Troubleshooting (Symptom → Fix)
Fast diagnosis by symptom. Fix the root cause, then optimize.
Start with the symptom
- Bad smell / dark weed / harsh: usually post-harvest handling, not “bad strain.”
- Stall in late flower: often environment + schedule mismatch, not “more bloom.”
- Confusing app advice: sensors don’t understand your goals. You do.
On this page
Top symptoms
Pick the closest symptom. Start with the first move. Then go deeper only if the symptom does not improve.
Hay smell, dull aromaDrying pace, airflow, darkness, and time.
Terpenes disappearedHeat, oxygen, and moisture swings after harvest.
Jar RH keeps spikingMoisture is not stable. Fix the chain.
Dark weed, harsh smokeOften under-cured, over-dried, or stored wrong.
Late flower stallCheck environment and schedule before nutrients.
Confusing flowering behaviorLight schedule, strain sensitivity, and consistency.
Trying 14/10Who it helps, who it hurts, and how to run it.
11/13 vs 12/12Tradeoffs, timing, and when to switch.
One schedule keeps failingStrain-aware growing so you stop guessing.
Growing under constraintsSmall space, low power, low odor. Still win.
App advice feels wrongUse apps for logging, not leadership.
Buying gear, no progressTrack skill, not toys.
Fast decision tree
| If you notice | First check | One change | Go deeper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hay smell within 48 hours | Drying too fast or too warm | Lower temps, slow airflow, keep it dark | Drying and drying correctly |
| Jar RH jumps above 65% | Moisture not stable inside flower | Dry a little longer, then re-jar and re-check | Curing and 58 vs 62 |
| Harsh, scratchy smoke | Too dry or unstable cure | Stabilize RH in the safe band and wait | dark weed diagnosis |
| Late flower stall | Light schedule plus environment limits | Fix the limit first, then adjust schedule | stall guide and light cycles |
| Plants look fine, results feel mid | Weak tracking and weak constraints | Pick 3 metrics and track weekly | Tools and 5 tools |
| Every run needs a different fix | Strain sensitivity and consistency drift | Use one baseline, then adjust in small steps | strain-aware growing |
| App suggests nonsense | Inputs are missing your goal and timeline | Use the app for logs, not decisions | app reality check |
| Retail flower feels uncured | Supply chain incentives and timelines | Control your own post-harvest chain | retail curing reality |
The rules that stop troubleshooting loops
- Write the symptom in one sentence. No stories. No vibes.
- Measure the basics. Temperature, RH, and your light schedule.
- Change one variable. Then wait long enough to see signal.
- Verify with the same measurement. If the metric did not move, the fix did not work.
- Route to the right trunk. Growing issues usually start at Light Cycles. Post-harvest issues start at Drying and Curing.
Measure first, then decide
- Temperature and RH: at canopy and in any drying or curing space.
- Light schedule: hours on and hours off, plus consistency.
- Moisture stability: jar RH after 2 hours sealed, then again after 12 hours.
- Your goal: speed, aroma, smoothness, yield, or all of the above with tradeoffs.
- Your constraints: space, noise, odor, budget, and time.
If you cannot measure it, you cannot troubleshoot it. Use the Tools page to build a minimum kit.
Constraint order (what to fix first)
- Safety risks: mold, contamination, and anything that makes you cough or feel sick.
- Moisture stability: drying and curing problems ruin quality fast.
- Schedule integrity: light cycle consistency and dark period discipline.
- Strain sensitivity: haze and long-flower genetics punish sloppy schedules.
- Gear upgrades: only after you have repeatable discipline and logs.
Symptom map
| Symptom | Most common driver | Start here |
|---|---|---|
| Hay smell | Drying too fast, too warm, or too much airflow | Drying correctly |
| Dark flower, harsh smoke | Moisture instability, rushed cure, or storage swings | Dark weed diagnosis |
| Jar RH spikes | Inside still wet, outside feels dry | 58 vs 62 curing humidity |
| Late flower stall | Environment limit plus schedule mismatch | Late flower stall |
| Flowering timing feels off | Strain sensitivity to photoperiod and darkness | Light Cycles |
| Results feel mid | No constraints tracked, no weekly scorecard | 5 tools that matter |
| App advice is inconsistent | Bad inputs, missing goal, missing context | AI grow apps |
| Same plan fails on different strains | One schedule does not fit all genetics | Strain-aware growing |
| Small space problems | Constraints dominate: heat, humidity, odor, airflow | Growing under constraints |
One-run log template
This is how you stop repeating the same mistake. Keep it simple and consistent.
| Date | Symptom | Measurement | One change | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-08 | Jar RH spikes | 68% after 2 hours sealed | Dry 12 more hours, then re-jar | 62% stable after 12 hours |
Need a faster triage
If you are stuck, go to the Cannabis ER. It routes you by symptoms and gives you the first safe move before you change anything expensive.
What to do next
- Get the first win. Choose the simplest fix that improves the symptom and proves your diagnosis.
- Lock the discipline. Repeat the same inputs for one full cycle so you can see what is actually working.
- Then optimize. Only after stable results, chase speed, aroma, smoothness, and yield.
If your issue is post-harvest, go straight to Drying and Curing. If your issue is flowering behavior, start at Light Cycles. If you need a strict haze playbook, use Haze and the haze protocol.
What not to do
- Do not chase a new bottle, additive, or gadget before you fix your constraints.
- Do not treat app recommendations as facts. Treat them as prompts to measure.
- Do not judge quality by appearance alone. Smell, moisture stability, and smoothness are the scoreboard.
- Do not “fix” your way into worse outcomes by stacking changes in one day.
References
System rule: every page should answer fast, then link deeper. If you can’t explain it in 30 seconds, you don’t understand it yet.
Cluster map
Deep pages in this cluster. Use these when you want specifics, not vibes.
Cannabis ER (Instant Triage)Search a symptom (hay smell, jar RH spikes, harsh smoke, not flowering) and jump to the best match with linked fixes.
Plants Stall in Late Flower (It’s Often Not Nutrients)Late-flower stalls are usually light/heat, VPD/dryback, or root stress—not a deficiency. Diagnose fast and fix it without overfeeding or wrecking your finish.
Why Bong Water Smells Bad Fast — The Real Cause (and Fix)If bong water turns dark or smells foul fast, it’s usually a combo of resin + dirty water + harsh/under-cured flower dumping extra plant compounds. Diagnose it fast and fix it for good.
Next actions
FAQ
What is the first thing I should check?
What changed. Most problems are self-inflicted: schedule changes, environment swings, watering rhythm, or a new product.
Why do symptom charts mislead people?
Because the same symptom can come from multiple causes. You diagnose by timing, pattern, and recent changes, not by guessing from a picture.
Should I fix with nutrients first?
Usually no. Environment and watering errors are more common than true deficiencies. Correct the basics before you add bottles.
When should I harvest early?
When the plant is declining and you cannot stabilize it in time. Saving quality beats chasing maximum weight.