pH/FloraNova Questions

Well, I realized it was a waste of money, as well as ignorant on my behalf to buy spring water at a time, for fear of messing with the pH of my own tap water which is very alkaline. Well, I realized it would be easier, and cheaper to just buy the GH Control Kit, that comes with a pH tester and pH up and down and just adjust my own water.

I'm also going to be using GH FloraNova Grow and FloraNova Bloom. This is the feeding schedule I will be following: http://genhydro.com/genhydro_US/feed...ainToWaste.pdf

While that tells me how much I need to add per gallon of water for each particular stage, it doesn't tell me how frequently I should apply. I plan on not feeding them the seedling stage, but feeding them the early growth formula around 2-3 weeks of age. I'm wondering if anyone has experience with FloraNova Grow and Bloom for soil applications, and if they can tell me their feeding schedule. For instance, should I feed every third irrigation, or every other, etc...?

I plan on using a 1 gallon water jug, and filling it up with tap water, and then adding the correct amount of nutrients. Then, I would take a sample, and check the pH. Would I then simply add drops of pH down or up, whichever is needed, and then shake, and then water my plants? Or do I have to wait or something, after adjusting my pH.

I'm also wondering what the correct pH should be for my mixture, because on the bottle it says to maintain a pH of 5.0-6.5 but I assume that's for hydroponic use. What pH should I have it for soil use?

BTW, the soil I am using is Miracle Grow Organic mixed with Perlite 70/30. I was going to use Hyponex instead of the MGO but read that Hyponex is shit.

Peace,
:rasta:

Well I found out I can't use the Miracle Grow Organic because it will be hard to control the pH while using FloraNova, and it will go very low. God damn it. Everything I buy seems to be the wrong thing... I have invested so much into this grow, for months, and still nothing is happening. Seeds aren't germinating, bought wrong nutes, spent hps light money on weed, because of the seeds not germinating, so I figure by the time they are ready to be flowered, I'll have more money to get a light and can veg under CFLs but still...

On my last grow, I used MG Organic/Perlite and Expert Gardener powdered ferts and distilled water, and everything was fine. But I was told that was not the best.

So I try to improve for my grow that I'm trying to have, but things keep turning out wrong. I'm told distilled water is terrible for plants, so I buy spring water, but then realize it's a waste of space, time, and money, to buy by the gallon and then mix in nutrients that I find out will burn my plant, if used with the soil.

So, I figured I'd buy hyponex to use instead of the MGO, but then I find out it's terrible for cannabis. So, I'm finally directed to buy Promix, which seems like it's what I need, but unfortunately it's too late in the season to buy at home depot and they don't have it.

My hydro store sells all the fox farm soils, and expensive GHBB soils, and all these soils that are ferted, that I'm told will make using my FloraNova a living nightmare trying to control pH, and not burning my plants...

So WTF should I do? I'm practically out of money, from buying so many different things for this grow.

I don't want to mix my own organic soil. I just want to buy a damn bag of something UNFERTED, and light, and mix it with perlite 70/30 and be able to use the SAME thing for the entire duration of my grow. I also want to be able to use FloraNova without it burning my plants, because of the soil.

The only soil that my hydro store has that seems to fit the bill is this:

"Start your seedlings and cuttings off right with Black Gold Seedling Mix. Approved by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), Seedling Mix consists of perlite, dolomite lime, double-screened Canadian Sphagnum peat moss and an organic wetting agent. Available in a 16-quart bag, this is a light medium great for germinating most plant varieties. Dry contents of BGSM916 will fill approximately eight, one-gallon nursery pots."

But I need to know, from people who know what they're talking about, if I can use that (mixed with perlite 70/30) for the entire grow, while using FloraNova grow and bloom? It seems to be the closest to promix that my hydro store has. Please help. I'm going crazy by keep finding out that I can't use what I've bought.

. . . is the best I have found for using throughout the life of the plant. pH neutral, high capillary action and water retention, light, and reusable.

FloraNova is the best (imho), and it comes concentrated so you get more for your money.

If you need more than a gallon, as I did, get a new gas can (2.5 - 5 gallons) and use it to mix and pour (spout is great and they're cheap).

Don't feel too bad about buying some stuff you may not use, we've all done it. Remember, if nothing else you could use the excess stuff on your yard or houseplants, or grow something else with it.

Seeds: if I screw up seeds it's usually because I drowned them or they got too hot. Only presoak for 24 hours, then keep paper towels damp but not drenched (pour off excess water) and the temp between 78 and 88 degrees. Transplant when taproot is about 1/2 to 1 inch long, carefully protecting the root. Again, don't drown the plant in the new material.

Good luck.

Make a plan and follow it. Right now you're just running around in circles and you're trying to correct past mistakes by making future mistakes.

If you must use the Flora Nova, find out what mediums F/N is good with and pick one. Problem solved.

What's the problem with your tap water? Do you know if there's a problem with your tap water?

Read this:

http://boards.cannabis.com/basic-gro...-dankness.html

But jeez, unless you have unlimited funds, quit buying stuff until you know what you need.

JMO

PC :smokin:

I was under the impression hydroton was for hydroponic applications only, but if not I'd be interested in learning more.

PharmaCan, the problem is from different people telling me different things on different forums, only to find out it was wrong information, or something along the lines of that.

I initially did not use my tap water because the pH is around 8.5. So I thought it would be easier to buy spring water by the gallon but it wasn't. So I decided to purchase the pH control kit, to fix any problems and use my own tap water.

That's what I'm trying to do; figure out what medium will work with FloraNova, because now that seems to be the only problem. Apparently Pro-Mix BX is the best, and I won't have to worry about pH, but it's not at Home Depot any more (too late in the season).

My hydro store sells Sunshine Organic Planting Mix which is very similar to Pro-Mix, so I plan on getting that and mixing it with perlite 70/30, if someone can verify that I can safely use FloraNova nutes with it.

Peace,
:rasta:

HB - Regardless of your water source, you are going to have to adjust the pH of your water each and every time you add it to your soil. Get used to it! :D pH is really one of the most important factors in growing healthy plants that properly use the nutes you give them, so give pH a real high priority.

Tap water has stuff in it that is beneficial to your plants - trace minerals and such. If you take these things out of the water, you need to replace them with special additives, which is an added expense. There should be a reason for not using tap water. In other words, there is something wrong with your tap water. 8.5 pH is not something wrong, it's something that needs to be adjusted. Anyway, the pH of bottled water is all over the charts - there's nothing constant about it.

The mfgr's website for FloraNova should tell you what kinds of mediums it's good for. There's some real good info about different mediums in the link I gave you above. You really should read Stinky's thread. She has a simple, and cheap, recipe for soil that is a proven winner.

PC :smokin:

I read the thread and have no access to Agway 'manure and humus'. I also do not wish to use the Botanicare line.

The General Hydroponics website doesn't tell me what medium it's good for, only that it can be used for both hydro and soil applications. Of course GH makes their own soil along with Bio Bizz (GHBB) but it's organic and I was advised that using that with FloraNova would not be for the best.

Like I said, I am purchasing the GH pH control kit so I can use my own tap water from now on.

So, is the Sunshine Organic Planting Mix OK? It's unferted. It's just "Canadian Sphagnum peat moss, perlite, dolomite lime to balance the pH of the ingredients and a wetting agent to improve moisture absorption." I intend on mixing it with perlite 70/30.

It's the closest I could find to Pro-Mix BX which I read is the best without question.
Here's a link to a site verifying what people have told me about Pro-Mix and cannabis cultivation: Downtown Hydroponics Toronto Store, Kensington Market Downtown

Apparently Home Depot sells it, but unfortunately I went to their website and they don't have it. So WTF, that's why I need to know if the Sunshine Planting Mix is fine.

Peace,
:rasta:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by horror business

... Bio Bizz (GHBB) but it's organic and I was advised that using that with FloraNova would not be for the best.

So, is the Sunshine Organic Planting Mix OK?

Apparently Home Depot sells it, but unfortunately I went to their website and they don't have it. So WTF, that's why I need to know if the Sunshine Planting Mix is fine.

Peace,
:rasta:

---

You need to find a dirt farmer. :jointsmile:

But, before you run out and buy something else you maybe can't use, consider that if FloraNova was not suitable for one soil because it's organic, wouldn't that also apply to any other organic soil? :wtf::wtf::wtf:

Have you considered coco? It looks like soil. :D

Good luck!!!:thumbsup:

PC :smokin:

Well, the GHBB has added micronutrients from the sea kelp, etc... the Sunshine Organic Planting mix doesn't.

Pro-Mix HX is apparently what I need...

Hi HB,
You sound kinda like I did a couple years ago. All that I can do is tell you what I use and I can tell you , IT works really freaken well. See Pics here:http://boards.cannabis.com/basic-gro...y-anybody.html
(bottom of page)
I have heard that a lot of people here hate miracle grow with a passion. For the most part, so do I.
For a soil medium I buy a big bag of Miracle grow with moisture control as it has the perlite in it, I also buy a big bag of "garden-ville" potting soil. It's a bit more sandy than MG so it drains real well. I t contains worm castings and a great deal of other things I need for my babies. I take the two soils and mix them 50/50 and add some dolomite lime for a PH buffer. I am telling you it works wonders for me!!
I use a GH PH kit and bought an extra bottle of both PH up and down. I have very alkaline tap water as well but haven't had an issue. I use to buy spring water as well when I first started. It's a waiste of time, energy and money.
For nutes, I use fOX fARMS (which contains micronutrients etc as well) grow big for veg cycle and big bloom for flower cycle.
When my plants are in the smaller stage I ph all my water/food at 6.5 as they get bigger I lower the PH just a bit to around 5.5-6. This allows the plant to take up more of the nutrients it needs as a bigger plant.
for vitamins, I add a 1/4 tsp of Superthrive occasionally (can be found at HD)
This is just a quick basic outline for you. I hope it helps and good luck,
Elway