Droopy Leaves - Help!

[stratagem]

A friend of mine is having trouble keeping his plants afloat. He started them in Jiffy Pods for the first 1 week, they were then moved to party cups for the second week, and the last transplant was into 1.5-2 gallon trash cans (with drainage holes drilled into bottom). They're probably about 8-10 inches. He used Jiffy potting soil and perlite mixed in. Maybe about 60% soil and 40% perlite. He's been keeping the soil moist watering maybe once or twice a week. The leaves started drooping really badly and the bottom leaf sets are wilting and dying (but we figured that was normal since they're pretty bushy). There is 208watts of CFL over 6 of them in about 2.4 square feet of space. Keeping the lights around 1-2 inches from the tops. He just started feeding them the regular miracle grow formula diluted quite a bit, maybe 1/8th the recommended dosage. He said when he started feeding them they improved a bit, but not much. They are about 5 weeks old from germinated seed.

Here is a frame from a video I grabbed. Sorry for the crappy quality.

What do you think the problem is?

 

[StealthyStalks]

Crappy photo, but at first blush it looks like simple overwatering and the roots are suffocating. PH is probably an issue that needs to be checked too. Try letting the soil dry out real good then only use plain PHed water til they perk up and let them dry out again real good before watering. But you say he was only watering once or twice a week so??????

 

[Tony Aroma]

I'd suggest looking in the Infirmary forum where there is a sticky that shows a variety of problems and what they look like.

That looks like more than just overwatering or being rootbound (two common causes of droopy leaves) to me. But I guess if it's been going on a while, that could happen.

And that sounds like way too much perlite in your mix, which can contribute to watering problems. I'd say no more than 5-1 or 6-1 soil to perlite, rather than your mix of 3-2.

 

[PoopyTeaBags]

looks like over watering... which in turn cause lock out or and deficiencies which look like phosphorus. but yea... once every week or two? he waits till it wilts then waters it? im confused

 

[stratagem]

I went over the Infirmary sticky and I'd say you're all spot-on. Definitely looks like over-watering. I'll let him know to back off on watering and start adjusting the pH.

I'll also suggest that he transplants them into larger containers.

Thanks!

 

[vprising909]

i agree with tony and poopy...

droopy leaves = over-watering.