can someone explain ppm and its importance

SSHZ

Well-Known Member
It's quite simple.....ppm (parts per million) is the concentration of fertilizer in your water. The higher the ppm, the stronger the concentration of fertilizer.
 
So is my tap water a base line number? Say I run 600 ppm with fert, 250 of that number is my water...which could change to say 200. Can Ph be measured by ppm also?
 

mr2shim

Well-Known Member
It's quite simple.....ppm (parts per million) is the concentration of fertilizer in your water. The higher the ppm, the stronger the concentration of fertilizer.
It's actually the amount of something in liquid. It's a fairly vague term but in the cannabis world it means the amount of dissolved solids in water.
 

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
My tap (well) water is 250ppm un-ph'd and no nutes. I haven't started nutes yet but plan on running with the kiss method.

Thanks
So, when you m ix feedings or res solution and you have a target range PPM you aim for you have to consider your starting PPM. Get a report from your local water company or call and ask them for the URL of their latest 2 reports posted online. You very much need to know what your starting PPM consists of. BEFORE YOU START!!!
 

mr2shim

Well-Known Member
Well... Im kinda my own water company since I'm on a well. That answers my question about the base line. THANK YOU :-)
The city/town you reside is required to test your water once every so many years. They do this by putting a test kit in your mailbox. You can call them and they will send you a test kit, mail it back then you should get your results.
 

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
Well... Im kinda my own water company since I'm on a well. That answers my question about the base line. THANK YOU :-)
Trust me on this as a country boy who was never on city water until I was 13 - pay for a test of your well water. But first ask the state ag university if they offer water testing. Don't expect free but expect good and accurate. You MUST know what your PPM consists of or risk spending a lot of money on a grow that may be doomed from the outset.
 

mr2shim

Well-Known Member
Trust me on this as a country boy who was never on city water until I was 13 - pay for a test of your well water. But first ask the state ag university if they offer water testing. Don't expect free but expect good and accurate. You MUST know what your PPM consists of or risk spending a lot of money on a grow that may be doomed from the outset.
I completely agree with this, but I will add that I've used tap water, well water and distilled water. Maybe I'm just lucky but never really has effect the plant.
 

bseeds

Well-Known Member
if you out in the country collect rain water generly its very low ppms and ph in the acitaty or alkaline in the water or soil plants grow best in a certein range thats why farmers top dress there fields with lime to bring there ph up
 

PersonalJesus

Active Member
agreed... don't freak out about ppm's. You should be alot more worried about your pH... pH controls the general uptake of nutrients into your plant.
Go get yourself a decent pH meter and rock on.
 

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
I completely agree with this, but I will add that I've used tap water, well water and distilled water. Maybe I'm just lucky but never really has effect the plant.
Sadly I did. What I attributed to a lot of iron (which it had) the well I used for my garden, not just pot but all of it, was beyond toxic with hydrogen sulfide to the point we were warned to not stay in the shower for excessive times. Okaaaay. None of the crops did well at all and some were almost doomed from the start. They were shocked and asked if we had not been ill from drinking it at all, even in ice. The ice we made was so cloudy I would trust it to even cool anything, much less drink it. Anyway I suggest a test. If calcium and magnesium are high then you know to knot add much, if any. It sounds like he no doubt drinks his.
 
Not over stressing about ppms at all... quite the opposite. Just wondering how important it is and get a basic understanding.

As suggested, I will get it tested. So far, the little ones seem to like it.

Thanks all
 
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