First time grow - Major PH Problems.. Tried usual stuff with no luck... HELP!

Hi guys,

Long time creeper, first time grower and poster. Always been interested in growing but never worked up the balls until recently. Now, I dont think I ever want to go back. Just cant wait to start saving all that cash I would otherwise spend on my medication throughout the year.

Set up Info:

1 - 4x4x7 grow tent

1 - 324w - 6 bulb T5HO 4000K fixture with bulbs

1 - 240w - Lighthouse Blackstar - LED

1 - Vortex 4", 175cfm with carbon filter

Flora Series nutrients and Miracle grow mositure control soil medium (yes, I know.... I've learned my lesson on that one! :P).

Light Schedule: 24h / Temp Range: 72 - 82F / RH Range: 20-40%

Past Feeding Schedule: Fed a 1/16 dose of Miracle Grow tomato fertilizer (high nitrogen fertilizer). at 2 weeks, fed 1/2 does of Flora three part series (week 2) at week 4. nothing else has been fed to it other than some SuperThrive to assist in stress reduction for the plants as this is my first grow and am learning as I go.

Strain: Blueberry Cough by Jordan of the Islands

EDIT: These plants were all grown from seed and broke ground on April 5th, 2013. How do they look in your opinions for being a month old from seed? Am I on the right track? or are my plants growth stumped compared to what they should be at?

I think that is about it for the set up. If I left anything out, please ask and I will provide.




The problem:

I have tried everything from flushing with neutral water, to flushing with 7.5-8 water, to adding a little bit of hydrogenated lime to the soil and or water (didn`t have any dolomite and I read that HL works quicker than dolomite) and I havent been able to get the run off to measure anything more than a 5.5 (on a good day!). typically, it is around the 5 mark (occasionally dips below to 4.8-4.9).

What is confusing me is that generally, my plants look great. I mean, I am a first time grower, so technically, as far as I know they could look two minutes away from death as far as I know, but they appear to be healthy. They have shown signs of lacking various nutrients which I have tried to correct by trying to fix the ph levels and despite not fixing the ph levels in the soil, these nutrient problems do not seem to be getting worse. Is the transition period when the soil is waterlogged with ph7.5 water and slowly settling to the soils natural acidity level allow enough time for the plants to pull up the nutrients they need at this stage in the game?!? Im stumped.

I water once to twice a week depending. I started on a watering schedule (Sunday morning and Wednesday) but learned real quick the error in that logic.

I am trying to get a hold on this ph issue before going into flowering (which I am hopeful will be on May 19th).

Any advice on what you guys have had success with in your grows would be greatly appreciated.

Ive attached a few pics of my grow as I know how much you guys love the pics! (As do I! :D)
 

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FrostFarm

Member
7.5-8pH in soil? I feed soil plants at 6.5pH. Watering frequency and amount changes through a plant's life cycle. I wouldn't get stuck on this day or that day, just whenever the girls want it. And I don't pH runoff, so I can't help you there. I'm a little confused on correcting your plants nutrient deficiencies by adjusting your pH? And why is your soil ever waterlogged, that's counterproductive and suffocates the roots of much needed oxygen? In picture #5, it look like your fan leaves have been cut like what would be done to a fresh cut, any reason?
All the best,
FF
 

rwbrock

Active Member
Let me ask you....what kind of water are you using? Tap Water maybe? Do you know what the PH of your soil was when you started (did it specify on bag PH level)? Soil is a great buffer and as long as your water is around 6-7 you should be fine. Sometimes if you are using hard water with lots of PPM to start it can effect your plants but again soil is a great buffer. You know that miracle grow has time release nutes in it....so be careful when feeding back off at any signs of burn. Flushing is not going to help much with your medium since it is miracle grow time release...You plants look fine to me right now. Also what are you using to get your PH, drops, meter? If meter have you checked it against anything else. Sometimes they can be off....
 

GrowinDad

Well-Known Member
They look good. I would LST them to get more tops going/even out the canopy. PH everything going in and you should be okay.
 
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