Hydro Tomato Stem Twist

17 years ago

Have a bunch of heirloom tomatoes in ebb flow bucket system w/ 55 gallon res. Were doing ok but now noticed new growth twists and some stems seem purplish. Several plants are experiencing the twisting new stem growth while other are have leaves that are curling upward on the new growth. Also problem leaves seem bumpy or wrinkly.. no really color change as all leaves are green.

Plants are about 5-6 weeks old and i have the following setup:

PH: 6.2

PPM: 700

Nutes: Technoflora Grow and Boost

Rez: 55 gallon w/ airstones

Light: 1K MH w/ canfan exhausted to outside

Grow Room temp: 77 F

Rez temp: 77 F

Distance to light: 27"

Is my PPM too low for tomatoes in veg phase??

I have another 1K HPS, should i be running that now since tomatoes have multiple flowering stages?

Thanks!!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

grizzman
17 years ago
search the forum for, I believe, leaf curl. In the last say 2 months there was a discussion here and curling was one of the symptoms. not exactly sure of the solution but I remember potassium and boron deficiencies being mentioned as was a plant virus.
mtc9680
Original Author
17 years ago
Been reading alot of threads on the forum about leaf curl and still haven't be totally convinced. As far as boron deficency....where does the normal person obtain boron foliage spray?
I'll give it a try.

Does anyone have more info on what PPM I should be running for tomatoes aroudn 5-6 weeks old, they are around 14" tall....

Also I am running 15 min fill and drain only 3 times a day (only when lights are on) - could this be underwatering???

Appeaciate all the forum has educated me on so far.
Related Professionals
Orlando Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · San Antonio Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Chicago Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Magog Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Montréal Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Rolla Landscape Contractors · Saint Joseph Landscape Contractors · Florence Landscape Contractors · Dallas Landscape Contractors · Albany Home Additions · Pittsburgh Home Additions · Santa Barbara Home Additions · Redding Home Additions · Minot Home Additions · Tacoma Home Additions
grizzman
17 years ago
buy some borax in the detergent section to make a boron spray.
I don't use ppm, but I believe EC could be anywhere from about 1.6 to 2.4. when I looked back at your original post, a 700 ppm would be equivalent to either 1.0 EC or 1.4 EC depending on conversion. those are actually low for tomato.
under watering won't twist your plants. It'll make the leaves droop. there isn't really a good shot of your pots but they look to be 1.1/2 to 2 gallon pots. I doubt drying out is too much of an issue. though with time, they may need more water. a full grown tomato plant can consume 1/2 gallon a day.
freemangreens
17 years ago
Up your potassium and watch the purple disappear!
I grow my tomatoes (and strawberries) at an EC of 2.0.
If you're using ppm, a 2.0 EC is approximately 1,000 ppm. Whichever scale you use doesn't matter; just be consistent.
As for leaf curl, it sounds to me more like someone let the plants dry out a bit! Watch your suckers (little shoots between the main stem and branch stems (they pop out at the "Y") to see if they develop curl too. If that's the case, you've got bugs!
If the suckers don't have curl, pinch them off and keep your plants wetter!
mtc9680
Original Author
17 years ago
Yea no curl on the suckers, and i have been trying to get them all - but somehow always miss a couple.

I am going to up my water cycle to 5 times a day from 3 and see how they react..

Thanks for all the help so far.