In soil I don't think it matters much. If your nutes aren't strong they won't require much ph-up to move that solution's ph. Likewise, if your soil has a good amount of dolomite (I use 1-1/2 to 2 tbsp/gal), it's going to move your nutrient ph more than your nutrient ph will move the soil.Let's start this thread. What do you set your ph to?
Thats what mine is at right now. Same thing last night. I thought it would of degassed and raised the ph but it didn't. Maybe because my nutes are Damn near organic? I'll have to check again tomorrow
9? Can you explain please?
Molybdenum has good availability at pH 9.09? Can you explain please?
I am with you, I don't know if you feel like using the ph up and down cause any problems but I don't think they help as much as people think. I let my PH do its own thing, I have been in the habbit of keeping the plants happy and not worrying about how much gets pumped into them. I am doing a trial run on my hydro tray and I am at week 8 with 0 tank changes and everything is still looking healthy. I think that the nutrient companies taught a lot of my generation the wrong way to grow or a different way. Some people do great with advanced nutrients, some do great with the lucas formula. WHo knows.I dont ever " Set " ph at any special number , if your nutes are mixed right the ph shouldnt need much adjustment , after i do a rez change as long as the rez is within the 5-6 range i dont fuk with it .
Ive also found that if my rez keeps wanting to go up or down & drift its usually for a reason where the plants need better access to a certain nute & i let it drift around , i'll let it go down into the low 4 range & up into the high 6 range for a day or 2 if it wants , most times the low/high ph will resolve itself & be back within the 5.5 range in a day or so without my intervention .
For me, when the runoff ph went below 5.4 I was facing salt buildup, nutrient lockout. But, as mentioned in another thread in the "general" area a few minutes ago: runoff ph is hugely inaccurate. I wouldn't place much value on it unless you measured every feeding for 4 weeks. Then the *trend* would signify something. (As mentioned in that other post, google for "NCSU pour thru method" to understand why casual runoff measurement isn't reliable.).My runoff is 5.3 can someone tell me if that's bad...and is it bad to under use.nutrients and fertilizer ? Thx
I use bags of stuff called pro mix from the hydroponic store..should I use a drop of pH up when I'm getting 5.3-5.5 cause its been like this my last two waterings.. Multiple potsFor me, when the runoff ph went below 5.4 I was facing salt buildup, nutrient lockout. But, as mentioned in another thread in the "general" area a few minutes ago: runoff ph is hugely inaccurate. I wouldn't place much value on it unless you measured every feeding for 4 weeks. Then the *trend* would signify something. (As mentioned in that other post, google for "NCSU pour thru method" to understand why casual runoff measurement isn't reliable.).
If you're in early to mid veg, it's too soon for soil acidification unless you're using a bad soil (for example, didn't add dolomite). But, 5.4 would concern me. You can sprinkle fine-textured dolomite on the soil at about 1 tsp/gal of soil, rake it into the top soil with a fork and water it in with your regular feeding. Do that 2-3 times (to get to 1tbsp/gal of dolomite added) and that could help. But, it's better to add 1-2 tbsp/gal dolomite to the soil before planting. Feed for sufficient runoff, like 20-30%. That may be unnecessary. But, if you're not sure what's happening, heavy runoff is good insurance.
Ok true..so I'll just try n make my pH a little higher.. I was using 2l per 3gallon pot and had quite a bit of runoff so I switched to 1.5l per pot and didn't have any runoff..is it good to have runoff everyyytime? Last time I watered and had runoff I didn't have to water for 5 days lolPromix has dolomite, but not enough IMO. I would add 1.5-2 Tbsp/gal when potting. Right now you can top dress as I explained.
Yes, I would ph my nutrients higher to help hold the soil ph higher. I'd also water for 20% runoff.
You're in soilless which people common ph their nutrients to 5.8 in veg, 6.2 in flower. So, it's already expected to be a little lower than soil's recommended 6.5. But, still, 5.4 is on the low side (although I wouldn't read much into it without following it as a trend over a longer time). Topdressing some dolomite and watering for 20% runoff should be enough. I don't think you'd have to ph higher than 6.4 to help pull the soil higher. But, that depends on whether you see a trend where it keeps going lower. If it holds in the 5.4 range, I'd water at ph 5.8 to 6.0 in veg, 6.0-2.6 in flower.
Regarding whether to ph or not, remember that you're in soilless. Your medium doesn't have the minerals and organic compounds (and microbial life) to interact with the solution's ph. It's more like hydro. I've grown this way and had great results. But, 5.4 probably isn't too bad. Keep in mind that it rises as it dries. When it's time to water again, it could be as high as 6.6. (You can get a $60 Control Wizard Accurate 8 probe if you want to monitor your soil ph.).
I mix 20-25% Kellogg Patio Plus outdoor potting mix, and 20-25% perlite to my Promix HP. No vermiculite (although it could be useful if I grew under HPS whose radiant heat can dry soil faster). I treat it as soil, not soilless. But, it's a light soil.
Typically yes, especially if using a new soil/nute combination and haven't dialed it in yet. When it's dialed in, in theory you should be able to feed exactly what the plant needs and there would be no salt build up (unused nutrients). In reality, the plant may use more N than PK, leaving an imbalance of nutrients behind. Displacing that with a fresh balance is good. (Like hydrogrowers who replenish their reservoir for awhile, then replace it with fresh nutes).is it good to have runoff everyyytime?