Hempy bucket grow, stunted growth - deficiencies, lockout, pH?

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StonedImmaculate

420 Member
Strain - Fast Buds Northern Lights Auto
# of plants - 2
Grow type - Hempy, Hydro
Grow stage - late veg
Lights - SpiderFarmer SF2000Pro 200W
Nutrients - MegaCrop 1 part
Medium - 100% Perlite
Water - ro
PPM - 555
pH - 5.8
Room Temp - 70-75F
Tent Temp - 75-80F
RH - 55-60%

Problem: First time hempy grower and 2nd grow ever, I've been having slow growth and I've been having some deficiency or lockout of nutrients I think. It started at the lower leaves and has progressed up the plant as time goes on. The attached photos showing the progression are from 1 plant, the other plant is showing dark green at the end of the leaf with yellow tips. The worst plant also has purple stems that progress from lower on the plant.

Any ideas on what I can do to save these plants? I'm entering flowering soon and I'm not sure if the plants will be able to absorb enough nutrients to have any meaningful harvest.
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StonedImmaculate said:
Strain - Fast Buds Northern Lights Auto
# of plants - 2
Grow type - Hempy, Hydro
Grow stage - late veg
Lights - SpiderFarmer SF2000Pro 200W
Nutrients - MegaCrop 1 part
Medium - 100% Perlite
Water - ro
PPM - 555
pH - 5.8
Room Temp - 70-75F
Tent Temp - 75-80F
RH - 55-60%

Problem: First time hempy grower and 2nd grow ever, I've been having slow growth and I've been having some deficiency or lockout of nutrients I think. It started at the lower leaves and has progressed up the plant as time goes on. The attached photos showing the progression are from 1 plant, the other plant is showing dark green at the end of the leaf with yellow tips. The worst plant also has purple stems that progress from lower on the plant.

Any ideas on what I can do to save these plants? I'm entering flowering soon and I'm not sure if the plants will be able to absorb enough nutrients to have any meaningful harvest.
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Are you using cal-mag? With R/O water it is vital. The R/O proces strips all the dissolved solids (Ca, Mg, etc.,) out of the water.
 
Thanks Phytoplankton for your response!

I do have Botanicare cal-mag plus on hand, I didn't think I would need it with MegaCrop 1 Part though. Do you think I have a cal-mag deficiency and if so how much to add to my feed? Cal-Mag plus recommends 1 tsp (5 ml) per gallon pH 6.2-7.0. Is MegaCrop not able to supply enough cal-mag with ro water or is cal-mag needed regardless?

I had a look at signs of a cal-mag deficiency and it looked like it only affects newer growth, but I found an article that mentions old fan leaves exposed to light.

From: How to fix Cannabis Calcium Deficiency (Ca) Pics & Symptoms

Calcium deficiencies most often show up in the following places:

  • Newer growth (upper leaves)
  • Parts of fan leaves that have been exposed to the light
I was thinking that I might have a phosphorous deficiency by where the problem started on the lower leaves and has worked its way up the set of leaves. Also the purple stems and dark green leaves that curl downward was a sign of phosphorous deficiency. I'm quite new to all of this so I'm not sure if any of these thoughts are correct.

I will add cal-mag with their next feeding today and hopefully this will solve my problem. How long can it take to see signs of improvement with the addition of cal-mag?

Thanks again for your help.
 
Just did a little research, Mega crop says it has Ca, and Mg, but i couldn’t find how much. Given that MC has some Ca, I’d try half the recommended. The response will take several days up to a couple weeks (in soil), it might be quicker in hydro. The already damaged leaves won’t get better, but there shouldn’t be more damage.
 
in: 555 ppm/1.11 EC 5.8 pH
out: 350 ppm/0.7 EC 6.8 pH

I've been having lower ec/ higher pH runoff this whole run. If I try raising the feed ppm I'll get nute burn and I've been unable to get the pH any lower from the runoff (pH was quite a bit higher than this @7.7). I'm not sure what to try to improve these numbers. Also I'm not sure how to flush the medium correctly to try to fix this issue.

Do you think some of the leaf issues could be related to pH?
Also do you think there are signs of any other deficiencies besides cal-mag?
 
How far away is the light? I don't grow hempy. Just looking at the plant it looks like they need more light or less food.
Enough fan/airflow to make the leaves flutter helps also.
 
You could try a flush to reset.

Pour in a gallon of just water and tilt the container and empty the reservoir as much as possible.

Do that a couple of times, the last gallon with nutrients, etc.

With my well water and Mega Crop one part I don't add ph down or Cal/Mag....

How is you tap water ?

I seem to be seeing more problems lately with RO ;)

Cheers
 
Thanks for the reply Chuckeye!

I will try a reset tomorrow as I've already fed them today with additional cal-mag. I have tried flushing before but I didn't flush with the amount you suggested. I only had done about 1/4 gallon flush a few times. I did empty the rez after each flush though and the ec would lower after each flush but the pH stayed about the same 6.7-7.0. I would then feed until I got about 1-2 cups of runoff.

My pH after adding MegaCrop to my ro water is about 6.1, so I then pH to 5.8.

My tap water is 400 ppm 0.8 EC and about 8.1 pH thus the reason for ro water. It takes a large amount of PH Down to hold a steady pH around 5.8 with my tap water.

What types of problems are you seeing with RO?
 
StonedImmaculate said:
Thanks for the reply Chuckeye!

I will try a reset tomorrow as I've already fed them today with additional cal-mag. I have tried flushing before but I didn't flush with the amount you suggested. I only had done about 1/4 gallon flush a few times. I did empty the rez after each flush though and the ec would lower after each flush but the pH stayed about the same 6.7-7.0. I would then feed until I got about 1-2 cups of runoff.

My pH after adding MegaCrop to my ro water is about 6.1, so I then pH to 5.8.

My tap water is 400 ppm 0.8 EC and about 8.1 pH thus the reason for ro water. It takes a large amount of PH Down to hold a steady pH around 5.8 with my tap water.

What types of problems are you seeing with RO?
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Roughly what you are experiencing..

A standard flush is 3x normal feed to run off.

Mega Crop without ph should be fine with your tap water, it is chelated and will work in that range.

KISS, eh ? ;)

My well water ppm's is ~500, ph ~ 7.5

NO ph down, NO Cal/Mag...

Cheers
 
Chuckeye said:
Roughly what you are experiencing..

A standard flush is 3x normal feed to run off.

Mega Crop without ph should be fine with your tap water, it is chelated and will work in that range.

KISS, eh ? ;)

My well water ppm's is ~500, ph ~ 7.5

NO ph down, NO Cal/Mag...

Cheers
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I normally feed about 2 1/2 cups a day right now and will get a little runoff. I've been flushing with about 1 qt of ro water with a pH of 5.8 . I will then empty the rez and flush again for a total of 3 flushes. I will then feed to about 1 cup of runoff. I've been flushing about once a week for the last couple of weeks without any improvement.

I will do a flush as you say with a gallon of water 3x and feed with a gallon of feed per plant at their next feeding tomorrow.

What is your pH after adding Mega Crop to your well water?
How long can it hold that pH?

It would be great if I didn't have to use ro water with Mega Crop, but the runoff pH has been in the 7 range for most of this grow and I've been having noticeable issues so far. I'm not sure if that would improve with tap water.

Thanks for your help!
 
StonedImmaculate said:
I normally feed about 2 1/2 cups a day right now and will get a little runoff. I've been flushing with about 1 qt of ro water with a pH of 5.8 . I will then empty the rez and flush again for a total of 3 flushes. I will then feed to about 1 cup of runoff. I've been flushing about once a week for the last couple of weeks without any improvement.

I will do a flush as you say with a gallon of water 3x and feed with a gallon of feed per plant at their next feeding tomorrow.
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I didn't flush my hempy bucket at all the whole grow. But when I fill the reservoir I would water to about 1 litre run off.

This is in 4 gallons of perlite, about a gallon reservoir.

KISS, at your plants stage I would water to run off every second day. IIRC that would be about a half gallon for me...

Just slowly water until you see run off and add a little more......

Later in flower I top up the reservoir every day.

How big are your pots ?
StonedImmaculate said:
What is your pH after adding Mega Crop to your well water?
How long can it hold that pH?
Click to expand...
Can't remember and don't care 😆
StonedImmaculate said:
It would be great if I didn't have to use ro water with Mega Crop, but the runoff pH has been in the 7 range for most of this grow and I've been having noticeable issues so far. I'm not sure if that would improve with tap water.
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Can't hurt to try.

Do you have any house plants or a veg garden ?

What do you water them with ?

Cheers
 
Chuckeye said:
How big are your pots ?
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2 gallon buckets with a drain hole 2" from the bottom. Not sure how much the rez can hold, not a lot though. I have to water everyday or they would be completely empty which I'm not sure if that would help or hurt the plants more. I basically water the same way you do, slowly until I get a cup or so of runoff. Will increase the runoff from now on.
Chuckeye said:
Do you have any house plants or a veg garden ?

What do you water them with ?
Click to expand...
I do have a house plant that is fed with tap water. It seems to be doing ok.

Thanks Chuckeye!
 
StonedImmaculate said:
2 gallon buckets with a drain hole 2" from the bottom. Not sure how much the rez can hold, not a lot though. I have to water everyday or they would be completely empty which I'm not sure if that would help or hurt the plants more. I basically water the same way you do, slowly until I get a cup or so of runoff. Will increase the runoff from now on.
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@bluter is the smaller hempy bucket guy, let's see what he has to say 😆
StonedImmaculate said:
I do have a house plant that is fed with tap water. It seems to be doing ok.
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Then it seems you tap water is good enough, eh ?

Cheers
 
Chuckeye said:
Then it seems you tap water is good enough, eh ?
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It could be, it would be less of hassle than using ro water. We'll see if I can get anywhere with a reset of my rez. I will have to think about using my tap water with Mega Crop, maybe this grow or maybe with my next one I will give it a try. Hopefully I can get back on track with these plants before it's too late.
Chuckeye said:
@bluter is the smaller hempy bucket guy, let's see what he has to say 😆
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I appreciate all the help I can get. I have lots to learn.

Cheers
 
2 gallon is a bit big. my big buckets are just over 1 gallon at 5L. my small buckets are 2L. hempy is meant to run in a 2L originally. the first hempys were in cut off pop bottles.

hempy does work in a larger bucket, but is easier in the smaller ones. the small buckets will fill your tent, so why bother using more of everything for the same result? there's no need to spend the extra on the inputs.

i use mega crop with calmag and RO and i ph to 5.8 on feeds. you'll need the extra calmag. make sure you keep up with the green leaf feed schedule, it can be trusted. add the calmag first before the MC, i like mixing a day ahead of time to let everything dissolve and settle. if you get some precipitate don't worry, just feed as normal.

hempy likes a little bit of a dry cycle, depending on the stage i don't feed every day. hempy is one of the few methods that can be fed on a set schedule. i run a 3-2-1 feed schedule.

feed every 3rd day in seedling to early veg
feed every second day in veg to early flower
feed every day in flower

a 3-2-1 schedule will help with root development and plant size.

if your bucket is sized correct the plant will be mostly dry by the time you feed with that schedule. a larger bucket will also throw your ph out over time as the res will not flush out completely.

when you run calmag start with a 1/2 dose and watch the plant to note any changes. you may have to increase depending on the plant.

feed till about 10% runoff. alternately you can do a flood and drain feed by plugging the hole and feed till the perlite floats then draining. i mostly do a flood and drain feed now.
 
Ignore all the responses but Bluters. I would disagree about container size being harder and ending up with the same sized plants, but the dude knows his hempy.
 
Braddah Waiheesohai said:
Ignore all the responses but Bluters. I would disagree about container size being harder and ending up with the same sized plants, but the dude knows his hempy.
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While I agree that Bluter knows hempy, and I would try his advice first, I don't think anyone with firsthand experience should be straight up ignored.
 
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