Foxfarm soils run acidic.

fourtw0

fourtw0

Well-Known Member
Hey everyone,

I guess just more of a tip than anything... For those of us using foxfarm soils, I would recommend testing via a digital soil ph meter, soil slurry method etc. before use so you have an idea of your ph. FF advertises soil is "ready for use" and 6.3-6.8 ph on the bags but I have yet to see anything above 6.0 in my testing. I tested some ocean forest and happy frog today and was averaging 5.6-6.0ph between my soil slurry and bluelabs soil ph probe. I usually add 1 cup domolite lime/cuft and let that bake a few days + 25% perlite and that puts my FF soils right where I like them.

Did some soil testing today after soaking 10 gorrilla glue fem seeds from ILGM and a few other strains I had hanging around so figured I'd share my results. Maybe I'll start a grow journal for these ladies.

Take care and hope it helps someone!
 
P

pacodelahoya

Member
Discovered this issue a while back after some issues arose. Started adding small amounts of dolemite and oyster shell flour when mixing soil and perlite together before potting and let sit for a few weeks. Once I make the switch to 12/12 add more oyster flour on top of soil. A little seems to go a long way as they already have some buffers in the soil, just seems like its not enough. It has pretty much eliminated any issues from low PH soil.
 
Kushash

Kushash

Well-Known Member
fourtw0 said:
Hey everyone,

I guess just more of a tip than anything... For those of us using foxfarm soils, I would recommend testing via a digital soil ph meter, soil slurry method etc. before use so you have an idea of your ph. FF advertises soil is "ready for use" and 6.3-6.8 ph on the bags but I have yet to see anything above 6.0 in my testing. I tested some ocean forest and happy frog today and was averaging 5.6-6.0ph between my soil slurry and bluelabs soil ph probe. I usually add 1 cup domolite lime/cuft and let that bake a few days + 25% perlite and that puts my FF soils right where I like them.

Did some soil testing today after soaking 10 gorrilla glue fem seeds from ILGM and a few other strains I had hanging around so figured I'd share my results. Maybe I'll start a grow journal for these ladies.

Take care and hope it helps someone!
Click to expand...
Let us know what the PH of the soil is after the lime cooks in.
 
Chip Green

Chip Green

Well-Known Member
I can also attest to the original post. I use a Bluelab Leap pH soil probe, and have seen FFOF as low as 4.7 after moistened, right out of the bag.... rarely did I get a reading above 6. Happy Frog wasn't much different....The only thing consistent over many, many samples was inconsistency. I can't remember how much lime I used, as I stopped using it long ago.

It's great stater soil, but the 6.3 pH claimed is a complete fallacy. Even though I generally ignore this fact.

I've had great results with OF, treating it as a water only mix, for long veg periods, then topdressing dry organics..... That stuff will feed a plant on it's own for a lot longer than most growers are willing to accept.
 
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Tangerine_

Tangerine_

Well-Known Member
IME using FFOF soil, it works best with just plain old tap water. (acceptable tap water under 250ppms)
Lime or even gypsum is a good addition but both have low solubility. The calcium carbonate in tap has better buffering abilities.

Some say its due to a lack of quality control but I think the acidity is due to the organic matter decomposing and releasing hydrogen ions.

And bottled nutes containing ammonium (urea) will drop the pH even lower. I think this is why we see so many issues of lockout in the infirmary.
 
diggs99

diggs99

Well-Known Member
Wow thats crazy for sure

I musta got lucky with the 4 bags i bought and used, the plants seemed to love that shit, its def on the hotter side compared to other soils, but from seedling to harvest, i never had issues with the soil. Im always telling other newbs to use it for the easiness, maybe i should stop telling them that lol
 
Kushash

Kushash

Well-Known Member
diggs99 said:
Wow thats crazy for sure

I musta got lucky with the 4 bags i bought and used, the plants seemed to love that shit, its def on the hotter side compared to other soils, but from seedling to harvest, i never had issues with the soil. Im always telling other newbs to use it for the easiness, maybe i should stop telling them that lol
Click to expand...
I tell them the same thing.
I've been lucky with it and it can be a great soil for a new grower to start with unless they get a bad bag.
I see more problems with new growers using Pro Mix or something other than FFOF or Happy Frog.
Biggest problem is when someone uses a feeding chart with the FF trio of nutes and starts feeding Big Grow and Tiger Bloom too soon when water only would have grown a healthier plant.
 
TheSadVeryBadMadGrower

TheSadVeryBadMadGrower

Well-Known Member
I have used Fox Farm soil and nutes in all my grows. Never once Phd anything ever in every single grow. I used to use mountain spring water for feeds and watering but switched to tap water last grow. I may get a leave here and there show me signs, but I follow that chart to the T. I don't usually feed until week 3 if I use new soil though. I have also resused their soil many times.
 
Chip Green

Chip Green

Well-Known Member
The fact is, that the common problems that arise with many new growers using FF soils, is likely a simple case of over watering/ overfeeding....Especially when the typical patience defeciency is factored in, suddenly symptoms arise, and inexperienced growers start dumping synthetic nutrient compounds into the pots...
I've personally witnessed, on many occasions, my favorite cultivar THRIVING at probe measured pH levels in the low 5's....
Given the chance, a relatively solid base mix such as FFOF, can develop a well balanced, biologically diverse rhizosphere....
 
Couch_Lock

Couch_Lock

Well-Known Member
I drove myself nuts checking water Ph my first indoor grow, using FF Happy Frog and Ocean Harvest as the medium. Second grow I never checked my water ONCE, and had better results. I just use tap water and leave it out 24 hours to de chlorinate it now,.

I mix Happy Frog and Ocean Harvest, add a small amt of perlite and extra worm castings.
 
diggs99

diggs99

Well-Known Member
Couch_Lock said:
I drove myself nuts checking water Ph my first indoor grow, using FF Happy Frog and Ocean Harvest as the medium. Second grow I never checked my water ONCE, and had better results. I just use tap water and leave it out 24 hours to de chlorinate it now,.

I mix Happy Frog and Ocean Harvest, add a small amt of perlite and extra worm castings.
Click to expand...
Its good to see you posting more CL, did you ever start a thread or journal for the grow?
 
Couch_Lock

Couch_Lock

Well-Known Member
diggs99 said:
Its good to see you posting more CL, did you ever start a thread or journal for the grow?
Click to expand...
No but I did put up a IMGUR video of my first grow, 24 days into 12/12 Prayer Pupil.......I'm not much of a photographer or a master grower. Fairly noob at both. I will take a few pics of this grow, periodically.

I'm having a rough start germinating and taking care of my young seedlings this year. My humidity levels are EXTREMELY low so far in January, WITH a $40 Home Depot humidifier Im achieving 29 to 31% humidity. Im also leaving solo cups of water IN the tent w/ that POS humidifier.

Ordered ANOTHER humidifier on an Amazon flash sale last night. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RQX4CJT/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If that humidifier cant get my RH up to 50% or so this grow is gonna suck. Useful's Orange Cookies X Chocolate Diesel plant is doing well but ZERO of Heisenbeans Dos Si Dos beans have popped in 4 days! (Heat mat, dome, moistened with a misting bottle every 3 hours.) 0/4 on Heisenbeans PURPLE CRUNCH (dos si dos x purple punch). Heisenbeans PURPLE CAKE (wedding cake x purple punch) is 1/1 on germination, though.
 
Couch_Lock

Couch_Lock

Well-Known Member
fourtw0 said:
Hey everyone,

I guess just more of a tip than anything... For those of us using foxfarm soils, I would recommend testing via a digital soil ph meter, soil slurry method etc. before use so you have an idea of your ph. FF advertises soil is "ready for use" and 6.3-6.8 ph on the bags but I have yet to see anything above 6.0 in my testing. I tested some ocean forest and happy frog today and was averaging 5.6-6.0ph between my soil slurry and bluelabs soil ph probe. I usually add 1 cup domolite lime/cuft and let that bake a few days + 25% perlite and that puts my FF soils right where I like them.

Did some soil testing today after soaking 10 gorrilla glue fem seeds from ILGM and a few other strains I had hanging around so figured I'd share my results. Maybe I'll start a grow journal for these ladies.

Take care and hope it helps someone!
Click to expand...
Buy a better soil meter, Fox farms is on point.
As everyone else has already said.
 
Sfrigon 1

Sfrigon 1

Well-Known Member
Couch_Lock said:
I drove myself nuts checking water Ph my first indoor grow, using FF Happy Frog and Ocean Harvest as the medium. Second grow I never checked my water ONCE, and had better results. I just use tap water and leave it out 24 hours to de chlorinate it now,.

I mix Happy Frog and Ocean Harvest, add a small amt of perlite and extra worm castings.
Click to expand...
Key for that chlorine to be burned off. Good tip
 
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