Could Miracle Grow Be The Problem?

Brokenhope420

Well-Known Member
I am an idiot, and didn't listen when people said miracle grow was bad, it was my first grow, and I bought 2-3 bags of miracle grow potting soil [this was a bit before last summer]. I use CFL's as well, theres plenty of light, trust me, light is one thing I am sure is not the issue.

The entire first grow was very unstable, I had some plants die off, and plants would seem to look good, and then start drooping, and a week later they are almost completely dead... even though the conditions were exactly the same the entire time, consistent watering schedule every 3 days or so, and I did not use any nutes at all, I don't own any, and no plant food either, I don't have any. The water I used was the same old tap water left out for 2 days that I always use to water with.

Temperatures get to about 68-70 when lights are off, and they can peak at 87-89.9, it never ever hits 90. Lights are on 18:6. I have one fan blowing over the plants, all the leaves on all the plants constantly moving, but not violently or anything, this grow is in my closet, which is pretty decent sized, and my closet door gets opened at least 4 times a day.

I am on my second grow... but both grows I used miracle grow, and I am having serious problems... I don't even know if I can blame the soil, I have heard miracle grow is bad... but doable, whereas me, every single plant I have droops at around 20 days in, and then dies, my first grow made it 2 months my first grow was doing pretty well, had some problems, and all the bottom leaves dead, but the top half was doing well, then I tried to flower on 12/12 and a month later, nothing happened but the plant got really sick, drooped, yellowed and died. Plant growth seemed to have stopped, the only daily change was it was more yellow and the leaves were getting smaller and smaller every day.

I had those plants in a pot that the entire bottom was filled with miracle grow, and the top half was dollar general soil, 2 plants made it a lil over 2 months in a mix of bottom half miracle grow, top half dollar general (the bucket was about 1 1/2 feet tall, and about a lil over a foot wide.)

This current grow I am using the miracle grow still leftover from my first grow, they start out fine... not growing as fast as other CFL grows I have seen, but then out of nowhere they start yellowing, drooping and dying. I have had one of my one month old plants die already, and another of the better looking ones is about to die, a week ago it was fine. I transplanted the other month old plant into a bigger container and I used dollar general soil to fill all the gaps, it isn't looking as bad as it was... but its not really growing either.

So pretty much all my plants just seem to start dying out of nowhere, out of all the different sprouts I have planted every one of them starts looking like shit out of nowhere, not to mention they are growing slow as fuck... not just slow, seriously abnormally slow, I had one of my month old plants still growing its second fucking set of leaves when it died, that is not fucking right at all.

I am getting so ticked, I have invested well over $300 into this, mostly on the CFL's and sockets, and nothing will fucking work... one of the things in common with every plant that dies is the miracle grow... I haven't tried growing in just dollar general soil - because that crap turns rock hard after its watered and dries out - which it takes it a good half hour to dry the top after a heavy watering.

I haven't been able to find any other soil... when I was doing my first grow and went to get soil miracle grow was all that was left on the shelfs at walmart. Now I want to buy some other soil... but I only have a few options of where I could go... Home Depot, or Lowes.

help would be greatly appreciated.
 

bba

Well-Known Member
FoxFarm Soil & Fertilizer Company

i feel ya brother, i had the yellowing problem, infact i still do, but, i changed the soil, and they seem like they are snapping out if it.

Also be sure and check your water ph, and soil ph.

the fox farms soil would def. help you out.

~BBA
 

Brokenhope420

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the reply.

I really have no way to test the pH, is there any pH testing kits available at Walmart or something? The pH of the soil is probably too acidic, miracle grows pH is around 5.5 out of the bag. I haven't done anything with the soil or water to adjust the pH.

I am unable to order stuff off the internet, thats a big problem... and there is no gardening places anywhere around here, I would have to drive for quite a long ways, and I would never be able to find it unless someone showed me exactly where it is, and thats not going to happen... so I am pretty much stuck with whatever I can get at Lowes, Home Depot, or Walmart.
 

flowergurl

There's treachery afoot
I swear by Miracle grow and Scotts potting soil (available at Ace Hardware year round) Scotts seems just a smidge better but have use MG for years without any troubles once I figured out I had to add nutes and a little epsom salts. Once I found the trick...never looked back and have had some nice results. I don't spend alot on nutes, I like Petersons plant food. Big ol box at Lowes of three bags for under 10 bucks. Has always worked very well with plants in veg stage picking up about two inches a day at times but averaging about 1 to 1.5 inches. I am by no means a professional as I have a whole lot to learn but found all the posts and information on the site very helpful. What works for others may not always work for you but once you figure out what does work...stick to it. Then grow a couple of plants to experiment with and tweak your system to perfection...for you.....:hump:
 

Brokenhope420

Well-Known Member
Aight maybe that could be the problem, I haven't fed them at all... I will look into it.

I liked Miracle Grow way better than the other soils I have seen, just because of its consistency and it has perlite and stuff, it would be awesome if I got my grow to work with it.

I will get Peterson's Plant Food next time I go to Lowes which should be soon.

Thanks a lot for all the replies :D.
 

Brokenhope420

Well-Known Member
Oh yeah, the Miracle Grow bag says it has 2 months of food... maybe it says 3... its 2 or 3... and my plants start really dieing about 3 weeks in, and are pretty much dead a week later... does the plant food in the miracle grow not work or something?
 

White Eagle

Active Member
Get yourself some Fox Farms Ocean Forest soil. You can't go wrong..... It has the perfect amount of everything in it. It has never let me down. If you can't find it at a local store then get it on eBay.
 

Brokenhope420

Well-Known Member
I have heard so much great things about fox farm soil, but theres really no way for me to get it, unless its sold at Walmart, Lowes, or Home Depot, I don't have any method of paying for things on the internet, I don't have a credit card, or paypal, etc.

It really sucks being limited like this. Gardening isn't as popular around here as other places, so there is like no gardening centers anywhere within a stoners driving distance (haha I get lost easy).
 

Jetson

Active Member
miracle grow rocks!!!!! i've been using it for years.

your plants need food, plain and simple.



Yea my first grow i used miracle grow with great results. They have various choices to. I made a combo of their organic,regular,and moisture control soils.
Also used the seedling starter mix for seeds with perfect results. So your problem could very well deal with something else.
 

mastakoosh

Well-Known Member
I have heard so much great things about fox farm soil, but theres really no way for me to get it, unless its sold at Walmart, Lowes, or Home Depot, I don't have any method of paying for things on the internet, I don't have a credit card, or paypal, etc.

It really sucks being limited like this. Gardening isn't as popular around here as other places, so there is like no gardening centers anywhere within a stoners driving distance (haha I get lost easy).
i feel you, same as where i live. mg organic worked for my last grow fine.:peace:
 

Brokenhope420

Well-Known Member
I use the miracle grow potting soil. It says it has 3 months of plant food, do I need to use additional plant food? I haven't used any plant foods ever, is the food in the soil sufficient?

Umm if I let the water I water the plants with sit too long, like 4 days+ is it bad to use? sometimes the water does sit for up to 4 days+...

man, I just can't figure out what I am doing wrong -_-.
 

Jetson

Active Member
I use the miracle grow potting soil. It says it has 3 months of plant food, do I need to use additional plant food? I haven't used any plant foods ever, is the food in the soil sufficient?

Umm if I let the water I water the plants with sit too long, like 4 days+ is it bad to use? sometimes the water does sit for up to 4 days+...

man, I just can't figure out what I am doing wrong -_-.
If your talking about tap water then the longer you let the water sit out the better. This lets the chlorine evaporate.
 

titleistbudz

Well-Known Member
You need some fertilizers. Your girls need to eat, just like you.

After about 3 weeks, you need to start a feed program, and creep your way up.
 

fdd2blk

Well-Known Member
miracle grow has food for your typical house plant. marijuana wants A LOT more than that. after a couple weeks you need to start feeding.
 

bigd921

Well-Known Member
I am totally new but I had the same problem with my first plants and it was a ph problem my tap water had a ph of about 9 once i got some ph down brought the ph down to 6 in all my water and the survivor is looking pretty good on day 3 of 12/12 i think its a girl
 

6isafraidof7

New Member
Could someone lead me to a link on the site were it shows a feeding schedule. I tried to search but no luck. Plus the growfaq don't go too in depth on nutes for a soil grow. This is probably the most complicated part of the grow (nutes that is).
 
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