There is a crack in everything...

[Humanrob]

Sorry I feel resposible for this

Not at all. I simply changed my mind. No worries

I hope you solve the issues you are having but I fear we may be experiencing a new normal.

Thanks, but I am not yet willing to accept that this might be the norm. So far its only happened with seeds, and not clones. Like I said before, the fact that every single plant -- at least 5 strains across two tents from three breeder/sources -- all hermied last time strongly points to it being something environmental. I've had my share of bad luck, but that's not looking random. Since everyone else isn't having these problems, that would imply it's something I'm doing not an industry trend.

I've only got three from seed this run, we'll see how they do. It's possible that moving forward I'm only going to do one indoor run per year, and that will be where we get our annual meds. If that turns out to be the case, then I won't have the time or space to investigate this, I'll just grow 100% from clones since those are working for me. For now I'll take it one grow at a time.

 

[SSGrower]

Not at all. I simply changed my mind. No worries



Thanks, but I am not yet willing to accept that this might be the norm. So far its only happened with seeds, and not clones. Like I said before, the fact that every single plant -- at least 5 strains across two tents from three breeder/sources -- all hermied last time strongly points to it being something environmental. I've had my share of bad luck, but that's not looking random. Since everyone else isn't having these problems, that would imply it's something I'm doing not an industry trend.

I've only got three from seed this run, we'll see how they do. It's possible that moving forward I'm only going to do one indoor run per year, and that will be where we get our annual meds. If that turns out to be the case, then I won't have the time or space to investigate this, I'll just grow 100% from clones since those are working for me. For now I'll take it one grow at a time.

Not everyone is as brave as you to post about this issue. If you didnt change anything and are now having issues something unknown has changed. I think it happens in large scale grows all the time, they just chop early, send it to the extractor and move on. I have bought "top shelf" that had nanners, went back, showed the dispensary, "oh wow, never seen that before" , "we dont have hems or males", not just one dispensary, Ive had seeds in bud from dispensaries that dont breed, some are appologetic when confronted and some are in denial, either way Ive stopped going back and stopped accepting their discounted we're sorry packages.

 

[Humanrob]

Not everyone is as brave as you to post about this issue. If you didnt change anything and are now having issues something unknown has changed. I think it happens in large scale grows all the time, they just chop early, send it to the extractor and move on. I have bought "top shelf" that had nanners, went back, showed the dispensary, "oh wow, never seen that before" , "we dont have hems or males", not just one dispensary, Ive had seeds in bud from dispensaries that dont breed, some are appologetic when confronted and some are in denial, either way Ive stopped going back and stopped accepting their discounted we're sorry packages.

I hear you. The extent of my interaction with a cannabis community is right here on RIU, and that's limited exposure. We rarely buy pot, usually if I'm in a dispensary its to pick up clones... so I really don't know much about what's going on out there. Maybe this is the result of too many crosses, I've wondered what the fallout from crossing everything a million times would be. But I'm just guessing. Maybe others will add their experiences...

And I did change a couple of things, but it's hard to imagine they are the cause. For instance, I got a 55 gallon drum that I fill and water from, and it is recycled, apparently originally containing some sort of fruit concentrate. Could very small amounts of residue from that somehow cause hermies or predominantly male plants? Seemed too slim to even mention, but that's the level of detail I'm down to.

 

[SSGrower]

I hear you. The extent of my interaction with a cannabis community is right here on RIU, and that's limited exposure. We rarely buy pot, usually if I'm in a dispensary its to pick up clones... so I really don't know much about what's going on out there. Maybe this is the result of too many crosses, I've wondered what the fallout from crossing everything a million times would be. But I'm just guessing. Maybe others will add their experiences...

And I did change a couple of things, but it's hard to imagine they are the cause. For instance, I got a 55 gallon drum that I fill and water from, and it is recycled, apparently originally containing some sort of fruit concentrate. Could very small amounts of residue from that somehow cause hermies or predominantly male plants? Seemed too slim to even mention, but that's the level of detail I'm down to.

I highly doubt if the juice container has any relevance, that said,

If someone in the juice industry has any insight, I am open to changing my mind.

I think the infinite crossing does play a role.

I don't know how to necessarily categorize hermephrodism, but what I have seen are probably 3 different "types". Though I don't think that is necessarily fair because I think almost all modern strains can exhibit all types, it correlates with what I have observed.

1. I would call the indica type where 1 or 2 male flowers develop low on the budding node and typically mid height on the plant. They show late in flower, after week 5 or 6.


2 and 3 are a bit more difficult to discern and I only have blurry pics so bear with me on that. Male flowers will develop anywhere on the plant difference being if the nanners are coming out of the same calyx as hairs or are they contained in their own calyx?

I think stress is the key component in these "types", also I think type 2s can develop into type 3s making the distinction even more blurry. The pic above there are downward pointing hairs, nanners are coming out of the same calyx. To the left on that cluster is a calyx with only nanners.

The are my opinions substantiated by my experience and are not represented as truth or fact.

 

[SSGrower]

A "type 2" not showing "type 3" caharcteristics, yet at least.

 

[Humanrob]

@SSGrower -- thanks for sharing that!!!

I've had all three types over the years... dubious accomplishment... LOL

the type 2 banana nanners I definitely associate with stress, the one time I had those I over fed and used too much light.

Last run I had two types, the one where the male flowers are clustered close to the base of the buds and occur in multiple places on the plant, and the type where there are only one or two pairs of male flowers around the middle of the plant that show up late in the grow.

This time, as noted, I had plants that from the very onset of showing sex produced both male and female flowers.

I hope more people chime in, maybe we can accumulate enough data to shed some light on this.

 

[SSGrower]

This time, as noted, I had plants that from the very onset of showing sex produced both male and female flowers.

I should probably have added this as a fourth type, because well, I'm a stoner and can't count or have a contiguous string of thoughts without getting distracted.

Totally Fuckend that up, if you look back at my first post (a page or two back) the one I polinated exhibited odd (differentiated from another of the same strain) from the beginning of flower.

So it's been what less than 10 minutes and I've already shifted position

I typically see more evidence of stress on plants that express more hermephrodism.

We could try tagging some individuals into the conversation, unfortunately many of the members who's info I trust don't play well together.

 

[Humanrob]

I typically see more evidence of stress on plants that express more hermephrodism.

I wonder if it is particular types of stress, or maybe its too much of any type of stress can induce this reaction? And that said, the ones in my current grow (which were both sexes from the outset) are being grown really gently, because of all the issues I've had I've backed off my lights, I'm using quality soil, minimal nutrients, and my temps and humidity have been pretty consistent.

When I shared this with @GroErr he felt the highest probability was bad genetics. He breeds, and my understanding is that when he is phenotyping he culls out hermies when they happen, removing that trait or tendency from his lines. It appears that more breeders selling F1 seeds that have not been fully tested or refined, that opens the doors for weak genetics.

We could try tagging some individuals into the conversation, unfortunately many of the members who's info I trust don't play well together.

Maybe tag them one at a time, see if they have anything to say, wait a week and then try another one...

I sure don't want to turn this into an opinion pissing contest, but the more varied experiences we collect the more angles we see it from.

 

[GroErr]

I wonder if it is particular types of stress, or maybe its too much of any type of stress can induce this reaction? And that said, the ones in my current grow (which were both sexes from the outset) are being grown really gently, because of all the issues I've had I've backed off my lights, I'm using quality soil, minimal nutrients, and my temps and humidity have been pretty consistent.

When I shared this with @GroErr he felt the highest probability was bad genetics. He breeds, and my understanding is that when he is phenotyping he culls out hermies when they happen, removing that trait or tendency from his lines. It appears that more breeders selling F1 seeds that have not been fully tested or refined, that opens the doors for weak genetics.



Maybe tag them one at a time, see if they have anything to say, wait a week and then try another one...

I sure don't want to turn this into an opinion pissing contest, but the more varied experiences we collect the more angles we see it from.

Wish there were some solid science on this related to MJ. All I can go by is my own experiences, with both crosses that I have control over, and commercial seeds I've grown.

I think there's likely more factors but the one's we typically talk about in growing MJ are genetics and environment. I have no doubt that environment can certainly play a part in producing herms, just like it can play a part in expression of the same strain/clone when grown under different conditions. This I've seen enough to believe it's a factor. The question is what type(s) of stress would tend to produce herms. I've stressed the hell out of plants, in some cases on purpose, sometimes from being lazy or not having enough time to take care of things properly. e.g. I leave any potential cross phenos, male or female, in small containers to the point of almost getting root bound to see how they behave. Males will tend to start flowering regardless of light schedule if left in too small a container, I've repeated this many times and I use it to cull males that do this (auto-flower).

At the same time, I've yet to see a herm in my crosses (myself), but the odd one has been reported. One recent one was reported by @SSGrower on an F1 (BR x PL) first gen cross. I gave him a heads up that this was an F1 cross and I hadn't tested it yet. I try not to send out F1's unless I've run many with no issues, this is why I don't normally send them out. He had some other strains running at the same time and I believe he had issues with most if not all in that run. In that case I'd be looking for environment/process stressors, having one or two herm is one thing, having multiple strains I'd be leaning towards other factors than genetics.

On the genetics angle. The reason I got into my own crosses was that I kept seeing so much variation in commercial seeds. I figured if I'm going to pheno hunt through a pack of seeds and get multiple phenos, they may as well be my own and free(sh). Although I've yet to see a herm myself in commercial drops I've certainly seen many reported by others. When it's the odd one and the environmental factors are in question I can see some being caused by the environment. But it seems to me that too many breeders are putting out polyhybrid F1/F2/S1's which were never stabilized and bound to be more susceptible to herms. If I were to consider producing an S1 for instance, I'd wait until I'd crossed and backcrossed that line 3-4 times (e.g. minimum F2 back-crossed to an F1 male, with no herms showing). But every time I see a breeder producing too many new crosses/strains in the same year I cringed at the potential for unstable genetics. Some even advertise F1/F2's/S1's and charge full pop for what is essentially a chuck, worse still, people buy them(?). This is why I also think that genetics, particularly over the last few years with so many poly crosses, and little or no stabilization, also have a part in producing herms.

 

[Humanrob]

Wish there were some solid science on this related to MJ. All I can go by is my own experiences, with both crosses that I have control over, and commercial seeds I've grown.

I think there's likely more factors but the one's we typically talk about in growing MJ are genetics and environment. I have no doubt that environment can certainly play a part in producing herms, just like it can play a part in expression of the same strain/clone when grown under different conditions. This I've seen enough to believe it's a factor. The question is what type(s) of stress would tend to produce herms. I've stressed the hell out of plants, in some cases on purpose, sometimes from being lazy or not having enough time to take care of things properly. e.g. I leave any potential cross phenos, male or female, in small containers to the point of almost getting root bound to see how they behave. Males will tend to start flowering regardless of light schedule if left in too small a container, I've repeated this many times and I use it to cull males that do this (auto-flower).

At the same time, I've yet to see a herm in my crosses (myself), but the odd one has been reported. One recent one was reported by @SSGrower on an F1 (BR x PL) first gen cross. I gave him a heads up that this was an F1 cross and I hadn't tested it yet. I try not to send out F1's unless I've run many with no issues, this is why I don't normally send them out. He had some other strains running at the same time and I believe he had issues with most if not all in that run. In that case I'd be looking for environment/process stressors, having one or two herm is one thing, having multiple strains I'd be leaning towards other factors than genetics.

On the genetics angle. The reason I got into my own crosses was that I kept seeing so much variation in commercial seeds. I figured if I'm going to pheno hunt through a pack of seeds and get multiple phenos, they may as well be my own and free(sh). Although I've yet to see a herm myself in commercial drops I've certainly seen many reported by others. When it's the odd one and the environmental factors are in question I can see some being caused by the environment. But it seems to me that too many breeders are putting out polyhybrid F1/F2/S1's which were never stabilized and bound to be more susceptible to herms. If I were to consider producing an S1 for instance, I'd wait until I'd crossed and backcrossed that line 3-4 times (e.g. minimum F2 back-crossed to an F1 male, with no herms showing). But every time I see a breeder producing too many new crosses/strains in the same year I cringed at the potential for unstable genetics. Some even advertise F1/F2's/S1's and charge full pop for what is essentially a chuck, worse still, people buy them(?). This is why I also think that genetics, particularly over the last few years with so many poly crosses, and little or no stabilization, also have a part in producing herms.

Thanks for sharing that GroErr, I appreciate your time and experience. I know what you mean about stressing plants out and NOT having them hermie, I think about all the mistakes I made in my first grows, the periods of hot and cold, over watering, under watering, deciding that if a little nutes were a good thing a lot of nutes would be much better... and that doesn't even touch on all of the things I did to plants while learning how to trim and train them. And through dozens of plants over a few of seasons, I only once had a hermie...

 

[Humanrob]

...which brings me to one of the curious aspects of this for me. When I started growing as a med grower it was all clones from dispensaries. A friend gave me some seeds that someone gave to him, he wasn't even sure what they were. I put most of them in an outdoor grow and they were great. I grew one in my next indoor, and it hermied. It was the kind of hermie where you get just a pair of male flowers midway in the plant, and I got about a dozen seeds from this self-pollination... and at the time since we loved this unknown strain I felt lucky to have more seeds!!!

Next summer I grew some of those seeds outdoors, and NONE of them hermied. The following winter I grew more of them indoors... and ALL of them hermied. I've NEVER had a hermie in an outdoor grow. I had the same thing happen again -- last summer I grew Greenpoint DreamCatcher outdoors, no problems, and indoors they hermied.

So, for what its worth, there are two things I can say about my hermies: (1) they have always been from seeds, not clones, and (2) they have always been during indoor grows, never outdoor.

So, there is something seeds don't like about my indoor environment. I doubt this is the case, but wouldn't it be weird if seeds don't like to be sprouted under COB lighting, and the increase in hermies coincided with the increased use of COB lights? I'm just looking everywhere...

 

[SSGrower]

I wonder if it is particular types of stress, or maybe its too much of any type of stress can induce this reaction? And that said, the ones in my current grow (which were both sexes from the outset) are being grown really gently, because of all the issues I've had I've backed off my lights, I'm using quality soil, minimal nutrients, and my temps and humidity have been pretty consistent.

When I shared this with @GroErr he felt the highest probability was bad genetics. He breeds, and my understanding is that when he is phenotyping he culls out hermies when they happen, removing that trait or tendency from his lines. It appears that more breeders selling F1 seeds that have not been fully tested or refined, that opens the doors for weak genetics.



Maybe tag them one at a time, see if they have anything to say, wait a week and then try another one...

I sure don't want to turn this into an opinion pissing contest, but the more varied experiences we collect the more angles we see it from.

I think there is a amorphous stress blob, the shape and area of which are interdependent on environmental variables and the age and stage of plant growth.

For instance you may be able to get away with low RH if temps ate kept in line. If you are walking the line with temps to bring out genotypic coloration, step over the line, you may or may not get a nanner, but increase the light intinsity, under water, over water, allow daytime temps to soar......Eventually you have enough nanners for fruit salad.

Wish there were some solid science on this related to MJ. All I can go by is my own experiences, with both crosses that I have control over, and commercial seeds I've grown.

I think there's likely more factors but the one's we typically talk about in growing MJ are genetics and environment. I have no doubt that environment can certainly play a part in producing herms, just like it can play a part in expression of the same strain/clone when grown under different conditions. This I've seen enough to believe it's a factor. The question is what type(s) of stress would tend to produce herms. I've stressed the hell out of plants, in some cases on purpose, sometimes from being lazy or not having enough time to take care of things properly. e.g. I leave any potential cross phenos, male or female, in small containers to the point of almost getting root bound to see how they behave. Males will tend to start flowering regardless of light schedule if left in too small a container, I've repeated this many times and I use it to cull males that do this (auto-flower).

At the same time, I've yet to see a herm in my crosses (myself), but the odd one has been reported. One recent one was reported by @SSGrower on an F1 (BR x PL) first gen cross. I gave him a heads up that this was an F1 cross and I hadn't tested it yet. I try not to send out F1's unless I've run many with no issues, this is why I don't normally send them out. He had some other strains running at the same time and I believe he had issues with most if not all in that run. In that case I'd be looking for environment/process stressors, having one or two herm is one thing, having multiple strains I'd be leaning towards other factors than genetics.

On the genetics angle. The reason I got into my own crosses was that I kept seeing so much variation in commercial seeds. I figured if I'm going to pheno hunt through a pack of seeds and get multiple phenos, they may as well be my own and free(sh). Although I've yet to see a herm myself in commercial drops I've certainly seen many reported by others. When it's the odd one and the environmental factors are in question I can see some being caused by the environment. But it seems to me that too many breeders are putting out polyhybrid F1/F2/S1's which were never stabilized and bound to be more susceptible to herms. If I were to consider producing an S1 for instance, I'd wait until I'd crossed and backcrossed that line 3-4 times (e.g. minimum F2 back-crossed to an F1 male, with no herms showing). But every time I see a breeder producing too many new crosses/strains in the same year I cringed at the potential for unstable genetics. Some even advertise F1/F2's/S1's and charge full pop for what is essentially a chuck, worse still, people buy them(?). This is why I also think that genetics, particularly over the last few years with so many poly crosses, and little or no stabilization, also have a part in producing herms.

Thank you brother g. To those that don't already know, I take full responsibility for what happens in my garden.

A tester of the aforementioned BRXPL is stoning me well at the mo.

Considering the experiences I've had, suscefully growing out a strain (multiple strains), then having an issue with a later run same seed batch. Plant age and stage of growth I think adds a 3rd dimension to the amorphous stress blob.

So if you can imagine throughout the life of the plant there is this 3 dimensional blob that changes shape and size, this blob represents all the factors genetic and environmental. The objective would be to minimize the size of this blob right?

Well not IMO I think this blob also impacts quality and can do so in a positive way. It is why I choose to grow the way I do.

I do not think it is practical for @GroErr to hold RH below 40 and frequently below 30, nightime temps below 50f (sometimes 45), daytime temps below 72f. As stated before I belive pheromones play a role and given my localle, I find it rare someone would be able to duplicate what I'm seeing.

All things considered with regard to VPD and the numbers I gave for environment, you have to consider I'm at 7800 ft and that has bearing on the mass of water the air can hold. One reason I have decide to run my new tent positive pressure.

Distracted Stoner aka SSG

 

[Humanrob]

I found another possible variable. I've been watering with our city water for all the years I've been growing here, and never even got a ph kit until I started running sips. I've ph'd my city water a few times, and it was consistently mildly alkali.

I mentioned before that the last two grows I've been using a 55 gallon drum to water from, and ever since I've been doing that, I've been dumping my dehumidifier water into it. In a recent thread, someone mentioned that recycling dehumidifier water can increase your ph. So I tested the water coming out of my drum and it's at about 8.0. None of my plants in pots are showing any signs of issues with it, and I just tested my run-off and its about 6.0.

I've always sprouted my seeds (and started clones) with distilled water, but once they establish I switch to tap water. Could high PH be impacting either seed sex development or hermies?

Still looking under every rock...

 

[SSGrower]

I use municipal water that has some pretty severe pH swings, one wattering 8.5, the next watering 6.5. I've been trying to keep it in the 6-6.5 range but sometimes get complacent and dont test or adjust because I'm in soil. I don't think I'd want to water consistently at 8 but I also dont use sips.

I use a pen and noticed after a few months there was 0.2 points of drift because I hadn't calibrated, the unit actually has a check mark indicating its in calibration, probably need to do it monthly.

Also, I thing runoff is less important than media pH, have you tested that? I have not regularly but your post has me curious and I will grab some distilled water so I can slury up each and report back with any findings.

 

[Humanrob]

I use municipal water that has some pretty severe pH swings, one wattering 8.5, the next watering 6.5. I've been trying to keep it in the 6-6.5 range but sometimes get complacent and dont test or adjust because I'm in soil. I don't think I'd want to water consistently at 8 but I also dont use sips.

I use a pen and noticed after a few months there was 0.2 points of drift because I hadn't calibrated, the unit actually has a check mark indicating its in calibration, probably need to do it monthly.

Also, I thing runoff is less important than media pH, have you tested that? I have not regularly but your post has me curious and I will grab some distilled water so I can slury up each and report back with any findings.

I'm in soil too, and the sip is soil over a res, so ph is not supposed to be as big a deal. Even so, when its way off, I think it can have an impact. I only checked the "run-off" that collected in the tray before it was wicked back up because someone suggested it. Media ph is something I hadn't thought of, maybe I'll check that out next time. Oh, and my ph tester is that kind where you put a water sample in a little tube and then four drops of another liquid and then compare the color to a chart... nothing to calibrate there. It's probably not very accurate, but its better than nothing.

 

[SSGrower]

I'm in soil too, and the sip is soil over a res, so ph is not supposed to be as big a deal. Even so, when its way off, I think it can have an impact. I only checked the "run-off" that collected in the tray before it was wicked back up because someone suggested it. Media ph is something I hadn't thought of, maybe I'll check that out next time. Oh, and my ph tester is that kind where you put a water sample in a little tube and then four drops of another liquid and then compare the color to a chart... nothing to calibrate there. It's probably not very accurate, but its better than nothing.

Those kits are good as long as the liquid is clear and relatively colorless to begin with.

In wine making I use a titration kit a few drops of phenylphthalene is added to the sample and a sodium hydroxide standard is added until there is a color change, acidity is then calculated based on volume of sodium hydroxide used. Works as long as you can see through the liquid, regardless of color i.e.red wine vs. white. The pen is a hellofa lot easier, but less accurate than the phenylphthalene method.
I think a pH pen is a good investment mostly because I don't remember exactly how much it cost, less than 70?, could have been less than 50?

 

[SSGrower]

I'm in soil too, and the sip is soil over a res, so ph is not supposed to be as big a deal. Even so, when its way off, I think it can have an impact. I only checked the "run-off" that collected in the tray before it was wicked back up because someone suggested it. Media ph is something I hadn't thought of, maybe I'll check that out next time. Oh, and my ph tester is that kind where you put a water sample in a little tube and then four drops of another liquid and then compare the color to a chart... nothing to calibrate there. It's probably not very accurate, but its better than nothing.

My soil pH was/is high 7.5 - 8.5. Blended 50/50 with pro mix hp then added 15% ewc, added sulfur and blood meal. Hopefully the peat in the pro mix buffers it down but since it has the lime in it I don't know how effective it will be. Will check again in a few weeks to see if anything changes.

 

[Humanrob]

My soil pH was/is high 7.5 - 8.5. Blended 50/50 with pro mix hp then added 15% ewc, added sulfur and blood meal. Hopefully the peat in the pro mix buffers it down but since it has the lime in it I don't know how effective it will be. Will check again in a few weeks to see if anything changes.

Where are you at in your grow veg/flower/week-wise?

I still don't have a way to test soil, so I've mostly been doing water from the 55g tank and in the res of my SIP. I found that the water when I refilled the tank (coming out of my tap) was about 6.5, so I'm going to keep testing it and see if it goes up as I add dehumidifier water to it. Now that I think of it -- that often happens after I type something out -- I'm going to test the water from the dehumidifier before I dump it into the tank next time, see if that's what's raising it.

I'm noticing that with my SIP res when I fill it and adjust the pH I get it to somewhere around 6-6.5, but a week later when I test the half full res before refilling it, the water in there is high 7's to near 8. I'm not sure what that's about, something is making it more alkali as it sits. All that's in the wick is Happy Frog soil, I'd be surprised if it was doing that, but I don't know what else could be the cause.

All that said, so far this run I had two hermies early on -- the ones that at maturation showed both sexes -- but haven't had any others develop along the way. My three plants from seeds are only 4 weeks into flower, so it could still happen, but so far so good.

 

[SSGrower]

Where are you at in your grow veg/flower/week-wise?

I still don't have a way to test soil, so I've mostly been doing water from the 55g tank and in the res of my SIP. I found that the water when I refilled the tank (coming out of my tap) was about 6.5, so I'm going to keep testing it and see if it goes up as I add dehumidifier water to it. Now that I think of it -- that often happens after I type something out -- I'm going to test the water from the dehumidifier before I dump it into the tank next time, see if that's what's raising it.

I'm noticing that with my SIP res when I fill it and adjust the pH I get it to somewhere around 6-6.5, but a week later when I test the half full res before refilling it, the water in there is high 7's to near 8. I'm not sure what that's about, something is making it more alkali as it sits. All that's in the wick is Happy Frog soil, I'd be surprised if it was doing that, but I don't know what else could be the cause.

All that said, so far this run I had two hermies early on -- the ones that at maturation showed both sexes -- but haven't had any others develop along the way. My three plants from seeds are only 4 weeks into flower, so it could still happen, but so far so good.

Still in veg/seedling stage, they were kinda stunted. Transpanted to 1 gallons with that mix yesterday, not root bound but roots not healthy. The mix has been recycled now 3 or 4 times, I have 2 batches that I alternate and mix so the root balls from last run will get this treatment (or a modifed version) to be used in my next run.

Soil tested was on pots with root balls from previous run, which being the "younger" batch should translate closely to what the curent batch seedlings were planted in and what the stock for up potting was prior to adding the peat and sulfur. Sulfur is a regular part of my ammending but I had reduced the amount some along with most other ammendments, trying some different manures.

As I typed this out I realized (you aren't the only one lol) I tested the root balls of the males and culled plants. So I tested the root balls of the plants I just cut down and pH was 7 - 7.3. Could be the partially decomposed roots are raising pH after 2-3 months? If so then I've provable been starting in high pH soil for a while.

 

[Humanrob]

While we're focused on pH, here's an update; I have two rooms in my garage, each has its own dehumidifier. The older one has not been used recently, but I just tested water in the newer one an the pH was perfect as one would imagine distilled water would be. Here's the odd thing, when I filled my 55 gallon drum I tested the pH and it was about 6.5. I just tested it again and after sitting in the tank for a week the water is testing at more like 7.5... the pH is rising as the water sits in the tank. I have no idea what that's about.

I'm reluctant to try and adjust the water in the tank. For now I've topped dressed with some Dr. Earth "acid lovers" dry time release nutes, so each time I water that should help neutralize the water. And in my SIP I'm using "down" to bring it back into range.

I have no idea if this phenomenon has been going on since I started to use this tank, this run is the first time I've tested it. It would be good to know if high pH water is something that can encourage hermies.