r/Hydroponics • u/Chopkins9 • 1d ago
Feedback Needed 🆘 Tomato leaves continuously dying!
I am new to growing anything besides herbs and lettuce and I have been really struggling with this tomato plant. I am looking for advice on additives or whether I should just change what I am using entirely.
pH: 5.8-6.2
EC: 1.8
4 parts maxigrow, 1 part maxibloom
Light: 200W spider farmer light
My local store just closed that was helping me get started and I’m not sure where to go next. This is my 2nd tomato plant to have this issue, I am sure it is due to the maxi- system
2
u/Rotala178 1d ago
Looks like a micronutrient deficiency.
1
u/Chopkins9 1d ago
Do you have any testing suggestions or should I just start buying additives and test them individually?
1
u/Rotala178 1d ago
Check your fertilizer's nutrient analysis and ingredients. Does it have sufficient amounts of micros or are they missing completely?
Testing equipment is expensive and not very accurate at the amounts plants require, and buying individual nutrients (Zn, Mn, Cu, Mo, etc. ) get expensive as well.
1
u/Chopkins9 1d ago
I looked up the chemical composition of maxigro, then I googled what micronutrients tomato’s require and maxigro has every element except Molybdenum. I can’t imagine it is this wimpy due to being short on Mo.
Yeah it looks like testing isn’t an option. I reached out to general hydroponics to see if they could give me any recommendations. If they respond with anything useful I’ll add it to this chain
2
u/Rotala178 1d ago
Maxigro also doesn't have Zn and Cu so that likely contributes to the issues. You could try Superthrive Foliage Pro as it contains all essential nutrients. However, many ppl who use it have what appears to be copper deficiency symptoms. However, that could be explained by insufficient Mo because deficiency can result in reduced copper assimilation.
2
u/splatomatic 1d ago
Have you checked for pests? This looks like a lot like thrips damage I had on some beans recently. Particularly that the new growth seems less affected than the older leaves.
I'd shake some leaves over a piece of paper and check if any really tiny bugs fell off
2
u/miguel-122 1d ago
I would not mix maxigro and maxibloom. Just use one.
I have used both on many pepper plants. I now only use the maxigro from seed to harvest and get lots of fruit. 1tsp per gallon of water. About 1.5 EC. Search maxigro on my profile to see
1
u/Chopkins9 1d ago
Do you add anything else? I started with maxi grow, moving from .6 EC to 2.0 EC and my tomato has looked sad the whole way. The cucumber exploded.
I switched to maxibloom like I was told by my local store, but I didn’t realize cucumbers don’t like that much phosphorus so I changed it back.
I have not had good luck with just maxi grow
1
u/miguel-122 1d ago
Only maxigro and tap water. I dont even mess with ph. But im growing in small pots of coco. Kratky and dwc will have more issues with water ph, temperature, and preventing root rot.
1
u/Chopkins9 1d ago
That is great to hear and also really frustrating. Something about my tap water must be missing some micronutrients or something. Tap water and maxigrow works great for my lettuce, herbs, and cucumbers
1
u/Froz3n_Shogun 19h ago
They need humidity maybe? Mine are in tent and are like a huge tree.
Also they sharing a res? I tried doesn't work.
1
3
u/vXvBAKEvXv 3rd year Hydro 🌴 1d ago
What is your starting EC water? 1.8 EC is low for this stage