soil help, PH of nutrient solution and PH runoff

i posted this in another area but im sure ill get more responses here...

this is long but i wanted to add as much info as possible, please help if you have experience! well i watered my plants today with straight tap water in an attempt to flush it because im getting yellowing leaves with some burnt spots. well the tap ph is 7.4, i collected the first run off that came out of the pot and it read 5.6 im thinking this is slightly low and im assuming the peat based soil (promix bx) and the Fox farm nutrient line that i use lowers the ph of the soil. i usually water with 6.5 PH nutrient and water solutions. after a 15 minute flush with the hose slowly releasing water(not sure on the output volume), 7.4 ph, the run off reads 6.2. which is where i would want to be or a little lower than where i would want to be.

my question is :: should i start Phing my nutrient and water solutions up to 7.4 to accommodate for the soil being so low? hope someone can help, it would be greatly appreciated.

I thought 7.0 was the target for soil? Raise the PH of the water till the runoff is where you want it, then try the standard PH.

cool man greatly appreciated, that was exactly what i was thinking

It's sounds similar to battling a PH difference in Rockwol.

well what is the proper ph run off for soil?! its really confusing having to compensate higher ph for more acid nutrient and soil bases

does my leaf problems look similar to nutrient lock out? ive been adding extra N to the mix and also lightly foliar spraying N in low doses

For what's it worth this is what I do. It might not help you now, but it will help you later.

I pick my soil in advance and I take samples and send them to MSU and have a soil test done. I use tests 1b and 2. If you have water issues you could have your water tested, it might reveal more than you suspect. You can pick up a soil sample box from your MSU extension every county has one, they are like a buck or two. Samples must be in their box. It should take about a week or two.

As a crop I tell them it's for a Bluegrass lawn because it likes ph between 6-7. Mj is a dicot and grass is a monocot. But, their nutrient needs are very similar.

Now I use the same soil supplier and, knock on wood, I haven't had any problems since.

Here's the links:
http://www.css.msu.edu/PDF/2012_Fee_Schedule.pdf
http://www.css.msu.edu/SPNL/

I'm beginning to think about taking a sample just before flower to see if anything needs adjusting. But, haven't, actually, done that yet.

Beagle said:

I thought 7.0 was the target for soil? Raise the PH of the water till the runoff is where you want it, then try the standard PH.

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Promix isn't soil.

Throw your fox farm nutes in the trash, and get a RO system.

With good nutes like Dynagro or GH Maxi series and RO water there is no need to PH, it comes out perfect in the high 5's or low 6's depending how much pro-tekt you use.

It looks like a Mag problem ,and probably lockout to me. I had the same problem with FF nutes, they suck imo.

fletchman said:

Promix isn't soil.

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soil-less

fletchman said:

Throw your fox farm nutes in the trash, and get a RO system.

With good nutes like Dynagro or GH Maxi series and RO water there is no need to PH, it comes out perfect in the high 5's or low 6's depending how much pro-tekt you use.

It looks like a Mag problem ,and probably lockout to me. I had the same problem with FF nutes, they suck imo.

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damn... ive been thinking that, but i still have so much of their nutes left.. like their additives


i ph and tds check everything that goes into that plant, nothing is out of the ordinary with what's going in them. what do you suggest to do to fix the mag problem? raise the ph by flushing? i flushed one plant today with symptoms, the first run off that came out of the pot read 5.6, i flushed and it read 6-6.2 with flush water ph at 7.4. every time ive grown ive gotten these same results, this is my 9th harvest and i always have this issue ive always used fox farm.

streets said:

soil-less



damn... ive been thinking that, but i still have so much of their nutes left.. like their additives


i ph and tds check everything that goes into that plant, nothing is out of the ordinary with what's going in them. what do you suggest to do to fix the mag problem? raise the ph by flushing? i flushed one plant today with symptoms, the first run off that came out of the pot read 5.6, i flushed and it read 6-6.2 with flush water ph at 7.4. every time ive grown ive gotten these same results, this is my 9th harvest and i always have this issue ive always used fox farm.

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I use Sunshine mix #4 same thing as promix, and I PH at 5.8-6.3 every time.

I threw all my FF nutes in the trash, and now I use Dyna-gro or Maxi-gro-Maxi-bloom with Dyna-gro Protekt. I haven't had any problems at all, my plants look great.

I think FF nutes lack in the micros, and I will never use that shit again.

fletchman said:

I use Sunshine mix #4 same thing as promix, and I PH at 5.8-6.3 every time.

I threw all my FF nutes in the trash, and now I use Dyna-gro or Maxi-gro-Maxi-bloom with Dyna-gro Protekt. I haven't had any problems at all, my plants look great.

I think FF nutes lack in the micros, and I will never use that shit again.

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well i am gonig to switch nute lines, what excatly do you use, i figure i will be harvesting 20 plants every 5 weeks, vegging for 4.5 weeks

here is some more shots from today

I like the GH Flora Series with Roots Coco Fiber in Smart Pots. I follow their Run to Waste Expert program and have been having great results.

I had the exact problem. Fox farm nutes, pro mix bx. shade leaves would all yellow and die. I have since switched to ionic nute line with cal mag additive and havn't looked back! Growth is lush green from top to bottom. I keep ph right about 6.2 to 5.9. I am going to try metro mix at the recomendation of the people at the hydro shop. I hope this helps.

ive had a problem with leaves turning yellow during flower but give them 20 20 20 when i see this happening. epsom salt or cal mag might work also. i have cured plants by mixing a tea spoon of epsom salt and folier feeding with some thing that has micro nutrients.

all you yellow leafers-

should start here. https://www.rollitup.org/newbie-central/316301-calling-all-noob-growers.html

the burn is from the foliar feeding you're doing. the yellow is from the N deficiency you're having from using FF and their scheduling.

personally i don't foliar feed. i believe if the plant is happy at the root, there is no need for it. i do spray ionized water on foliage during lights off to control bugs. i notice doing this makes the plant go into a kind of hyper mode, where it is very particular about what's on it's leaves, as well as sucking the pot dry in a flash.

that's another story.

the yellowing, being at the top of the plant would indicate a deficiency rather than a lockout. saw your thread about fert's. dynamic duo was created battling this. by adding more grow to the bloom solution until the strain stops yellowing. they are all different.

dyna-gro is also good.

pro mix and sunshine aren't the same. never read the label on either(ya right), but used them both. personally i like promix. hp(high porosity). i add 3 tablespoons dolomite per gallon of soil, to control ph and add magnesium.

Hear all kinds of problems with FF nutes.. Mainly N def.. but A LOT.. I do love their soil though.. No complaints except for the fungus gnats.. My plants are THRIVING though..

I decided to go with Maxi Bloom, Aquarium water and Molasses.. I wont be using anything else unless a deficiency manifests but I doubt it.

am i the only person that tastes their run off . i dip my finger in it if it tastes like shit i have to fix it. thank god for hippies.

Lol how do castings taste?i bet u get colds alot from tasting run.off just drink water leave the brocheckin to sumthing digital