Starting FF nutes, what Ph do I adjust to?

[indcolts77]

So my two babies are about 50 days old and I am going to start adding FF Grow Big at 1/4 strength this week. The new tops I'm forming by LST are looking a little yellowish...Growing in 4gal pots outside with CFL supplemental lighting, FF Ocean Forest soil, 4 weeks from transplant ...

My question is what should the Ph of the nutes solution be before I add them...my soil has been at a constant 6.3-6.8 range but has began to climb to about 7.2 recently ...I am hoping the acidic nutes can help????

Any help I'd great, thanks guys!

 

[mygirls]

from the begging of your grow your ph level should have been 6.0 to 6.5

 

[Alexander Supertramp]

How are you testing the soils pH? Did you add any lime or worm castings to the mix? When growing in soil pHing your feeding solutions is not necessary and frankly a waste of time....

 

[drolove]

well better to be higher than lower. try to PH it to 6.5

 

[indcolts77]

from the begging of your grow your ph level should have been 6.0 to 6.5

My babies have grown wonderfully in the stated range above so I'm not to worried about it...your post doesn't really help me but thanks for the quick response

 

[mygirls]

for soil your ph should be 6.0 to 6.5

 

[indcolts77]

How are you testing the soils pH? Did you add any lime or worm castings to the mix? When growing in soil pHing your feeding solutions is not necessary and frankly a waste of time....

I'm using a probe-like 3-1 tester for Ph/moisture/light ...I like it and its affordable ....and no I didn't add anything to the FFOF soil except some lava rock (small amount)

And so I should just add to water and feed? It won't drastically lower my pH? I know its buffered but why is my pH rising then?

Here are some pics, thanks for the reply

 

[indcolts77]

well better to be higher than lower. try to PH it to 6.5

That's what I was thinking, I was even thinking having the nute solution at 6.2 ish bc my soil is at 7 and I want it lower like now, which the nutes should help with right?

 

[Mr.Marijuana420]

How are you testing the soils pH? Did you add any lime or worm castings to the mix? When growing in soil pHing your feeding solutions is not necessary and frankly a waste of time....

so its a waste of time to go all throughout ur grow not knowing how much the ph of ur water has changed after adding nutes, in turn having a possible ph lockout, which someone reads as a def, loading ther girls with even more nutes, with an off ph, doing nothing to fix the problem as the plant isnt accepting the nutes as it is

 

[Alexander Supertramp]

I'm using a probe-like 3-1 tester for Ph/moisture/light ...I like it and its affordable ....and no I didn't add anything to the FFOF soil except some lava rock (small amount)

And so I should just add to water and feed? It won't drastically lower my pH? I know its buffered but why is my pH rising then?

Here are some pics, thanks for the reply

Those meters are inherently inaccurate and probably giving you false readings. Try cleaning the probe with a scotch bright pad and see if the reading changes. Plants look good. I doubt your pH is off all and is fine.....

 

[Alexander Supertramp]

so its a waste of time to go all throughout ur grow not knowing how much the ph of ur water has changed after adding nutes, in turn having a possible ph lockout, which someone reads as a def, loading ther girls with even more nutes, with an off ph, doing nothing to fix the problem as the plant isnt accepting the nutes as it is

Knowing the true pH of you soil is what you need to pay attention too, No matter what you pH your feeding solutions too it will buffer to the mediums pH in less than an hour. If the pH of the medium is off no amount of pHed water will change it. Dolomite lime and worm casting/EWC tea, sulphur, wood ash and a few other things are the only way you will change it.

 

[dvs1038]

Yeah I was gonna say the same thing bout the 3n'1 meters they suck I have one I only use it for the moisture cause its a pain to put em outta the closet to lift and see if they need water. But u said ur usin FFOF product that soil usually is around 7-7.3, most ppl will add dolomite lime to the OF soil just to bring the ph down so if urs is higher than where u want it hit it up with some lime. But at the same time unless ur seeing problems with ur plants I don't think u need to be so concerned with the soil ph.

 

[Alexander Supertramp]

Only thing he may want too do is top dress with some dolomite, like 1-2 tablespoons per gal of medium to help keep pH in check through out flowering...

 

[bendoverbilly]

Yeah I was gonna say the same thing bout the 3n'1 meters they suck I have one I only use it for the moisture cause its a pain to put em outta the closet to lift and see if they need water. But u said ur usin FFOF product that soil usually is around 7-7.3, most ppl will add dolomite lime to the OF soil just to bring the ph down so if urs is higher than where u want it hit it up with some lime. But at the same time unless ur seeing problems with ur plants I don't think u need to be so concerned with the soil ph.

Lime to lower the ph? I always use it to raise the ph

 

[indcolts77]

Thanks supertramp and dvs ....
I am not too worried about pH since my babies are growing so well and I know that meter sucks lol moisture is good to use though like you mentioned. I think ill hold off on fuckin with the soil until I see signs of lockout. I am going to look into adding a couple tsps of lime before flower though, I'd hate to go through 3+ months of veg to have a lockout during flower. Crossing my fingers!

Thanks for all the great info! Btw I didn't Ph my feed solution. I checked it 3 times before and after adding 1tsp of grow Big and the Ph was at 6.4-6.6...did the first feeding yesterday afternoon, hopefully they take off! Ill post some pics when I get home today

 

[Alexander Supertramp]

Thanks supertramp and dvs ....
I am not too worried about pH since my babies are growing so well and I know that meter sucks lol moisture is good to use though like you mentioned. I think ill hold off on fuckin with the soil until I see signs of lockout. I am going to look into adding a couple tsps of lime before flower though, I'd hate to go through 3+ months of veg to have a lockout during flower. Crossing my fingers!

Thanks for all the great info! Btw I didn't Ph my feed solution. I checked it 3 times before and after adding 1tsp of grow Big and the Ph was at 6.4-6.6...did the first feeding yesterday afternoon, hopefully they take off! Ill post some pics when I get home today

Your welcome. By the looks of your plants and but what you are doing your heading in the right direction. And get yourself some worm casting and brew them a tea once or twice a month, they will love you for it. I do a cup of castings per 4 gallons of water and bubble for 3-5 days depending on temps. The EWC tea alone will greatly help keep your pH in check. Also alfalfa teas are amazing for vegging cannabis plants. No need for an air pump. Just some alfalfa cubes(like you feed a horse) alfalfa pellets(rabbit/guinea pigs food) water and a bucket is all you need. Its a great plant growth regulator loaded with like 200-300 vitamins and minerals. Heres a link to Howard Garretts "Dirt Doctor" page on alfalfa tea. Spend some time browsing his site and you will learn tons on soil growing.....

http://www.dirtdoctor.com/Alfalfa-Meal-Tea_vq2223.htm

 

[indcolts77]

Sweet link man, I actually can get some castings pretty cheap at a local nursery..

How often do you give the tea? My FF Ocean Forest already has some in it, will it burn my babies?

 

[Alexander Supertramp]

Sweet link man, I actually can get some castings pretty cheap at a local nursery..

How often do you give the tea? My FF Ocean Forest already has some in it, will it burn my babies?

You will never burn your plants with worm castings. You could grow in pure worm castings if they drained well enough. I EWC tea my plants every 3 or 4 weeks...And yes Howard certainly knows plants and dirt...his writings are not gospel by no means...but worth adding to your repertoire...

 

[indcolts77]

I can only send three at a time from my phone but here ate the pics...looking good eh?

 

[indcolts77]

3 more taken in full sunlight