A Bunch of Ph Questions Pertaining to Ph in Combination with Nutes (This Is Long)

newbygrower

Member
2/3 of my Tiberon "Shark" (Superskunk and Northern Lights)germ'd and popped. The UFO autoflower freebie actually got trapped under a piece of wood in the peat mix, rotted, and died. I have 2 left and they are looking good( 17 days old) but i don't want to make the same mistake with my bagseed plants and lockout the nutes.When i started my first grow i didnt care about PH Testing and it got too salty and locked out the nutes. Later, i got a PH tester. I was using a PH test tube with some red stuff you drop 5 drops in, shake it, and compare color for PH results and double checked that number with PH test strips. I wasnt checking soil after and i didnt know it but my soil was right around 7.1. So lastnight i gave it a flush of PH water of 5.5(mixed it with low PH cause i knew it would go up alot) and i checked the soil today and one plant sits at 7 (mabe 6.9, i have a cheap ph/moiture tester from lowes now, you insert the metal spike tubes into the soil and the needle tells you the number). and the other at 6 and a half(this was 6 this morning). My soil mixture is 1/3 vermiculite 1/3 perlite, and 1/3 spagnum peat moss. The perlite has MG food in it. As for nutes i punched them in the face with a full strength 15-30-15 all purpose K-mart plant food (wish i had Jacks Classic but wish in one hand and shit in the other you get shitty plant food), appropriate measure of Superthrive, and a teaspoon of epsom salt about 3 days ago when they were 2 weeks old (i know some ppl only feed 1/2 strenth@ 2 wks old). I use superthrive cause it has a cool bottle and it seems to be good for my babies. The epsom salt i started adding when i noticed a Mg defficiency in my first grow. I'm assuming since i am careing for this second grow like my first and i don't have any micro nutes in any of my plant food besides: boron 0.02%, copper 0.07%, iron 0.15%, Manganese 0.05%, Molybdenum 0.0005%, zinc 0.06% and it is CHELATED whatever that means, i should go ahead and add some Mg aka epsom salt. I've been trying to find the 16 nutes MG wants on here but when i search the threads i get lost from all the keyword matches.
OK THATS MY SITUATION:!:. hERE ARE MY QUESTIONS:?:: I'm gonna feed them every two weeks. Next feeding will be Jacks Classic dynamic duo blossom booster 10-30-20 and all purpose JC 20-20-20. It is suppose to have all 16 micro nutes as well. So no more shitty Mcdonalds for my bitches they're getting steak next time! Although i am getting better plant food I'd still like to understand whats up with these crazy PH readings.

:?: 1. Do all plant foods bring PH up??? My current situation i am gaining about 1-1 1/2 PH overnight in my soil.
:?: 2. High PH is salty correct? Alkaline.
:?: 3. Epsom salt is ok every other watering( I usually water every 3-4 days but the soil set up i have now with both perlite and vermiculite is averaging 2-3 days). or when i feed? Ofcourse i won't be using epsom after this week.
:?: 4. Is testing the runoff PH important??? I assume what water stays in the soil is what counts. I know whatever i add will most likly go up by a point. And what do i learn from testing runoff PH?
:?: 5. Even though i flushed lastnight should i flush again tonight???? My babes are in 2.59 qt pots. I used just 1 gallon of approx 5.5 PH water. I know the rule of thumb is 1 gallon water per gallon of medium but i really thought a half gallon each of that low PH would have lowered it.
:?: 6. Why in the fookin hell...and how the fookin hell does my PH raise after i add it to the soil? It's just strange to me that i added 5.5 and 24 hrs later it is 6.5-7.
:?: 7. I use Brita filtered tap water for my plants. It is usually 7-7.4 PH. If i want my soil to maintain a 6ish PH what do you suggest my water and food be before i add it to the soil? So far it looks like it raises 1- 1.5 in 24 hrs. So 5 PH???? I do not want to drown these bitches because A. they were expensive seeds to me and B. I just don't want to. Thats why i am asking on here before i kill mah bitches give them root rot or whatever else might happen from over watering 17 day old babies.
:?: 8. Last month i was reading a thread about MJ tea. So i got a gallon and threw in some Coffee for nitrogen, several different kinds of random weeds that were growing in my backyard, eggshells, some tuna and grass. it's been brewing all this time. Just double checking but do i dilute that with as much water???? or does it need diluted more than that? The water is effin nasty green. It almost looks too bad to use. Green bubbles n shit from brewing. I think i will experiment on a house plant first to see if it dies.
:?: 9. Is rain water good for MJ? That sounds like a dumb question lol.
:?: 10. What does Molasses look like in a package and where do i buy it? A grocery store? The food isles? I know it helps with yield but is that it? and how do i use it? Is it water soluable and just add with regular waterings or feedings?
:?: 11. What are the 16 micro nutrients for MJ to thrive?
IF YOU ACTUALLY READ ALL THIS THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE ANY HELP OR ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE ME. I GET A SANDY VAGINA PRETTY EASY SO PLZ DON'T BE RUDE TO ME IF YOU THINK I AM A FUKIN IDIOT. JUST RESPOND WITH A CAPITOL "L" FOR LOSER AND I WILL GIVE YOU +REP FOR YOUR HONESTY. AND +REP TO ANYBODY THAT REPLIES WITH HELP. Once again thanks guys. This website is the best thing since sliced bread.:eyesmoke:
 

newbygrower

Member
So the minerals in my soil are little acid eating nazi's and continueing to raise my PH after i water? So if this is the case how do i neutralize the minerals from neutralizing the acid? Is this a soil problem or is flushing gonna work?

thanks for quick response +rep
 

newbygrower

Member
Krikey! This post has had 53 views already! I'm glad i havn't got the capitol "L" lmao. I'm guessing you answered my main question Anonymuss thank you. Now if I could get ten more questions answered I will be all set for the cannibus cup. I just thought of another question: When a plant is locked out from recieving nutes through it's soil/roots, is it also locking out nutrients from it's leaves? If you think about it the soil having too much of acid/salt is easy to understand how it gets locked out. But the leaves aren't surrounded by an over ballance of one or the other. So i was thinking folior feeding along with making sure your soil isnt locking out nutes is pretty much the name of the game. I've grown out of the new growers erge to water too much and i finally figured out the main principles of CFL lights and what KIND of CFL to use and when. This PH business is quite confusing for me. If the minerals in the soil is PH 7 and it constantly raises how do i get it to stop? Like one guy said on another post, i could keep adding PH down but i won't solve the real problem. I am gonna flush them again i reckon. If the minerals are causing the PH to go up, I shall flush it until gone....but will they come back? what would jesus do?
 

WestAussie

Active Member
Hmm, it's weird, 'cause the peat moss (quite acidic) in your grow medium should help to buffer it from crazy alkalinity spikes, and the magnesium in the epsom salts should be able to stop calcium carbonate (lime) forming and increasing alkalinity. No idea why it's rising. Usually the nitrogen in fertilisers increases the acidity (lowers pH) due to it being a food source for bacteria who then excrete acidifying waste...
 

newbygrower

Member
I'm really starting to wonder if this PH tester is off. It gives differant readings the deeper you shove it in the soil. i went ahead and flushed it again and i guess i will just keep a good eye on it and hope for the best. I broke out another soil tester. It tests NPK and PH. I have to take soil samples, dry them out, and blah blah blah lol. yea man i don't know what the eff is going on. I mean they are growing and thats the gole i guess lol. Thanks for the response.
 

newbygrower

Member
Can i get at least one of these questions answered? Or is general marijuana knowledge really a secret? Ok, who's the guy with 117 accounts that keeps viewing this post but won't answer?
 

newbygrower

Member
TY WestAussie for Reading my post cry for help and caring enough to at least respond with an explanation of all the facts that deliver you to a post-conclusion of bewilderment. Thank you Anonymuss for at least shedding a short flicker of light on the correct solar system of which galaxy i should begin my search for answers. The other one hundred and seventeen times i checked this post for answers i was on differant accounts. It's gonna take a long time to check the mail on all those accounts. mabe i should just quit trying to get questions answered from a marijuana growing community and focus more on getting my questions answered from a "whys this mayonase taste like salt" community.
 

WestAussie

Active Member
Alright, no need to get sarcastic, mate.

Have you replaced that pH meter yet, or have you simply been formulating that bitter response this whole time?

1) No.
2) Not necessarily
3) I don't think you need epsom salts all that much if you're using scheme water. Depends on your source. Calcium buffers against alkalinity; as does Mag to a point. Situational.
4) Testing run-off pH is only useful in knowing what state your medium is in. If you flush weekly it shouldn't be all that necessary. Your main res (in a drain to waste system) is the main thing to worry about obviously.
5) You have to "flush" it. Read "wash" for flush. You have to disolve built up salts. Some disolve faster than others. The length of a flush would be more important than its frequency IMO.
6) No idea. Maybe your water is especially more buffered than normal water.
7) Meh. You won't kill them with pHs of between 6 and 7, so what are you stressing for? Yes some elements won't be AS available, but you won't kill em....
8) Search that on a general gardening site, mate...
9) Yes, and yes it is.
10) Seriously? Brown. Any grocery store! Gees... It's good as a chelating agent. You can google that. It's a sugar, so yeah, it's water soluble as opposed to mayonaise soluble...
11) MJ is from planet earth. And it is a weed. It's macro and micro nutrients are pretty much the same as for 99% of species out there. It AINT a proteacea, so you can relax...

Now, I can't be arsed responding to anyone else's posts, because yours was so demanding. Thanks! ;-)
 

thexception

Well-Known Member
:?: 1. Do all plant foods bring PH up??? mine tend to do the same, i pre-mix sulfur in the soil to combat this
:?: 2. High PH is salty correct? high ph is alkaline which also can be salty yes
:?: 3. Epsom salt is ok every other watering...yes however I find calmag works much better & kills 2 with one stone
:?: 4. Is testing the runoff PH important??? yes u should be checking runoff, it will tell u the true ph, whereas soil testing can tend to be different readings in different area, if there are air pockets, hot pockets, etc. and when u use ur probe u should always do so with wet soil, approx 10 min after watering & in at least 4 spots.
:?: 5. Even though i flushed lastnight should i flush again tonight???? u should never flush 2 days in a row, that is how plants get overwatered.
:?: 6. Why in the fookin hell...and how the fookin hell does my PH raise after i add it to the soil? water doesnt raise or lower ph of soil like that. But when u have nutes in the soil & u add water, therefore releasing them, that in effect can again raise soil ph.
:?: 7. I use Brita filtered tap water for my plants. It is usually 7-7.4 PH. If i want my soil to maintain a 6ish PH what do you suggest my water and food be before i add it to the soil? everything u put in ur soil, water-nutes, etc. should be phd from 6.5-7.0 before u put it in. if ur having that many problems with ph raising up & do not plan to transplant (where u could add sulfur), u could simply work in some sulfur (a couple of teaspoon fulls) in the upper inch of ur soil in the pot, & everytime u water that should help control ph.
8. Last month i was reading a thread about MJ tea. So i got a gallon and threw in some Coffee for nitrogen, several different kinds of random weeds that were growing in my backyard, eggshells, some tuna and grass. it's been brewing all this time. Just double checking but do i dilute that with as much water???? or does it need diluted more than that? The water is effin nasty green. It almost looks too bad to use. Green bubbles n shit from brewing. I think i will experiment on a house plant first to see if it dies. Cant answer this one other then I would experiment first with house plant. I surely wouldnt grab random garden weeks that could have bugs on them & put it into a concoction for my plants!
:?: 9. Is rain water good for MJ? That sounds like a dumb question lol. if the shoe fits? LOL
:?: 10. What does Molasses look like in a package and where do i buy it? A grocery store? The food isles? I know it helps with yield but is that it? and how do i use it? Is it water soluable and just add with regular waterings or feedings? ideally ur suppose to use "blackstrap molasses" which u should be able to find at a hydro store. It is the last boiling that contains all the nutrients, none of the sugar. I keep it simple so I can get it at the grocery store & I use the unsulphured molasses. It is Grandma's unsulphured molasses & generally it is found by the pancake syrups.
:?: 11. What are the 16 micro nutrients for MJ to thrive?
Nitrogen (N) mobile
Phosphorus (P) mobile
Potassium (K) mobile
Magnesium (Mg) mobile
Zinc (Zn) mobile
Calcium (Ca) immobile
Boron (B) immobile
Chlorine (Cl) immobile
Cobalt (Co) immobile
Copper (Cu) immobiile
Iron (Fe) immobile
Manganese (Mn) immobile
Molybdenum (Mo) immobile
Selenium (Se) immobile
Silicon (Si) immobile
Sulfur (S) immobile
 

anonymuss

Well-Known Member
ph is affected by salts aka nutes. nutes that are chemicals are acids like phos nitro potash and the fuckin micro nutes are minerals like calsium magnese and copper, alkaline. usually tap water is PH 7 or higher cuz of the calcium in the water and adding nutes and shit should keep the soil ph 7 at the most. (small doses to evenly build up the salt PPMS)

if somethings wrong dont go in a panic and start flushing all the time thats how shit dies.

just saturate soil so its evenly wet but not dripping wet, and leave it the fuck alone till the planter is light feeling.

this way u can watch it over the next few days and see if its getting better or worse.

if the leaves look like they need shit give it to em on the next saturation
 
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