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have just figured out my main problem is our water supply in the area it is very hard so have just added 3/4 tsp of epsom salts to 3 litres of water what i really want to know is roughly how often should i put the epsom salts in the water should i do it all the time like mix it with nutes also or just once a week really desperate to try & save remaining 2 plants as seeds are almost impossible to come by where i am:hippy:
A quick and easy fix for hard water is a Brita Water Filter. They cost under 15 bucks (Walmart) but you'll need spare filters too so figure 20 bucks total and you won't have PH probs ever again! My water here is off my scale at 9++ but one trip through the filter and into the pitcher brings it down to 6.0-6.5, depending on how many times the filter is used. They're good for appx 40 gals of clean water before the filter needs to be changed. I would not advise using epsom salts full time for PH adjustment. I would also advise picking up one of those cheap PH testers to make sure of the content...both ASAP.
Good luck!
cool thanks ill just have to find an equivalent in new zealand (no walmart) but im sure there will be something the only other thing i was thinking i could do is maybe buy spring water or mineral water if needed
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Originally Posted by madeline
What? i was under the impression brita water filters did close to nothing for hardwater, also the ph has nothing to do with an Mg def.
Good call on the epsom salt i too have hard water, loads of calcium is the problem. my water is at 220ppm from a well. Your best bet would be a r.o. system u wouldnt need a very expensive system just one that helps out a bit, or u could just add alittle bit of epsomsalt every res change. To be honest the only time i noticed Mg def. was in the early stages of vegg, once the plants get big they love the hard water. When i say my water is hard i mean there is calcium deposits on every source in my house of water. But then again i havnt used the epsomsalt in months so it varies from strain to stages of the plants life, early stages u would be worried as it gets big the worry will leave u'll see, this isnt something u have to fight the whole grow just the beggining. I happen to think the hard water is good for the plant once it starts to flower, unless its not from a well, well water ussually has a chit load of mineral and stuff thats great for the plants.
hmmmm confusion in the ranks lol i have been thinking about it & was wondering about a steam distilling water purifier unit but was also wondering how boiling the water 1st & just letting it cool would affect it i tested ph levels on my plants 1 came out at 6.5 & the other at 7 ill have to put some more pics up once the foliage returns (trimmed off dead & near dead stuff poor things look like twigs :( )
I use epson salt for Mg deficiencey...I just foliar feed it to them though. I do it every time I spritz them untill I can't stand the odor in the room then switch to plain water for a day or so.
- Slow -
[quote=JackdaWack]What? i was under the impression brita water filters did close to nothing for hardwater, also the ph has nothing to do with an Mg def.
But once again, MG is a non-issue as long as fresh quality potting soil is used and virtually nonexistant in an outdoor setting. A simple fix for MG is just bury a galvanized nail in the soil. Trace elements won't be the problem when visual ones arise.
And here's an example of what Brita Water Filters will do for fixing PH...it will also raise acidic water to the same level but I didn't have any handy to add to the test display...but see for yourself!
And I only combined PH with MG deficiancy because so many confuse the 2, as I'm pretty sure is the case here. Same thing with all this talk about "flushing". It is not something that is done as routine but should only used as a last resort when the additives have been overdone.
no not so much a confusion my plants were displaying mg deficiency symptoms but a few other things just added up also & i tested our water & its a ph level of 9 strait from the tap lots of chlorine in it i think so just trying to remedy that at the moment looking around for a water distiller to purify the water coz our water just comes strait from a river & they only add stuff to it when certain levels get up so ill never really know what my water is doing from one day to the next so need to try & sort things asap :)
Everytime I see your username I think "Smokin' Zee Pot" with a French accent.
Dude...Speak the Queen's English please. I can barely read your posts.
Let your water sit out overnight at least. This will evaporate out some of the chlorine and other undesirable things. Put an airstone in your water reservoir, if you're using a res. And correct your pH, it's too high. Ha. High.
Buy some molasses. Mix a tablespoon in with every 4 litres of water.