K Deficiency? Curled Leaves! Help Please!

[thrawn]

Hey Guys,
Im having a problem with my sativa dominant strain that i have been growing outdoors for two months now. Im sure everyone is sick of answering plant problems especially when there arent any pics. Ill try and get some.

In the meantime, my upper fan leaves near the bud sites are brittle and dry. The outer rim of the leaves have slowly curled upwards 90 degrees. At first I immedietly diagnosed this as Potassium deficiency, but one thing confused me. Why are the top leaves suffering from it, and not the lowers. The bottoms look nice and healthy. Any suggestions?

[meangreen]

Deficiencies on upper leaves?some nutrients stay put,fixed ;they cannot move within the plant because they are built into the cell structure of the plant.S,Ca,Fe,Mn,B, and Cu are needed to make and maintain leaves,but plants cannot borrow these from elsewhere if there is not enough.As a result,deficieny symptoms of these structural elements show up first on young, upper and outer leaves.


Symptoms on lower leaves?Some nutrients get around,they are easily shuttled around within the plant,thes include N,P,K,Mg,Mo, and Zn.Basically it means that if plants are not getting enough of these mobile nutrients,they can move these to young growing tissue where they are needed most.As a result deficiencies symptoms of these mobile elements show up first on older,lower leaves,eventually spreadind to the rest of the plant.

By the time nutrient deficiency has become apparant damage has been done.A soil test will can detect deficiencies before they occur and cause damage.Since soil changes over time,it helps to to know how to recognize common nutrient deficiencies.deficiencies are easiest to detect when severe and hardest when when more then 1 are present.Always figure out what is causing before trying to correct.If the deficiency is caused by a physical soil problem or interference from to much of another nutrient then then dumping on ferts will not be your ansswer.

In very acidic or alkaline soils most nutrients disolve very slowly or not at all thus denying plants uptake of nutrients,and wasting ferts as well.When this occurs the nutrients may form insoluble compounds which lock up nutrients for plant uptake.By checking and maintaining correct soil Ph you bring more nutrients within the plants reach without needing more ferts,especially true to N,P,K,S,Mo, and B.A simple way to monitor soil ph is get some distilled water and litmus paper,mix aliitle bit of the soil in question with a little distilled water and dip litmus in and check ph with chart supplied with the litmus paper.A great affordable way to test nutrients in soil is a LaMotte soil test kit,they are nice as kit provides you with materials for 30 Ph tests,15 N tests,20 P tests,and 15 K tests for the cost of about $50.

I believe you have a Mg deficiency going as it affects older leaves with splotched with yellow,red,orange,purple,or dead spots while leaf veins remain green,leaf edges will curl up and will dramatically effect the sweet taste of flowers as well if not remedied.Dolomitic lime,epsom salts,and sulphate of potash -magnesia all add Mg.With Mg being the most common deficiency one will run into that should ring some bells.remedy by adding a tablespoon of epsom salts to a gallon of water and will eleviate Mg deficiencies. You could be causing the Mg deficiency by over ferting on the bloom ferts as to much P can lock out Mg as well.Dont use dolomitic limestone if you feel you may have excessive Ca or P but rather epsom salts or sulphate of potash-magnesia to correct

I can tell you its not a k deficiency as leaf edges will curl curl down not up.Hope this gives you a good summary!Peace

[LuMpYtRiChOmEy]

--Hey G! -Your above reply should be entered into the faq joint! -Youl always have my ear. -Marijuanner really dose make ya smarter! :)

[meangreen]

Thanks Lumpy,I offer what I can and soil/nutrients is one of my most studied/experimented areas.Peace bro

[thrawn]

Thanks alot man, that helped me out alot. PEce