PRO-MIX HP-CC & Jack's Classic Citrus Feed Grow Journal

DCDan

New Member
Hello. I'm DCDan. I'm a new member but have been looking at informtion on the site for a while. I've grown coco for years and switched to HP-CC for ease on this recent grow. I am starting this grow journal to record my grow with two very popular products in order to clarify things for myself and other growers who are new to the nutrient line or peat based media. Would appreciate help from the more well known growers who preferably use either/both of these products. Thank you.

Things started of very well but I have been experience issues lately that appear to be caused either by pH problems.
- I received clones and started feeding them Jack's Classic Citrus Feed at 1/4 TSP per gallon, as well as 2mL of Botanicare Calmag, silica, 5mL of kelp meal, enzyme and mammoth microbes. Water was pHed down to 5.8 from 6.8-6.9. I would not feed until run off, but kept the medium well saturated.
- No problems occured with this feeding schedule (every watering) for 5 weeks.
- Two weeks in to flower: Began noticing discoloration of lower leaves that extended beyond standard cannibalization/ discolooration of lower leaves.
- I tested run off with a standard feeding of Jacks+ (averages 900 ppm) and found ppm of run off to be 3000 but pH was at 5.8.
- Heavily Flushed plants with plain filtered water (250 ppm) pHed down from 7.0 to 5.8.
- Began to see what appear to be Calcium deficiency (red rust spots)
- In order to avoid potential Nitrogen Toxicity and locking out of calcium, fed KISS method of MaxiBloom at 7 gram per gallon. pHed water down from 6.0 to 5.8.
- What appeared to be Calcium defficiency after watering that prompted MaxiBloom feeding, spreads further up plants and on to new plants.

New clones were started: Started feeding at 1/8 TSP per gallon of Jacks Classic Citrus Feed + same levels of other ammendments. pHed down from 7.0 to 5.8.
- 4 or 5 days after transplanting to 3 gallon pots, multiple issues begin. Leaf Claw (Nitrogen Toxcicity? or pH issue?), what appears to be phosphoporous (or pH?), calcium (or pH?)

Testing:
Tested run off of "problem plants" ppm came out very high (2000-3000 ppm) even for new plants that received 1/8 Tsp of jacks. pH of run off tested at 5.8-5.9.

Run off Test on New Bail of Pro-Mix Media:
Water @ 7.0 pH, throug media dropped to 6.2
Jacks Citrus @ 7.0, run off 6.4
MaxiBloom @ 5.9-6.0, run off: 6.0

Run Off Test on well established Solo Cup Plants that had received 1/8 TSP Jacks+:
Water @ 7.0, run off: 5.8
Jacks Citrus @ 6.9, run off 6.0
MaxiBloom @ 6.1, run off: 5.7

Fungal Test:
Cut bag off of larger plant with severe leaf clas and phosphorous deficiency (pH problem?). Roots are very healthy, white and fuzzy. No signs of root rot or insufficient oxygenation.

Problem Diagnoses:
- pHing to 5.7-5.8 + acidifiction of peat is causing pH to fall below optimal range.
- Potential problems caused by constant use of pH down (phosphoric acid)

Solution:
- No more use of pH up or down
- Allow media to full dry between feedings
- When feeding plant, allow ample run off to prevent any build up of salts.
 

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DCDan

New Member
Here are the plants in flower who received MaxiBloom at 7 grams per gallon pHed to 5.8 after they were flushed also pHed to 5.8. to me it looks like calcium deficiency. My solution is to feed MaxiBloom at 7 grams per gallon and use no pH down or up. pH will be at 6.0-6.1. feed until run off.
 

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DCDan

New Member
Recently transplanted clones that began showing deficiencies 4 or 5 days after transplant. Flushed with filtered water (250 ppm) pHed to 5.7-5.8. when yellowing started, received 24 oz of Jack's at 1/8 tsp/ Gallon+ additional amendments. Appears to be nitrogen and magnesium deficiency.

Solution: feed Jack's+amendments at standard dosage of 1/8th Tsp/gallon and leave pH at 6.9 assuming it will drop down?? Help would be appreciated.
 

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horribleherk

Well-Known Member
I'm not the sharpest but I've recently went over to a soilless medium but mine is coco based (royal gold tupur) you're the second grower I've ran into with the same problem using the peat stuff I'm really happy with the tupur & use it straight out of the bag I use calmag @ 2 ml. per gal. using gh 3 part nutes jacks & the maxi series nutes established nutrients & shouldn't give you those kinds of problems the ppm. Of you're runoff is what to me would be cause for concern I've never checked my runoff but I haven't had any problems I have 1 tent with e&f & the other is dtw also have one outside as well all are in 3 gal smart pots if your problems don't straighten out you might want to look into another mediumIMG_2911.JPG IMG_2913.JPG IMG_2910.JPG
 

DCDan

New Member
I'm not the sharpest but I've recently went over to a soilless medium but mine is coco based (royal gold tupur) you're the second grower I've ran into with the same problem using the peat stuff I'm really happy with the tupur & use it straight out of the bag I use calmag @ 2 ml. per gal. using gh 3 part nutes jacks & the maxi series nutes established nutrients & shouldn't give you those kinds of problems the ppm. Of you're runoff is what to me would be cause for concern I've never checked my runoff but I haven't had any problems I have 1 tent with e&f & the other is dtw also have one outside as well all are in 3 gal smart pots if your problems don't straighten out you might want to look into another mediumView attachment 4022370 View attachment 4022372 View attachment 4022369
Great job man. I love coco. I miss it tbh. It has just gotten increaslying expensive and I got tired of all the salt I had to wash out of the bricks/bales. That royal gold looks great. I think I'm already too deep in promix at the moment to make the switch but thanks for the recommendation. I might have to get a bag and try it out.
 

horribleherk

Well-Known Member
Great job man. I love coco. I miss it tbh. It has just gotten increaslying expensive and I got tired of all the salt I had to wash out of the bricks/bales. That royal gold looks great. I think I'm already too deep in promix at the moment to make the switch but thanks for the recommendation. I might have to get a bag and try it out.
I payed $11.00 a bag for a 2 cu ft bag there is other stuff in it besides coco & perlite
 

DCDan

New Member
They all looked like this until about a week ago. Really healthy, green and happy. I really think I've just been putting pH too low. Making sure run off occurs with this medium requires a ton of water and it takes forever to dry out.
 

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All I know is I tested it and the ppm is were around 3000 I freaked I don't know what to sank have always used pro Max HP this is the 1st time I ever got HPCC the guy said it wasn't Danakil just about but I feel like something is wrong with the or something
 

younger_dryas

Active Member
I know this thread is pushing a year old, but I wanted to reach out to see if you ever found a solution. I have nearly identical issues of ec spiking in hpcc with jacks nutes. It has lead to lock out in two genetics with two other genetics that seem to tolerate it, but still could be improved. I have never had this issue prior to the switch to promix hpcc. If I didn't have so much hpcc I would probably drop it and move to another medium, but I feel like there has to be a way to make this system work.
 
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