Nutrient ppm Issue

Hey guys! i'm looking for some feedback on my situation, any advice here would be greatly appreciated as im very new to growing.

I was led to believe that during veg, plants would benefit the most from something like a 15-5-5 ratio(high n and low p,k). i assumed the nutrient brand itself wouldn't really matter as long as the ratios were close to this.

i bought a Schultz brand, 15-5-5 nutrient liquid mixture to try out. My waters ppm is 200, and after putting in the recommended doze, my ppm is only 313. I would assume this is because its meant for orchids, but i could just keep adding more until i hit my target ppm. Is this correct?

i don't have pictures of my first grow, but i had thought i had nut burned my plants by giving them a full doze of this same stuff. This was before i had my ppm meter so i was unable to test it then, but now i can see this shouldn't be the case.

yep. then check pH runoff.

Your burn was probably buildup and/or pH issues. Or phytotoxicity.

*wintermute* said:

yep. then check pH runoff.

Click to expand...

Awesome! thank you

If that Shultz fert is organic matter, no need for ppm in or out, just ph water before adding nutes, again only if it’s organic, and go min nutes and adjust as your plants tell you their hungry, better hungry than burnt, Some people make this so complicated, I’ve been their, recently, buy organic nutes, and go by their feeding chart at 1/4 strength for a cpl feedings, all good then increase to 1/2 strength, same same. Good growing

What medium are you running ?

Budzbuddha said:

What medium are you running ?

Click to expand...

Just some basic potting soil. i posted a picture of it along with the progress of the plants. theyre 4 different types of auto's

SnackPackGG said:

Just some basic potting soil.

Click to expand...

There's your problem right there. That your medium has a slow-release fertilizer. Miracle Grow is less than ideal my friend.

Miracle grow is terrible soil. Sometimes I use a tiny bit as filler in my 5 gallons. But I don’t use it for the entire pot. Lost way too many seedlings with only miracle grow soil.

Potting soil is for houseplants so they won't grow too fast. People don't want their houseplants growing 6" every day.

.RootDown said:

There's your problem right there. That your medium has a slow-release fertilizer. Miracle Grow is less than ideal my friend.

Click to expand...

Skoal said:

Miracle grow is terrible soil. Sometimes I use a tiny bit as filler in my 5 gallons. But I don’t use it for the entire pot. Lost way too many seedlings with only miracle grow soil.

Click to expand...

70's natureboy said:

Potting soil is for houseplants so they won't grow too fast. People don't want their houseplants growing 6" every day.

Click to expand...

Thank you guys! not hard to tell im new to growing xD. i guess ill have to look into different soil for my next grow, any recommendation on what to look for? Thanks

You can use promix vegetable organic soil if you don’t want anything crazy