Runoff PH close to 8 - How to fix?

HandyGringo

HandyGringo

Well-Known Member
Hey guys. So I tested the run-off water today after fertilizing and as you can see in the picture it was 8 or so.

First question. Could this be caused by the fertilizer? Should I do another test tomorrow where I just run water through?

Second question. Do I need to do anything to flush the substrate or will it be okay to just PH my water correctly moving forward? I'm getting PH down powder tomorrow.

Third question. Does it look like it's suffering a lot from the PH issue? Keep in mind some of the foliage was damaged by thrips a few weeks ago, I think I exterminated them successfully, but some of the leaf damage was caused by them. Personally, I think it looks pretty healthy, I'd expect it to look a lot worse if I've been using 8 PH water for a month.

Info: It's gorilla glue auto, not sure how far along it is exactly. It's in coco and perlite that I buffed with cal-mag.
 

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HandyGringo

HandyGringo

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PopAndSonGrows said:
Stop pH testing runoff, it doesn't mean anything.
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I assume I should just be testing the water then?

secretmicrogrow420 said:
honestly man i hope someone can help you i dont have these types of problems because i grow with advanced nutrients ph perfect technology. it must suck having to worry about PH all the time.
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I'll look into that, almost sounds too good to be true, right?
 
TCH

TCH

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When you mix up the water with your nutrients, is the pH between 5.5 and 6 afterwards?

In coco, you do not want to just run water through it. Mix your feed to proper ec or ppm, make sure pH is in range, feed til runoff. Never run straight water through it.
 
HandyGringo

HandyGringo

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TCH said:
When you mix up the water with your nutrients, is the pH between 5.5 and 6 afterwards?

In coco, you do not want to just run water through it. Mix your feed to proper ec or ppm, make sure pH is in range, feed til runoff. Never run straight water through it.
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I haven't checked. I will check tomorrow. I've been following the instructions on the fertilizer and only feeding once per week, other waterings in between has just been plain water or rainwater from rain, since the tree is outdoors. I should be fertilizing every time I'm watering?
 
TCH

TCH

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HandyGringo said:
I haven't checked. I will check tomorrow. I've been following the instructions on the fertilizer and only feeding once per week, other waterings in between has just been plain water or rainwater from rain, since the tree is outdoors. I should be fertilizing every time I'm watering?
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You are growing in coco, it needs to be fed every time. Ideally at least once per day. Letting it dry back causes problems. Salt buildup, ph issues, etc...
 
HandyGringo

HandyGringo

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TCH said:
You are growing in coco, it needs to be fed every time. Ideally at least once per day. Letting it dry back causes problems. Salt buildup, ph issues, etc...
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I've been using Biotabs, if you're familiar with them. You put a fertilizer pellet in the coco, so it does release fertilizer every day. But for the liquid feed (Now that I've hit flowering) should be daily you think?

Biotabs link

GuerillaJuice (Liquid)

I'm going to switch to a different fertilizer for the next grow.
 
TCH

TCH

Well-Known Member
HandyGringo said:
I've been using Biotabs, if you're familiar with them. You put a fertilizer pellet in the coco, so it does release fertilizer every day. But for the liquid feed (Now that I've hit flowering) should be daily you think?

Biotabs link

GuerillaJuice (Liquid)

I'm going to switch to a different fertilizer for the next grow.
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I am not familiar at all with those. I can give no advice for that. Hopefully someone else has experience with them.
 
HandyGringo

HandyGringo

Well-Known Member
TCH said:
When you mix up the water with your nutrients, is the pH between 5.5 and 6 afterwards?

In coco, you do not want to just run water through it. Mix your feed to proper ec or ppm, make sure pH is in range, feed til runoff. Never run straight water through it.
Click to expand...
Just checked water + fert today, and it's a bit on the higher side. Good thing I ordered ph down.

MickFoster said:
Feed daily to substantial run off with a pH around 6.0 once the roots are established.
Never let it dry out.
Never use plain water.
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Gotcha, thanks. Will lower my PH a bit and make sure there's enough runoff. I assume this is to wash out salts etc?
 

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TCH

TCH

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HandyGringo said:
Just checked water + fert today, and it's a bit on the higher side. Good thing I ordered ph down.



Gotcha, thanks. Will lower my PH a bit and make sure there's enough runoff. I assume this is to wash out salts etc?
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Bingo. Get that pH down at 6 or just under and water to runoff. Bet you'll see a difference pretty quickly. And yes, the watering to excess is to get the crap out and draw in more oxygen.
 
HandyGringo

HandyGringo

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TCH said:
Bingo. Get that pH down at 6 or just under and water to runoff. Bet you'll see a difference pretty quickly. And yes, the watering to excess is to get the crap out and draw in more oxygen.
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I'm sure I'll see a difference in growth at least. I mean color-wise it looks pretty healthy to me(?). But I've only been feeding it once a week. Daily feedings should make a big difference.

Thanks for the help.
 
TCH

TCH

Well-Known Member
HandyGringo said:
I'm sure I'll see a difference in growth at least. I mean color-wise it looks pretty healthy to me(?). But I've only been feeding it once a week. Daily feedings should make a big difference.

Thanks for the help.
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Just went back and refreshed myself on the state of the plant. Being as it's an auto and its flowering, you will be keeping it healthy for the duration. That will maximize its potential from here til the end. The biggest difference you will see is when you take this knowledge to your 2nd grow. The growth out of properly fed coco is insane.
 
HandyGringo

HandyGringo

Well-Known Member
TCH said:
Just went back and refreshed myself on the state of the plant. Being as it's an auto and its flowering, you will be keeping it healthy for the duration. That will maximize its potential from here til the end. The biggest difference you will see is when you take this knowledge to your 2nd grow. The growth out of properly fed coco is insane.
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This isn't even my first grow. My first grow was indoors in coco as well, I just forget stuff easily it seems, weed you know. My first grow was way more successful than this one. To be fair it wasn't auto.

https://www.rollitup.org/t/single-hso-fem-blue-dream-in-coco-coir-photon-180v-led.919182/page-17

PopAndSonGrows said:
Don't compensate by watering at a low pH because you think the substrate has a high pH. Just ALWAYS water at a desired pH no matter what
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Gotcha. Not going to overdo it, but the water does need a small adjustment, I think it's at 7.5 or so at the moment.
 
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