Plants are drooping, can't figure out why. Please help.

[MangoTango]

My babies are drooping/wilting and I can't seem to figure out why.

For background I have grown vegetables, flowers, fruits,...and many other things; so I know the basics of how to grow most plants. However I'm fairly new to growing cannabis. First outdoor grow went fantastic (185 grams off of 1 auto in low light...I babied that sucker).

Here are my indoor growing conditions for this grow:

-Northern Lights Auto by CropKing
-Plants are at day 45
-1200 watt mars II LED grow light
-20/4 light cycle
-Inline fan
-4x4 Grow tent
-1 oscillating tower fan
-Advanced Nutrients Jungle Juice A/B (plus big bud, b-52, voo doo juice, molasses, cal/mag) [I have been using an EC meter to keep feeds below 1.4 EC for now]
-tap water that has been left open for 2 days
-Large pots with soiless potting mix (perlite, coco...etc)
-Temperature is sub-stable around 24-27 degrees Celsius

Originally I thought the soil was simply getting to dry because it happened first to one of the plant closest to the fan. So I gave em all a nice 2 litres and came back the next day to find 4 out of 5 of them showing signs of wilting (oddly enough, only the stretched runt of the pack isn't wilting). I have since moved the light a couple inches higher just too give them some breathing room but that doesn't seem to have helped either. Could it be over watering? I feel like I have a very good sense of when plants need hydration but maybe the fan is drying out the soil quickly the inside of the pot is soggy...who knows.

If anyone can help, I would be very appreciative!

Here are some photos with the led lights on (the wilting might be exaggerated by the fact that they are near the end of their 20 hour light cycle and are not as eager for light as usual):



Let me know if pictures with a CFL lighting source would make it easier to see things. Thanks to everyone in advance!

 

[AndyBotwin]

Mine will generally droop when approaching lights out and then perk back up with they turn on again. That's dependent on the genetics, though, as it's more pronounced with some strains than others.

Watering problems are often the culprit in droopy plants. In my experience, underwatered cannabis plants tend to have leaves that are thin and lifeless. Overwatered plants have leaves that seem heavy with water and are thicker. Underwatering is fairly easy to diagnose since they will perk up quickly after a watering. Overwatered plants tend to stay droopy all the time.

I find that too dry is far better than too wet, and most new growers tend to overwater. Maybe try giving them an extra day before watering again and see if it makes a difference? Hard to tell much from the pics, but they don't have the wispy look of leaves that are underwatered.

 

[MangoTango]

It's interesting that as soon as someone agrees with you inner speculation...it just all makes sense. Thanks Andy

 

[jackmc]

Hi MangoTango, I'd guess that it's either too much water or heat. When I've over watered the symptoms have shown themselves starting at the bottom of the plant. Are you using a PH Meter?

 

[MangoTango]

I will be ordering a pH meter off of amazon this week. pH has never been an issue before but to push plants for a greater yield I can see it being important. If anyone wants to recommend a good soil pH meter that's available in Canada, that would be awesome!

 

[AndyBotwin]

The only soil meter I trust is the Control Wizard Accurate 8. This is the US Amazon link but I'm sure it can be found in Canada as well:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=19X70T5EYABKNN6ZPDZS

 

[MangoTango]

I've heard nothing but good things about that pH meter. If only I could find it in Canada...might have bite the bullet and order it from the states.

 

[BayLee420]

Hi MangoTango, I'd guess that it's either too much water or heat. When I've over watered the symptoms have shown themselves starting at the bottom of the plant. Are you using a PH Meter?

I believe you have a heat issue. Droopy top colas and normal looking bottom leaves.
My NL did the same thing. I had 428w of cfl lighting in a small space. She didn't like the heat. I lowered the cfls to 328w and she came out fine. In fact she's been nominated for this month's BOP/POM.

 

[MangoTango]

High temperatures could definitely be an issue. The temperatures over the weekend were extremely high for October.

 

[BustaB]

Light cycle & Autos ?????????

Hi Mangotango do not mean to intrude, but you might want to put more importance on a comment that Andy made in regard to the length of the light cycle with autos & the effects of a longer light cycle. Andy is dead on, I have run across drooping in many of the auto species . I found for example with Humbolt seeds " Trainwreck Autos " running a 1000w HPS at 14hrs the plants stay rigid & upright, but when I go to 16 or 18hrs they begin to droop at about 15hrs or so, However in the morning they are upright & rigid! It could well be something else ie water, heat etc... but you might just even for a day or 2 before changing a bunch of stuff just try reducing the hrs in the light cycle, who knows you might find a lot of that " worry " is a very simple fix!:Gary: