Chemical burn or something else? Need your expert advice! (pics)

Xschtar said:

Hello

I registered here just to get your help. From what I've seen, you guys really, really know what you're talking about (on other forums, people just do random guesses). I've got 3 plants, they are 3 weeks old and growing very slowly, not sure why exactly. I've transplanted them once and tried everything from raising the humidity (my country has dry air, 30% RH), to adding nutrients, switching from HPS to MH and a lot of other things, but still they grow slowly. Only now the last few days have they started to grow like they should... see this pic below, it's the difference between day 18 of growth and day 20 of growth... still kind of slow, but acceptable growth, right?

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Welcome to the forum. I applaude your honesty. Lets start with the basics. Its a weed. It has grown for thousands of years without our help. In nature it does this by 'dispersing seeds' that could fall just about anywhere. So, for whatever reason that little seed has all of the nutrients it need for the first two weeks of life right there in the seed. That way, it doesn't have to find all the nutrients it needs in the soil for the first two weeks, which is good, because it can survive while developing a root system if nothing comes along to disturb it, like turning it upside down and plopping it into another pot.
If the roots are allowed to develope and find the necessary water supply they will grow quickly, if they are constantly 'in water' like its a swamp, they will drown, literally unless they get oxygen. So if they are sitting in water the plant will die.

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/8524/2dagarsskillnad1820dagayc1.jpg

But anyway now the leaves are drying out and there are yellow spots starting to spread. First I was afraid it might be Yellow Leaf Spot or some other disease, but it might also be nutrition burn, CO2 overdose, too high humidity, too low humidity, too high temperature or too high PH.

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It could be that the plants didn't need the nutrients you gave them and did need proper ph for the medium you are using and were overwatered. Then you shocked the shit out of them by transplanting them and changing the lights etc, and they may never recover from it.
co2 overdose isn't possible unless you are in a coal mine, too low and too high humidity are opposites and require air handling I'm sure you don't have. 30rh will not kill a plant and too high will make them limp. it also requires no air movement in and out of the grow area to maintain it if the ambient air is 30%rh. too high of a temperature will slow it down and you would 'feel' its too hot if its high enough too kill it. Too high of ph will lock out the nutes. I'm guessing you may have overfertilized and over watered your seedlings and then shocked them by transplating them 'because of thier slow growth'.

At the moment it's only the big plants which has yellow spots, but the small plants are starting to show the same thing. Right now it's about 28 degrees Celsius, 40% RH, the PH is slightly above 6 in the soil, they are under a 400w HPS Sylvania Growlux (my MH unfortunately broke yesterday, I'm waiting for a new one)... what do you guys think? I sure hope it isn't Yellow Leaf Spot!

The first image is under MH and is therefore a better picture, but it's from yesterday.

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/4614/problemsfr9.jpg

This image is taken under the HPS and very strange colors so you can't really see it, but it's MUCH worse (even though you can't see it because everything is yellow)! The leaves are drooping and have big holes in them!

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/9679/problems2pc2.jpg

What do you make of this?

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I'm sure by now your probably saying "Thats all fine asshole, now what do I do to save my plants, I don't care about all that bullshit." RIght?
I'm hoping someone with better eyes will take a look at your pictures in case there is something I'm not seeing. If any one else sees something different please let me know, I'm old and will understand, I know I'm almost blind, I won't take offense.
If no one does, you might still be able to save those plants by flushing them out. You would do this the first time, normally by using a 1/4 strength nute solution, for 21 day old plants that would be about 1/4 of 300-400ppm, so almost none. Pour twice the pot capacity through the plants and let it drain. I would recommend you get 'Super Thrive' or similar product and use it as recommended, just a drop. Move them into 'low light' kinda like they are sick and need to rest, not dark, just relax, we will get back to growing in a few days. Check them in about three days, and if they still show signs of life get rid of most if not all if the dead leaves, what we are looking for is 'any new growth'. Flush them again, pour it right thru. Begin to 're-introduce' the light, gradually getting them back to within 12" of the plants.
The number one problem for new growers is overwatering, we don't have a 'feel' for when a plant 'needs' to be watered. We want to make sure 'our little babies' get everything they need, so we force the bottle down thier throat and we worry. The baby can throw it back in your face the plant can't.
Plants in soil should only need to be watered every three or four days. Hope this helps ya. VV

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VictorVIcious said:

I'm sure by now your probably saying "Thats all fine asshole, now what do I do to save my plants...

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VictorVIcious said:

Xschtar said:

Hello



It could be that the plants didn't need the nutrients you gave them and did need proper ph for the medium you are using and were overwatered. Then you shocked the shit out of them by transplanting them and changing the lights etc, and they may never recover from it.
co2 overdose isn't possible unless you are in a coal mine, too low and too high humidity are opposites and require air handling I'm sure you don't have. 30rh will not kill a plant and too high will make them limp. it also requires no air movement in and out of the grow area to maintain it if the ambient air is 30%rh. too high of a temperature will slow it down and you would 'feel' its too hot if its high enough too kill it. Too high of ph will lock out the nutes. I'm guessing you may have overfertilized and over watered your seedlings and then shocked them by transplating them 'because of thier slow growth'.


I'm in the same boat. But the new shoots coming out are digging my new light. I think it might be a combination of what you just said. What should I do. I'm totally stumped and concerned about Runt J. Should I flush it? help please...

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