Northern Lights pH or Zinc Problems

Lower the ph levels to around 6.0/6.5 would be better If growing in soil the plant can utilise the nutrients better when the ph is set at this level.If you are growing in a hydro set up then shoot for 5.0/5.5.Most hydroponic feed's are used best in this range and the plant can not get at some of the trace's if the ph is too high.Flush the plant's through with water with the ph i have put above leave them for a day or so then hit them with some fresh made nutrients.This is a other factor try to make the feed has needed rather than haveing it in big drums laying around.You should see someimprovement's just by lowering the ph level.When watering there is no need to water once every other day let the plant dry or it will just become prematurely root bound.By letting it dry it will give you are far better root sytem....................tyke.........................................

Wait, you flush each of your 5 gal's with 15 gallons of water? I've got 3 big girls in 5 gal bags. I'm going to be flushing very soon just to get a relatively neutral medium before I start re-feeding them, but I wasn't planning on putting nearly that much water into them, lol. Won't they get all droopy from being over watered with 13-15 gallons of H20? I was thinking more along the lines of 2 gallons of H20 or so to each..

It doesn't matter how much water you give them in one go. Overwater happens when the soil stays soaked for extended periods.

Whether you flush with 2 gallons or 20 gallons probably wont matter - as long as the roots dont stay soaked for days. Overwater happens when people water their plants every day without giving the soil a chance to dry out - not when people flush using too much water.

Perma Baked said:

Wait, you flush each of your 5 gal's with 15 gallons of water? I've got 3 big girls in 5 gal bags. I'm going to be flushing very soon just to get a relatively neutral medium before I start re-feeding them, but I wasn't planning on putting nearly that much water into them, lol. Won't they get all droopy from being over watered with 13-15 gallons of H20? I was thinking more along the lines of 2 gallons of H20 or so to each..

Click to expand...

Although you won't need to use 15 gallons of water, 2 gallons won't be quite enough. You'll need at least 7 gallons to do the trick, unless your soil is really contaminated with buildup. You'll want to get at least 5 gallons of runoff,(more, if the water is still looking dirty) and as long as it's a light yellowish color when your finished, that's enough flushing. Also, the best way to know when to stop flushing, is to check the runoff with a PPM meter. When it get's down to within 100 PPM of the water your pouring in, that's a pretty clean medium, and will give you the fresh start that you're looking for. The trick is to pour the water in evenly, as that'll give you a nice even flush, and won't leave spots that still have buildup.

I got the pots flushed out a few days ago, and now I need to lower the pH.

I ended up getting some Espoma Soil Acidifier (stuff used to turn hydrangeas blue and blueberries really blue). I distributed it around the plant according to the instructions on the bag...evenly distribute one tablespoon per four inches of diameter per pot, then watered. I was wondering if anyone else has used this for soil, and how long I should expect for it to begin working. I left my pH meter in the soil over night and noticed the pH going down a little bit already.

I wonder how long it will take the plants to bounce back?

om3gawave said:

I got the pots flushed out a few days ago, and now I need to lower the pH.

I ended up getting some Espoma Soil Acidifier (stuff used to turn hydrangeas blue and blueberries really blue). I distributed it around the plant according to the instructions on the bag...evenly distribute one tablespoon per four inches of diameter per pot, then watered. I was wondering if anyone else has used this for soil, and how long I should expect for it to begin working. I left my pH meter in the soil over night and noticed the pH going down a little bit already.

I wonder how long it will take the plants to bounce back?

Click to expand...

If you flush w distilled rainwater, might come back quicker
Always feed 1/4-1/2 recommended feeding and never add nutrients directly to soil. personal opinion:ditch that chemmy fox farm
Switch to roots organics with promix soil w worm castings..1 bloom 1 grow

One of the plant's buds almost exploded after getting the pH adjusted. But, the other plant doesn't seem to be getting any better, or at least not any worse. I am going to keep watering with straight water until they are done, probably, to ensure no further damage occurs.

Thoughts?