Really big problem, leaves dying rapidly

Been having this problem for a couple of weeks and its getting progressively very bad. I have already picked off many many dead leaves off of the plants pictured and the problem keeps coming back.

The ph when tested was quite low, I tested the immediate run off with a pen and watering with plain tap (7.5). The reading was 5.3 or 5.4. I ran 4 gallons of ph'd tap through the 3 gallon potted plants to flush them as i figured there was nutrient build up as i'd been hitting them pretty hard I think. The ph started to come out at around 6.0 or so after this and the problem is still getting worse. Basically I need to know where to go from here.

I've been looking at all the options dolomite lime to up the ph, calcium & magnesium options because the ph range is probably causing the lockout of these 2 minerals. foliar feeding, mixing in the soil, watering with the solution. ph up? more flushing, hit them with nutes. I planned on repotting them out of the 3 gallons into 7 gallons very soon, should I rush to do this now and then hit them with something/nothing? What should I do?

The other more indica plants seem to be having little or no problem with it btw, there are 3 of the 4 power plants showing this problem and one dinafem kush has started showing the problem as well lately as evidenced by the last picture. the first 3 are of power plants. so definitely seems the sativas are much more sensitive.

Nute burn is my guess, let them dry out two inches from the top then water again and if the new growth shows the same problem then flush again if not continue on. I nute burned my plants when they were small and the leafs that got burned never recovered but the plant looks great now just lost the burnt leafs. How much are you watering and what nutes are you using and your temps are??

goatslayer said:

Nute burn is my guess, let them dry out two inches from the top then water again and if the new growth shows the same problem then flush again if not continue on. I nute burned my plants when they were small and the leafs that got burned never recovered but the plant looks great now just lost the burnt leafs. How much are you watering and what nutes are you using and your temps are??

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the new growth seems to have the problem as well ever since the problem started. i haven't given them nutes since dec. 24 but i way over nuted them then i think. i got a bit zealous with the pure blend grow thinking they could handle it for some dumb reason. i water anywhere from 1/3 gallon to 2/3 gallon per 3 gallon pot depending on the size of the plant. the heat is a bit warm right now about 80 degrees when the lights are on. humidity is low around 35. should i not take any evasive actions besides watering?

looks lik a ph problem with some nute burn, mixed in with heat burn, i would get your ph sttles at 5.5, try to lower the heat to 75F and just let them dry out and give them water for a few weeks.

oahno said:

the new growth seems to have the problem as well ever since the problem started. i haven't given them nutes since dec. 24 but i way over nuted them then i think. i got a bit zealous with the pure blend grow thinking they could handle it for some dumb reason. i water anywhere from 1/3 gallon to 2/3 gallon per 3 gallon pot depending on the size of the plant. the heat is a bit warm right now about 80 degrees when the lights are on. humidity is low around 35. should i not take any evasive actions besides watering?

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How far is your light from these plants. I would back the light off some, put some more fans blowing across soil level.

So you over nuted Dec 24?
Did you flush 5 days later or when did you attempt to flush? Looks like your in 5 gallon pots? In my room it takes a minimum of 3 days for the 5gallon plants to dry enough for me to attempt to correct nute burn or def.

When I flush I never ph the water....just use regular water, but I am not sure what the proper procedure is on that. My flushes work fine with plain water. Oh and flushing the plant in a 5 gallon container takes me 2.5-5 gallons of water to make sure the flush has done its job, I never let the flushed water sit in with the buckets either, always let them drain into a little tub and then remove the plants and dump the runoff and repeat.


I recently over nuted in dec. as you have done with some Blue Dream mothers in 5 gallon coco contianers. I flushed them on Dec. 26 let them get dry then Jan 2 came back and gave 1 gallon plain water(not phed) then Jan 8 I ran 1 gallon plain water and then 1 gallon 1/2 strength nutes. Today they are looking a lot better and getting new growth all the time, I just had to pick off and manicure all of the damaged and dead leaves which made the plants look weird, but they have started to bounce back.


Let the soil dry, then transplant with moist coco or soil wait 1 day and then do what i did and give em some reg water then nute water.

The big thing right now is not to do to much to them or they wont recover. Gotta take baby steps and they will start to recover. To much to fast will only make things worse.


Good Luck.

I ph my water to 6

i think 6.5-6.7 is the best from what i've read and seen. the magnesium & calcium uptake doesn't really hit until around 6.5. i'm no expert though thats for sure. thanks for all the help everyone i'm gonna just give them water and repot soon and see what happens.

When watering, don't water based off of how big the plant is...you need to water based on how big the pot is that your plant is in. You need to water the plant until water is leaking out the bottom drainage. This will ensure adequate distribution in the soil.

Also, keep in mind that even though you are trying to remedy an issue, adding new things to the plant and making drastic changes will more than likely hurt if further. I would flush and then go about 1/4 to 1/2 strength on the nutes for a week or two.

Good luck!

yblek83 said:

When watering, don't water based off of how big the plant is...you need to water based on how big the pot is that your plant is in. You need to water the plant until water is leaking out the bottom drainage. This will ensure adequate distribution in the soil.

Also, keep in mind that even though you are trying to remedy an issue, adding new things to the plant and making drastic changes will more than likely hurt if further. I would flush and then go about 1/4 to 1/2 strength on the nutes for a week or two.

Good luck!

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i definitely water by weight of the individual pots, it's the best method if you can swing it i agree. will do on the low nutes, thanks!