Sick Plant - Stem Death - Rapid Decay - Help!

[SurfBuddy]

Hi there, It's been a while, hope everyone is staying green, unlike my unlucky lady..

Dirt grow, outdoor, promix in 5gal cloth pots, light on the nutes

I think it's some kind of bug, but please see photos and give any suggestions...

I don't think it's been overwatered, but I have not repotted to view roots for rot yet.

 

[B A R]

Re: Sick Plant, Stem death, rapid decay HELP!!

Don't know much about outdoor growing except just throwing a plant out on the fire escape and watering every time four days go by without rain. Simple but have had great results. Just wondering, how many hrs is the plant under direct sunlight as opposed to in the shade? We get maybe 6hrs of direct sunlight. It also seems strange that one side is completely dead while the rest of the plant looks to have some type of deficiency.

 

[NuttyProfessor]

Re: Sick Plant, Stem death, rapid decay HELP!!

could a cat have peed on it ?

 

[CronicHempHog]

Re: Sick Plant, Stem death, rapid decay HELP!!

possible root issues caused by pest?

 

[orangehaze]

Re: Sick Plant, Stem death, rapid decay HELP!!

This is Sherlock Holmes stuff, almost at the level of House. I think this should go into the plant trouble-shooting guide.

And here's what you'll see if a cat pees on your nitrogen deficient plant.

 

[SurfBuddy]

Re: Sick Plant, Stem death, rapid decay HELP!!

Don't know much about outdoor growing except just throwing a plant out on the fire escape and watering every time four days go by without rain. Simple but have had great results. Just wondering, how many hrs is the plant under direct sunlight as opposed to in the shade? We get maybe 6hrs of direct sunlight. It also seems strange that one side is completely dead while the rest of the plant looks to have some type of deficiency.

It gets about 8 hours right now with the way the sun path is... it seemed to start top down, the top already fell off, and each branch appears to be dying at the node.

could a cat have peed on it ?

Not likely, it is upstairs on a lanai (balcony)

possible root issues caused by pest?

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking too, but what pest and how to treat? I may have to just repot and risk shock but was hoping to avoid that.

 

[orangehaze]

Re: Sick Plant, Stem death, rapid decay HELP!!

On the white board we have:

dead branches
--------------
cat pee OR
root issue (pests)

yellow leaves
-------------
nitrogen deficiency OR
PH issues

Pick one from each column?

Sorry, I just smoked some Orange Haze Skunk. It is very heady. I'm very heady to begin with.

 

[B A R]

Re: Sick Plant, Stem death, rapid decay HELP!!

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking too, but what pest and how to treat? I may have to just repot and risk shock but was hoping to avoid that.

I'd try a good flush first and if you see no change in a few days then go that route. Just my humble opinion.

 

[SurfBuddy]

Re: Sick Plant, Stem death, rapid decay HELP!!

This is Sherlock Holmes stuff, almost at the level of House. I think this should go into the plant trouble-shooting guide.

And here's what you'll see if a cat pees on your nitrogen deficient plant.

lol Come to think of it, a cat certainly could have peed on some of the soil a while back... does it take a while for stem death to take hold from cat pee?

 

[SurfBuddy]

Re: Sick Plant, Stem death, rapid decay HELP!!

On the white board we have:

dead branches
--------------
cat pee OR
root issue (pests)

yellow leaves
-------------
nitrogen deficiency OR
PH issues

Pick one from each column?

Sorry, I just smoked some Orange Haze Skunk. It is very heady. I'm very heady to begin with.

I like the idea of a board to keep track of the ideas. If it were cat pee, it's been flushing for a while as I haven't nuted this plant in some time.

I'd try a good flush first and if you see no change in a few days then go that route. Just my humble opinion.

I think that by *not* feeding this plant for a while it's been flushed, but perhaps cat pee is more insidious...

Thanks for all the comments everyone, such a great and helpful community.

 

[B A R]

Re: Sick Plant, Stem death, rapid decay HELP!!

Just because a plant has dried out a few times doesn't mean all nutes (or cat pee) has been eradicated from the soil. A good flush consist of a least 3x the pot size worth of clean water. When it's an emergency flush I go with 5x.

 

[johndeere]

Re: Sick Plant, Stem death, rapid decay HELP!!

Are you sure you didn't overwater and/or that there was rain that caused the plant to be overwatered? This can happen with rain when it's in a pot (as opposed to directly in the soil). Even if it's dry now this could be the cause. The suffocation of the root system with or without rot could have happenen 1-2-3 weeks back? You'll see the result with a delay. If a flushing and some nutes (do include nitrogen sine those leaves look nitrogen deficient) doesn't make it come alive quickly (what's left) I'd definatley replant at have a good look at the root system.

Such a pity.

 

[Tranquilgreen]

Re: Sick Plant, Stem death, rapid decay HELP!!

Go here - Cannabis Plant and Pest Problem Solver - Pictorial and near the bottom of the post you will see pests.

Symphilids or Fungus Gnats could be the problem but they sound like they are easy to get rid of.

I do like the idea of a flush. You might also try watering with some added Superthrive after your flush. Also, check your ph before you do anything.

How hot is it out there on your balcony? Maybe try a swick method for constant water availability.

 

[Clancy]

sorry double post

 

[Clancy]

Re: Sick Plant, Stem death, rapid decay HELP!!

Man, that looks messed up. A cat could definitely kill a plant if it was peeing (ammonia) on it regularly; getting pissed on once or twice wouldn't do it. Also the stem breaking like that does not look like cat piss. I'm not a cannabis expert but have some experience with plants. The broken stem is what looks weird to me and suggests an internal cause...

Have you examined the soil and under the leaves, etc with a strong microscope? It really looks like some bug or organism attack. You have to really examine well because those critters have evolved to avoid being seen. Very strange and interesting.

 

[B A R]

Re: Sick Plant, Stem death, rapid decay HELP!!

If a flushing and some nutes (do include nitrogen sine those leaves look nitrogen deficient) doesn't make it come alive quickly (what's left) I'd definatley replant at have a good look at the root system.

I would never add anything to a flush except a flushing agent. A flush is like a restart button not a feed.

 

[SurfBuddy]

Re: Sick Plant, Stem death, rapid decay HELP!!

Just because a plant has dried out a few times doesn't mean all nutes (or cat pee) has been eradicated from the soil. A good flush consist of a least 3x the pot size worth of clean water. When it's an emergency flush I go with 5x.

OK, will do a superflush... I am concerned about root rot though, so perhaps super flush may exacerbate that?

Are you sure you didn't overwater and/or that there was rain that caused the plant to be overwatered? This can happen with rain when it's in a pot (as opposed to directly in the soil). Even if it's dry now this could be the cause. The suffocation of the root system with or without rot could have happenen 1-2-3 weeks back? You'll see the result with a delay. If a flushing and some nutes (do include nitrogen sine those leaves look nitrogen deficient) doesn't make it come alive quickly (what's left) I'd definatley replant at have a good look at the root system.

Such a pity.

You know it was rainy a while back and I was thinking about some sort of root disorder since it seems systemic and coming from the trunk... overwatering could have played a part

Go here - Cannabis Plant and Pest Problem Solver - Pictorial and near the bottom of the post you will see pests.

Symphilids or Fungus Gnats could be the problem but they sound like they are easy to get rid of.

I do like the idea of a flush. You might also try watering with some added Superthrive after your flush. Also, check your ph before you do anything.

How hot is it out there on your balcony? Maybe try a swick method for constant water availability.

Thanks for suggesting the PPPS, I've read through it but not seen anything about stem issues like this. I'll try some tobacco juice though.

I've used superthrive before to rescue plants, so I may try that too. Not worried about ph as this is a soil grow...

I was wicking before with a home made 5gal bucket and a hole in the lid, will post pictures at some point But I don't think underwatering is the issue.

Man, that looks messed up. A cat could definitely kill a plant if it was peeing (ammonia) on it regularly; getting pissed on once or twice wouldn't do it. Also the stem breaking like that does not look like cat piss. I'm not a cannabis expert but have some experience with plants. The broken stem is what looks weird to me and suggests an internal cause...

Have you examined the soil and under the leaves, etc with a strong microscope? It really looks like some bug or organism attack. You have to really examine well because those critters have evolved to avoid being seen. Very strange and interesting.

Yeah, the stem breaking is weird. There are some spider mites, but nothing that I didn't have on other plants before.


Thanks again everyone for the suggestions!

 

[SurfBuddy]

Re: Sick Plant, Stem death, rapid decay HELP!!

I would never add anything to a flush except a flushing agent. A flush is like a restart button not a feed.

Flushing Agent? Do tell..

 

[Clancy]

DO NOT underestimate the damage spider mites can do. Every case is different; on some plants they won't cause too much problem. On other plants they will destroy. Read this from another site:

" Description:These are yellow-brown colored mites with two dark spots on both sides. They...will ruin your harvest completely when you don't take countermeasures in time. A nightmare for all growers. In a later stage the leaves will become grey-yellow because all the green has been eaten by the spidermites. Also they will produce a silky spinning which can be noticed on the leaves, and later around the buds. In this stage your harvest will almost be ruined."

On top of the mites you might have other organisms. You should do a major clean-up. Cut off any affected area, transplant into new soil. Get bug killer juice and hope for the best.

 

[B A R]

Re: Sick Plant, Stem death, rapid decay HELP!!

Flushing Agent? Do tell..

I just use plain ol tap but a few members get creative with flushing. Here's KJC's recipe.

I mixed up the Clearex Flushing Solution suggested by Goldengoose7

in a large pot I combined:
1 gallon of distilled water
240 grams of Dextrose (Used for Beer Making)
120 grams of Sucrose (White Table Sugar)
3 grams Sodium Benzoate (as a preservative)
10 drops of Green Food Colouring

the Clearex Flushing Solution was allowed to cool and returned to the 1 gallon container.

I will use 15 millilitres per gallon of this Clearex Flushing Solution during my final flushing.


Dextrose

Sucrose

Sodium Benzoate

the final Clearex Flushing Solution

If you want to read all the surrounding posts of his flush here's the link.

KJC​