First serious indoor op, help needed

[derdy]

Advice needed.
My setup:
HLG 550 R Spec knockoff (Niemi LED)
5x5 tent
10gal smartpots
mix of Happy Frog & Ocean Forest, amended w/ 10 tbsp Roots Organics Nitro bat poo per gal of soil, ~2 cups worm castings
seedlings transplanted w/ generous application of Great White/Root Magic myco
5 stage RO water filter, water PHed to ~6.8
Blue Planet seaweed extract
Sensi Cal Mag
URB
temp/humidity at around 75/60 but space tends to cool & dry out when I open the tent
2 active air small fans, 1 Blizzard oscillator on low blowing only when the light’s on
18/6 photoperiod
seeds are excellent genetics from a seed bank: Blue Dream(S/i), Afghani Kush(I), Gold Leaf(s/I), Lemon Haze(S/i)
...and I think that’s it

My issues: leaves are leathery kinda, edges curled up a bit although they appear to be flattening out since I moved the light up close to the tent ceiling. Got the dimmer at around 70%, had it at 50 whilst seedlings were younger, bumped up to 100% for a while as growth increased. I was impressed, then plants began to exhibit the gnarlyness you see in the photos. Leaves are mottled yellow in spots on one of the BDs as shown, and grew in all gnarly and misformed. All internodes on all plants are about the same, 1”-1.5”. Nutes administered per directions, every other watering, and I water every other day or as the top 2” of soil dries out. Fan leaves were cuppin’ hard before I moved the lights up. I also cranked dimmer back down to 70%. I PH all water given. Dunno why: 1) leaves were cuppin’ hard while still growing strong 2) edges curled a bit as well 3) node spacing is so tight

Nodes are so close the upper fan leaves are blocking the new growth. So had to train the fans to be beneath the new growth, but I’m sure they will pop out and block the new growth while I’m not looking.

Newb-ish indoor farmer here. All insight welcome and appreciated.

PS had a backyard grow, same genetics, stretchy plants with nice healthy leaves. Not as broad and intimidating as these indoors but exhibited none of the cupping. Node spacing 6” at least. I only even watered them maybe 5 times the whole summer, with water straight out of the hose. Flowering period was augmented with FF Tiger Bloom per directions. Soil was whatever I had around, amended with worm castings, wood ash from the fireplace and garden lime. Buds were beautiful, but didn’t dense up as good as what I get from the dispensary. Trichomes galore. Smell is not as pungent as I hoped. Dried slow, cured in glass jar w/humidity sensor and Boveda 62 for over a month now(Nov 5). Buds look delicious. Taste like a bag of ass.

Son I Am Disappoint

 

[Dusted]

Use pH 6.2 water instead. Don’t water your plants until the pots are dry. These two things will help

 

[derdy]

OK got it. Will do.

 

[Dusted]

The Proper Way To Water A Potted Plant

The Proper Way to Water a Potted Plant Also covered: the importance of pH and why we successively up-pot How to Water Over the last several years I have put a lot of study into this, and I feel that I can now define the proper way to water a potted plant. Keep in mind that this discussion...

www.420magazine.com

this is a must read for soil growers

 

[derdy]

Plants have recovered apparently, as they seem twice the size they were last week. Node spacing is beginning to lengthen and its almost time to set up the scrog net. Moving the light up to the tent ceiling, lowering pH to range recommended previously, and lowering the dimmer to 70% seems to have done the trick.