Hi all,
My two white widow cheese crosses are only on day 51. About two weeks ago, the lower fans started yellowing. I wasn't too concerned because both plants had gotten huge, too huge for the tent, really. I thought the lower sections weren't getting a lot of light. As the yellowing began to spread up, I started worrying a bit.
Watered on day 42 with Big Bloom and black strap molasses. The pH of the solution was ~8, but that has always worked well for me. The runoff usually comes out at around 6.5 to 7. This time, the runoff was like 9! The soil has tested consistently at 6.8.
This past Saturday (day 49), I watered with plain old water pH 7.5. The runoff looked like super strong coffee. It was almost opaque, smelled like molasses, and was very alkaline (over 8).
Here's what they look like today
WTF, y'all?!?!?!
I've grown this strain before, and they didn't start to look like this until it was almost harvest time. From the looks of the trichs, I'm still weeks away from harvest. Are we gonna make it? What can I do? My urge is to flush, but I'm nervous. Help!!!!!!
Cheers
Jenny
My two white widow cheese crosses are only on day 51. About two weeks ago, the lower fans started yellowing. I wasn't too concerned because both plants had gotten huge, too huge for the tent, really. I thought the lower sections weren't getting a lot of light. As the yellowing began to spread up, I started worrying a bit.
Watered on day 42 with Big Bloom and black strap molasses. The pH of the solution was ~8, but that has always worked well for me. The runoff usually comes out at around 6.5 to 7. This time, the runoff was like 9! The soil has tested consistently at 6.8.
This past Saturday (day 49), I watered with plain old water pH 7.5. The runoff looked like super strong coffee. It was almost opaque, smelled like molasses, and was very alkaline (over 8).
Here's what they look like today
WTF, y'all?!?!?!
I've grown this strain before, and they didn't start to look like this until it was almost harvest time. From the looks of the trichs, I'm still weeks away from harvest. Are we gonna make it? What can I do? My urge is to flush, but I'm nervous. Help!!!!!!
Cheers
Jenny
Ocean Forest. I used 1 tbsp/gallon of BSM, and they're under 2 125watt CFLs. Should I flush with plain water? pH down water? any nutes added?
It's my Jenn-ay! 
... 
aii-yahhh, things are way too alkaline Jen,... and it sure sounds like you went a lil' heavy with the molasses! Once a week, at 1T/gal is fine, maybe twice, with big, thirsty gals that get plenty of plain water in between,...keep in mind, there's significant amounts of Ca, Mg, and K in it, and too much sugar input has a negative impact on things.... No doubt, you have alkaline pH lockout going on, and Fe is the very first thing to be blocked, with Cu, Zn, Mn, and Mg not far behind....explains your mixed, odd range of leaf symptoms, and the soupy dark run-off... just a heads up: optimal soil pH is mid to low 6's; 6.8 is getting close to funny business! As a general rule, your inputs should be close to 6.5, (pH 8--
naughty!),... do you follow the procedure shown in the sticky article here at the Infirmary, at the top of contents page? That said, recall how I dislike this run-off method because of it's sources of measurement error,... The procedure listed will help get better accuracy, but it's still just an estimation method,....I swore, you got an Accurate 8 soil pH probe, didn't you? LOL!- or am I trippin? 
--- Anyway Jen, it sounds like a flush is needed to purge the excess stuff in there... the girls won't really like it, but it needs be done! Start with enough room temp. water for twice the volume of your pots,... use distilled vinegar or lemon juice to bring the pH down (if you don't have a product handy), start with 1tsp/gal and see how it works, testing with your meter, and get it to 6.5-ish; flushing with lower pH water will kinda kill two birds with one stone here; add slowly, to let the water have some percolation time to slowly, evenly move through things and dissolve them,... yeah, it's a pain, and water logging the soil may bother the girls some, but too bad so sad! 
...on your last pour through, reserve a gal or so with 1/4-1/3 strength nutes in it, to replaces what's been stripped away,... check the color of the run-off, to see if it's cleared up some,.... then, to speed draining out the extra water in there, do this trick: get some newspaper, a good 1/4+" thick stack, and lay a couple paper towels on top of that, then set your pots on the PT's,.. the wicking action will really help draw out the excess water faster, and reduce the time the roots are being water-boarded! 
Good ?'s and comments!
