Dalek Supreme
Well-Known Member
A wise Drill Sargent once told me to "KISS IT!",keep it simple stupid.
There is a misleading ph chart floating around the net that shows that a .2 difference in ph shows a lockout of certain nutes.For example in Hydro a 5.8 ph would be the most optimum,but it would be targeting micronutrients that the plant uptakes very little of anyway.For hydro a ph of 6.0 is all that is needed and not like the misleading chart,Calcium is well within plant uptake.Now if you are looking to spend alot of money on 1kw hids and have multiple reservoirs a ph pen to target that 5.8 would be ideal to max your grow.A cheap ph pen is counter productive if you spent the cash on other stuff.You still need calibration solutions and have to properly store the probe on ph meters in general.I read many a post where someones pens frigged and there plants almost paid the price,but with alot of confusion involved before issue was resolved.There are pridefull growers in that a ph meter does offer a level of convenience for on the spot checks.
For those 1st starting out and on a budget for there meds should keep things economic and simple.Ph is very very important for plant health but a simple/inexpensive ph kit is all that is needed.A ppm/tds meter is not needed either if one reads there plants and bump up nute strength according to what the plant is showing and light wattage used,but I digress.Money would be better spent on lights and enviroment controls for example.
Hypothetical with GH ph kit for hydro(refer to GH chart):1 gal tap water with my nutes completly mix/disolved and my test registers light orange.ph up .25 ml brings nute jug to bright yellow(6.0).now I am done.
1 gal tap water tests a bluish green.ph down .5 ml brings tap water jug to bright yellow.ph corrected flush water,now I am done.
If you know your water source is consistent(well water may have seasonal flux/municipal shifts sources) you may check nute/flush mix once in awhile once you know your proper mixes.In a res the plant will naturaly swing ph up/down (grow/bloom) and is healthy in the 5.5-6.5 range.In soil a yellowish green is desired.
In short I have seen many uneeded things pushed upon the med needing small grower.I.E.a co2
generator is not needed in a properly enviromently controlled cabinet.Just fresh air and one
breathing is enough.
This kit and a 1ml pippette or syringe is all that is needed for the 1st time grower.
http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-General-Hydroponics-pH-Control-Kit.asp
p.s. rinse/clean vial between tests.
There is a misleading ph chart floating around the net that shows that a .2 difference in ph shows a lockout of certain nutes.For example in Hydro a 5.8 ph would be the most optimum,but it would be targeting micronutrients that the plant uptakes very little of anyway.For hydro a ph of 6.0 is all that is needed and not like the misleading chart,Calcium is well within plant uptake.Now if you are looking to spend alot of money on 1kw hids and have multiple reservoirs a ph pen to target that 5.8 would be ideal to max your grow.A cheap ph pen is counter productive if you spent the cash on other stuff.You still need calibration solutions and have to properly store the probe on ph meters in general.I read many a post where someones pens frigged and there plants almost paid the price,but with alot of confusion involved before issue was resolved.There are pridefull growers in that a ph meter does offer a level of convenience for on the spot checks.
For those 1st starting out and on a budget for there meds should keep things economic and simple.Ph is very very important for plant health but a simple/inexpensive ph kit is all that is needed.A ppm/tds meter is not needed either if one reads there plants and bump up nute strength according to what the plant is showing and light wattage used,but I digress.Money would be better spent on lights and enviroment controls for example.
Hypothetical with GH ph kit for hydro(refer to GH chart):1 gal tap water with my nutes completly mix/disolved and my test registers light orange.ph up .25 ml brings nute jug to bright yellow(6.0).now I am done.
1 gal tap water tests a bluish green.ph down .5 ml brings tap water jug to bright yellow.ph corrected flush water,now I am done.
If you know your water source is consistent(well water may have seasonal flux/municipal shifts sources) you may check nute/flush mix once in awhile once you know your proper mixes.In a res the plant will naturaly swing ph up/down (grow/bloom) and is healthy in the 5.5-6.5 range.In soil a yellowish green is desired.
In short I have seen many uneeded things pushed upon the med needing small grower.I.E.a co2
generator is not needed in a properly enviromently controlled cabinet.Just fresh air and one
breathing is enough.
This kit and a 1ml pippette or syringe is all that is needed for the 1st time grower.
http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-General-Hydroponics-pH-Control-Kit.asp
p.s. rinse/clean vial between tests.
