PH & PPMs for Ebb & Flow Commencing Flowering (with a little contextual information

[8Satori]

Hello;

I'm a new grower. I'm a little confused over Ph. I've read ideal Ph levels for ebb and flows range between 5.5 and 6.5. Then, more recently, that ideal levels need to be between 5.8 & 6.1 (I've also found information suggesting plants can't access some nutrients here). NOW, lol, on this site, I found a successful grower's posting stating lower levels, like between 5.6 and 5.8. Sigh.

My plants are currently stressed, and at different levels of growth - due to excessive nutes, heat, and too high of alkaline earlier when I hadn't read up on Ph, and assumed up around 7 might be better. Wrong wrong. Then, when they started showing signs of deficiencies or the opposite, I started researching and trying to correct. The heat can't be helped, I am ventilating in and out, but it's really hot outside right now. Thus, I figured putting them on 12/12 would be better. Some yellowing of the older plants could be a calling to flower, as they are about 10 weeks old.

Now, when I did the veg, because I had the nutes too high, they could have been nute-locked. It's possible I'm putting them into flower when they are already needing more magnesium and stuff. Does anyone know if this could make things worse? My two sour cream are not happy at all I'm crossing fingers they'll like the changes.. they were drooping and turning yellow from bottom up. :/ (the older plants are stealthier, and curled up from the heat, and possibly magnesium deficiencies).

Today I cleaned the table and res. I put the new nute ratios in, at half the recommended dose. I also put them on 12/12 - obviously taking advantage of cooler hours. (I have two little fans on them, and its in a 4x4x6.7 tent). Switched to the proper 600 W bulb. I keep cutting off the yellowing, drying, curling, or whatever - spotting leaves. I've raised the light as much as possible. My real problem seems to be in the nutes and Ph. I've read that 1000 - 1300, or even 1500 PPMs is good for flowering phase. Mine is at 900 right now. My Ph is 6.0.

I would LOVE experienced advice and recommendations right now!

Oh, and I added 50ml peroxide, and in addition to spraying the bases of the plants with a concoction of SM-90 1/5 to water, with a dash of peroxide. (I noticed light hold on the base of a plant today - the first plant I've removed. It has been soso, and now delayed growth, and today was totally covered in sagging leaves.. I decided to let it stay behind).

Sorry if this was lengthy. I just really wants to solid parameters to work with in regards to Ph and PPMs/Nutes, and meanwhile thought I'd share the extra. I'll post some photos.

 

[mrecio87]

Sorry no one has responded but ill see if I can clear some things up for you.

First I find PPM to be a pain for a new grower simply because its a conversion of EC so depending on the conversion scale, .5 and .7 are the most common but there are some others. a reading of 1.0 EC is 500ppm on the .5 scale and 700ppm on the .7 scale. So when you read others posts talking about their PPM levels and they dont state which scale they are on it can be confusing for new growers. If your ppm meter does EC then just use that as it will be easier on you. I would use a EC of .5-1.0 for vegging plants depending on their size. My 3ft mothers are fed at 1.0EC and I do my best to not go over that. For flowering it can vary from strain to strain but I like to go 1.25-1.5 which is = 625-750 ppm on the .5 scale. To many people run their plans at such high EC level thinking it will make for better buds or yield when all it does it burn the plants and cost you more in nutrients.

Incorrect PH will cause all kinds of lockout issues. PH should be maintained within a specific range. For hydro this is 5.5-6.0 with the optimal ph being 5.8. I allow my PH to drift between 5.6-5.9 If it shows 5.5 or 6.0 I will adjust to 5.8. I believe the best temperature for systems not running CO2 is 79f anything 85f or higher will cause a lot of problems. Due to the summer heat my current grow hits 81 between the light and the canopy and I have not noticed any issues at those temps yet.

So, maintain temps between 70-85 with 79 being optimal and a 5.8 PH, EC level of 1.2 when you start flowering and bump that up to 1.5 slowly over the course of flowering, backing back off at the end of flower for flushing. If you have more questions please post a picture and let us know a few more details like what medium you are using flood schedule exact temps high/low and what kind of nutrients you are running.

Good luck.

 

[2easy]

mate honestly ph 5.5 to 6.5 is fine i put mine in at 5.5 and let it rise until it gets to 6.5 that way your not missing out on anything as different minerals etc are absorbed at different ph.

secondly forget about what other peoples e.c/ppm is at. 90% of people on here have no idea. why not ask your plant what it wants.

check your ppm daily. if ti is going up you are feeding too strong
if it is going down you can feed stronger.
if it is staying the same you have it right.

 

[pit viper]

mate honestly ph 5.5 to 6.5 is fine i put mine in at 5.5 and let it rise until it gets to 6.5 that way your not missing out on anything as different minerals etc are absorbed at different ph.

secondly forget about what other peoples e.c/ppm is at. 90% of people on here have no idea. why not ask your plant what it wants.

check your ppm daily. if ti is going up you are feeding too strong
if it is going down you can feed stronger.
if it is staying the same you have it right.

agreed,except I'll usually let the ph drift to about 6-6.1 from a starting point of about 5.4 only because when i lower it again i do it gradually over a couple or few days,i do not use an ec meter either since GH nutes calculated strength measurements are in PPM and as long as they're mixed properly,sounds like your issues are or maybe heat/air related as excess heat and lack of fresh air will disrupt a plants intake even if the the ph & ppm's are right,also if the reservoirs temps are too excessively warm as well.

 

[GreenThumbSucker]

I find that plants in hydroponics use more water on lower PPM levels. I wouldnt go below 700 ppm on a .7 meter during budding. I flower at 800 - 1000 ppm.

If you keep your PH between 5.5 and 6.0 you will be fine.