How to identify the issue?
Plants have yellow or brown leaves, spots on leaves, tip burn, stagnant growth, etc.
What is happening?
The plants are not receiving adequate nutrients and/or light. Airflow, temperature, pH, and humidity could be a factor as well.
How to ensure this doesn't happen in the future?
Check through the following variables of your Flex Farm:
Light: Ensure the Light Tower is on 16-18 hours per day. The small black segments should be pushed down for the hours you want the light on and the sliding switch should be in the ‘Timer’ position.
pH & Nutrients: Ensure you are following the recommended pH (5.5-6.0) and nutrient levels (+600-800 PPM for leafy greens) of your Flex Farm’s water.
Fresh Water: Has it been a bit since you refreshed your Flex Farm’s water? Check when the last time you refreshed the Flex Farm water relative to your recommended refresh schedule in the Grow Guide page 17. Fresh water is important to maintain correct nutrient levels as over time they can become imbalanced. Then, set a schedule to refresh your Flex Farm water regularly, generally every three months, according to the Quick Reference Guide & Checklist. Check out our Water Refresh Instructions for additional assistance.
Humidity and Temperature: If plant issues persist, we recommend maintaining humidity levels between 40-70% and temperatures between 60-80 degrees F. Increasing airflow with a fan can help decrease the humidity of a growing space.
Airflow: Increasing the airflow around the plants helps the plants breathe (increasing their nutrient uptake), you can do this with a ceiling or floor fan.
Harvest: Ensure you are harvesting plants when their leaves begin to intersect to reduce chances of tip burn and die-off on the back of the plants where the light can no longer reach. This can also help with better airflow.
Further Resolution Steps:
If all of these variables listed above (light timer, pH, fresh water, humidity, temperature, and airflow) are within range, then the next step is to ensure you are adding equal amounts of Nutrients A & B. You will always use these in a 1:1 ratio. Follow our best practices in our Checking & Adjusting your Nutrients & pH Lesson.
You can cull the sick leaves or, if needed, harvest the sick plants and plug the planting space with a Panel Plug. If these steps do not resolve the unhealthy plants, please reach us at 877-818-9707, [email protected], or by using the web chat feature in the bottom right of our website www.forkfarms.com.
Other troubleshooting articles:
Gnats (tiny flying insects) in Rockwool: Fungus Gnat Pest Management and Prevention
Mold or powdery mildew on your rockwool or plants: White Powdery Mildew and Mold Guide