Sick plant HELP!!!!!!

[Icefisher]

Hello all, I have been getting great information from many who frequent this forum.

I have been growing now for about a month two types of tomato plants using a DWC approach. The two varieties of plants are Sunsweet, and 4th of July. The Sunsweet plant is doing SUPER!!!! and has many clusters of flower buds on it. The 4th of July variety is struggling. It was growing great, but all of a sudden it seems to have stunted, The lower leaves are getting some splotching, curling under and then drying from the tips toward the stem and dying. This is causing whole leaf clusters to die. I changed out the nutrient solution a couple of days ago and thought that I had solved the problem, but, that is not the case. The central trunk of the plant seems to still be thriving and in fact has developed a cluster of flower buds, but I fear that the plant is not going to make it. The PH of the nutrient solution is 5.9 and the Nitrogen concentration is at 200 PPM with an EC of 2.18. This nutrient solution is identical to the one that is feeding the Sunsweet plant. As soon as I figure out how to attach photos to these posts, I intend to do so. Until then I hope that someone out there can help solve the problem using my written description.

Thanks
Icefisher

[TightenUp]

Originally Posted by Icefisher

Hello all, I have been getting great information from many who frequent this forum.

I have been growing now for about a month two types of tomato plants using a DWC approach. The two varieties of plants are Sunsweet, and 4th of July. The Sunsweet plant is doing SUPER!!!! and has many clusters of flower buds on it. The 4th of July variety is struggling. It was growing great, but all of a sudden it seems to have stunted, The lower leaves are getting some splotching, curling under and then drying from the tips toward the stem and dying. This is causing whole leaf clusters to die. I changed out the nutrient solution a couple of days ago and thought that I had solved the problem, but, that is not the case. The central trunk of the plant seems to still be thriving and in fact has developed a cluster of flower buds, but I fear that the plant is not going to make it. The PH of the nutrient solution is 5.9 and the Nitrogen concentration is at 200 PPM with an EC of 2.18. This nutrient solution is identical to the one that is feeding the Sunsweet plant. As soon as I figure out how to attach photos to these posts, I intend to do so. Until then I hope that someone out there can help solve the problem using my written description.

Thanks
Icefisher

pics help

[Icefisher]

Made a mistake by trying to add photos to quick reply

[Icefisher]

Same as above

[Icefisher]

Same as above

[Icefisher]

http://www.tomatoville.com/picture.p...pictureid=1744
http://www.tomatoville.com/picture.p...pictureid=1745
http://www.tomatoville.com/picture.p...pictureid=1746
http://www.tomatoville.com/picture.p...pictureid=1743

Above are photos of the "4th of July" variety tomato plant that is having problems in my DWC system. In previous posts I have indicated that this is my first attempt at growing tomatoes. I would appreciate any help I can get in diagnosing and fixing the problem.

Thanks
Icefisher

[Elagrow]

are you using Cal mag?

[Icefisher]

Hello Elagrow, as of this post, I am using very little Mg, and no Calcium.

I have purchased some Master Blend fertilizer from Morgan county, and at the same time I also bought some Calcium nitrate. The instructions on the Master blend indicate to use it along with the CaNO3 after the plants have small tomatoes. Being a first time grower, I do not know if this is the right or wrong time to add these nutrients. When I add the Master Blend, I was also going to add some epsom salt for the Magnesium that it brings to the party.

If adding the Ca and magnesium now would resolve the problem with this plant, I am all for adding it! I am curious however, as to why the Sunsweet plant is doing so remarkable being fed the same nutrient solution as the 4th of July plant.

As of last night, I removed all nutrient solution from the Sunsweet plant and have it in clean water hoping to purge whatever is making it struggle out of it's system. I was planning to go back to adding a very low level of nutrient solution to this plant in the form of 120 ppm Nitrogen plus other trace elements tomorrow. As mentioned above, if adding the Mg and Ca now will improve the situation, I will do that immediately.

Thanks in advance of your response
Icefisher