Finally bought a ppm meter

Gorillaglue4u

Well-Known Member
So as the title says I just got my new ppm meter. I've never used one before this I've always checked my ph. So I'm playing around with it i put it in regular tap water it came out 128 ppm I checked a jug of nutes I had mixed up came out to 599 ppm. Here is where the problem (i think anyways) is i checked the runoff water in the tray and it says the ppm is almost 3000. I'm sure this is what is causing my plants to start looking like shit. Would you guys recommend a serious flush or is there something I can buy to help lower the number by alot. I'm in week 6ish of flower.
 

Gorillaglue4u

Well-Known Member
Also been feeding with mega crop at 3.5 grams per gallon and .75 gram of sweet candy. Ph is right around 5.9-6.1. I'll check the ph of the runoff when I get home later.
 

pulpoinspace

Well-Known Member
Am I not supposed to check the run off ppm? I've never used one before so this is all new to me. I'll check the ph later on and see what that is.
it depends how you're doing it. if you're just sticking the probe down in a puddle of water on the floor its picking up all the residual salts that have been sitting there. i dont usually check run off. the plants will tell you if there is something wrong. without getting a look at em its hard to say.
 

Gorillaglue4u

Well-Known Member
it depends how you're doing it. if you're just sticking the probe down in a puddle of water on the floor its picking up all the residual salts that have been sitting there. i dont usually check run off. the plants will tell you if there is something wrong. without getting a look at em its hard to say.
That's a good point about salt build up never thought of that. I'll post pictures later just never heard people having almost 3k ppm they are definitely sad with alot of issues going on though
 

pulpoinspace

Well-Known Member
i've seen worse. cant see the buds well to see if they're close to being ready. but i would probably just give it plain tap water and try and keep it going a couple more weeks.
 

Gorillaglue4u

Well-Known Member
That's a close up from a few days ago. Still have alot of white hairs popping up daily. Plain water seems like a good option but I don't want to starve them for the next few weeks. Maybe I'll drop the feeding down to maybe 1 gram per gallon of mega crop till the week before I chop and give plain water to help push all the salt I think built up out.
 

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Lordhooha

Well-Known Member
That's a close up from a few days ago. Still have alot of white hairs popping up daily. Plain water seems like a good option but I don't want to starve them for the next few weeks. Maybe I'll drop the feeding down to maybe 1 gram per gallon of mega crop till the week before I chop and give plain water to help push all the salt I think built up out.
A little of MC goes a long way.
 

Thegermling

Well-Known Member
I run Mega Crop too. Youre in flowering, I see potassium deficiences on some leaves. There have been reports of P and K deficiencies with only using Mega crop, even at 5grams a gallon. You should have read that thread and did your homework. I would supplement P and K but you lost some yield man. I run in pure coco. What I would do is feed a plant and let the runoff go for about 5 seconds then scoop some up in a small measuring shot glass and use your EC meter to test it. Doing that can give you an idea of what concentrations of salt are in your coco. Its not accurate but its better than firing shots in the dark. Also, never test runoff ph its useless data most often than not. As long as you feed with a solution phd 5.8-6.1 the media should have a stable ph.
Okay looking at your picks and you being in week 6 flower (depending on how long that strain your growing flowers for) they should not be losing their greeness at that stage. So try this... Feed with what you usually feed with and again let the runoff go for 5 seconds and then collect some and EC test it. If the reading is WAY higher than what you put in (say by 300ppms) you need to flush it. Never flush with plain water in coco because that causes osmotic stress in the rootzone and stress in flower (even though deficiencies are a form of stress). Flush with a solution of MC of about 0.4 EC. You have to flush with that until what comes out is close to what you put in (the 0.4 ec). I feel bad for you if you have 2-30 gallon pots because im sure you know the flushing rules LOL. Honestly flush how I told you and then dont feed for one day ( like I said youre in flower so its up to you. Next time learn from you mistakes or lack of being informed). Also Always feed until 10-20% runoff or salts will accumulate in your coco. Dont let the coco even get dry EVER. The coco always has to be moist. So after the flush, let the plants rest a day, then feed what you were feeding and add a P and K supplement bro but at this point like Ive said youve probably lost some yield. Good luck!
 

Gorillaglue4u

Well-Known Member
I run Mega Crop too. Youre in flowering, I see potassium deficiences on some leaves. There have been reports of P and K deficiencies with only using Mega crop, even at 5grams a gallon. You should have read that thread and did your homework. I would supplement P and K but you lost some yield man. I run in pure coco. What I would do is feed a plant and let the runoff go for about 5 seconds then scoop some up in a small measuring shot glass and use your EC meter to test it. Doing that can give you an idea of what concentrations of salt are in your coco. Its not accurate but its better than firing shots in the dark. Also, never test runoff ph its useless data most often than not. As long as you feed with a solution phd 5.8-6.1 the media should have a stable ph.
Okay looking at your picks and you being in week 6 flower (depending on how long that strain your growing flowers for) they should not be losing their greeness at that stage. So try this... Feed with what you usually feed with and again let the runoff go for 5 seconds and then collect some and EC test it. If the reading is WAY higher than what you put in (say by 300ppms) you need to flush it. Never flush with plain water in coco because that causes osmotic stress in the rootzone and stress in flower (even though deficiencies are a form of stress). Flush with a solution of MC of about 0.4 EC. You have to flush with that until what comes out is close to what you put in (the 0.4 ec). I feel bad for you if you have 2-30 gallon pots because im sure you know the flushing rules LOL. Honestly flush how I told you and then dont feed for one day ( like I said youre in flower so its up to you. Next time learn from you mistakes or lack of being informed). Also Always feed until 10-20% runoff or salts will accumulate in your coco. Dont let the coco even get dry EVER. The coco always has to be moist. So after the flush, let the plants rest a day, then feed what you were feeding and add a P and K supplement bro but at this point like Ive said youve probably lost some yield. Good luck!
This is the first strain I had issues with feeding with. But I will give them a good flush in the morning with a very light feeding. Thank you for the help I appreciate it.
I think I'll just finish this run with it and swap back to the canna line I feel like with all strains the feeding schedule worked well for.
 

Gorillaglue4u

Well-Known Member
Gave them a flush this morning 10 gallons threw each 3 gallon pot. The run off I collected had the ph at 6.4 ( I'm sure that caused a issue) my ppm was coming out at 880-910 so not as high as expected. Going to feed light until the end.
 

Gorillaglue4u

Well-Known Member
Been doing a light feeding daily now they seem to be recovering pretty good. Buds are getting thick and solid as golf balls. 2 days after the flush they all started popping white hairs out every were so I still got probably 2 weeks if not 3 more to go. I'll keep feeding at 500 ppm until the last week then I'll drop it down by 100 each day till I harvest.
 
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