How does 1 properly PH?

[Weed4Life]

I am about to buy the necesary items, but I am stuck without the knowledge of properly PH'ing my plants soil. I am using soil as my medium.

Can anyone tell me the exact directions for testing the ph with this

http://www.plantitearth.com/store/product.asp?pid=63&catid=65

Also I am going to buy a PH meter to stick in the soil. I know I need to test the nuted water, either raise or lower the PH with up or down PH. but how do I adjust the soils PH level?

[stinkyattic]

You're going to want a small glass container 10-50mL, a funnel, a coffee filter, a kitchen sieve, and a pint glass or something.

Put a handful of well-mixed soil in the pint glass.

Cover it with distilled water.

Swirl, let sit.

Pour off through the sieve, filter paper in funnel, and into small bottle.

Add several drops of indicator.

Swirl and read color.

[stinkyattic]

Okay, now you know the pH of your soil.

When you originally mix up a batch of soil, test first.

If it is high, you can add peat, ferrous sulfate, cider vinegar, etc. to bring it down.

If it is low, you can add dolomitic lime to raise it.

Test again.

Repeat until desired level is attained.

[Garden Knowm]

hey weed...

you are definitley on the right track... I suggest you puchase a high quailty organic soil and not worry about the ph of your soil...
maybe even enquire in advance what the ph of the soil is.. get a soil that starts at 6.5 - 7.0...


and then you simply need to check the ph of your water... which is a very easy task.... the directions are on the bottle.. it takes less than 30 seconds to test water...

iloveyou

[Weed4Life]

Hey Knowm, can you tell me a couple of high quality organic soil that would have the desired ph level? So what you are telling me Knowm is get that organic soil with the desired PH, add my nutes to my water, then test my nuted water right? Do you think adding distilled water with my cured city water will help any? Is Superthrive worth all the hype? Okay last question. During Veg. stage the plants require more Nitrogen and in flowering they require more potassium, right?
I tried to buy PH equipment here in town, but no store carries it. I guess I'll buy the one I just showed you guys.

[Garden Knowm]

Hey Weed..

I have e-mailed a couple soil companys and asked for specs on their soil. I have always used Black Gold or Miracle Grow. Miracle Grow is a testy soil and its PH is 5.0 i belive.. I have not heard back from them to confirm this.
When I have used Miracle grow I water with 8,0 water and I have had PERRRRRFECT results...

There should be no need to use anything besides city water for SOIL grows.. If you go HYDRO or Aeroponic.. there may be a need to filter your water.. depends on the PPMs of your water as it comes out of the tap.

Yes, NITROGEN when vegging... I have used SHultz, Miracle Grow, Super Thirve and have seen NO difference.. others may claim different.. I have also used fish emulsion, bat guano etcetera..

The most imporatnt elements are, PH, LIGHT (proximity to plant), TEMPERATURE, and adequate FOOD/nutrients... With proper PH, it is easy to tell exactly what a plant needs... when the PH is off, the gardner gets confused and can't tell if the plant actually needs more NITROGEN or if it just can't access the nitrogen that is already in the soil...

you can also get a PH tester in the POOL section at Home Depot.. I purchased one there today for a friend..

iloveyou

[Weed4Life]

So lets just say I used MG soil and half perlite should I mix the two or have the perlite on the bottom or what? SO if MG is 5.0 ph and your water is at 8.0, you shouldnt have to check the ph on the soil anymore right? How many days can I keep the nuted watered that I tested?

[Garden Knowm]

Hey weed.. I have now contacted MG twice. They will not give me any detailed information regarding MG SOIL.. They told me that all of their soils are between 5.5 and 7.5. They could not give me specifics about particular soil mixtures.

very odd..

MG soil usually has a decent amount of perlite in their mixture.

You should check the PH of your water before each watering.

[mscaboo]

mg is a good soil, i have recently switched to promix,but i had great results using mg.i added 20% percent perlite and 2 tablespoons of dolomite lime per gallon of soil.never had ph problems even gave up checking ph.the dolomite lime really helps stabilize the ph.also ph of mg soil is 6- 6.5.also i would suggest getting the moisture control with coir

[Weed4Life]

Alright here is where I am at now-
I am going to test the nuted water I have mixed up and get my desired PH range-6.5-6.8 and my question is when I test my soil and find out that it is too high or low, can I adjust my nuted water somehow to get the soil to a PH level of 7? If so How does 1 adjust it. You are awesome Garden Knowm! Thanks alot. I got my PH tester kit yesterday along with the superthrive I ordered. Can I add superthrive during the flowering stage and if so how much for 5 plants (1 gallaon jug of water)?I am going to succeed at this indoor growing if it kills me.
Also, I already mailed off my money to Nirvana for Papaya and bubblicious!! Woo hoo! Garden Knowm- Do you think that a temp of 86-89 is too high for those strains of Indica? I was thinking of growing good genetics to get a feel for sum killer buds!

[Garden Knowm]

Hi Weed..

you should do fine with those temperatures as long as you have GOOD airflow.. lots of fans blowing around the room..

Will your lights be on at NIGHT time.. or DAY time?

It is always safe to water with 6.8 PH water... If you know your soil is higher than 7.0 then you may want to water with 6.0-6.5

Or if you know that your soil is 6.0 or lower you may want to water with 7.0 water... You definitley don't want to make any careless decissions and over compensate.... LOL

iloveyou

[JiGGabOo]

hey garden knowm which miracle gro soil do u use? what is the exact name. also if i use miracle gro soil will it be okay to still use nutes?

[Weed4Life]

Hey Garden Knowm, I have my lights come on at 5 pm and they turn off at 11am. I think my soil is around 7, but I havent tested it yest because I just got outta knee surgery. They did a acl reconstruction and fixed my miniscus cartilage. I will have my nuted water at a ph of 6.-6.5. Last time I checked my water with sum superthrive it was at 7.0-7.2. I was a light greenish color.

I have a fan accross reflector to remove any heat, I have a smaller fan blowing on the plants, and a third one in the bathroom ocillating fresh air in and hot air out, plus I have air conditioner running during the daytime to bring temp down to 80-82 degrees when air is on. It seems like I have to water plants more often since I have switched to 400w hps. I give the plants about 12-16 oz each daily except my youngest plant. I will be putting them to flower in 3-5 days and I will need to tie down 2-3 of my plants if they turn out to be females. They all look really good compared to my last 2 I had. Thanks Garden Knowm!! U rOCK

[Weed4Life]

another question for you Garden Knowm, I looked up a problem I am having with Potassium Deff. and The guide I was reading identified my problems with the tips of the leaves yellowing and curlingdown a little and sum leaves are twisted from mag deff. here it is read: 3) a) Margins of the leaves are turned up, and the tips may be twisted. Leaves are yellowing (and may turn brown), but the veins remain somewhat green. >> Magnesium (Mg) deficiency.
b) If not, go to #4.

4) a) Leaves are browning or yellowing. Yellow, brown, or necrotic (dead) patches, especially around the edges of the leaf, which may be curled. Plant may be too tall. >> Potassium (K) deficiency.
b) If not, keep reading?
So my question is I understand to correct the magnesium problem w/ epson salt(1tsp per gal), but What gives me potassium? HElp please. I have had this problem before now I know what it is and need to fix both symptoms.

Weed4Life- PLEASE HELP

[stinkyattic]

Flush your plants and give them a balanced fertilizer.
1 tablespoon per gallon of epsom salts is quite a bit. I would start with 1/4-1/2 teaspoon instead.
If you are already using a balanced fertilizer and still seeing deficiencies in your major nutrients, a pH imbalance may be making them unavailable.

[Weed4Life]

Hey stinkyattic, I am seeing a deffiency. Now about flushing, I tried to flush my last plants and it seemed like it wasnt draining the water out. I believe I put a bunch more holes in all the pots after last plants(used a knife).Now would you say to use a gallon of distilled water per plant? I will take more detailed pictures of plants and of pots, and nutes with pic of color of ph level of nuted water as well. Plants just went into dark ages and will be back online at 5pm.:rasta:
Also, you are saying to add maybe just 1/4-1/2 tsp of epson salt to nuted water right after I balance out my nutes? Now, do you give nutes every watering or what? Does anyone know of a feeding schedule for plants? I normally give ph'd nuted water for about a week. then switch to half distilled/half cured tap water(1gal) for a week depending on how the plants look.
Stinkyattic, were trying to say that it might be in nute block or something? I read about that yesterday and to fix that 1 would flush his soil, feed his plants with ph balanced nutes? I normally add half of the stength of recommended dose that the nutes tell me and just starting adding a little superthrive once a week . Thanks!!!!!!!:dance:

[Garden Knowm]

Sorry weed.. for the neglect.. I have been BUSY!! LOL

can you post a picture?

: )

[stinkyattic]

I tried to flush my last plants and it seemed like it wasnt draining the water out. I believe I put a bunch more holes in all the pots after last plants(used a knife).
If it isn't draining your soil might be too heavy/rich; perlite is a good fix for this.
That's another indication you might have a nute block rather than a straight deficiency- waterlogged, acidic soils are BAD!
Rather than a knife, I'd go for a paddle bit on a power drill to get nice open holes. The buckets I flower in got holes drilled right up the side so more O2 gets to the roots. They drain very well now too.



Now would you say to use a gallon of distilled water per plant?
I believe the rule of thumb is to use 3x the volume of your pot. So if you have a gallon pot, use 3 gallons of water.
Some sources say to use a very weak, balanced, pH'd nutrient solution to flush with, at no more than 1/4 the strength you would normally use.




Also, you are saying to add maybe just 1/4-1/2 tsp of epson salt to nuted water right after I balance out my nutes?
Yeah. That's the rate at which I apply the stuff, once every 2 weeks or so.
I would urge caution so you don't end up with an overdose. The literature on this subject notes that MAgnesium deficiency appears much more severe in very wet and/or acidic soils. So it may turn out once you get your soil pH worked out that you never really had a deficiency to begin with; it was just blocked.


Now, do you give nutes every watering or what?
Personally I do. They get their regular fertilizer at the recommended strength at every watering. They also get supplements. They get a carbohyrate supplement, Silica Blast, and Super Thrive every watering (flowering plants skip the S.T.). Then, depending on how they look, I give them a little fish goo, or kelp goo, or bone meal, etc. every few waterings.
My schedule is pretty flexible, since I'm still growing several strains from seed I haven't tweaked it for one specific variety yet. Once I choose a few good mommies it will be a different story! :D



Stinkyattic, were trying to say that it might be in nute block or something? I read about that yesterday and to fix that 1 would flush his soil, feed his plants with ph balanced nutes?
Exactly. Someone correct me if I'm wrong here, but it seems that for most micronutrient problems, it is the pH, rather than the absence of that nutrient, which is the culprit.



I normally add half of the stength of recommended dose that the nutes tell me and just starting adding a little superthrive once a week .
I didn't catch what you're using for fertilizer. Superthrive is good, just a drop per gallon, in veg.

If you're using a fert meant for MJ, you should be just fine using it at the dose it says on the bottle for 'regular watering'.

So get your drainage sorted out as a first step, and it will be easier to pin down what is plaguing your babies!

[Weed4Life]

The soil I am using is Expert Perfect Mix with an NPK of .10/.08/.06.
My veg fert. is either MG house plant food with an NPK=8/7/6 or Expert tomato fert NPK=24/8/16, and for flowering I use Shultz bloom plus NPK=10/54/10 and then I have superthrive. So U say not to use S.T. for flowering right?Ok. I do need to drill holes in the side of my pots for proper drainage. Now in order to drill the holes in the pots I have to tip pots upside down(being gentle) and let the dirt/plants fall out w/out damaging rootball and drill holes in the pots? I need to figure this out today because my plants are thirsty/hungary(soil is just about dry).

So by properly flushing plants, does that put my soil at a certain PH level? Here is pics of everything I have. I know I have to drill holes in pots. On my next grow, if I use perlite as part of my soil, do I mix it in with the soil, or do I have the perlite on the bottom? And is perlite going to cause any mold or any problems I should be aware of?

[Weed4Life]

Here is a few more pics. PLease tell me what I need to do and if you think flushing will help me out. Also,the first pics are of my oldest plant which I dont care much for, but the other pics are the ones I am concerned about. Thanks everyone for your help!

Can you see the leaves tips curling down? Also the leaf tips are yellowing and then turning brown and then affecting the edges all around.

[Weed4Life]

I am in the middle of drilling holes in pots for proper drainage and when I went to add distilled water to plants, water drained out the bottom(alot). Good right? I had 1 pot so I drilled 4 holes in the bottom, and 12 holes on the sides,meaning 6 in the lower part of the pot, and 6 more 4 inches above the other holes. Good drainage. So I plan on flushing tomorrow, and after I flush do I wait till soil is dry then start regular feeding of PH'd nuted water?

[Weed4Life]

I will flush in 2 days, my pots are 8" pots so I bought 5 gallons of distilled water(1GAL 4 ea. plant). I guess what I am going to do is wait to flush, And then I will test the soils PH level, then I will adjust my nutriented water to reflect the proper PH according to my soil. I will buy sum epson salt and add 1/4-1/2 tsp. every 2 weeks. Hopefully I flush all the blocked nutes outta soil so I can start a good nute regemine. I am leaning towards buying MJ nutes for veg. cycle and sumthing else to help the flowering stage.
Stinkyattic- OR Garden Knowm-What is sumthing I will need to help me in the flowering stage that I use, I know MJ plants need plenty of Potassium in Flower stage correct?
POINT ME TO A FEEDING SCHEDULE SUM ONE
I know I asked alot of questions within these 4 posts, but I need sum answers and please answer all ?'s in time. All help is appreciated and passed on throughout this forum. Happy Buds!!!!! Gonna score me a bag tonight hopefully if not tomorrow.

[Zandor]

weed4life I wrote a good post somewhere on how to proper Ph your water. If you search for it you should find it. It was only with in the last 2 weeks or less.

[Weed4Life]

So if I flush my plants will it break the nutrient block? Stinkyattic said I probably have nute block and said to flush. My lower leaves have started to turn brown and die. I will flush thoroughly tomorrow. Is there a way to flush with cured ph tap water to get the soil clean of nutes and to get soil to a ph level I desire?

[KNVB]

Hey weed.. I have now contacted MG twice. They will not give me any detailed information regarding MG SOIL.. They told me that all of their soils are between 5.5 and 7.5. They could not give me specifics about particular soil mixtures.

very odd..

MG soil usually has a decent amount of perlite in their mixture.

You should check the PH of your water before each watering.

Hi Knowm,

I have a trio of seedlings that are in MG right now but i've got the rest of the soil in another bin and added some perlite and peat. Before I transfer them to big pots, do you think I should add lime or should I just stick with a 6-6.5ph that i've got right now?

[latewood]

I am not going to read your whole thread, but 1st...If you want a good organic soil, that you can basically just water and not use a lot of nutes then you should spend the money on Foxfarm ocean forest...It is the chitman'

you apparently overferted the crap out of your plants. I saw it in the piks...no need to read. Good Piks.

flushing is done to remove all the salts built up in your plants. You must flush with at least 6X's the water that would fill up your grow container. you can also place the plants in the shower for awhile (tepid water) and totally rinse/flush them...make sure you rig a filter of some sort for your drain. Good luck

p.s. I would get away from all that miracle grow stuff!

I have always used AN or GH 3-part and a product called Liquid Karma or Superthrive as an additive
(B-vitamins +) to the 3-part and it is inexpensive, yet produces great results.

This thread belongs in basic growing...so i'm moving it for ya' peace

[Garden Knowm]

Hi Knowm,

I have a trio of seedlings that are in MG right now but i've got the rest of the soil in another bin and added some perlite and peat. Before I transfer them to big pots, do you think I should add lime or should I just stick with a 6-6.5ph that i've got right now?


HEY K!

: )

I would not add anything to the soil other than perlite. I would make adjustments to the PH by using water that is slightly higher than normal.. for example.. If my soil was 6.o I would water with 6.8-7.0 water..

iloveyou : )

[Weed4Life]

Thanks all. My Indica produced about an ounce of some decent bud even though her soil was acidic during her last days. Thanks Latewood and Zandor for your help.

[harris7]

Hey Weed..

I have e-mailed a couple soil companys and asked for specs on their soil. I have always used Black Gold or Miracle Grow.
iloveyou

Hey I am using Organic Black Gold. I have recently seeded in it with a 1:1 mix of black gold and Perlite. Do you think this will be too strong? I burn some other seedlings so I am very cautious now.

thanks

[Garden Knowm]

HI Harris...

It should be perfect.. with NO burning..
:)

[Weed4Life]

Question for Garden Knowm or Stinkyattic: When filtering the soil, I cannot get the water to clearup to see what the pH is. The water is dirty(cloudy) and I cannot get any good readings outta it. Please help me out or I guess I will need to spend sum extra cash on sum good soil. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks all!!!

[BLaQLiGhT]

Question for Garden Knowm or Stinkyattic: When filtering the soil, I cannot get the water to clearup to see what the pH is. The water is dirty(cloudy) and I cannot get any good readings outta it. Please help me out or I guess I will need to spend sum extra cash on sum good soil. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks all!!!

All you have to do is just check the pH of the water you are watering your plants with. When you get them to the right pH level, you flush the plants and things should be good from then on. Good luck with your problem. You know I started my grow right? I have a Top44 grow going on right now and I'm going to put them into flowering tomorrow. I have 2 plants that I toped and used the cuttings as clones. One clone is doing alittle bad right now and the other is doing good and I'm using my 150w HPS. SO much time has passed so I really don't care if the other clone dies, I hope I get 2 females mothers then that woul mean I have 3 female plants :p . After this grow, I will then be growing the Papaya so that it will be just in time for 4/20 :thumbsup: . Here are some piCs I took earlier today. They have been in veg for 5 weeks now, the clones have been alive for 8 days and should show clones at the end of this week but I can't let my time shrink for the Papaya grow:

[Weed4Life]

Looks like you just watered. Soil looks real moist. I figured it out and I just need to buy different soil. I am buying some tomorrow. I had a little good soil so I started my sprouts in a mix of good soil and some perlite. Good job on your grow, hope everything turns out good. I just germinated 4 Papaya and 4 Bubblicious and a KB seed I had. I hope to get about 4-5 females and them I am gonna try cloning and try hydro in a few months so I can afford to buy the PPM pen thats a 4-1 meter. So far all 9 seeds have germinated. Heres what my sprout room looks like:
http://boards.cannabis.com/showthread.php?t=87800