First Grow Ever. Need advice/opinions.

[ApolloTheCat]

The grow has been good so far considering the circumstances it’s been done in . But a few leaves have brown/yellow spots, and are starting to claw and tips are turning yellow, not all of them though, it was under heat stress recently which was fixed, has oscillating fan, exhaust, temp controlled between 70-77 F, ph of 6.4, using MG potting soil 6 month(I know shit choice, needed soil fast for the time frame tho and live in the middle of nowhere), 5 cfls total 140 Watts, I believe they are 2700k a piece, only been LST’d, no bugs, slight nute burn in the beginning of the grow but that was fixed, I need help identifying what’s wrong with it now. I plan to start feeding in two days along with switching to 12/12. Strain is blueberry kush.

 

[Lucky Luke]

My first thoughts are to much nitrogen (hence the tips) and maybe over watering (droopy leaves). if you haven't been adding any Cal/mag then that's probably the yellowing.

Keep in mind I'm not familiar with MG soil.

 

[OldMedUser]

Your MG nutes are biting you in the ass. It's providing more than your plant can process with the limited light energy you are providing.

First option is transplant into a bigger pot with a neutral/soilless mix to dilute the nutes if staying with the same lights.

2nd and better option is to do as above and increase the light by 4X. Put a 400W MH on it and watch it rock.

Tough getting good buds when struggling along with sub-par gear but keep at it and after a few grows you'll be swimming in bud you grew yourself!

Good luck!

 

[ApolloTheCat]

Your MG nutes are biting you in the ass. It's providing more than your plant can process with the limited light energy you are providing.

First option is transplant into a bigger pot with a neutral/soilless mix to dilute the nutes if staying with the same lights.

2nd and better option is to do as above and increase the light by 4X. Put a 400W MH on it and watch it rock.

Tough getting good buds when struggling along with sub-par gear but keep at it and after a few grows you'll be swimming in bud you grew yourself!

Good luck!

So I should get a bigger pot? I just transplanted into a 2.5 gallon less than a week ago, definitely getting a different soil to help, here’s more pics as well. A little more droopy bc this was supposed to be it’s dark cycle, also, should I clip the leaves that are brown/yellow at the bottom, there’s only two sets that are like that. Getting MH for next grow, not enough funds for it now.

 

[drsaltzman]

I'd slow down a bit.
Wouldn't be switching yet, or feeding.
Transplant it ... nothing too hot. Def Not MG. The last thing this plant needs is more nitrogen.
Give it 2 weeks.
Light watering.
Don't clip anything yet.

 

[ApolloTheCat]

I'd slow down a bit.
Wouldn't be switching yet, or feeding.
Transplant it ... nothing too hot. Def Not MG. The last thing this plant needs is more nitrogen.
Give it 2 weeks.
Light watering.
Don't clip anything yet.

So transplant, I’ll try to shake off any soil since it’s MG, without damaging roots since I just transplanted, I’m picking up some organic tomorrow, assuming light watering to keep the time released nutes from destroying it, will update with pics as things are updated/changed

 

[drsaltzman]

Yes, the thing with miracle grow is it's time release so you can't really leach the chemical granules ouf of the soil.
You can always transplant in veg.
Pull the plant, tease the roots gently, get her in some friendly soil.
She will need some time to get over the shock..

Also, you're gonna want some more light for flower if you can.
Whatever the budget allows.
Even if you have to hang some Home Depot LED bulbs in there.

 

[ApolloTheCat]

Yes, the thing with miracle grow is it's time release so you can't really leach the chemical granules ouf of the soil.
You can always transplant in veg.
Pull the plant, tease the roots gently, get her in some friendly soil.
She will need some time to get over the shock..

Also, you're gonna want some more light for flower if you can.
Whatever the budget allows.
Even if you have to hang some Home Depot LED bulbs in there.

I want to get a HPS, Around how much would one cost, im only ever going to be growing one at a time and not veg for longer than 2 months.

 

[drsaltzman]

I want to get a HPS, Around how much would one cost, im only ever going to be growing one at a time and not veg for longer than 2 months.

It always starts with just one.

Let's get through this one first.

LED would be better than HPS for one plant.
No heat issues. Less equipment. 200W COB.
http://timbergrowlights.com/model-2vl/

Or get 300W. Gives you flexibility to grow 2, or 3.
http://timbergrowlights.com/model-3vl

You're gonna need something like this eventually.
Meantime, get her in shape for flowering.
Decide later.
You can still flower under CFL too.
All experience is good experience.

 

[ApolloTheCat]

It always starts with just one.

Let's get through this one first.

LED would be better than HPS for one plant.
No heat issues. Less equipment. 200W COB.

Or get 300W. Gives you flexibility to grow 2,

You're gonna need something like this eventually.
Meantime, get her in shape for flowering.
Decide later.
You can still flower under CFL too.
All experience is good experience.

I’ll probably just flower under CFLs for now but like you said that’s not for a bit, also, I’m doing an 18/6 light schedule right now with the 6 being in the hottest part of the day to lessen electricity use, I did 24/0 for the first 2 and a half weeks of veg, was that fine? Or is there a better schedule? I’ve seen mixed reviews for 18/6 and 24/0. And when you say light watering, how light? I normally did it with no runoff just because the time release nutes.

 

[ApolloTheCat]

I’ll probably just flower under CFLs for now but like you said that’s not for a bit, also, I’m doing an 18/6 light schedule right now with the 6 being in the hottest part of the day to lessen electricity use, I did 24/0 for the first 2 and a half weeks of veg, was that fine? Or is there a better schedule? I’ve seen mixed reviews for 18/6 and 24/0. And when you say light watering, how light? I normally did it with no runoff just because the time release nutes.

Also throwing up a pic of the root system when I transplanted her, was that the right time or should I have waited?

 

[XxCashedxOutxX]

Also throwing up a pic of the root system when I transplanted her, was that the right time or should I have waited?

Perfect time for a transplant looks good

 

[ApolloTheCat]

Perfect time for a transplant looks good

I also think I partly know where I might’ve messed up and caused nute burn, after transplanting, I did it with moist soil, day after watering, I did a flush after transplanting to new pot, this was before I really researched MG, and so maybe that released the nutes that caused the problems I’m having now? Just a thought, anyone else have an opinion? Obviously not using MG again ever tho

 

[OldMedUser]

I mainly grow in soilless when not doing DWC and was experimenting with using the ProMix HP with their Veg and Herb mix that has time release organic nutes. Acted just like MG and burned the crap out of my OG#18 girl.

She was in a 2.5gal pot so I moved her up to a 5gal pail with just the HP. and the burn settled down. I think I'm going to let this one finish flowering and move on with other projects. Nice buzz but nothing that stands out enough to keep her. Mostly getting into hi-CBD strains and crosses of them.

For lighting I like HIDs but use flouros and LED bulbs with the domes ripped off and built a nice little fixture that holds 11 bulbs. Made it out of vanity fixtures and just scored another 4 bulb fixture at the thrift store for $5 and with the other one I have making outriggers to add 4 bulbs to each side of the 11 bulb unit. Cheap on power and seems to veg plants nicely. Vegging in the upstairs bedroom and it's already getting hot.

Downstairs in the main grow room I'm using a 1000W Super HPS and temps/humidity are controlled. Cool down there so I need the extra heat. Have some 400W ones too if I don't need to cover as many plants.

Some guys swear by MG but generally most experienced growers shun it. I've been using AN nutes for 17 years and they work just fine in soil/soilless and hydro. I'm not so great as a dirt farmer.

It was probably a sudden release of nutes that caused your problems and now that it's got other stuff to dilute it you should be fine.

 

[ApolloTheCat]

I mainly grow in soilless when not doing DWC and was experimenting with using the ProMix HP with their Veg and Herb mix that has time release organic nutes. Acted just like MG and burned the crap out of my OG#18 girl.

She was in a 2.5gal pot so I moved her up to a 5gal pail with just the HP. and the burn settled down. I think I'm going to let this one finish flowering and move on with other projects. Nice buzz but nothing that stands out enough to keep her. Mostly getting into hi-CBD strains and crosses of them.

For lighting I like HIDs but use flouros and LED bulbs with the domes ripped off and built a nice little fixture that holds 11 bulbs. Made it out of vanity fixtures and just scored another 4 bulb fixture at the thrift store for $5 and with the other one I have making outriggers to add 4 bulbs to each side of the 11 bulb unit. Cheap on power and seems to veg plants nicely. Vegging in the upstairs bedroom and it's already getting hot.

Downstairs in the main grow room I'm using a 1000W Super HPS and temps/humidity are controlled. Cool down there so I need the extra heat. Have some 400W ones too if I don't need to cover as many plants.

Some guys swear by MG but generally most experienced growers shun it. I've been using AN nutes for 17 years and they work just fine in soil/soilless and hydro. I'm not so great as a dirt farmer.

It was probably a sudden release of nutes that caused your problems and now that it's got other stuff to dilute it you should be fine.

Dang bro, yea I also did some light trimming at the same time so that didn’t help either, I think I’m going to stick with cfls for veg and go with hps for flower, I have a good amount of the bb kush so It’s gonna be all kinda experimenting and trial and error until I get the system that’ll work best for me. Everyone here has already helped me beyond my imagination lol this site and everyone on it is the best

 

[OldMedUser]

Here's some reading for you. You'll be a pro in no time.

I found a great spot to download FREE POT BOOKS. I downloaded a grow bible first and got lots more. Books look great and complete like the real ones I have here. No web site but just a page of links. Just right click on what you want and then "Save Link As" to download so they don't open first as some are 50+ megs. They got lots. Enjoy.

 

[ApolloTheCat]

Here's some reading for you. You'll be a pro in no time.

I found a great spot to download FREE POT BOOKS. I downloaded a grow bible first and got lots more. Books look great and complete like the real ones I have here. No web site but just a page of links. Just right click on what you want and then "Save Link As" to download so they don't open first as some are 50+ megs. They got lots. Enjoy.

Heck yea man, appreciate it, I’ll take any help I can get, stuck in the Bible Belt so it’s hard to come by people who even associate with this stuff

 

[Ar-BsG]

Same here it's hell in the Bible Belt lmao

 

[Ar-BsG]

I subscribe to hightimes some of the articles are preety helpful

 

[Aqua512]

After looking at your pics, You do have a Cal-Mag issue. Have a look at the stems. They have a dark reddish/purple color. This is the main symptom. Also the yellow spots are turning brown. Add some bone meal to your soil. You can use MG soil. Just mix it 2/1 with peat moss(2 parts soil x 1 part peat moss). It is way too hot alone. Ofc add more pearl-lite. 2/1 with pearl-lite (2 parts soil x 1 part pearl-lite). You can buy 3 Cu-Y of peat moss at Lowe's for 12 bucks.