First watering, first plants, PH 8.0!!!

So I just got my first 10 plants. They came to me around 1 foot tall and looked healthy though they were a little droopy. I very lightly watered them with filtered tap water for the first day, and the second day I transplanted them to 2 gallon pots with Ocean Forest soil. I watered with filtered tap water until my system's reservoir ran out and I watered the last couple w/ my normal tap. I gave all of them a final topping off with a mix of tap/filtered until a small amount came out the bottom.

I wasn't ready for them to arrive and hadn't gotten a PH meter until today. When I got home I noticed they had perked up a BIT but that 2-3 of them had 2-3 yellow curling leaves. I snipped the curled yellow leaves off and tested the PH and heres what I got.

Regular tap - 8.0
Filtered - 7.2
Some water that drained from the soil - 6.5

Each of the plants got a mix of filtered and regular tap. I won't be able to go get PH up/down until tomorrow. What can I do to save my plants? flush them with balanced water tomorrow? And why is the soil testing 6.5 on the drainage from the one? help!

Mixing soil from the bag in a cup w/ filtered and unfiltered water I got this...

Filtered w/ soil - 6.6
Unfiltered tap w/ soil - 7.1

def dont need flushed yet..your overwatering them...first day you watered them when they was already droopy..probably from being overwater..then you transplanted them on day 2..watering them again...overwatering the old soil and roots even more....let it dry out completely..which could take a few days...then water with ph'd water around 6.5....then they should be back on track...overwatering is just as bad..if not worse...then under watering...best of luck bro

By the way guys where do u get PH up/down?

guitarmanesp420 said:

By the way guys where do u get PH up/down?

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got mine off ebay....i use the powder stuff...it last longer and has a lower shipping cost.

Well other than ebay then like walmart or Lowes?

i dont think either of those carry it...i went through the same shit...no hydro store anywhere near me...got what i could at lowes and walhell...but some things they just wont carry.there are soil additives you can get at lowes and home depot tho...but i perfer knowing for sure what my water ph is going in

Well, I panicked and couldn't decide if it was overwatering or PH or both. I had extra soil so I carefully moved the plants into new soil and watered it (much less this time) with water that I dropped to PH w/ white vinegar. I'll be getting real PH up and down tomorrow after work. I hope this is a simple lesson learned. Watch the PH and don't drown the poor things.

Lewsid said:

Well, I panicked and couldn't decide if it was overwatering or PH or both. I had extra soil so I carefully moved the plants into new soil and watered it (much less this time) with water that I dropped to PH w/ white vinegar. I'll be getting real PH up and down tomorrow after work. I hope this is a simple lesson learned. Watch the PH and don't drown the poor things.

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yep...we all are always learning...i doubt theres anyone that knows everything about growing...too many variables.but once you get the ph taken care of...and a good watering schedule...you should be set.just make sure to let them dry out before watering again.i saw first hand how ph can fuck a plant...i have one about 2 1/2 foot tall...the ph in my dwc went from 5.5 to 7.2 overnight...it almost killed it...it lost all of its fans leaves..all the leaves was droopy and yellow..and this is a plant that was 3 weeks into flowering and was forming nice buds and was green and healthy...now its back on track and its ph sits at 5.8..which is good for hydro.tho im pretty sure ph is more important in hydro then soil...but damn...i nearly lost the girl.and soil is more forgiving as it comes to ph...long as its not getting really high or low ph for an extended time..you will be fine...i just harvested 2 plants about a month ago...didnt even have a ph tester till about 2 weeks before they finished..luckyly i have decent water here...its ph out the tap is around 6.8

Is ph up and down from a hydro shop ideal for hydro and soil?

harveyjarvey said:

Is ph up and down from a hydro shop ideal for hydro and soil?

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far as i know...ive been using the same powder up/down in both soil and hydro...cant tell a difference really.i dont know the chemical makeup of up/down tho...not too sure if there is a difference between the liquid and the powder...but i like the powder...seems easier to dose and adjust..and takes a lot less of it...i doubt ive used a gram of the stuff yet in the 3 months ive had it

Petsmart carries ph up/down!

dirtypussyhole said:

Petsmart carries ph up/down!

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i wouldnt suggest that...other chemicals are added in to adjust it for aquarium water....from what i found out is it builds up a lot of salt...causing more frequent flushes and nute lockout...it also breaks up nitrogen and keeps it from being absorbed by the roots...i could be wrong..and im sure in some cases it would work just fine....but as it comes to cost....pet store chains charge out the ass..and the chance of it being harmfull...i would just use lemon juice as ph down...which is needed more often the ph up..most water has a high ph.ive only used my ph up once...and that was from me using too much down....slowly adjust it down to a good level..and recheck your ph before each watering..most tap water will have a higher ph after a day of sitting...least it does for me.

guitarmanesp420 said:

By the way guys where do u get PH up/down?

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You can find the 30 dollar meters and up and down on amazon.com just do a search......

go to your local auto parts store and ask for the battery refill fluid (battery acid) it costs about 5 bucks and if you dilute it to a 50:1 for use it will last years. Just be careful it is strong in concentrate form, eye and hvy gloves are a must..

If you think this is gross don't do it, but this sort of acid interacts with P much better and does not leave a slime in a hydro system that you always feel in the tubes. Just my 2 JR

So far that I have seen hydro shops are the way to go, luckily I found one not too far form me and they have quite a selection of products. Plus they are knowledgeable about your plant needs.

guitarmanesp420 said:

So far that I have seen hydro shops are the way to go, luckily I found one not too far form me and they have quite a selection of products. Plus they are knowledgeable about your plant needs.

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word of advice...dont let the people that work there know what your growing..in any way...even if they seem cool....and best bet...park a block away from it....make sure your not being followed on the way back to your car...cops have been staking out hydro shops..get pate numbers..then shortly after raiding people making perfectly legal purchases....least thats what they are doing in florida...dont hurt to be extra careful...none of us need locked up over this plant we enjoy so much....fucking feds

Ya I realize the potential for Federal interventionalism, but u ever used nutrients on other plants? I've grown countless types of peppers, berries, cactus, lemon grass, tomatos, even carrots and potatos(need a deep troff). Its about being smart about it or not. really if you think about it all os us are being careless by posting on this site. governments have the ability to trace IP addys so... This site just proves how much dedication, love and passion we have for plants in general.

guitarmanesp420 said:

Ya I realize the potential for Federal interventionalism, but u ever used nutrients on other plants? I've grown countless types of peppers, berries, cactus, lemon grass, tomatos, even carrots and potatos(need a deep troff). Its about being smart about it or not. really if you think about it all os us are being careless by posting on this site. governments have the ability to trace IP addys so... This site just proves how much dedication, love and passion we have for plants in general.

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they dont really care even if your not growing herb..they have busted down countless doors of people not growing herb...just on a whim...its a lot deeper then most people think...there are a few threads on here that have vids in them that will blow your mind...saw one where the dea raided this guys house..supposedly was dealing...busted in..grabbed his kids and wife...and shot his dog..which was in a cage...didnt kill it with the first shot..and opened fire on the now screaming dog...same dog that was in a cage.wanna know what they found...1/2 a gram of weed and a pipe...thats it.killed 2 of his pets...with his small kid watching.they are using their power against us to a new extreme...and its getting worse.keep in mind this is a government that still thinks that weed is worse of a drug then crack and smack......and i doubt they will start tracing IP's...they must have the approval from the site first...and this being a site based in canada...thats not going to happen...or if your like me...use a ip scrubber...my ip bounces all over the world and changes every 15 seconds...thats when i remember to turn it on that is....still a stoner ya know