SILICA RAISING COCO PH EVEN WHEN ADJUSTED TO SUITABLE PH RANGE

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Henry_Case

New Member
Newbie grower, using silica for the first time, I have noticed if I follow the recommended feed chart for the silica, The PH of the COCO is always around a 7 even though I PH the water every time to 5.8-6.0 (as per grow chart for my nutrients) would like to maintain it between 5.8 - 6.0 and still use the silica. I am wondering if using the silica every feed (as per grow chart) is making it build up in the coco thus raising the PH. I water with a 20% run off everytime. Maybe the old silica isnt getting pushed out from the new feed and is just building up on the coco. Just a few thoughts of what I have observed any feed back would be good. Maybe silica works better in a res system DWC or something.

Currently I just watered with PH water only lastnight about 8:00PM and 12 HRS later gave a feed with PH'd Water and Base Nutrients only and it has come back to 6.2 the coco medium ( not run off) It seems I have the PH back under control but I dropped the Silica for now.

When using silica and mixing it I always check the PH before feeding I notice that adding silica to my nutrients raises the ph a fair bit so I am making sure that it has been adjusted back to suitable ph.

I can rule out overfeeding because I measuring with a 1ml syringe and have been diligent with my measurements.

any pointers/tips from seasoned growers would be good.

Thanks in advance.
 
Renfro

Renfro

Well-Known Member
I use ArmorSi all the time. Add to water first, then any cal mag, then your nutrients in their order.
 
H

Henry_Case

New Member
Renfro said:
I use ArmorSi all the time. Add to water first, then any cal mag, then your nutrients in their order.
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my process

Silica is added into 5L of water mixed into watering can then i transfer into 1l bottle add part a shake and dilute add back to water can then do the same process for part b and then mix it all together, then ph water after the fact.

Thanks for reply mate didnt think I would get one so quick.
 
H

Henry_Case

New Member
I probably dont have the most accurate gear to be honest as per the money restraints, just a PH garden probe and a PH water test kit dye. I have just noticed that silica is pretty alkaline. I havent been trusting my PH garden probe as I think it's not accurate enough, I am just trusting that I am PH'ing my water correctly each time. however when I dropped the silica my Garden Probe did move towards the 6 positions.
 
Renfro

Renfro

Well-Known Member
Ok, stop worrying about the pH of the COCO, just mix your feed at 6.0.

The ways of testing you have are unreliable. An Apera Soil pH probe, Blue Lab or Hanna are all good. I have seen those garden probes with the long thin sticks for moisture and pH read totally wrong. They are ok for moisture but with coco you shouldnt let it dry, so set the probe aside and spare your roots.
 
Renfro

Renfro

Well-Known Member
Make sure your feed isnt too strong, pH to 6.0 and feed every watering, get that runoff.
 
Renfro

Renfro

Well-Known Member
When mixing your nutes, add them to the full volume, not the small bottle, and mix between each part, then pH.
 
Renfro

Renfro

Well-Known Member
If you are using dry salts you can dissolve them in plain water and add them but dont use water that already has some of the previous parts.
 
H

Henry_Case

New Member
Renfro said:
If you are using dry salts you can dissolve them in plain water and add them but dont use water that already has some of the previous parts.
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Good on yah mate. Thanks for that I'll take it on board, The next purchase is going to be some measuring equipment to keep on top of everything more accurately.
 
C

Chief flat foot

Member
Henry_Case said:
Newbie grower, using silica for the first time, I have noticed if I follow the recommended feed chart for the silica, The PH of the COCO is always around a 7 even though I PH the water every time to 5.8-6.0 (as per grow chart for my nutrients) would like to maintain it between 5.8 - 6.0 and still use the silica. I am wondering if using the silica every feed (as per grow chart) is making it build up in the coco thus raising the PH. I water with a 20% run off everytime. Maybe the old silica isnt getting pushed out from the new feed and is just building up on the coco. Just a few thoughts of what I have observed any feed back would be good. Maybe silica works better in a res system DWC or something.

Currently I just watered with PH water only lastnight about 8:00PM and 12 HRS later gave a feed with PH'd Water and Base Nutrients only and it has come back to 6.2 the coco medium ( not run off) It seems I have the PH back under control but I dropped the Silica for now.

When using silica and mixing it I always check the PH before feeding I notice that adding silica to my nutrients raises the ph a fair bit so I am making sure that it has been adjusted back to suitable ph.

I can rule out overfeeding because I measuring with a 1ml syringe and have been diligent with my measurements.

any pointers/tips from seasoned growers would be good.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Silica got nothing in AN ph perfect buffer is strong.
 
O

Onelife123

Member
Ok one more thing my ec is around 2.3 is it ok to just mix up some silica by itself in a gallon of RO and give that next feed to lower ec and ppm. Plant looks happy now. How high is 2 high for Ppm and ec. I’m getting ready a tea for Microbes and that Jack the ppms up also. The tea is the recipe from koots
 
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