New Grower Help me auto networkanobi, youre my only hope

[ponyo]

Good evening squires,

So im new to af growing, ive grown outside a couple of times, not serious, just like smoking for free

Ive not got a great place for outside growing and having run out of bag seed i decided to spend a couple of quid on some seeds. Just running one at a time (space and girlfriend restrictions)....

So im loving it obviously, my plant is about 15 days from popping out of the soil and was looking bleddy lovely, but i have a few concerns, first off tho, is the info....

1 x polar express seed
westlands seedling compost with added john innes, bunch of stones for drainage. And some pretty leached previously used soil as a top layer (inch or so)
1 x 8 litre pot
2 x 23w 6500k cfls
1 x 35w 2700k cfl (plus a 23w one for flowering later - planning on swapping out one of the vegging cfls)
light cycle on 24/0 at the moment.
pc intake fan and a pc exhaust.
some matt white photographic paper
chicken turd fertiliser
a pretty terrible grow "area"

The issues

So a few days ago i noticed a bit of pale/yellow patchiness on some of the older leaves and a few necrotic spots. At first I didnt see the patchiness and just saw the dead spots, assumed they were water burns although ive been quite careful. Then the patchiness seems to have spread.

I have been using tap water left for 24hours+ but have since found out that i live in a hard water area so today i switched to bottled mineral water, put a whole two litre bottle through the soil and removed the run off (ph strips are going to be bought, im lazy). also in doing so i noticed that there is a couple of roots sticking out of one of the drain holes - is it a problem or will they be ok? Light generally doesnt get to it.

Ive done a lot of reading over the last few years in regards to growing, as it happens, in practise my knowledge is shit. So after looking in all the right places i really cant figure out what is wrong with the plant.

Other than this, I am loving the difference in growing under lights, the nodes are literally on top of each other and it does seem to be growing rather well!

So please, help!

Ive been checking this site out for a while now. You are a wonderful bunch

The last pic has a cut leaf, there was a brief encounter with the fan.



Obviously these pictures are artificial, my comments are fictional and i dont exist.

 

[mwsmoker]

Better get a confirmation from a veteran but looks like a cal/mag def. My kvs had a bad def that started like that.

 

[ponyo]

Thanks for the reply!

I guess i was expecting some kind of deficiency but just didnt thinkit would happen so soon! Are these deficiencies possibly anything to do with the hard water?

So having stalked out your grow i see you used epsom salts in a spray - do you literally just spray it on the leaves? And has it helped? I think it is fairly early on so hopefully if i go out and get some tomorrow it will be fine. I am guessing that i can get some from a cosmetics place?

Thanks again man

 

[GoAuto6]

I'm inclined to lean twards a lock out caused by ph being out......some bottled water is up past 8.0

Rough Calculation Guide:

Here's some good info on ph.....
If your runoff pH is higher than your starting pH, use this equation to determine your soil pH:*
Soil pH = Runoff pH + Difference

If your runoff pH is lower than your starting pH, us this equation:
Soil pH = Runoff pH - Difference.

For example, say your the starting pH of your solution before it goes in is 6.5 and the pH of your runoff is 7.0. The difference is +0.5, so using the above equation:
Soil pH = 7.0 + 0.5*
Soil pH = 7.5

If your starting pH is 6.5 and your runoff is 6.0, your difference is -0.5 and using the above equation:
Soil pH = 6.0 - 0.5
Soil pH = 5.5


PH - Potential Hydrogen - The Manual - Polled

 

[ponyo]

I love this place!!

There really was no need to stress out on my own! You guys are awesome!

So having just checked the water bottle it says that the water ph at source is 7.8. bugger. And just managed to find that my local water supply can be anywhere between 6.8 - 9.5. So the question now is whether i can alter the ph of the bottled water with some fresh lemon juice? Also can spraying with epsom salts have detrimental effects?

Thanks again! There is love in this place!

 

[GoAuto6]

I use viniger to go down and baking soda to go up.....

 

[ponyo]

Nice one, do you just add and test?

 

[GoAuto6]

I test it add a Tsp. wait test again add if needed give it some more time make sure it stableises couple hours at least...time consuming not as fast as chemical's but it's organic.

 

[ponyo]

Wicked, Nice one man, Ill give it a go! Having achieved a good ph, would it be worth flushing the corrected water through a couple of times?

 

[GoAuto6]

yes definetly flush with ph'd water 3 times pot size, after that feed at 1/8 to 1/4 strength veg firts......