PH in @ 6.5 runoff @ 4.5?

I don't really understand why my nute PH does this, is this a problem?
I also have rust spots on my leaves, are these two part of the same problem?
Thank you for your help.

pics?

I'm using FFOF soil, they're 3.5 wks. into flower I am using GH Trio nutes at 1/2 the strength the amount suggested by GH. I have gone up to 2 tsps. of Cal/Mag per gallon. at water and feed. I also tried a foliar feed of epson salts and they just get worse!?

you are using too much calcium imo and causing lockout. GH micro is 5% calcium, add in the calcium from ocean forest and a wopping 10 teaspoons of calmag per 5 gallon bucket and that seems like it could be a cause.

its not a deficiency that I am familiar with and although it looks like pest damage somewhat, the pest I wouldnt be able to peg so im going with the too much calcium.

It's obviously ph lockout. Why would you add calmag when you already know it's pH related?!?? If the water is going in at 6.5 and coming out at 4.5, where do you soppose that puts your soil at??? 3??

I'm not sure what you did to get your soil so acidic, but it is. You need to flush flush flush flush and then flush again(with proper ph'd water, preferably distilled also). Flush until the water coming out the bottom is the same as the water going in. Then last gallon wiill be nutrient solution about half to 3 quarter strength. Increase next time you feed. That should solve your problems

Thanks sooo much guy's, I'll take your advice.
I flushed and the runoff is at 6.0 Much better

If you are using synthetic nutes in soil you need to be aware of what your plants need and are using. Before feeding or not feeding, do a slurry test. 2" in 2" down, 1 oz of dirt from the root zone. 1 oz of distilled water. Stir a few times, let it chill 15-20 minutes, hlf hour, whatever. Test ppm and ph. That will tell you whats going on in the root zone. If you keep feeding more than your plant is eating, all that stuff just keeps building up, that will only get worse if you keep it up. Gh trio is hydro nutes, meaning designed for a medium that has nothing to begin with. At this point, you probably only need the bloom from here out. Ive seen people do well running happy frog as is for veg and only adding gh bloom for flower as needed. Not ideal but far better than clogging up the works with salts and too much nitrogen. Less is more. Also, nectar for the gods ph up. Liquid limestone. Great source of calcium, helps keep your ph on point in a residual way. Keep at it, youll do just fine

Recently started using NPK RAW microbes in my 3 hydro rezes. I used < half what they say yet pH dropped from ~ 6.0> 4.5

I suggest adjusting pH before watering

Also, if H pens aren't submerged in 7.0 water they will dry out, or if in distilled water they will die. Better to buy several < $20 pens, so you have a backup

Cletus clem:
do a slurry test. 2" in 2" down, 1 oz of dirt from the root zone. 1 oz of distilled water. Stir a few times, let it chill 15-20 minutes, hlf hour, whatever. Test ppm and ph. That will tell you whats going on in the root zone.

I didn't fallow you on this point, could you explain?

_secret said:

It's obviously ph lockout. Why would you add calmag when you already know it's pH related?!?? If the water is going in at 6.5 and coming out at 4.5, where do you soppose that puts your soil at??? 3??

I'm not sure what you did to get your soil so acidic, but it is. You need to flush flush flush flush and then flush again(with proper ph'd water, preferably distilled also). Flush until the water coming out the bottom is the same as the water going in. Then last gallon wiill be nutrient solution about half to 3 quarter strength. Increase next time you feed. That should solve your problems

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Actually no.

We can tell from the pic that its a ph problem but runoff ph is not a good gauge. Checking it can have you chasing your tail.


When checking soil ph the correct way is to use a probe or mix equal parts soil to deionized water and check the slurry.

Creature! said:

I'm using FFOF soil, they're 3.5 wks. into flower I am using GH Trio nutes at 1/2 the strength the amount suggested by GH. I have gone up to 2 tsps. of Cal/Mag per gallon. at water and feed. I also tried a foliar feed of epson salts and they just get worse!?

Click to expand...

Get a pic in natural or blue light so we can see the plants true color.

Creature! said:

Cletus clem:
do a slurry test. 2" in 2" down, 1 oz of dirt from the root zone. 1 oz of distilled water. Stir a few times, let it chill 15-20 minutes, hlf hour, whatever. Test ppm and ph. That will tell you whats going on in the root zone.

I didn't fallow you on this point, could you explain?

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Whitebb2727 summed it up. 2" from the edge of your container, 2" deep, dig down and scoop out some dirt. 1-2 oz. i use a shot glass. However much dirt you use, use an equal amount of distilled deionized water. The reason for digging down like that is thats getting into the meat of the root zone. Youll dig up some roots, dont worry, fuck em, they'll grow back. The neutral water gives you a blank slate to start with. The only way run off is really usefull is in coco when you are running through to get the output to match the input.

flush them till ph comes out the same as your putting in. if you keep a saucer on your pots you can test your runoff when you feed them, it may help you know whats going on. if the ph drops ( more salts) their drinking and if the ph goes up (less salts) their eatting. thats the way i was told. you should be watering/feeding so that you get about 10% run off, to help with salt build up.

SUNDOG said:

flush them till ph comes out the same as your putting in. if you keep a saucer on your pots you can test your runoff when you feed them, it may help you know whats going on. if the ph drops ( more salts) their drinking and if the ph goes up (less salts) their eatting. thats the way i was told. you should be watering/feeding so that you get about 10% run off, to help with salt build up.

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First part is true for coco, not so much with soil. Run off is not accurate. Think about it like this: you put in at 600 ppm and ph 6.5, it comes out at 950 ppm ph 5.8. Youve washed things out of the root zone so its now different then it was. You can guess, you may be close but a slurry test will tell you woth alot more accuracy. Also, run off is a rough number of the container as a whole. The out skirts may have far different number than whats going on where it really counts. I would only use run off in coco when trying to get the input to match the output.

I made up fresh nutes today for my veg tent. Alas 1/4 is a female and the 2 clones were taken late, and may not reveg

I received RAW Kelp which I added prior to the micros. I was surprised that the pH was 7.1. Maybe the Kelp buffers the microbes. I just asked NPK

Here's pics of the leafs that gave it up to save the plant. I would be deoling them in a week anyway

Cletus clem said:

First part is true for coco, not so much with soil. Run off is not accurate. Think about it like this: you put in at 600 ppm and ph 6.5, it comes out at 950 ppm ph 5.8. Youve washed things out of the root zone so its now different then it was. You can guess, you may be close but a slurry test will tell you woth alot more accuracy. Also, run off is a rough number of the container as a whole. The out skirts may have far different number than whats going on where it really counts. I would only use run off in coco when trying to get the input to match the output.

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What's ideal ph range for feeds when using coco....just started new grow with coco....used soil previous. I'm aware u have to water daily with coco but at what ph Cheers