ppm in/ppm out

what should I be looking for when checking my run off ppm’s? Let’s say I feed at 900 ppm ideally what should I be looking for coming out in the run off?

Should it be lower,higher or roughly the same?

bk78 said:

what should I be looking for when checking my run off ppm’s? Let’s say I feed at 900 ppm ideally what should I be looking for coming out in the run off?

Should it be lower,higher or roughly the same?

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In general, what goes in should be higher than what comes out. I've always been told that if what comes out is higher then you need to back off on what's going in. It basically means the plant is not eating everything you are giving it...

If the runoff is significantly higher you have a salt buildup and should flush and resume feeding. As far as feed strength that is determined by the plants needs.

Renfro said:

If the runoff is significantly higher you have a salt buildup and should flush and resume feeding. As far as feed strength that is determined by the plants needs.

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Yeah I’m not at the stage where I can read what they need individually yet unfortunately. I’ve been feeding them with plenty of run off each time and my ppms coming out is pretty much the same as going in. Here’s what I’m using right now at 2ml/L

Sounds like you are on the right track.

Why measure ppm runoff? I've never once checked ppm runoff in decades of growing. Just feed properly and you won't have any problems.

xtsho said:

Why measure ppm runoff? I've never once checked ppm runoff in decades of growing. Just feed properly and you won't have any problems.

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So what does “feed properly” consist of?

bk78,
Are you talking coco? I read a grow thread recently where the guy measured runoff and if it was within 100ppm of what went in...then all good. If the difference way way higher...then he flushed to get rid of salts. Big commercial grow...expert grower.

In soil...runoff seems to be less useful and most guys skip it.
JD

JohnDee said:

bk78,
Are you talking coco? I read a grow thread recently where the guy measured runoff and if it was within 100ppm of what went in...then all good. If the difference way way higher...then he flushed to get rid of salts. Big commercial grow...expert grower.

In soil...runoff seems to be less useful and most guys skip it.
JD

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I use pro mix hp

bk78 said:

I use pro mix hp

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Well you could try. I wouldn't water to runoff each time. Maybe once a week and check it. If you're inclined to do such things. Look for trends, not specifics.

bk78 said:

So what does “feed properly” consist of?

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This is a problematic question...but what he was getting at is giving just enough for the plant to flourish and no more. People that go with a full regimen of nutes and additives and high EC...they need to test runoff. But if you keep it low and reasonable...so nutrient salts don't build up...that's what he meant by feeding properly. I follow that adage myself.
JD

This is a problematic question...but what he was getting at is giving just enough for the plant to flourish and no more. People that go with a full regimen of nutes and additives and high EC...they need to test runoff. But if you keep it low and reasonable...so nutrient salts don't build up...that's what he meant by feeding properly. I follow that adage myself.
JD[/QUOTE]

I tried this in the first month of veg and failed miserably, they are now just coming around again haha.

bk78 said:

I tried this in the first month of veg and failed miserably, they are now just coming around again

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bk78,
Well it takes experience to learn to read your plants. Now, because of your failure, you know what a starving plant looks like. Just don't do it again. You must have really gone overboard.

Nute strength is fairly easy to assess. If you are using a quality balanced nutrient...then you watch leaf color. Light green or yellowish means more nutrients needed. Super dark leaves can mean too much N.

And to complicate things it changes during life cycle..

Take pictures...keep notes...read expert thread. I found a guy whose style I like and am following his lead...not because I'm a new grower but am fairly new to coco and I wanted to do it right. Including feeding lightly and no runoff checks. Not suggesting this to you...it's my thing.
Cheers,
JD

In Cana Coco with H&G Cocos I can let ppm's rise as high as 1500-2kppm without any issues, as long as the medium is kept moist, but that's allot different to promix...