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Little Rock, Arkansas

A few weeks ago, I started some seeds as a dry run, and if everything went good I was going to proceed from there. Well, someone please direct me to "less is more" school because when I transfered my sprout from the 1qt to the 2 gallon pot, I added some extras to the potting soil on a whim.

Soil: Miracle Grow potting soil mix (moisture control)
Added: 1/2 cup Mycoz fungi, 4 tsp 90% soluble Humic Acid powder (http://www.amazon.com/TeraVita-SP-90-Humic-Soluble-Powder/dp/B0088NC7FC/ref=pd_sim_lg_10?ie=UTF8&refRID=0W3G9X9JNCHPP5AHKRVN)

After the transplant, the first true leaf immidiatly showed sign of distress, yellow spotting, and the leaf curls where the leaf and leaf stem meet:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/rudanger/Atlantic%20Giant%202015/IMG_1745_zpsa4463q06.jpg

Second true leaf (2nd and 4th burned to a stop) and growth crown also severly burned:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/rudanger/Atlantic%20Giant%202015/IMG_1746_zpsl6sm7hzc.jpg

3rd true leaf before I clicked off the lights permanently, has holes, and damage similar to a virus:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/rudanger/Atlantic%20Giant%202015/IMG_1744_zpsakolyxu5.jpg

I assume there was a severe pH drop with the Humic acid. I didnt anticipate the strength of the powder, and since I wasn't able to find granular Humic acid to include into my soil ammendments, my plan was to sprinkle a teaspoon full at each node, or just surface till in 1.0lb of it across my 500 sq ft patch. This plan has me scared now, what would you guys recommend to add to my soil without hurting my pH or having this result in my outdoor plot?

Please chime in if you have any comments, good, bad, scolding, or mocking. I need to learn every angle I can.

Less. Is. More.

Thanks!

4/8/2015 1:41:52 PM

Little Rock, Arkansas

<a href="http://s6.photobucket.com/user/rudanger/media/Atlantic%20Giant%202015/IMG_1744_zpsakolyxu5.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/rudanger/Atlantic%20Giant%202015/IMG_1744_zpsakolyxu5.jpg" border="0" alt="3rd true leaf (2nd actual) photo IMG_1744_zpsakolyxu5.jpg"/></a>

Testing live pictures in the message boards. This is HTML code.

4/8/2015 1:46:09 PM

Little Rock, Arkansas

Guess that didnt work, here is IMG code:

[URL=http://s6.photobucket.com/user/rudanger/media/Atlantic%20Giant%202015/IMG_1744_zpsakolyxu5.jpg.html][IMG]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/rudanger/Atlantic%20Giant%202015/IMG_1744_zpsakolyxu5.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

4/8/2015 1:46:26 PM

Little Rock, Arkansas

No live pics in message boards I guess. Please copy paste the URLs in the original message for the pics. Thanks for looking.

4/8/2015 1:47:07 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

I've seen worse. Could be a combination of things. Over watering, cold soil, bad Miracle Grow soil..

Too many new growers season are ended with Miracle Grow Soil

4/8/2015 1:55:00 PM

Western NY

Yes, humic can cause problems, but my first thought looking at the pics is: what is your light setup?

4/8/2015 2:08:56 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

I never amend seedlings at all and just let them get set before adding juice. At most, I give them some diluted Neptune's fish and seaweed. This is not the stage you want to "push" the plant. I killed my own plants in 2012 doing the same type of thing.

4/8/2015 2:43:27 PM

Elk County, PA

Looks like a burn to me? Do any foliar application?

4/8/2015 2:56:48 PM

Little Rock, Arkansas

No Foilar feeds given. Not over watered, I made sure of this. Soil has been 85-90 degrees since birth as the pot was sitting in a cooler with a temp probe stuck into the soil. Entire setup is under a 250W MH grow lamp.

Can you explain a little more about "bad Miracle Grow soil.." Last year I used their "starter soil" brand, but this year I went with the straight potting mix.

4/8/2015 3:47:37 PM

South Hero, VT

All good info in previous posts. Miracle Grow Moisture Control soil can harbor various diseases, as well as soaking up too much water and providing too much fertilizers.

4/8/2015 6:32:26 PM

South Hero, VT

Contact Matt Debacco for his opinion.

4/8/2015 6:36:30 PM

Little Rock, Arkansas

I think I will grab a few quarts of the Starter Soil which is bone dry and sealed, and forego the inconclusive questioning of the soil harboring diseases. Thank you all for the information.


Rudy

4/9/2015 3:57:35 PM

Omaha, Ne.

to much love. dont sweat it

4/9/2015 9:50:30 PM

Minneapolis, Mn

anything that has fertilizer added on the label is bad for seed starting. I've gotten screwy looking cots and I know its the seedling hitting fertilizer. I use use Miracle grow seed starting mix. And pot up to bag soil with the lowest fert added....look on the back on the label....I actually find Jiffy mix too lacking in nutrients..

4/10/2015 4:27:09 PM

Little Rock, Arkansas

Thank you again everyone for your comments. I liken what I did to tryin to juice up a newborn, too much too fast and not really needed. I restarted using Miracle Grow Starter soil and just a tablespoon of Mycoz, and that's it. 85 degrees and steady as she goes.

4/13/2015 12:59:22 PM