thewanderingjack
Well-Known Member
I don't think flowering too early was exactly the problem... I only vegged mine a little longer, and all their major leaves had come in... only thing that sprouted after were sugar leaves around the buds. I've also seen plants that have been flowered since sprouts that have more leaves than yours, and no one mentioned them losing many leaves.
The question is why you're leaves have dropped off... usually it's a nute deficiency (nitrogen mostly I believe... but whichever... the plant cannibalizes it's older leaves to feed the new growth).
The temps may have been the factor... I know of plenty of people growing outdoors in that kind of heat, usually it just takes more water. I think temperature variances (too hot or too cold) usually slow/stunt growth and development, not sure if they result in defoliation like this.
Like I said I paid very little attention to my set up... it wasn't until late in veg I started checking water and soil ph (both of which were alkali, the soil VERY alkali at that point) and I've never checked my ppm... used cheap grow soil (so already somewhat fertilized and amended) and cheap nutes (a 5-5-2 fert for veg and a little of a 1-9-2 for bloom). I know I'm lucky, but I would expect what you're seeing in your plants happening to mine more than to yours (in fact, I'm honestly surprised it didn't), with all the attention you put into it. Perhaps your strain is way more sensitive...
Unfortunately it's too late to figure out what went wrong. The leaves are gone and even the circumstances that lead to that have altered. Testing your ph or ppm at this point won't provide you with much useful info, though you may find something you can work on (you just won't know if that was the problem).
@ johnmac240 Yes, as in similarly far along in their development... as in about the same time veg and flower (I vegged for ~6 weeks and just started week 5 of flower... he vegged for 5 and is in week 4-5 of flower). Of course our strains are different (I actually have no idea what mine is)... but I thought it'd help, as a very general comparison.
I also second the 5 gal buckets as being perfectly fine for growing, and I certainly don't think they were the problem here. TONS of people I know use them and do very well. Of course drainage holes are key... but drainage in general is important. I know people who didn't add gravel at the bottom of their planter pots (with tons of great holes) and wound up with sludge. I expect to find some in all my pots because the humidity were I live is really high, such that my 3 gal pots never really dry out... I found white mold and mushrooms growing in my pots a few times, despite hardly watering at all (about twice a week, just enough to see a little water come out the bottom).
Fabric pots do have the advantage of preventing root binding and promoting healthier (bigger/lusher) growth... but then they also dry out faster... a small but noteworthy drawback.
