What is a safe and fast way to lose pH ? I have 7.6 in runoff water.
2 Likes
I second that motion. Be careful, it only takes a little.
Thanks for the warning about amount to use, my nickname is overkill…
2 Likes
That is exactly how I found out. WAY TOO much… lol I went from like a 6.9 to a 4.2 in a second.
Tell us a bit about your grow. What kind of soil and nutrients are you using? Are the plants showing signs of a problem?
Runoff pH is ok to use as a guide to some degree, but it’s not an accurate representation of your soil pH.
Often, people take corrective measures for perceived issues that don’t exist, and then end up dealing with real problems.
3 Likes
Plants are about 6 inches tall, under led lights at about 860. Turning brown, they have pistols on the top. My moisture meter read normal but today I turned up water time 30 seconds. If they last another 7 days I’m going to set them outside when it’s will be legal. I did that to one plant and it seems to like it. They are potted in organic soil.
I think when I set them outside in a few days I’m going to dismantle that setup and move to my small grow tent setup I just got. I’ll use autopots with 50% perlite and 50% cococoir .
I never dreamed growing this stuff would be so difficult. By the way I use auto flowers.
In an organic grow, the microbial life in the root zone is supposed to maintain a proper pH level. If your runoff pH is coming out as high as you say, I’d focus on why, rather than adding products that might make it worse. Things like the GH pH Down can be harmful to microbes and fungi.
Does your tap water have chlorine or chloromines in it? That could be harming the microbial life as well.
2 Likes
What the ph for your tap water out of the tap?
1 Like
I use water from a private well that is ran through a RO filter system. I measure with a Bluelab pH pen that can’t be used directly in RO water so it’s difficult to measure directly. I have ordered pH test strips that should be here Thursday, that should give me a pH reading of water directly.
1 Like
There is no pH in R/O water because there’s no mineral content.
That would be an ideal water source if you were using salt based nutrients, but R/O water isn’t typically suggested for organic growing. By using it, you’re actually pulling elements out of your soil.
I grow with Advanced Nutrients, so I’m not the best one to give further advice here. Hopefully someone who grows organic will chime in and give you some suggestions.
1 Like
Add a couple of tablespoons of dolomite lime and water in. That should help buffer your ph.
2 Likes
Can you add pictures of the plants?
I agree with @Cap_Ron , don’t chase pH in your organic soil. The microbes and roots in the soil will work together to buffer the soil and the pH that is needed. Same for RO water. If your well water isn’t great, add back 10-20% well water to the RO water. If the well water is good, use it straight and save the RO costs.
Focus on the life in your organic soil. You will likely see improvement by adding beneficial microbes to your soil. You can buy various products, such as Recharge or Microbial Mass. You can also top dress you soil with quality compost or worm castings, which will contain beneficial microbes in them. I haven’t used it personally, but Recharge is supposed to be an excellent product to use once per week. I used microbial mass and it was terrific. I know just culture some of my own microbes (lactobacillus).
I’ve been using organic/living soil for the past two years. Never needed to check pH of my tap water (city) or the runoff. With organic soil, you don’t want a lot of runoff when you water - your runoff will contain the nutrients and microbes that you want in the soil. With synthetic/salt-based nutrients you want runoff to avoid salt build up and/or pH issues.
3 Likes
Yeah definitely looked at it, but haven’t pulled the trigger yet. I don’t think I can pull off a complete KNF practice, but I got a yard in the city. I’d like to try IMO, but so far I’ve only read pretty long processes that I can’t commit to yet.
I set up a worm bin 2 years ago and it’s awesome. Gives me great castings, plus the kids think they’re super cool. I made my own lactobacillus with rice water and milk, they are awesome.
The initial reason I switched to organic was convenience, so I can be away from the plants for a week at a time. I top dress with Gaia green. I made a SIP in a HD tote, and set up a drip system for the fabric pots. It all works super well.
Have any tips of getting started with IMO? As I type all this out, I realize I should just jump in and try it.
1 Like
I just repotted them into grow bags they had roots coming out of pot drain holes. They are also more yellow now then the photos show. Added more organic dirt and set them outside and out of site, Augest first they will be legal to grow so I can move them closer to house. They were dying in my homemade grow tent so I don’t have much to lose. Watered them with water straight from the well. (privet well) Did this to one plant a few days ago and it seem to perk up.
I used those products before they worked fine if your measurements are on point…but i remember for shits and giggles i was going organic and used fresh squeeze lemons and baking soda. Not as good🤣
They’re definitely not happy. Try using quality water, not too much, and getting microbes added in. I’m sorry to say it doesn’t like like yield will be great, they’re stunted and started into flower.
If you can get them outside, Mother Nature tends to help sick plants.
I repotted them into grow bags and stashed them outside… They had roots coming out of the bottom of original pots. Figured they’re on their last lag.