First Grow Leaves Clawing Down When Lights Go Off

First let me say Hi to all you awesome people and thank you in advance for any response!

This is a first time grow for me the strain is Skunk #11 grown from seed I have many other strains in Veg and for now no problems with those the problem I am having is my Skunk #11 in flower she is 2 weeks in to flower and coming along quite nice all except for when the lights go off the leaves curl down.

She was in Veg for 5 weeks under T5 lighting with 2 UV bulbs and 2 Veg bulbs 30,000 lumens room temps were 79 lights on and 65 - 66 lights off RH stayed between 45 - 65% I did some LST and topping along the way I use Fox Farm Soil Nutrients I have been feeding as the schedule says to the T no problems in veg I also use Fox Farm Ocean Forest Soil mixed with worm castings and perlite started the feedings in week 2 of Veg and my water is PHed to 6.9 because the soil PH is low I was watering with 6.4 - 6.5 but my run off was 6.1 - 6.2 and with my water Phed to 6.9 my run off is 6.5 - 6.6 and the week 2 feedings were 650 PPM week 3 was 1100 PPM week 4 PPM was about 1350 and week 5 was around 1200 PPM also in week 5 I added 1 TSP of Epsom salt because I had a small sulfur Deficiency new growth was light yellow then I flushed the soil before she went in to the grow tent for flower. For flower I use a 1000 HPS air cooled with a exhaust fan rated for 450 CFM on a speed control and a carbon filter. My intake is a 250 CFM also on a speed control the room temps are 81 at the canopy lights on and 68 lights off RH stays between 40 - 50% the first week of flower I did light watering due to flushing I didn't want to over water I also did a 1/2 strength veg feed still no visible problems and she started to stretch and I scroged her at this point the start of week 2 showing signs of flowering so I started with a 1/2 strength flower feed and after 3 more days she started to claw up when the lights go off? Is it anything to be concerned about?

I could be wrong but I think that's a sign of over watering. It is normal for them to slouch a little when lights off but not too much, and they should be strong and reaching up when the light is on. But they look healthy otherwise, and really lush and green which is what you want so, nice job.

Ok thank you this is about 4 hours after lights out and this is as bad as she gets when the lights are on all leaves are standing on end I would put up a picture but those annoying lines in the camera from the HPS.

They just have a rest so don't worry.

Yes some strains will do this. I have one that you brush up against it and it wilts for a bit in that spot..some really respond to the lights some stay the same when lights on /off

That's N tox curling.

Don't ever use veg nutes with ocean forest. OF is already a hot soil and good for 6 weeks of vegging with straight tap water.

Well it's been a few days now since the leaf curling incident now I'm noticing that all bud sights are getting a slight yellow hew I did flush after what super baked said about nitrogen toxicity my soil was almost dry and I flushed 12 gallons of PHed water through 5 gallon container the plant was in to get out any build up of salts and unused nutes my first ppm reading was 1600 ph was 7.1 after the 12 gallons the ppm was 450 and ph was 6.4 24hours later I notice all the new growth of the bud sites is getting a little yellowish white is this normal because to me she looks great and starting to smell good I read it may be a slight sulfur deficiency because it can't be from cold my grow room only gets down to 66 degrees Fahrenheit here are a few pics.

They are looking good man, I don't see a problem at all, I would add some dolomite lime to the soil as a buffer, yes before anyone says it I know it raises ph but it will never go above 7 with dolomite lime. You are in danger of going into lockout if yer ph stays up too high or keeps going up. .

Thanks I'm trying my best and I think I've read everything you can about indoor growing 10 times over just kidding every day I'm learning something new and I know that with all the great advice and knowledge that you experienced growers have and are willing to share so freely with us newbies I will do well and appreciate you all thank you.

Im kinda confused what youre doing in there four hours after lights off with a camera. Or in there at all that far into the dark cycle for that matter. Right after lights out or right before lights on. Imo. Im a bit paranoid when it comes to messing up their night cycle.

They look much better now.

I don't see what yellowing you're referring to, that's a healthy looking green.

superbak3d said:

They look much better now.

I don't see what yellowing you're referring to, that's a healthy looking green.

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I think I just tend to over analyze everything I do. some say a good quality others are annoyed by it but I appreciate the approval that they look healthy I will probably post something in another thread of the progress she makes.

The lighter color you're seeing is result off the growth rate being fast at the beginning of flower. It's perfectly normal for new growth to look that way. You should stop flushing like that it's not
necessary and more likely to cause you problems.

New growth will always be a lighter green and with camera flash, that light green can be mistaken for yellow.

Flash is great for crystal and resin shots, not so much for seeing actual leaf color.

The only reason I flushed was because I believed it to be nitrogen toxicity and since the flush even this morning she looks great no more claw and the color is the same I appreciate it guys I'll keep you updated.

Your new growth will be lighter in color. No need to worry.

Deathhasnofriends said:

Well it's been a few days now since the leaf curling incident now I'm noticing that all bud sights are getting a slight yellow hew I did flush after what super baked said about nitrogen toxicity my soil was almost dry and I flushed 12 gallons of PHed water through 5 gallon container the plant was in to get out any build up of salts and unused nutes my first ppm reading was 1600 ph was 7.1 after the 12 gallons the ppm was 450 and ph was 6.4 24hours later I notice all the new growth of the bud sites is getting a little yellowish white is this normal because to me she looks great and starting to smell good I read it may be a slight sulfur deficiency because it can't be from cold my grow room only gets down to 66 degrees Fahrenheit here are a few pics.View attachment 3584462View attachment 3584464View attachment 3584465View attachment 3584467

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Are you feeding micros such as sulfur, boron and iron? If not, why?

Sulfur yes light doses as for iron no I use tap water filtered and PHed boron no didn't know I needed that and what's the best way to get boron in the plant and whats the feed schedule also don't forget I am a total newbie lol just trying to do the best I can with what I know and hopefully after a few grows I might get everything locked in I really appreciate all the info and replies you guys are super helpful.

@Deathhasnofriends

Shit , after pushing 12 gallons of water through the poor thing. It'll be a wonder if there is any nutrition left, even the soils.
Superbaked didn't tell you to flush! It would have been and still is - not the best idea.
In fact - the pictures you posted show wonderful looking plants that needed NOTHING but patience!

Lets start like this.
It was NOT clawing from N tox! How about you search "Light saturation point in C3 plants" and learn about what plants do during the lights out time. Your plants are most assuredly doing that leaf "sag" not "N Claw" from what you should have just read about. N clawing is more at the end and looks like someone bent them over.



Now lets talk about pH
Attempting to figure the soil pH from run off is, well, stupid! There are way to many variables to make any "formula" for doing so accurate! The reason your run off came in at 6.1 and around that is simply because when you water/feed. The pH of the soil drops as much as a point on average! As the soil dries back out the pH rise's back up to it's normal value. This is how nature give plants the proper pH zones for the specific nutrients to be up-taken in the most efficient/effective amounts. This is so for synthetics and organics!

Now then. By dumping so much water through your NOT N toxed plants you have disrupted the normal pH balance of the soil by allowing it to be wet for an extended period of time. This means that the pH will be low for an extended period of time. You have most likely started a low Ca, Mg and P situation. You have really slapped the living bio's (Myco's and Fungus) in the soil and you should (WHEN THE SOIL HAS DRIED BACK OUT TO THE POINT OF WATERING) add strong, living bio's back to the soil so it can at least attempt to self regulate the pH again!

What I would suggest now.
For the return of living bio's you should use a good basic bio tea to water with. There are dry bio's and other supplements out there but there is no better then an active living bio tea for fast replacement!
MAKE YOUR OWN!

1, 5 gallon bucket
4 gallons spring, rain, puddle, river, stream water - NO RO or TAP or DISTILLED water!
1, round or circular air stone (a cpl of 6 inch stones if no rounds)
1 aquarium air pump (more power the better) (2 outlet if round stones not used)
1 cup EWC
1/4 cup unsulfured black strap molasses
1/4 cup Alfalfa meal
Kelp/sea weed extract

Take the bucket and put the air pump and stones together. Put the stones in the bucket as far apart as you can and add the water.
Stones still apart? Now turn on the pump and add the EWC, molasses and Alfalfa meal.

Run this for 48 hrs as close to 70F as you can.
When done add 1 tsp Kelp extract per gallon of tea and water directly to plants.....

NOTE: The tea will keep about 3 days if stored in the fridge....Use up fast OR make only what you need for your plants by reducing the above formula to your needs!

You have now replaced (and increased) the living bio's to the soil.
The Alfalfa and the Kelp have given back Micro's and some low NPK the plant needs fast right now.

You should restart feeding at the next watering.
You should for your nervous nature from now on. Ph all in-going to 6.7 and forget about the soils pH!
You should alternate feed and waterings till done - feed - water - feed - water and on and on.
You should NOT change to a "bloom" nutrient till 2 weeks after you flip the lighting to flower times!
You should use the tea at least every2 weeks as synthetics are very hard on the living bio's in the soil.

You should - when using FFOF soil add at least a 1/2 cup of Dolomite lime to the whole bag as it's a bit low on lime and Mg for the long haul! FOR SURE if you add other things like EWC!

Stop obsessing on the plants at every look you take!
STOP going in at lights out and looking for something that's NOT there!

BE patient! It will grow with out you worrying so much!

Good Luck!

I have to say I've been having the same issue with Pieface OG, I really beat the shit out of those poor ladies before I considered light saturation. I've since bumped back to 18/6 veg from 20/4 and they seem much happier..