Soil Ph fluctuation ...

[HashBucket]

I have started monitoring my soil ph. I never did it before .. I just ph nutes to 5.7 to 6.1 every feeding.
The plants are showing no signs of distress.
They are at 30 days of flower.
I feed with Jacks A & B at 47% ratio, at 800 to 900 ppm in coco canna.

The soil ph has been at 7.0 for the last week, and the last couple of days I been hitting them at 5.5 or so.
Why?
Should I hit them at 4.5?
Should I ignore it, and keep doing what I been doing for the last ten years.

 

[dandyrandy]

Ten years.

 

[Blowfish_noHootie]

Are you checking your PH before or after you add your nutrients?

 

[HashBucket]

Are you checking your PH before or after you add your nutrients?

Oh yes. I ph to 5.8 to 6.0 every feeding.
Just can't get the soil to go below 7.0
Last four days I ph'd to 5.5 ... no difference.

 

[Bernie420]

Should I ignore it, and keep doing what I been doing for the last ten years.

yup
microbes regulate the ph right at the root surface. Maybe get a microbe product and use it once a week sparingly.

 

[Renfro]

When I check my pH after a feed, I find the pH drops over time between then and the next watering. So I feed it high so it drops through the Goldilocks zone.

If my pH is way off it takes a few feeds to get it adjusted. If my target is 6.5 and it's at 5.5 I feed at 7.5 and check before the next feed, it might be at say 6.2 then so I feed at 6.8. Sometimes you are fighting something like lime in the soil and the adjustment feeds are required constantly at varying pH.

Note checking the soil in different spots will often yield different numbers and you should get at least 3 readings per pot and average them. Also treat all pots individually.

 

[Renfro]

Also, what are you using to check the soil pH? Slurry tests, run off tests are meaningless IMO. The cheap analog pH/moisture meters with the long metal probe/s suck ass and are so wrong that they do more harm than good. I have seen them read alkaline when it's actually acidic lol.

 

[HashBucket]

Also, what are you using to check the soil pH? Slurry tests, run off tests are meaningless IMO. The cheap analog pH/moisture meters with the long metal probe/s suck ass and are so wrong that they do more harm than good. I have seen them read alkaline when it's actually acidic lol.

Yea, see .. I think you nailed it right there.
I am using a "cheap analog pH/moisture meters with the long metal probe/s suck ass and are so wrong that they do more harm than good" meter. In fact, I think that is the brand name. Yea, it is.
I will throw the damn thing in the garbage and spend a couple of real bux on a good one. You've recommended the Blue Lab version before.

 

[ebcrew]

Also, what are you using to check the soil pH? Slurry tests, run off tests are meaningless IMO. The cheap analog pH/moisture meters with the long metal probe/s suck ass and are so wrong that they do more harm than good. I have seen them read alkaline when it's actually acidic lol.

What should someone do instead of slurry/run off test. I have the Oakton ph1 meter. What would u suggest

Sorry for hijacking thread im curious myself

 

[Renfro]

What should someone do instead of slurry/run off test. I have the Oakton ph1 meter. What would u suggest

Sorry for hijacking thread im curious myself

Soil pH meters that I have, in the order of how much I like using them:

Apera https://aperainst.com/ph60s-premium-spe ... il-canning
Bluelab https://www.getbluelab.com/shop/By+Cate ... H+Pen.html
Hanna https://www.hannainst.com/groline-soil-ph-tester.html

 

[Renfro]

I will throw the damn thing in the garbage and spend a couple of real bux on a good one.

It's still good for moisture levels.

 

[Renfro]

The plants are showing no signs of distress.

I would definitely say the meter is wrong. If the plant is fine just keep feeding as you have been. When you get a proper pH meter you may find the soil is right where you want it. If it's not right where you want it then record that number because it's working, at least for this strain, medium and stage of growth.

 

[Bernie420]

What should someone do instead of slurry/run off test. I have the Oakton ph1 meter. What would u suggest

Sorry for hijacking thread im curious myself

Smoke a bowl.......?

 

[HashBucket]

Soil pH meters that I have, in the order of how much I like using them:

Apera https://aperainst.com/ph60s-premium-spe ... il-canning
Bluelab https://www.getbluelab.com/shop/By+Cate ... H+Pen.html
Hanna https://www.hannainst.com/groline-soil-ph-tester.html

Thanks man.

 

[nmibud]

I have never tested soil ph and I never will,you are only causing problems that may not exist.And creating new ones in the process.

 

[Renfro]

I have never tested soil ph and I never will,you are only causing problems that may not exist.And creating new ones in the process.

If the plant is healthy I would agree. If the plant is not then I disagree. I have saved crops by checking soil pH and I have guided others to do so saving their crop.

 

[ebcrew]

Soil pH meters that I have, in the order of how much I like using them:

Apera https://aperainst.com/ph60s-premium-spe ... il-canning
Bluelab https://www.getbluelab.com/shop/By+Cate ... H+Pen.html
Hanna https://www.hannainst.com/groline-soil-ph-tester.html

man those are bit steep for someone like me. so you think a soil slurry is an absolute waste of time? I spent like 75 bucks on the Oakton a few years ago, not like it was cheap.

 

[Renfro]

so you think a soil slurry is an absolute waste of time?

I sure wouldn't count on it. If you must then bake sure to use distilled H2O.

 

[ebcrew]

I sure wouldn't count on it. If you must then bake sure to use distilled H2O.

Ok yes I use distilled. I guess it's better then nothing.