Why do I have weird spots on my week 5 flowering chemdawg SWC?

[BassBuds]

Hey, so I'm seeing these weird spots on some of my leaves. They are dark in the center, with a lighter ring around them. I'm in week 4 flowering (SWC). Note, my plants have gotten very close to the light (sealed 400w hps) because they are in a bloombox so I only have ~3.5 feet of vertical space. I've been tying down the plants with zip ties to try to keep them far enough away, but it's a losing battle. Anyone have any idea what the spots are? This is my first grow, so I'm worried about having serious pest problems so close to harvest. Keep in mind, these spots are only on a handful of leaves, and only on the ones closest to the light. The spots are particularly noticeable when looking through them at the light.
Full grow log
https://www.420magazine.com/forums/journals-in-progress/299638-secondhand-bloombox-first-grow.html

Any ideas? Do I need to worry?

 

[fozzy]

let us see a pic of the whole plant. what is your PH?

 

[BassBuds]

No Title

I ph daily to between 5.5-6 (depending on which way it tends to be drifting. If it tends to be drifting down, I'll ph to 6, if it tends to ph up, I'll ph to 5.5). When I check it, it is usually 4.7 or so lowest, 6.3 or so highest.

Pics of the plant

 

[NebulaHaze]

Overall your plants look great!

Do the spots look like these? This is a Calcium deficiency:




If so you may want to get a Cal-Mag supplement like CaliMagic or Sensi Cal-Mag Xtra. Calcium deficiencies can happen to anyone (cannabis is a Calcium loving plant) but they are most common when you have soft or low PPM water, or otherwise don't naturally have much Calcium in the water.
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But honestly your plants look beautiful, and developing very nicely!

 

[BassBuds]

NebulaHaze I'm already using CalMag+ 3-5ml/gallon. After doing some research, I think it is likely a slight calcium deficiency caused by a PH lockout. My PH has been drifting down this week. I read that calcium is best absorbed at 6.2PH. So as of today, I'm going to try to try ph'ing to 6. I also added a gallon of water with some Great White and CalMag+. Thanks for the kind words on my plants.

 

[NebulaHaze]

It sounds like you are already on top of it!

 

[alltatup]

Hey Buds, your plants look great!! You have a BCNL Bloombox? I have a BCNL RoomMate. FINALLY someone on the forum with a grow box like mine (only yours is way bigger).
Wow, you got it for a really good price, and the things you mentioned that weren't with it are easily replaceable and of course need to be replaced periodically. Yours doesn't have a computerized program that allows you to set up your drip for when you want it, and lights on/lights off when you want? It looks like you've been really resourceful!!

You say the reservoir is cracked? You might wanna check with the BCNL folks and find out how much it costs to replace it. They are very good, helpful people. Also, their website has a lot of information on it that will be helpful to you. I'm just harvesting my second grow right now, but BCNL's nutrients work really well with the grow boxes: I've had other challenges, but balancing nutrients has not been one of them.

Looks like you have figured out well how to use the box!!!

 

[alltatup]

And my first grow was HSO Chemdawg!!!! You gots to love it!!!!!!

 

[BassBuds]

I can configure the computer... I just haven't messed with it. Overall what I like about the box.
White walls are very reflective so light is used pretty well. Dimmable ballast good quality, single hookup for co2, drip system (tubes and bins) are pretty decent.

I have a much longer list of things I don't like,but it's pretty convenient for a first grow.

Regarding contacting BCNL, I asked about replacing the reservoir. $100. Too rich for my blood. Everything from them is expensive.

My main issue this go around (I think) is stretching. I think it was too cold at night when the plants started flowering. Up until this week it's been almost a daily battle tying down and supercropping to keep the buds out of the light.

I also started the second round of seeds way too soon. I built a screen out of PVC to keep them growing horizontally. They've been ready to flower for a week or two, but I probably have at least 3 weeks left before I can move them over.

 

[alltatup]

Yes, they are stealth boxes which don't allow for a lot of vertical growth. You must be growing some badass sativas.
Yes, growing cannabis can be quite an expensive hobby. I bought a small oil-circulating heater and a 50-pint dehumidifier for my grow room. $100 is a lot to replace a big piece of plastic...
I'd be interested in knowing what you don't like about the box, and here's a chart I made for myself so I could change perameters:

CHANGING PERAMETERS ON ROOMMATE

@0 = vegetation sched.
@1 = flower sched.
@2 = water sched. am.
@3 = water sched. pm
@4 = ?????

1. Press OK to enter Main Menu; scroll 
2. Press STOP; when it reads RUN, the program is stopped. Press OK.
3. Scroll to PERAMETER, press OK.
4. Now I'm at T Ø with Ø blinking; press OK.
5. Press left arrow to get to T
6. Press up arrow ; it now reads at @ Ø. This is the programmed Veg sched (18 hrs).
7. Press right arrow to get to Ø
8. Press up arrow to get to @ 1. This is the programmed Flower sched (12 hrs).
9. To change PERAMETERS, when blinking on 1, press OK.
10. Use arrows to move down to On Time to change it.
11. When blinking on final 0 of On Time, press OK.
12. Then move left arrow  to change hour. Press OK.
13. Scroll down arrow ; set Off Time; press OK.
14. Press ESC to exit to Main Menu.
15. Return to blinking RUN, press so it reads STOP; Press ESC.

 

[BassBuds]

My strains (I believe... bagseed from a friend who grows, but may have gotten the seeds messed up).
Chemdawg: hybrid
Longs Peak Blue: hybrid
Unknown

You asked for it.....
* All accessories are proprietary and way too expensive. Why have those wierd 4 pin connectors.... why not just outlets? They said it would cost me ~$150 after shipping for a replacement carbon filter (my box didn't come with one)
* It's when draining the reservoir... it's difficult to get all the water. The reservoir doesn't even fit in the box without tilting it so you can't just take it out
* The light height isn't adjustable... potentially causing stretching as plants reach for it.
* The veg chamber only has intake, the flowering only exhaust. Air flow between the two isn't great
* Too difficult to get to the plants in the rear of the box for training.
* Plastic for the reservoir is cheap and easily cracked.
* Computer isn't smart enough... It should be able to regulate temperature, airflow, exhaust, etc.... and easily. The computer isn't user friendly at all. In fact, I've found it's just a fancy timer that you can replace for 10 bucks.
* Drippers can get a bit nasty having the water constantly going through them (that's probably my fault for using hydratin instead of rock wool
* The air pump output isn't enough and there aren't valve to adjust airflow to a single side. I had to get 2 extra bubblers.... 1 for each side

i'm sure there's more, but this is all that's coming to mind right now.

Now that I got those out of the way...
This is my first grow. I'm new not just to cannabis, but gardening in general.
They made a lot of decisions for me... which is what I needed at the beginning (and they were pretty good decisions... hydro, swc, hps)
My bud looks like it's going to end up pretty amazing... trichs all over the place. Yield looks like it's going to be pretty good.

All in all, I think I'll be able to get the $1500 back if I decide to sell it (After my upgrades). I am not unhappy I purchased it, but they definitely cut corners in a few places (some light leaks, screws strip incredibly easily)

Thanks for the directions on changing params. It was difficult to find that info, even in the manual. In the roommate is there only 1 chamber for both veg and flower? Does that mean you are starting fresh from seed every time. The one thing I'm really liking about it is having the separate veg and flowering chambers. As soon as I harvest and clean out the flowering side, there are 4 plants that are just itching to start flowering

 

[alltatup]

Yeah BB, you hit some of the nails right on the head, but it was a good starter piece of machinery for me, knowing absolutely nothing about growing 2 years ago, and I had a little inheritance money to spare. I read reviews and made comparisons, and the Roomie seemed right for me. It's a single chamber and grows 4 plants at a time. Yes, I always start from seed. What I really do like about it is its stealth and small size. But hell, I had no idea that a carbon filter cost $150 to replace!!!! Shiiiiiiiiiiiiit!! I was kind of wondering if I could take the filter apart and put in new charcoal... was gonna look into that. I don't know about the pin connecters.

 

[BassBuds]

You can take it apart... Or you can do what I did... Buy a 4" carbon filter for around $50 on Amazon and just use ducting to connect the two. The one I got is also reversible...Meaning you can move the flange to the opposite side so it uses the carbon from the other side.(I hope that makes sense...It's early)

 

[alltatup]

That's what's up, Buds!!! Cannabis cultivators are ingenious!