Ph advice needed

T

testology1980

Well-Known Member
Hi,

I am growing 4 plants in soil mix.

Last week watering I gave 7.3 PH tap water (adjusted) and the runoff was 6.1, 5.8, 5.6, 5.8 PH for 4 different plants.

Then today I gave 8.5 PH, and run off was 6.1, 5.9, 5.6, 5.4?

Is it making sense?
Thanks
 
S

spek9

Well-Known Member
testology1980 said:
Hi,

I am growing 4 plants in soil mix.

Last week watering I gave 7.3 PH tap water (adjusted) and the runoff was 6.1, 5.8, 5.6, 5.8 PH for 4 different plants.

Then today I gave 8.5 PH, and run off was 6.1, 5.9, 5.6, 5.4?

Is it making sense?
Thanks
Click to expand...
pH the water and water/nutrient mix to 6.5 for soil. You need consistency going in. 8.5 is deadly high. 7.3 is too high even.
 
T

testology1980

Well-Known Member
From what I understand its the runoff ph that's matter, no?

From here:
www.growweedeasy.com

How to Check pH & Stop Cannabis Nutrient Deficiencies | Grow Weed Easy

Learn how to easily adjust pH up and down if needed for your cannabis grow. It helps prevent nutrient deficiencies!
www.growweedeasy.com www.growweedeasy.com

"If the pH of the runoff is in the right range, even if it’s not the same as the pH you put in, you’re good. If the pH of the runoff water coming out is too high or too low for your range, you know that you’ll need to correct the pH."

So as I understand, its more important that my runoff water will be in 6-7 ph.
I maybe wrong but that what I read in few places.
 
S

spek9

Well-Known Member
testology1980 said:
From what I understand its the runoff ph that's matter, no?

From here:
www.growweedeasy.com

How to Check pH & Stop Cannabis Nutrient Deficiencies | Grow Weed Easy

Learn how to easily adjust pH up and down if needed for your cannabis grow. It helps prevent nutrient deficiencies!
www.growweedeasy.com www.growweedeasy.com

"If the pH of the runoff is in the right range, even if it’s not the same as the pH you put in, you’re good. If the pH of the runoff water coming out is too high or too low for your range, you know that you’ll need to correct the pH."

So as I understand, its more important that my runoff water will be in 6-7 ph.
I maybe wrong but that what I read in few places.
Click to expand...
I would only check my runoff if I was observing problems that I know aren't caused by specific nutrient deficiency, but pHing the water going in properly, I've never had to do so.

There's no chance whatsoever that I'd willy-nilly my pH every single feed in hopes that the runoff is in a certain range. Keep the pH consistent going in, and you'll be good. Especially in soil. It's more forgiving that way.

What they say on the site to me is good advice when sorting an issue to re-stabilize pH of the soil after a screw up, not for individual feedings. With that in mind, what I'd do in entirety is flush out the soil with plain water pH'd to 6.5 until you get a couple times the pots volume in runoff. Then add a 1/2 dose of nutrients, again pH'd to 6.5. After that, carry on as normal.

Keeping your pH of the liquid going in is the best way to prevent having to do such things.
 
S

spek9

Well-Known Member
testology1980 said:
From what I understand its the runoff ph that's matter, no?

From here:
www.growweedeasy.com

How to Check pH & Stop Cannabis Nutrient Deficiencies | Grow Weed Easy

Learn how to easily adjust pH up and down if needed for your cannabis grow. It helps prevent nutrient deficiencies!
www.growweedeasy.com www.growweedeasy.com

"If the pH of the runoff is in the right range, even if it’s not the same as the pH you put in, you’re good. If the pH of the runoff water coming out is too high or too low for your range, you know that you’ll need to correct the pH."

So as I understand, its more important that my runoff water will be in 6-7 ph.
I maybe wrong but that what I read in few places.
Click to expand...
Wait a minute here. After I posted my last comment, I more closely reviewed the section you mentioned. That's directly within the "How Do I Correct a Bad pH?" section of the page.

Like I said in my last post, that's more advice for fixing an existing issue (bad pH practices), not for daily feeding. Only use runoff tests if you're trying to fix a known pH problem.
 
S

spek9

Well-Known Member
DoubleAtotheRON said:
Meh... I run 12 all the time to correct 5.5 soil... but I only do it for 2 feedings, and then 9, then 7ish
Click to expand...
Indeed, but what I've learned is that newbies pH way too high thinking that it'll solve a problem, and by the time they realize the problem is worse, there's all manner of lock out happening, and they're still way to high on the pH.

I didn't want to confuse OP with a balancing act essentially.
 
T

testology1980

Well-Known Member
Thanks guys. I did it cause I had some issues with the leaves and I am not sure its PH or something else..

Anyways, what should I do?
Raise the PH?

Cause bottom line, run off water ph is low...

Thanks
 
twentyeight.threefive

twentyeight.threefive

Well-Known Member
What is in your soil? How are you feeding the plants?

You're not doing your plants any favors by putting in water with pH levels all over the place. pH swings by themselves can many issues even making you think it's a different deficiency.

What to do? I'd listen to what @spek9 said to do in post #4.
 
70's natureboy

70's natureboy

Well-Known Member
I always figured you could water soil with good old tap water/high PH well water . The OP is probably over feeding causing the PH to go down.
 
T

testology1980

Well-Known Member
twentyeight.threefive said:
What is in your soil? How are you feeding the plants?

You're not doing your plants any favors by putting in water with pH levels all over the place. pH swings by themselves can many issues even making you think it's a different deficiency.

What to do? I'd listen to what @spek9 said to do in post #4.
Click to expand...
Ready mix soil for gardening, soil, coco, some basic nutrition I guess.
I added some perlite.

I fed them only 2 times till now with Nova soil mix and calmag.

70's natureboy said:
I always figured you could water soil with good old tap water/high PH well water . The OP is probably over feeding causing the PH to go down.
Click to expand...
Nope.
Only 2 feedings. Maybe the nutrition in the soil mix.
I am buying it ready from the gardening.
 
T

testology1980

Well-Known Member
After few weeks, I am now checking, and from 6.7 ph water, I got 5.3, 5.7, 5.6...
The 5.3 (GSC) shows some twisted leaves in the upper leaves, not sure if its ph or too close to the QB light, 40 cm.

SO I gave 8.7 ph water, the RO now is

5.3,5.4 5.0!

The RO ph is just going down al the time.

What am I doing wrong?
It may cause by the slow nutrient release materials that in the soil?

How can I deal with it?
To water with 10Ph few times?

I am 3 days before 12:12 flip.

Thanks
 
Wattzzup

Wattzzup

Well-Known Member
It sounds like your feeding soil on top of the nutrients already in the soil. Hence what was said about over feeding and lowering your runoff ph.

Second vote for listening to @spek9
 
Last edited:
twentyeight.threefive

twentyeight.threefive

Well-Known Member
testology1980 said:
How can I deal with it?
To water with 10Ph few times?

I am 3 days before 12:12 flip.

Thanks
Click to expand...
You were already told how to proceed, but you it seems you are determined to not listen and continue doing what you want. I'm not sure asking for advice again is going to have any different outcome. Forcing a plant into flower when it's already unhealthy probably isn't a good idea either. Good luck, maybe that water at 10 pH will fix it lmao. :eyesmoke:
 
T

testology1980

Well-Known Member
Wattzzup said:
It sounds like your feeding soil on top of the nutrients already in the soil. Hence what was said about over feeding and lowering your runoff ph.

Second vote for listening to @spek9
Click to expand...
That is exactly what I did and still getting RO water with very low PH.
Only after that I tried to fix it, with one time watering.


twentyeight.threefive said:
You were already told how to proceed, but you it seems you are determined to not listen and continue doing what you want. I'm not sure asking for advice again is going to have any different outcome. Forcing a plant into flower when it's already unhealthy probably isn't a good idea either. Good luck, maybe that water at 10 pH will fix it lmao. :eyesmoke:
Click to expand...
Can you point to the answer that you are talking about?
Cause they where few opinions, not only @spek9...

@DoubleAtotheRON for example
And also this excellent guide
www.growweedeasy.com

How to Check pH & Stop Cannabis Nutrient Deficiencies | Grow Weed Easy

Learn how to easily adjust pH up and down if needed for your cannabis grow. It helps prevent nutrient deficiencies!
www.growweedeasy.com www.growweedeasy.com

BTW I did exactly what he said since this post started (almost 3 weeks), gave 6.5+- ph water (tap with cal mag + nutes)
That didn't improve the RO water as you can read, after few weeks like that.
Not sure what I missed here, will be nice to understand, this is only my second grow after all.

Plants are healthy and beautiful and get feed every second watering, half the recommended dosage.

01.jpg


Mr.Head said:
Spek gave appropriate advice.

Not sure why you're trying to pick a fight with your soil buffers. What did they do to you?
Click to expand...
So the advice is to ignore RO low PH?
Not sure that was the advice after all... really I don't know what to do.

So whats the bottom line guys?
Ignore the low PH even if its gets down more and more?

I am feeding very carefully and there is no sign of nute burn.
1 ML calmag per litter
2 ML nova soil mix every second watering

Soil probably with some minor slow release nutes (little round yellow balls), its soil for house gardening.
Should I feed less?
Or should I flash?



Thanks
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top