Whats the perfect PPM range for the water in my resevoir....What should my res temp be?
Hi CubanRaftRider,
This is just a quick guide to get you going. You will find as you develop a deeper relationship with your plants you will discover their individual sweet spots for feeding. Just stick with it.
clones - 0-150 ppm (start low and build up slowly)
Vegging plant 150-450 ppm (some go higher, I prefer less is more strategy)
Flowering plant 500-1800 ppm (i rarely ever exceed 1200 ppm in peak flower (last 2-3 weeks of feeding before flush) and always pull above average yield.
mothers - 500-700 ppm
Learn the symptoms of over feeding, over watering and dehydration.
Some quick tips.
Plant roots have an osmotic pressure range that determines their max feeding need . Go over the range (over feeding) and water will be pulled from plant through roots (dehydration) as issue progresses burning of root hairs and leaf edges will begin. Yield will be negatively effected as well has resin production due to recovery time needed by plant (hydro recovery time usually 3-4 days before normal growth will resume unless over feeding was abnormally high). Under feeding is always better then overfeeding. Some evidence shows the stress of underfeeding and an optical drought if done correctly can boost flower size resin production but that's another topic.
Water temp and oxygen levels are related. Colder water hold excess oxygen and wards off water related pathogens. 68-71 ideal range. Too low temps can also activate pathogens and cause shock wilt. I Once knew an old mountain grower whom had extreme wilting several times a day. He consulted with me and we made a trip up. Found the water temp in res was below 50. Every watering shocked plants into wilt. Added fish tank heater and he never saw another shock wilt again. Warm reservoirs are a breading ground for issues like root rot and pathogens too. Stay in range.
Happy growing and medicating.
~HD