November 1, 2010:
The seelings were droopy and sad looking today. All of them looked overwatered. I guess I watered a tad too much the other day as the soil was still moist looking and the plants had droopy sets of first leaves, hanging down sadly. Looked like too much water imho...
Also, I noticed that the new growth on several of them had purple hues and looked stunted. Additionally, several of their stems had purpled up. Isn't this a sign of Phosphorous (P) deficiency in plants? I think it is...please chime in if you know something about this! Thanks!
So following Legallyflying's advice I felt like I needed to feed some macro nutes (NPK) for the first time (especially since Light Warrior is a cool soil without much nutrients and requires early feeding as opposed to FFOF). However, I was worried about the soil still being wet and the seedlings looking droopy and didn't want to make it much worse...so here's what I did to combat the overwater/droopiness/purple'ing of the seedlings:
1) Raised the temperature to 75 from 69.
2) Lowered the humidity from 65% to 50%
I'm hoping these two help evaporate any excess moisture in the soil and dry them out a bit so they are less droopy.
3) Poked two 4" holes (using a pencil) in each seedlings soil. Added 1/2 teaspoon Mycorrhyzae spores (Plant Success Myco) into each seedling's cup. Covered it back up and watered it in using the feed solution (see below).
4) Mixed up a feed solution in my 2L Solo Sprayer (should have been using this to start with instead of the stupid squirt bottle. It has a telescoping wand and is way easier to water with..
http://www.solousa.com/store/flypage/handheld_sprayers/420_.html
PS I love how its labeled the "420" model sprayer..LOL! Wonder if they have a clue..
Feed Solution:
6.5 pH / 650 ppm
2L RO Water
1/4 tsp Grow Big
(6-4-4) (This is my MACRO NUTES Veg Growth Feed)
1 tsp Root 66
1 Tbsp Big Bloom
(0.01-0.3-0.7)
This will be their second feeding. Its definitely due, and despite the Fox Farm's feed chart recommending you not start feeding grow big until week 3, I am going to start feeding it this week due to the purpling.
Because they were still moist and seemed overwatered and undernourished, I didn't want to use give them tons of water, so I just gave them each a couple quick squirts and figured they should dry out more in a day or so and I can feed again if they still look undernourished.
What do you all think of this? Whats up with the purpling, is that "P" Deficiency from not enough macro nutes? Did I take the correct course of action here? What would you do?
Thanks everyone!!
COMMENTS WELCOME! 