My peppers are getting fancy at what they eat.

[ELCouz]

Hello pepper fanatics,
 
I'm growing my peppers in hydro (coco coir + drain to waste) but this year batch is acting funny. The only difference from last year is I control them better at what they "eat". 
 
Here the procedures I do:
 

• PH/TDS checked every two days with probes calibrated weekly.
• PH is kept at 5.8 (adjusted with P. Acid) , from what I hydro needs a bit lower than soil for efficient nutriment intake.
• TDS is max 850 ppm
• 3% peroxide added every day in tank at very small dose 10ml for a 20L tank to keep the non-organic nutes clean.
• Tank cleaned every week and light sealed, last year was I had brown slime in the nutes tank but peppers still grown well.
• Tank kept bellow 66F and water is being aerated with a pump.
• Watering occurs at every morning with a drip system ~20% run-off.
• Grow tent is aerated and temp kept bellow 73F but no less than 64F at night.

 
 
 
From experience this look like a Calcium deficiency but I fail to understand why.
 
I had very good yield on both soil (garden) and hydro in the previous years with only FloraNova Bloom.
 
There is plenty of calcium in the FloraNova Bloom....even with boosted CalMag leaves still curls and twist. Growth looks unaffected otherwise.
 
What I find odd is that not all pepper plants in the tent looks curved. They all get the same stuff at the same time.
 
Any more ideas? I'm running short of ones! Thanks members!
 
 
Picture time!
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 

 

[troutbeer]

When my plants have looked like that in the past, it was nutrient burn. Your 850ppm might be too hot for some of the species you are growing. That would also explain why some are more affected than others.

TB

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[ELCouz]

When my plants have looked like that in the past, it was nutrient burn. Your 850ppm moght be too hot for some of the species you are growing. That would also explain why dome are more affected tha others.

TB

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

 
That would make sense... I will try lowering to 650 ppm and see. I don't have any burn leaves tip otherwise I would have known right away.

 

[ELCouz]

I read more about hot peppers in hydro environment. From what the interweb says 850 ppm is really nothing most hot peppers have a range of 1500-2500 ppm before showing signs of nutes burns. 
 
Anyway the TDS has been lowered i'll wait a week to compare.

 

[skullbiker]

I read more about hot peppers in hydro environment. From what the interweb says 850 ppm is really nothing most hot peppers have a range of 1500-2500 ppm before showing signs of nutes burns. 
 
Anyway the TDS has been lowered i'll wait a week to compare.

I’ve got 4 plants in Kratky hydro right now, 1100 ppm TDS, 6.0 ph. They’re doing well.

 

[ELCouz]

Could phosphorus toxicity cause this? I am wondering this because I am using a bit more PH down (Phosphoric Acid) than last year and the bloom formula is already high in P. Does it interact with calcium? It's hard to do proper research...most hydro stuff are 420 related. Calcium is not that much important in cannabis as in peppers.

 

[willard3]

I keep nutrients from 400-600 ppm.
 
If you read a table from a fertilizer manufacturer that recommends higher, remember what they are selling

 

[ELCouz]

I keep nutrients from 400-600 ppm.
 
If you read a table from a fertilizer manufacturer that recommends higher, remember what they are selling

 
 
Yes, never ran full strength... 800 ppm was around 65% of "recommended" dose. Nutes are expensive paid 120$ CAD for a gallon jug...*sigh*...it will last a while though.
 
Already lowered ... it's a wait game.
 
Thanks.

 

[troutbeer]

You mention phosphorus toxicity, actually phosphorus deficiency can cause older leaves to crinkle and get dark green. You may ask how this can happen with the ferts you are using, but a lockout caused by temp, ph, iron, etc. will happen regardless.
I'm not saying that this is what's going on with your plants. In fact, it seems like I play this game every year with my plants (i.e. what the heck is causing this.... ).
You've probably done a ton of internet searches already, but I'll give you one more link to look at:

https://www.worldofchillies.com/growing_chillies/growing-tips/chilli-plant-nutrient-guide/chilliplantnutrientguide.html

I have found it to be a handy reference. Good luck with your plants.
TB

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

 

[ELCouz]

You mention phosphorus toxicity, actually phosphorus deficiency can cause older leaves to crinkle and get dark green. You may ask how this can happen with the ferts you are using, but a lockout caused by temp, ph, iron, etc. will happen regardless.
I'm not saying that this is what's going on with your plants. In fact, it seems like I play this game every year with my plants (i.e. what the heck is causing this.... ).
You've probably done a ton of internet searches already, but I'll give you one more link to look at:

https://www.worldofchillies.com/growing_chillies/growing-tips/chilli-plant-nutrient-guide/chilliplantnutrientguide.html

I have found it to be a handy reference. Good luck with your plants.
TB

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

 
Thanks for the link. It's in my bookmarks 
 
 
PH raised a bit from 5.8 to 6.0 and PPM under 600...we'll see how it goes!
 

 

[Chewi]

I really don't have an answer but I had to say what a great variety you have growing. Every singe one of the labels I can see is a good one IMO!! Swiss Chocolate being a fav.
Happy 2018

 

[ELCouz]

I really don't have an answer but I had to say what a great variety you have growing. Every singe one of the labels I can see is a good one IMO!! Swiss Chocolate being a fav.
Happy 2018

 
 
Thanks here the full list: 
 
Carolina Reaper
Swiss Chocolate
Bulgarian Carrot
Santa Fe
Scotch Bonnet MOA 
7 Pot Brain Strain Yellow
Peach Habanero
Chocolate Habanero
Congo Chocolate
Fatalii Mortali
Fatalii White
Chocolate Ghost Pepper
 
Some variety are duplicated because they are just too good!
 
 
I'm happy to see that you like the Swiss Chocolate. I've never tried before. Looks promising!

 

[Chewi]

Yeah, that is one of the very few that tastes even better than it looks. That white fatalii and chocolate hab mixed together is going to make a killer powder at the end of the year!!

 

[Sauced]

I have two large Jolokia plants that started off in dwc. They were at 850 and grew great. Once I transplanted to soil I found that they needed to be at 1100-1200. They then exploded with growth. It was also learned that, as mentioned above, you possibly have phosphorous deficiency. You may also have too much nitrogen. You need to find out your npk numbers, and balance water feeding to nutrient feeding. Dont over water either. You have drip going in a pot and a small plant like that needs to be moist then dried out for a few days 3-5 depending on medium and soaking. Its a learning curve. I dont remember the lighting, but with spring upon us, utilize the natural light if you are in area allowing hardening.
Sorry, Lora said. Maybe too much.