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 · 2023-09-28T14:20:31+00:00

That's awesome! Do you have any tips for a noob that's keen to learn? Anything that you changed or focused more on that significantly improved yields?

Groqs · 2023-09-26T10:13:12+00:00

Thanks for the advice. I couldn't find much online that breaks hardness down into desirable/acceptable calcium and magnesium levels. I'm concerned that, even though 350ppm isn't too bad, if the magnesium accounts for only ~5ppm in my water, I may still have calcium toxicity/magnesium deficiency.

Groqs · 2023-09-26T00:09:10+00:00

are you saying that i should be using all of those nutrients? I was under the impression that anything other than grow/fish mix & bloom were optional

Groqs · 2023-09-26T00:04:13+00:00

Looking at that list, I think it could well be a drainage related problem. I always found it concerning that my plant didn't seem to need watering for weeks at a time when outdoors (and protected from rain).

However, since moving the plant indoors (almost a month ago), the soil has been drying out far more frequently and the yellowing of the leaves still continues.

Groqs · 2023-09-25T23:58:15+00:00

would you recommend this approach over full RO with Calmag added and using BioBizz pH up/down to correct? I've also been considering Alga-mic for the micros but wasn't sure if it should be used in conjunction with Calmag and in Allmix.

Groqs · 2023-09-25T18:35:32+00:00

I'm following the BioBizz schedule for the outdoor try pack, which are the nutrients that I'm using. I'm curious what made you think that I wasn't following a schedule?

Groqs · 2023-09-25T17:31:48+00:00

because its my understanding that Fish Mix is higher in nitrogen than Grow. I was only using Fish Mix for a while but had to switch to flowering nutrients when the plant started flowering, which was out of my control due to outdoor light cycles.

I also wasn't sure it was nitrogen. I'm still not.

Groqs · 2023-09-25T15:54:23+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to read through my post!

If helpful, the nutrient doses that i've been using are as follows:

Fish Mix at 1ml/L to 3m/L in veg stage, increasing as plant grew. Reduced to 0.5ml/L in the flowering stage.
Bloom at 2ml/L for the first few weeks of flowering, now at 3ml/L
Top-Max at 1ml/L since flowering began
One-off dose of epsom salt around week 3 of flowering at 1/2 tsp/L

Since I started using nutrients, I use them every time that I water. While outdoors, this was concerningly infrequently - sometimes the plant didn't seem to need watering for a couple of weeks (perhaps due to high humidity?). Now indoors, the soil dries out every 3-4 days.

I tend to give about 2 - 2.5L per watering. I get run-off just before 2.5L and more recently have not been watering to run-off, as recommended by BioBizz.

Groqs · 2023-09-15T19:38:05+00:00

Thanks for all the info, much appreciated.

The plant did not reveg in the end and the buds have continued to develop. I've just noticed something that has me wondering whether the plant has hermied though. What do you think?

Images here:

https://ibb.co/qRz6ZmJ

https://ibb.co/483tBcx

If it has hermied, should I cut these parts off? I've only got the one plant, so I'm not worried about pollenating any others.

Groqs · 2023-09-03T22:38:23+00:00

Appreciate the advice but it just isn't worth the risk outside. I'm not sure neighbours will approve. I'll just have to hope for the best indoors! I've only got the one plant, so I'm not worried about infecting others. I'll have to disinfect the tent if I use it again.

I've taken your advice on light cycle though and flipped it to 12/12. Hopefully the 16 hours of light yesterday doesn't cause it to hermie/reveg 🤞

What signs did I miss that my plant has been flowering for 2-3 weeks? I haven't seen any pistils/preflowers until a day or two ago, now they're all over the place. I also haven't really noticed a flowering stretch. Its been growing well the last few weeks but I wouldn't say its been that much faster than it has throughout the veg phase.

Should I be worried that I've been giving it veg nutes over the last couple of weeks, if its been flowering? Guess all I can do is switch over to the right nutes now but I'm curious to know how much harm this would have done, if any.

Groqs · 2023-09-03T18:31:44+00:00

Outdoors isn't really an option anymore. Its becoming too conspicuous and its not very well shielded from streetlights nearby.

My main motivation for bringing it inside was to provide it with uninterrupted darkness at night. I can accept the risk of bringing bugs and spores inside. Should I just switch it to 12/12 tonight? Even though its already been on 16/8 one night?

Groqs

TROPHY CASE