they are the best, but good value for state of the art LED growlights.
I have the XS 1500, for seedlings and early veg, and the XS2000 for finish lighting of a 4'x4' grow area. Those lights go on Amazon sale periodically, I paid $130 & $220 respectively.
Here's a link to an informative review that will tell you what to look for no matter what light you end up buying. Check out their other reviews for comparison.
https://www.cocoforcannabis.com/grow-light-guide/viparspectra-xs-1500-par-test-review/
I have the XS 1500, for seedlings and early veg, and the XS2000 for finish lighting of a 4'x4' grow area. Those lights go on Amazon sale periodically, I paid $130 & $220 respectively.
Here's a link to an informative review that will tell you what to look for no matter what light you end up buying. Check out their other reviews for comparison.
https://www.cocoforcannabis.com/grow-light-guide/viparspectra-xs-1500-par-test-review/