Flushing with quarter strength nutes?
- Thread starter maximum
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maximum
Active Member
I dont understand your last sentence.
maximum
Active Member
thats what I was thinking too. Is their science behind the quarter strength technique?
thetruthoverlies
Well-Known Member
probably osmotic pressure comes into play. 1/4 strength would theoretically be less stressful, and once the ppms of the solution went up say 200-300ppm you could dump the tank and put in fresh water.
maximum
Active Member
lol my ppm is 300 from the tap water already.
Max, I know I wasn't very clear I was just kinda rambling seeing as there's no info to back up your claims; just something that you recall from a book...
When I see a plant; there is a lot going on; most of which science hasn't uncovered the details and only recently has there been more in depth studies and results on cell chemistry IE how they communicate and synthesis sugars. Basic biology, there's the kerbs and calvin cycles. These just describe the process and proteins involved in the synthesis and metabolism of ATP ect. (a sugar) There are several proteins involved, I think 8; to create and facilitate this process. Your NPK major and minor nute salts are used to make everything for the plant. From proteins to enzymes to amino acids, To cell walls to akaloids and tannis.
The plant cells can make their own proteins and enzymes that have specific functions to break up specific molecules (they're billions of combinations of proteins); however some have certain jobs and produce certain proteins, some are hormones, some enzymes, ect. Not all cells can or do produce all these. They control the direction of plant growth, the pattern of growth around the stem, to recognizing lights out and change the metabolism of the plant. Most of these fall into a realm of mystery, as I said a lot of stuff is still being learned.
Osmosis, when the plant is turgor and stiff (with osmotic pressure) it will perspire as it opens its stoma to bring in co2 and oxygen to create sugars. The major nutes, I think n p k, and sulfur; and molecules like carbon and water, can pass through cell membranes without active transport or the requirement of ATP to power a proton pump or the need for a protein to transport a nutes across an opposing proton gradient.
Those nutes will travel from cell to cell through the plasmodesmata up from the roots to the new growth and leaves...osmosis
Basically osmotic pressure is the diffusion of a salt in a solute; water travels from hypotonic solutions to a hypertonic solutions. Or low salt concentration to high salt concentration. This is a basis on how cells absorb water up a trunk line against gravity.
Essentially you could describe the general flow of water from the root zone to the leaves or upward motion.
SO I personally think nutes will travel from the lowest point upward with I'd imagine some exceptions.
Keeping in mind not all cells can produce needed enzymes (catalyst that reduce the energy requirement for metabolism) that is used in a cells metabolism and growth, enzymes needed for fast growth and reactions.
So if you cut off the root food supply, unknown amounts or types of enzymes will have a reduction in production and may slow the growth of the plant.
The plant can and will take nutes from its storage in leaves and cells throughout the plant. With the possible reduction in enzymes produced by the roots; plant cells may very well use less nutes and slow down the flushing process when using pure water.
Or maybe not.
When I see a plant; there is a lot going on; most of which science hasn't uncovered the details and only recently has there been more in depth studies and results on cell chemistry IE how they communicate and synthesis sugars. Basic biology, there's the kerbs and calvin cycles. These just describe the process and proteins involved in the synthesis and metabolism of ATP ect. (a sugar) There are several proteins involved, I think 8; to create and facilitate this process. Your NPK major and minor nute salts are used to make everything for the plant. From proteins to enzymes to amino acids, To cell walls to akaloids and tannis.
The plant cells can make their own proteins and enzymes that have specific functions to break up specific molecules (they're billions of combinations of proteins); however some have certain jobs and produce certain proteins, some are hormones, some enzymes, ect. Not all cells can or do produce all these. They control the direction of plant growth, the pattern of growth around the stem, to recognizing lights out and change the metabolism of the plant. Most of these fall into a realm of mystery, as I said a lot of stuff is still being learned.
Osmosis, when the plant is turgor and stiff (with osmotic pressure) it will perspire as it opens its stoma to bring in co2 and oxygen to create sugars. The major nutes, I think n p k, and sulfur; and molecules like carbon and water, can pass through cell membranes without active transport or the requirement of ATP to power a proton pump or the need for a protein to transport a nutes across an opposing proton gradient.
Those nutes will travel from cell to cell through the plasmodesmata up from the roots to the new growth and leaves...osmosis
Basically osmotic pressure is the diffusion of a salt in a solute; water travels from hypotonic solutions to a hypertonic solutions. Or low salt concentration to high salt concentration. This is a basis on how cells absorb water up a trunk line against gravity.
Essentially you could describe the general flow of water from the root zone to the leaves or upward motion.
SO I personally think nutes will travel from the lowest point upward with I'd imagine some exceptions.
Keeping in mind not all cells can produce needed enzymes (catalyst that reduce the energy requirement for metabolism) that is used in a cells metabolism and growth, enzymes needed for fast growth and reactions.
So if you cut off the root food supply, unknown amounts or types of enzymes will have a reduction in production and may slow the growth of the plant.
The plant can and will take nutes from its storage in leaves and cells throughout the plant. With the possible reduction in enzymes produced by the roots; plant cells may very well use less nutes and slow down the flushing process when using pure water.
Or maybe not.
I don't see how 1/4" nutes has anything to do with stress. I do see a possible problem with stoichiometry. As the plants may use up types of nutes and cause deficiencies slowing or stopping the flushing/growing process.
As for your hard water max; the salts already in your water can only hinder the plants ability to grow and sequentially "flush" or use up its nutes reservoirs.
It will lower your water potential or osmotic pressure; slowing down the metabolic processes in the plant and lowering the amount of nutes available to the plant. They can react and precipitate to your nute solutions changing the PH and nute content.
RO or distilled water is the most ideal.
withoutAchance
Active Member
when i grow hydro i concider any ppm under 400 a flush after week 8 of flowering considering i was at 1400 ppm, and if u go under 400ppm for to long the plant will die. im talking total ppm.