What's been killing all of my grows for the last three years? PLEASE HELP!

[pheed]

I should mention I use r/o water, so I can see it might be cal mag related, though I don't think caused by any critters. Soil looks clean.

I figured top dressing oyster shell (calcium carbonate) and feeding epsom salt would take care of it. I don't want to use any Botanicare CalMag, because of the N which I think these plants already have too much of.

 

[whiteberrieS]

For the same problem to persist for 3 years man, on different strains I'm assuming; I'd check this out: https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?threadid=228387

& lemon juice I'll have to try that out Crooked. Fix my PH and add some limonene too, sounds good.

 

[RetroGrow]

For the same problem to persist for 3 years man, on different strains I'm assuming; I'd check this out: https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?threadid=228387

& lemon juice I'll have to try that out Crooked. Fix my PH and add some limonene too, sounds good.

Lemon juice is not a good PH down. It breaks down, and it's effect on the PH are only temporary. It will go right back up, and your PH will be off. Same with vinegar.
As far as the Broad mites, they are hard to see. You need a good scope and a bright LED light/flashlight, and some patience. The fact that it's been going on for three years tells me it's broad mites or root aphids, but the root aphids are relatively easy to see. You would see them around the drain holes of your pots, especially after watering. OTOH, broad mites are quite difficult to see, even with a scope. They come straight from hell, and once in your space/property, difficult to get rid of, as they come back.

 

[Weezard]

Phoresy in mites

Phoresy in mites

They are tiny, they are sneaky, and sooner or later, they are coming to a plant near you.
They can not fly. They don't have to.
They travel long distance through phoresy.
That is, they hitchhike on fungus gnats, whitefly, skeeters, etc.

Incredible, you say?
Almost, but look at these;
First one is a whitefly.







These pups are very bad news.
Best learn how to deal with them, yah?
Whiteberrie's link has all the information on that.

Aloha,
Weezard

Al

 

[D350]

Joe's Fresh guide suggests that runoff PH should be around 5.8
I have similar problems than you, and I narrowed it down to pests or ph in the soil. I had ph around 6.6, just measured it yesterday, so I'm currently trying to lower it. Today later I'll check for spidermites...
Let us know, what happened

 

[RetroGrow]

They are tiny, they are sneaky, and sooner or later, they are coming to a plant near you.
They can not fly. They don't have to.
They travel long distance through phoresy.
That is, they hitchhike on fungus gnats, whitefly, skeeters, etc.

Incredible, you say?
Almost, but look at these;
First one is a whitefly.

View attachment 239959
View attachment 239962
View attachment 239960
View attachment 239961
View attachment 239963

These pups are very bad news.
Best learn how to deal with them, yah?
Whiteberrie's link has all the information on that.

Aloha,
Weezard

Al

And they can blow in on a gust of wind, or on your shoes, clothing after visiting dispensaries. Not to mention cuts/clones....

 

[Snype]

Everyone is so quick to assume mites but he most likely doesn't have them because he has other plants in the tent that are a different strain that are doing fine.

I think he just has pH issues in the soil. Someone here suggested that is run off pH should be 5.8 according to someone's guide and I have to say that is completely wrong in FFOF soil. His run off pH should be 6.4-6.5 in FFOF soil.

I've been using FFOF soil since 1998 or 1999 so I have plenty of experience with it personally. The last batch of FFOF soil that I got within the last 2 months was a bad batch and I also had lots of problems until I fixed the pH of my soil and got it to 6.4. This guy is probably going through the same issues. Also every strawberry cough that I have grown was very sensitive to nutrients. They did not like bat guano's in my experience.

 

[Crooked8]

Snype is right. His runoff should be 6.4 i said 6.2 but hes right

 

[RetroGrow]

Everyone is so quick to assume mites but he most likely doesn't have them because he has other plants in the tent that are a different strain that are doing fine.

I think he just has pH issues in the soil. Someone here suggested that is run off pH should be 5.8 according to someone's guide and I have to say that is completely wrong in FFOF soil. His run off pH should be 6.4-6.5 in FFOF soil.

I've been using FFOF soil since 1998 or 1999 so I have plenty of experience with it personally. The last batch of FFOF soil that I got within the last 2 months was a bad batch and I also had lots of problems until I fixed the pH of my soil and got it to 6.4. This guy is probably going through the same issues. Also every strawberry cough that I have grown was very sensitive to nutrients. They did not like bat guano's in my experience.

Same PH problems for three years?
Doesn't sound likely to me.
But then, I'll never understand soil growers, when coco is so easy and foolproof with much greater yields. To each his own, but three years with same problem? C'mon. Only thing I ever had problems with for years is broad mites.

 

[myiqis55]

Yeah the mites hit some strains harder than others. Example blue dream can take any abuse, one of the worst mite victims ever. I've been dealing with this for about a year and almost got it figured out. The broad mite thread is a good place to start. I'll be writing in length about it soon but a short synopsis: takes forever to figure out they are there, they come back, use avid, conserve se and a sulpher based insecticide. Dipping clones in avid is critical. Also keeping the humidity low, like Atacama desert status

 

[D350]

ph

ph

Joe's Fresh guide suggests that runoff PH should be around 5.8
I have similar problems than you, and I narrowed it down to pests or ph in the soil. I had ph around 6.6, just measured it yesterday, so I'm currently trying to lower it. Today later I'll check for spidermites...
Let us know, what happened

Well, I watered them with ph 6.2 and see a big improvement. I will stick to 6.3 from now on and see how they get by. Before I used around 6.7 as my water is very hard and have ph around 7.5-8.
Any comments are very welcome.

I'll check my runoff in a couple of days.

 

[Granger2]

I thought you said you're using RO. I have hard water and I ph with EJ pH Down [citric acid]. Yes the pH will rebound back up in time. Not good for a rez, but to pH and apply, it works. I mix RO half with my carbon filtered tap, pH it to high 6's, bubble it for 24 hrs, pH it just before use. Using citric acid with high lime water converts some of the Ca, Mg, etc. into citrates which are more plant available. Good luck. -granger

 

[Hash Zeppelin]

when I saw the pictures first thing I said in my head was "PH issues with cal/mag deficiency"

It is safe to say, I'm going with my gut on this one, seeming how lots of other people in the thread say the same thing.

 

[RetroGrow]

when I saw the pictures first thing I said in my head was "PH issues with cal/mag deficiency"

It is safe to say, I'm going with my gut on this one, seeming how lots of other people in the thread say the same thing.

Well, you could very well be correct, but PH problems for 3 years is something I have never heard of. It's the 3 year thing that stood out to me.

 

[Weezard]

I'm just waiting for the potato test to see whose guess is closest.

The PH could be a factor, or it could be a symptom.
Fortunately, the OP knows how to confirm, and address, his problem, either way.

No debate necessary when you can run a simple test, yah

Aloha,
Weeze

 

[Hash Zeppelin]

this is one where i hope i am right because ph and cal mag are way easier to fix than parasites

 

[Granger2]

Hash,
As a veteran of the Root Aphid Wars, you got that right, bro. I hope he will do the potato thing. It's such an easy and pretty conclusive way to determine if you have root pests. -granger

 

[PoopyTeaBags]

he need to feed his plants... they looked starved to me...the necrosis and yellowing is clear signs to me... feed the plants with a base nute i bet they fix themselfs.

 

[PoopyTeaBags]

but at the same tiem a clear flush and testing of ph and runoff ec would tell u enough to go in one direction or the other.

 

[D350]

Any news about your plants?
How was potato test?

I lowered ph as I said in the posts up, and it looks like it is getting better. My run off is now around ph6.4(with 6.3 watering), I will try to gently lower it a bit more.

Let us know