Gorilla Glue#4: Approx Week 6-7 of Flower, concerns due to drastic changes in the plant

Hi All!

I usually tend to lurk, and search as much as possible. But I then realized that i could be facing multiple issues that are making it extremely tough to diagnose the problem. Or maybe there isnt a problem and i just need to CHILL! I was hoping that some of you true veterans could help me figure out what the best way forward is. This is only my second grow so please bear with me, I still have tonnes to learn.

1) PICTURE OF PLANT : I hope the images I provided are solid
2) Growing indoors
3) Watering schedule - No schedule, i usually water when the pots are light, but it has been generally every 3-4 days that they required water.
4) Growing Medium - Organic Living Soil
5) What stage of growth - Its about week 6 or 7 I THINK
6) Nutrients - I have decided not to feed any synthetic nutrients for this grow, I have only top-fed worm castings throughout the grow.

Additional information: All grown in about 3gal fabric pots, all are the same Gorilla Glue #4 strain. The plants are under a 240W Kingbrite Grow light which is about 20 inches from the canopy area. I have lightly defoliated the area under the canopy, but only to remove the parasite branches. I have a fan for circulation, but not one for extraction just yet. When watering, i also don't always get run off (Perhaps salt build ups?).

So lets get down to Business!

The plants were quite healthy (for my noob standards):


I have attached additional pics showing the plant in their healthy state, just over a week ago.

I had to go on a holiday over the long weekend, and when i returned, the plants were thirsty, and not looking too healthy (Some dry leaves, yellowing). Understanding that that is normal during flower if leaves are not getting much light, I was fine with it.

This is an image a few days after the above image, shortly after returning from my holiday:

View attachment 5002171


But as the days went by, more and more leaves got sick. If you compare the images of the healthy plant to the images of the plant as it is today, you will notice that many leaves have died and are no longer present. I suspect there is some amount of overwatering here (due to the fat, curling leaves), I believe that was my first mistake as my whole rhythm/vibe got messed up when i returned from my trip, i may have over watered then. I have also noted that the droop does not go away, the leaves appear to be permanently damaged, even when the pots are lighter.

Here is a pic of the plant as it is today:



I have attached additional images of the Buds and plants in hopes that they will provide you all with more information.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I mainly just want to know that they will survive the upcoming month until they are done developing the buds.

It does look like it laid down a bit on you. It’s hard to think that letting her get dry over a long weekend gave you lasting effects. Maybe you overwatered her, but you have to keep doing it for it to really hurt them. You said she was going dry in 3-4 days before so did you suddenly start watering every 2 days? I’m thinking probably not, especially since you’re aware of the concept. Looks nitrogen hungry to me, probably hungry for other elements too. I’m organic outside and getting yellow leaves on some myself; just waiting on some fish emulsion from Amazon. Blood/bone meal work, but they’re slower.
I’ve used some BioCanna before, nice but $$$. Advanced has an organic line, GH used to but it was hard to get for a time.
All this depends on your harvest window. You may not want to feed a bunch of nutes if you’re planning on chopping soon.

Appreciate the response! I was hoping that the harvest window would be in the next 3-4 weeks, but i will let the plant do what it needs to and just be patient with it. I just hope they can recover and finish up the buds.

That's exactly what I thought too, overwatering is usually something u can recover from my letting the plant dry out after the last feed. I cant imagine that would lead to them looking like this a week later. Possibly the nitrogen deficiency as well that is making them look worse.

Yes it was 3-4 days, and as it grew it became around 2 days until it would dry up and start to droop. I would feed each pot about 1L of water at this point. When i returned from my trip, i did the same, and a few days later the plants began to droop and the pots were light, so i watered again. That was the last time i had watered them.

I do have synthetic nutes on hand, perhaps a slight boost of Flora and Micro nutes in the next watering? I believe the nitrogen deficiency is something I will just have to live with, i will plan better for the next grow i guess. My main concern now is should i just keep going as i have been, or should i take action now and feed them.

How much does having “organic” weed at the end matter to you? If you’re just doing an experiment to see if it’ll work, then you’ll know for next time to topdress or use more of something.
If you want bigger buds and don’t care about using synthetic nutes then hit them with the Flora nutes. If I was in your place, I’d hit them pretty hard ppm/EC wise the first time, with some nice runoff. Let them get light and fert them again. Then water next time.

Awesome! I will give them a boost in the next watering.
I mainly just want a good quantity/quality combo. Fully organic is great, I have read the flavors and scents of the resultant bud are amazing. But my priority is to rack up enough to last me the next grow or else I will have to buy. The only reason i did not use synthetics is I do not have a PPM/EC meter so i can't really tell how many minerals exist in my soil as it is. But im working my way toward getting these equipments that will allow me to control every aspect.

Thanks for the info! A little guidance can alleviate loads of stress.

I just have a quick question, when you say "I’d hit them pretty hard ppm/EC wise the first time...", are you implying feeding them a fair helping of Flora nutes (Adhering to the feeding charts), ensuring ample run off, and then toning it down for the next feedings until i have to flush?

You could use Neptune's Harvest or something similar to stay organic. Keep all the good stuff in your soil alive. I top dress with Dr Earth Flowergirl dry ammendments when I flip to flower, sometimes I'll give another top dress a few weeks into flower. Last time I was at Lowes, I saw "Flowergirl" in liquid form, might be just what you need.

Kryonik said:

I just have a quick question, when you say "I’d hit them pretty hard ppm/EC wise the first time...", are you implying feeding them a fair helping of Flora nutes (Adhering to the feeding charts), ensuring ample run off, and then toning it down for the next feedings until i have to flush?

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Exactly.

Thanks gents! I will go out and check for something along the lines of Neptune's Harvest. But for now I think it will be worthwhile to give them a boost of synthetic nutes since i already have them.

Appreciate the help guys.

They are fading a bit, and it is time to feed them. You need to topdress or add organic nutrients.

As for what happened...you need them to dry out more, then water FULLY. I am in organic living soil too, and occasionally you need to water until runoff so you know exactly how much water they can take. Unless they wilt from lack of water you aren't harming them letting them dry out more.

Otherwise, they look good. I have a GG running right now and would estimate yours in in week 4 or 5 of flower if you arent sure. Long way to go.

Dont use hydro nutes, you are doing well and dont need to mess up your soil. Buy some dry topdress nutes or some organic liquid ones like earth juice or GH BioThrive. I use the GH line when I need a boost, cheap and easy to use.

ComfortCreator said:

They are fading a bit, and it is time to feed them. You need to topdress or add organic nutrients.

As for what happened...you need them to dry out more, then water FULLY. I am in organic living soil too, and occasionally you need to water until runoff so you know exactly how much water they can take. Unless they wilt from lack of water you aren't harming them letting them dry out more.

Otherwise, they look good. I have a GG running right now and would estimate yours in in week 4 or 5 of flower if you arent sure. Long way to go.

Dont use hydro nutes, you are doing well and dont need to mess up your soil. Buy some dry topdress nutes or some organic liquid ones like earth juice or GH BioThrive. I use the GH line when I need a boost, cheap and easy to use.

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Hey ComfortCreator, sorry man, I only refreshed the page and saw your reply now.

hmm i was unsure about the age, if it is only week 4-5, there is no rush to go synthetic. I will go to the store tomorrow and grab one of the organic bloom boosters.

Im glad you say they look ok though, i will try not to stress about the look too much.

Thanks for the advice!

Kryonik said:

Hey ComfortCreator, sorry man, I only refreshed the page and saw your reply now.

hmm i was unsure about the age, if it is only week 4-5, there is no rush to go synthetic. I will go to the store tomorrow and grab one of the organic bloom boosters.

Im glad you say they look ok though, i will try not to stress about the look too much.

Thanks for the advice!

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Right on!

I would recommend a bloom food, not a booster. Booster usually implies a flower boost product for hydro growers, i.e. the classic 13/14 (p/k).

Biothrive Bloom is 2-4-4 as a comparison.

A booster can work, but dosage has to be carefully controlled and most are not organic products.