Why PH in coco is so low

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Beezelbuz

Active Member
Been trying to research but have found nothing on why ph in coco is so low. 5.5 to 5.8 is what I keep seeing as the sweet spot.

If cal/mag is readily absorbed at 6.0 to 6.5 and cal/mag problems are so prolific in coco grows why is 5.5 to 5.8 the sweet spot?

Coco does not ph buffer so I am not sure what would be the benefit of going so low when all nutrients can't be absorbed and has the potential to lock out others.

Any scientific docs would be great to. Thanks
 
Rurumo

Rurumo

Well-Known Member
I've experimented with higher PH in coco with good results. I flowered at 6.3 each feed and had an excellent grow, but not any better than at 5.8. I think maybe Mg absorbs better at the higher PH but I'm not certain. I actually let my nutrient PH vary between 5.8 and 6.3, as long as it hits somewhere in between, I leave it.
 
xtsho

xtsho

Well-Known Member
I don't care what some call the sweet spot. I've always gone with 6.0. I have never used calmag and I never get deficiencies. I think most issues in coco arise from feeding too much of something not a lack of something.


HydoDan said:
Why & How to Use CalMag in Coco - Cal Mag Deficiency - Coco For Cannabis
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That site is full of incorrect information. This is just one example from that website that is incorrect:

"You should add CalMag supplement to all the irrigation water that you provide to the plant throughout the grow."

That's a blanket statement that doesn't take into account the fact that any complete nutrient is going to have plenty of Ca and Mg.

That site also instructs growers to check runoff EC and to flush your plants with FloraKleen before harvest. Neither of which is necessary. I often wonder why so many make things so complicated to grow a plant then I see what people are reading on sites like that.

I've been growing in coco longer than that site has been around and I have never once added calmag to my nutrient solution. In fact I've never used calmag in any style of grow. Adding calmag when it isn't needed can cause nutrient issues. I feed just base nutrients that contain both calcium and magnesium so there is no need to add anymore with a calmag additive.
 
B

Beezelbuz

Active Member
xtsho said:
I don't care what some call the sweet spot. I've always gone with 6.0. I have never used calmag and I never get deficiencies. I think most issues in coco arise from feeding too much of something not a lack of something.




That site is full of incorrect information. This is just one example from that website that is incorrect:

"You should add CalMag supplement to all the irrigation water that you provide to the plant throughout the grow."

That's a blanket statement that doesn't take into account the fact that any complete nutrient is going to have plenty of Ca and Mg.

That site also instructs growers to check runoff EC and to flush your plants with FloraKleen before harvest. Neither of which is necessary. I often wonder why so many make things so complicated to grow a plant then I see what people are reading on sites like that.

I've been growing in coco longer than that site has been around and I have never once added calmag to my nutrient solution. In fact I've never used calmag in any style of grow. Adding calmag when it isn't needed can cause nutrient issues. I feed just base nutrients that contain both calcium and magnesium so there is no need to add anymore with a calmag additive.
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Awesome that's basically my thinking is that info for low ph might be slightly wrong. Going to try and go for 6.0 for a while to see what happens. 5.8 is what I'm at and only 1 girl is showing signs so I know it can't be WAY off
 
xtsho

xtsho

Well-Known Member
rkymtnman said:
anywhere from 5.5 to 6.5 seems to be fine with dwc and now coco. i think the key is not to lock on 1 value but let it fluctuate like @Rurumo mentioned. and then you end up using less pH adjusters too IMO.
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I usually don't even check the pH. I don't switch around with nutrients very often. I mix 5 gallons at a time so after I've mixed the solution and figure out how much pH down to use if any I just go by those measurements from then on. I got a bag of MaxiBloom awhile back, mixed it and checked it a couple times and then stopped bothering with checking the pH. My water pH fluctuates so I'm sure that the solution can range from 5.7 to 6.2 or so using the same measurements.

Letting the pH drift is common when growing hydro. I know some monitor it daily and adjust it often but as has been mentioned allowing it to fluctuate between a range than trying to hold it at a specific number is fine and is actually beneficial.
 
rkymtnman

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
xtsho said:
I usually don't even check the pH. I don't switch around with nutrients very often. I mix 5 gallons at a time so after I've mixed the solution and figure out how much pH down to use if any I just go by those measurements from then on. I got a bag of MaxiBloom awhile back, mixed it and checked it a couple times and then stopped bothering with checking the pH. My water pH fluctuates so I'm sure that the solution can range from 5.7 to 6.2 or so using the same measurements.

Letting the pH drift is common when growing hydro. I know some monitor it daily and adjust it often but as has been mentioned allowing it to fluctuate between a range than trying to hold it at a specific number is fine and is actually beneficial.
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i'm the opposite. i've tried alot of different nute routines when i was in dwc. now that i'm kinda new to coco, i've just stuck with h3ad for now since it's simple and proven. that'll change when i fire up again this fall
 
DrOgkush

DrOgkush

Well-Known Member
I’m in pure coir. I do not use cal mag. I never had a deficiency in that dept. I run my ph 5.8-6.1. Just because I figure it drifts in the media before the next feeding. But now I’m seeing 6.3 is okay. So I might extend my range now.
Typically I aim 5.8 rock soild until flower. Then gradually raise to 6.1. No cal mag. I use flora flex dry in one tent. Maxibloom on another. And ph perfect coco by AN on the others. I think cal mag was important years back. Not so much anymore. But that’s me thinking. Lol. Don’t hold me on that. To answer your question. I think that’s what the roots want. Ph of 6. I mean soil buffers to what they want. Coco is an inert. So rules change.
 
xtsho

xtsho

Well-Known Member
DrOgkush said:
I’m in pure coir. I do not use cal mag. I never had a deficiency in that dept. I run my ph 5.8-6.1. Just because I figure it drifts in the media before the next feeding. But now I’m seeing 6.3 is okay. So I might extend my range now.
Typically I aim 5.8 rock soild until flower. Then gradually raise to 6.1. No cal mag. I use flora flex dry in one tent. Maxibloom on another. And ph perfect coco by AN on the others. I think cal mag was important years back. Not so much anymore. But that’s me thinking. Lol. Don’t hold me on that. To answer your question. I think that’s what the roots want. Ph of 6. I mean soil buffers to what they want. Coco is an inert. So rules change.
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100% coir here as well. I ditched that nasty perlite years ago.

I didn't even know there was a calmag product until I started reading online forums and people were constantly talking about it. I understand plant nutrition so I looked at the ingredients in what I was using and realized there was plenty of Ca and Mg plus using tap water so I never bothered with it. Most people don't need it. I don't know why you would need to add additional every feeding if there is already plenty in your nutrients. Too much can do more harm than good and is probably one of the reasons so many new growers having problems start out their posts with "Calmag every watering." It doesn't help when you have sites stating you need to use it with every watering and then conveniently add a referral link to that product.


rkymtnman said:
h3ad's formula for coco. based off lucas. 6 micro/9 bloom + 1g/gal of epsom
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Excuse my obvious ignorance as to what h3ad is but could you elaborate further? :mrgreen: What does h3ad stand for?
 
Hollatchaboy

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
xtsho said:
100% coir here as well. I ditched that nasty perlite years ago.

I didn't even know there was a calmag product until I started reading online forums and people were constantly talking about it. I understand plant nutrition so I looked at the ingredients in what I was using and realized there was plenty of Ca and Mg plus using tap water so I never bothered with it. Most people don't need it. I don't know why you would need to add additional every feeding if there is already plenty in your nutrients. Too much can do more harm than good and is probably one of the reasons so many new growers having problems start out their posts with "Calmag every watering." It doesn't help when you have sites stating you need to use it with every watering and then conveniently add a referral link to that product.




Excuse my obvious ignorance as to what h3ad is but could you elaborate further? :mrgreen: What does h3ad stand for?
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H3ad formula is like Lucas, but for coco. So gh flora micro 6ml, bloom 9ml, and 1gram epsom.
 
rkymtnman

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
Hollatchaboy said:
Good call. I got a bag of cana coco a few weeks back. I was just wondering if Lucas would've worked with it, but I guess I'll try h3ad instead.
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here's his original post:

H3ad goes Coco

Highyas guys... After watching and reading and generally being impressed with the results you've all been getting with the coco medium, I've had to make the switch myself... Being the rebel that I am...Not having coco specific nutes, and having a full supply of GH flora micro and bloom, I've...
www.icmag.com
 
Hollatchaboy

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
rkymtnman said:
here's his original post:

H3ad goes Coco

Highyas guys... After watching and reading and generally being impressed with the results you've all been getting with the coco medium, I've had to make the switch myself... Being the rebel that I am...Not having coco specific nutes, and having a full supply of GH flora micro and bloom, I've...
www.icmag.com
Click to expand...
Good lookin out
 
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