As promised, an update if problems arise with the nutrients.
The red stems started creeping up again after my last post, prompting me to get a proper Ph pen.
After mixing Mantis nutrients with my tap water (Ph 7.8~) the final Ph was about 5.5. A little low but still in range for coco. Maybe an issue caused by the coco/vermiculite mix I'm growing in.
But then what I believe is a potassium(K) deficiency appeared. With confirmation of a Ph at 5.5 I could rule out improper Ph as the sole cause of the potassium issue, as potassium is absorbed better at lower Ph.
It
could be a Phosphorus deficiency, which
would make more sense in flower stage with these nutrients, but the brown/yellow areas of the leaves don't look splotchy and started at the edges like a potassium deficiency is supposed to start. The lower leaves
do look a little shiny and the red stems tie in better with a phosphorus deficiency though. Pic included, make your own judgement.
The issues only started appearing 6 weeks into flower, and now these girls are at 7 weeks. With chernobyl being a 8-9 week sativa, I'm thinking there's no point switching nutrients now as I'll be flushing soon.
The company claims no salt build up and no need to flush, but there is definitely a little salt build up and I'll be flushing regardless.
Buyer beware. Mantis
might be lacking. Totally kept the plants alive, grew buds and isn't a complete scam, but might not bring the best out of your plants like traditional feedings can. OR it totally could be user error.
The smells are amazing now though, and everything is so wonderfully sticky even with these issues. Temps are 74~ day/70~ night. Humidity stays between 40-45%. Watering about 2.5L per plant per day now. Gonna start flushing soon, then just waiting on those milky trichomes.
A reminder to Snoopy and everyone else, even a disaster like this can grow better weed than the Canadian Gov. At least I won't be shoving my bud in a dehydrator or skipping the cure process, like the street guys are still doing here. This disaster shouldn't taste like hay, and that's a huge improvement over what I can buy. Don't let people scare you away from trying something new.
And since
someone is probably gonna point it out, yes there's a few dog hairs in there. I've got a husky and its spring, I'm just glad I was able to keep most of the hair outta the tent.
