kratos015
Well-Known Member
Balance and simplicity is key in anything in life, you're spot on there.If you think you have excess Ca that's locking out the Mg and K. When I say lockout I'm meaning it's harder for the plant to access the nutrients that are actually there. So If you add too much Ca, the plant will want more Mg and K.
It's about a balance. I don't know if this is making sense.
Same with the Ca:Mg:K ratios, why I started using Langbeinite in the first place actually. My theory was that instead of attempting to lower the Ca ratio, I should use Langbeinite to increase the Mg:K ratios instead of lowering the Ca ones.
Been working quite well for me, not to mention the fact that the Sulfur in Langbeinite is a Sulfate (SO4, salts from sulfuric acid) specifically that is capable of breaking down excess salts and CaCO3 in soil. Stuff has been a godsend for me. Definitely not for everybody, and a little goes a long way. That said, anyone experiencing issues with hard water, Calcitic and/or sodic soils, or God forbid both, then Langbeinite can be useful.
Why people use Gypsum for Calcitic and/or sodic soils; its Calcium Sulfate. So, while adding more Ca seems counterintuitive, the sulfate content in gypsum can actually neutralize excess CaCO3 and any salt build up that has occurred. People often underestimate the fact that, yes, salt build up can certainly happen in a living soil.
Very well could be; pre-bagged soil is almost always limed already. Adding extra lime to pre-bagged soil can certainly cause problems.But yeah, some were 6.7-6.8 and some were 7.2-7.6 in the living soil and coco. Could it be too much dolomite? I know roots organic comes with some in it and I believe that the DTE 444 has some too. And I add about a half a tbs per gallon of dolomite lime myself. Could that overdo it and up it a little bit? I use the dolomite in the coco too also. Roughly a half a tbs per gallon to a tbs. Too lower the soil ph I just lower the ph of the water I am watering with a little bit right? I usually ph with citric acid to about 6.5, but like I said, when the ph meter broke I was probably up near 7 more
Hopefully the issues being experienced are not related to excess lime, but its very likely this is the issue here. Even though the water source is well water, you've said only 50 ppms, which shouldn't be enough to cause issues.
Look into Langbeinite or even Gypsum to deal with the excess salts/CaCO3 (which is also a salt, technically). In your shoes, I would not attempt to flower until confirming that this issue has been dealt with. These salt/pH/CaCO3 related issues always compound and intensify around week 3-4 of flower. Its a bad time, trust me friend, I've been there plenty. The smoke will still be good, but the yields will be absolutely abysmal.
Citric acid is wonderful for lowering pH. However, if the issue here is related to salts/CaCO3 then no amount of Citric Acid will help because the problem is not pH related but rather salt build up related.
Unfortunately, "praying" leaves are actually the beginning stages of Mg deficiencies. The fading green being witnessing confirms this.But as of now, they are growing really fast now and getting big. All the leaves are praying on all the plants now, every single one. But I can tell some green is slowly fading on the ones that are near 7.5, so I can see problems starting to possibly come from it. But other than that, they are growing and look relatively happy. Alot happier than they did when I started this Post
The reason being, Mg is vital for photosynthesis and the creation of chlorophyll. The leaves "pray" like that because they are unable to properly absorb sunlight; so the leaves point upwards in a vain and futile attempt to absorb light, which is impossible without Mg be it deficiency or lockout. Good LED lights and DE lights will exacerbate this Mg issue, why?
Increased light spectrum = increased photosynthesis = increased need for Mg.
Hope that helps.