pH Problem. Deficiencies. Necrosis.

BuDz047

BuDz047

Member
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Need to correct the pH of my soil. When i feed i use R.O water fixed at 6.5, but when i test the pH of my run-off water, it comes it at around 5.4. Is that normal? on my last feed i fixed my pH to 6.7 and it came out 4.3ish. I've read that Magnesium, Calcium, and Sulfur are common deficiencies with low (acidic) pH. Especially on the new growth, which is happening to me. However, it only happening vigorously on the White Widow (pictured above); and a bit on the Sour Diesel (bottom).

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I've since fed with Epsom Salt (5ml per gallon) and Tap Water (sat out for 24 hours) for the past week but no positive changes.

So i'm assuming the pH in my soil, which is Roots Organics, needs to change. How is this achievable? Dolomite lime? do i need to transplant? Egg Shells?

I've been doing research on this and this happens alot with Roots Organincs soil as well with the White Widow strain.

All opinions welcome; constructive criticism is much appreciated.


thanks.
 
H

hibok

Well-Known Member
over nutes, burn tips.
whats your water schedule like ? ie. feed, feed, water?
and when you use RO are you putting cal/mag in cause RO has low amount of cal/mag
 
H

hibok

Well-Known Member
do you leech out excessive salt build up in the soil when watering. As in, do you let any run off and remove that run off water, or do you let it soak back up from the trays?

whats your ppm when feed?
 
tikitoker

tikitoker

Active Member
BuDz047 said:
they are in 5gallon pots. I feed them 1 gallon of Nutrient mix each. then halfway through the week, I feed them another gallon of R.O. water. I've since started using Epsom Salt (Magnesium Sulfate) at 5ml per gallon. But it's only been a this past week. I need something for Calcium. Do you really think its Over Nutes? I'm thinking it's deficiency.

http://www.aurorainnovations.org/AuroraInnovations_MasterFeedingSchedule.pdf
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yo man, if you ever use RO water, you have got to add back the buffer (ca/mg/fe) That's what is plaguing your crop.
 
JohnDee

JohnDee

Well-Known Member
BuDz,
What's the ppm of your tap water? Maybe you could mix in some tap with the RO to restore some Ca. The deficiencies you're seeing are from nutrients being locked out by ph and salt build-up in your soil. Most of the actual damage on your leaves is on leaf tips which is classic nute burn. I say add back some tap till you have about 200ppm and then continue with a low maintenance dose of MgSO4 (1/4tsp/gal) which you can continue throughout. Don't add any nutrients till you get an actual hint of N deficiency. Good luck...
JD
 
BuDz047

BuDz047

Member
hibok said:
do you leech out excessive salt build up in the soil when watering. As in, do you let any run off and remove that run off water, or do you let it soak back up from the trays?

whats your ppm when feed?
Click to expand...
Wow. Never thought that would be a problem. I do let the pots soak up the excess water and from the trays. Is that a no no? And when all the water in the tray is gone, I do see some white residue on the fabric pots. Hmmmm... Salt build up? Also, I don't own a ppm meter. I will invest in one this week. Is there a link where I can learn the basics of ppm reading and configuring? Thanks for the input.
 
BuDz047

BuDz047

Member
JohnDee said:
BuDz,
What's the ppm of your tap water? Maybe you could mix in some tap with the RO to restore some Ca. The deficiencies you're seeing are from nutrients being locked out by ph and salt build-up in your soil. Most of the actual damage on your leaves is on leaf tips which is classic nute burn. I say add back some tap till you have about 200ppm and then continue with a low maintenance dose of MgSO4 (1/4tsp/gal) which you can continue throughout. Don't add any nutrients till you get an actual hint of N deficiency. Good luck...
JD
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I will be getting a ppm meter this weekend, hopefully. Also, I'll look into MgSO4. How do I fix the salt build up? Should I transplant her out? Also, how can there be nute burn when there are deficiencies? I've been using tap water this past week and a half. I let it sit out for about 24 hours. Guess I'm going to veg her until I fix this problem. Thanks JD. Sorry for all the extra questions.
 
JohnDee

JohnDee

Well-Known Member
BuDz write: I will be getting a ppm meter this weekend, hopefully. Also, I'll look into MgSO4. How do I fix the salt build up? Should I transplant her out? Also, how can there be nute burn when there are deficiencies? I've been using tap water this past week and a half. I let it sit out for about 24 hours. Guess I'm going to veg her until I fix this problem. Thanks JD. Sorry for all the extra questions.
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BuDz,
A ppm meter is nice but not absolutely crucial. I doubt that you having a meter would have prevented this...unless you knew what to look for.

You get rid of the salts using a flush consisting of ph'd water...some people use a mild nutrient solution like 1/4 dose. That makes the flush less of a shock to the roots.

A transplant isn't necessary. If you were in something like MG soil with time-released nutrients...then I'd say transplant. But after a flush and lowered nute levels, you should be OK.

When you have toxic soil from either ph (being out of range) or salt accumulation...that causes a malabsorption (lockout) problem and you can have any number of deficiency symptoms. Not because the nutrients aren't there...but because the roots can't absorb them.
JD
 
JohnDee

JohnDee

Well-Known Member
BuDz,
Some tap water has no or little iron. Mostly with RO, you need to replace the Ca and Mg that's taken out. Your nutrients and soil should have enough Fe.
JD
 
BuDz047

BuDz047

Member
Ok. So... When I get out of work I'm going to flush with tap water that's been sitting out for 24 hours. I have 5gallon pots, so would I need10gallons of water with 1/4 nute strength to flush each pot? Also, will my soil fix the pH problem by itself when I add CalMag for a week or 2?
 
M

mensabarbie

Active Member
BuDz047 said:
Wow. Never thought that would be a problem. I do let the pots soak up the excess water and from the trays. Is that a no no? And when all the water in the tray is gone, I do see some white residue on the fabric pots. Hmmmm... Salt build up? Also, I don't own a ppm meter. I will invest in one this week. Is there a link where I can learn the basics of ppm reading and configuring? Thanks for the input.
Click to expand...
get a hanna grow check meter. They are about 200 but measure eC temp pH
i had a grow get messed up when my RO filters were shot withoutme realizing it. Ppms of ro was 236. Supposed to be under 30. The minerals in the ro combined w my super hotnute mix to create salt and pH lockout. White residue is indicative of that.
 
phantombuds

phantombuds

Member
BuDz047 said:
Ok. So... When I get out of work I'm going to flush with tap water that's been sitting out for 24 hours. I have 5gallon pots, so would I need10gallons of water with 1/4 nute strength to flush each pot? Also, will my soil fix the pH problem by itself when I add CalMag for a week or 2?
Click to expand...
Also pick up a bag of dolomite lime and top dress it on your soil. That will help balance the soil PH.
 
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