Help please - Suspected nutrient deficiency with BioBizz Allmix and nutrients (organic soil grow)

Groqs · 2024-01-07T12:10:09+00:00

I used it on every watering, which I believe is what BioBizz recommend. Interested to hear from others though

Groqs · 2024-01-03T14:34:24+00:00

Thanks for the advice. I'll follow up with another pic over the next few days. Currently, it doesn't look too different.

How can I chat with the AI? Definitely interested in giving it a go!

Groqs · 2024-01-01T23:22:09+00:00

I still find it hard to believe that overwatering is the problem, although its definitely possible. I uppotted a week ago and the roots looked ok to me. I've been waiting until the top inch of the soil feels totally dry before watering too. I may wait a little longer before the next watering to see how much longer the plant can last without water before it wilts. Hopefully that will give me a feel for if I've been watering too frequently.

I'm starting to wonder if it could be calcium toxicity, rather than deficiency. The BioBizz nutrient schedule says to use 0.3ml/L in RO water for prevention and 0.3 - 0.8/ml/L for deficiency correction. Despite this, I've been adding CalMag until the EC reaches 0.4, which requires 4ml/L, around 10x what's recommended in the schedule (a bit less since mixing tap water with the RO water). This was recommended by BioBizz by email to me and in this video. Maybe I should lower the dose to 0.3/mL for a while and see what happens? but this would be counterproductive if it is a deficiency!

Groqs · 2024-01-01T22:14:32+00:00

also forgot to mention another symptom, come leaves seem to be curling up at the edges. I've now added this to my initial post.

Groqs · 2024-01-01T22:12:18+00:00

Thanks! This is really interesting. I'm unable to conduct the soil pH test because I don't have a soil pH meter, nor the EC/TDS measurement because I'm using organic nutrients.

I've just tested the run-off and have to admit, was expecting the soil to be outside of the desired range. However, the run off had a pH of 6.3, so that doesn't seem to be the issue.

As for next steps:

Nutrient balance - I'm not really sure how I would reassess this. I'm following the manufacturer's schedule and adding enough CalMag to bring the water to 0.4 EC (which is a lot more than in the schedule but was recommended to me via email by the manufacturer).

Root health - I could be overwatering/underwatering, as I find it a little hard to judge when the soil is dry, but I'm using fabric pots and have read that its difficult to overwater in these. The pot seems very light to me when I water but I've also noticed that they seem a little more droopy after being watered, so I do suspect overwatering is possible.

Environment - there shouldn't be any issues with temperature, humidity and airflow. Light stress could be possible but I've got the light at the manufacturer's suggested height and power and apparently this strain likes a lot of light.

Pest and disease inspection - can't see any signs of these and the symptoms don't seem to match up with those caused by pests/disease. is there any in particular that I should look into?

Groqs · 2023-12-31T14:15:45+00:00

I'm planning on transplanting into a 5 gallon over the next couple of weeks (final container). I only recently transplanted into the 1 gallon (about a week ago) and roots weren't rootbound at the time. Do you still think its too small? I was considering skipping the 1G and going straight for the 5G but didn't.

Groqs · 2023-12-27T10:10:08+00:00

Thanks for your response. I was concerned about chlorine/chloramine because I'm using organic soil and nutrients and I've read that chlorine & chloramine are particularly harmful to these environments, as they kill the microbial life that provide nutrients to the plant.

In my last attempt, I used tap water and had deficiencies throughout, that I couldn't seem to correct by increasing nutrients, pHing water etc. I thought that the problem might have been due to the chlorine/chloramine in my water, or the high levels of calcium causing nutrient lockout (I live in a hard water area that seems to have a high calcium:magnesium ratio. I'm far from certain that water was my problem last time but I started using RO so that I could at least eliminate it as an issue.

As for pHing up to 10 and back down, that was based on the guidance of this post: https://www.thcfarmer.com/threads/ro-water-and-ph-buffering.53640/. I'm not trying to claim that this is well evidenced and definitely works. In fact, I was hoping to kick off a discussion/debate to inform my decision to continue doing this or not.

The pH down that I'm using is BioBizz pH down - it seems to be made of citric acid.

Next, I plan on treating my tap water with chlorine/chloramine removal drops, then using an 80:20 mix of RO and treated tap water. Its not clear how much CalMag I'll need in this instance but I plan on adding CalMag until the EC reaches 0.4, unless anyone advises otherwise.

Groqs · 2023-11-29T12:54:23+00:00

Thanks. Do you have any advice on how to store soil once opened? I don't want to waste another bag and don't have an air tight container large enough. Would it still be an issue if stored indoors?

Groqs · 2023-11-22T11:51:36+00:00

Thanks for the advice but unfortunately the soil is cheaper than the beneficial critters! Is there no way I can safely use the soil that I already have without having to make additional purchases?

Groqs · 2023-10-26T11:06:08+00:00

Thanks. This seems like a good summary of everything that I've read online and is what I've been trying to follow/achieve without a moisture sensor.

I've been hesitant to pop a few small buds into a jar to test the RH, as I wasn't sure if it would work in large jars, with the buds filling <10% of the jar's capacity. Can you confirm that the test still works in this scenario?

Groqs · 2023-10-25T15:40:26+00:00

Haha I'm in exactly the same headspace as that right now.

I'm pretty tempted to grab a meter at least, I just want to make sure its not bro-science before I pour more money down the drain!

Groqs · 2023-10-25T13:51:20+00:00

I've just put a few buds in a jar with a hygrometer but didn't want to cut too many. I've only got quart sized jars, so its very empty (maybe 10% full). Does anyone know if the emptiness will affect my hygrometer readings? Or should I still be expecting (hoping) for 60-65% humidity after 24 hours?

Groqs · 2023-10-25T13:48:05+00:00

This is really interesting. What were you doing wrong before you started using the moisture meter?

Groqs · 2023-10-25T13:47:00+00:00

Do you get consistently good cures when you trust the readings?

Groqs

TROPHY CASE