Nutrient Strength pH Balance Relationship?

[doco]

I just saw this on another site and since I hadn't heard this before, wanted to run it by some of you - whatcha think?

"There are a couple factors that cause your PH to drift. The most common is running the nute solution too strong or too weak. If it's too strong, your PH drops. If it's too weak the PH rises. You have to find the balance point."

doco Reviewed by doco on 06-07-2007. Nutrient Strength pH Balance Relationship? I just saw this on another site and since I hadn't heard this before, wanted to run it by some of you - whatcha think? "There are a couple factors that cause your PH to drift. The most common is running the nute solution too strong or too weak. If it's too strong, your PH drops. If it's too weak the PH rises. You have to find the balance point." Rating: 5

[deftdrummer]

While true most of the time, it is not true with everything. Many factors such as heat fluctuation, nutrient strength, nutrient type, plant size, water hardness, reservoir size, ambient light all affect pH levels. As far as the relationship between nutrient strength and pH, they are two different things that need to be independently monitored for best results.

[xxxhazexxx]

While true most of the time, it is not true with everything. Many factors such as heat fluctuation, nutrient strength, nutrient type, plant size, water hardness, reservoir size, ambient light all affect pH levels. As far as the relationship between nutrient strength and pH, they are two different things that need to be independently monitored for best results.

word, dont forget the bigger the plant the more water they drink so the p.h. changes at differant times i use n.f.t. tanks and i check p.h. morning and night and depending on how much water they drink the p.h. is differant each night

[Weedhound]

Wow, actually I've sort of seen the opposite....nute solution too strong....ph rises....nute burn....but that's just me... :wtf:

[doco]

Im puzzled too weedhound - but I did just increase nute strength to 1250 ppm from 1000 ppm (in 4th week flowering) and my pH is dropping from 5.8 to 5.4 during the course of the day....I'm somewhat baffled. Plants look fine so I don't think it's too strong....guess I'll just keep an eye on it.

:jointsmile:

[Weedhound]

Sure doesn't sound too strong....somebody mentioned people who go up to 2000 ppm/ I never would.....that just sounds scary. I know X-C had some ph issues recently with ph dropping. All I can say is I've honestly not seen it get lower with too strong of a solution.....always higher. I was telling him I had read somewhere....sometime....an explanation for that but of course I was blazed at the time and can't remember what it was. I've really only had that issue once and couldn't tell you what it was due to....eventually the problem just stopped but honestly if anything my nutrient solution at that time was too low...I had to deal with a copper defeciency to deal with as well when I switched to bloom nutes.....did you switch over recently?

[Weedhound]

Also are your ppms going up or down after a day?

[doco]

looks like they went up - 1325 ppm right now. When I started this fresh batch Monday night it was 1250 ppm - Whats that indicate?

[Weedhound]

That they have plenty of nutes and are drinking up more water than nutes.....that is normal and usually why they recommend topping off at 1/4 strength nute solutions and such....to help readjust the balance. Keep in mind though that your ppm number does not reflect percentages....ie...did they eat all the phosphorus and leave the potassium behind....only total ppms. Does that make sense?

When I had deficiencies after I switched to bloom nutes my ppms would drop....fairly dramatically about 200 a day....that's when I was informed by my hydro guy that my plants were....ahem...."pigs" and to definitely up the nutes.

[Zandor]

The relationship of Ph and nutrients PPM is found in the chart in the FAQ section that shows the different nutrients available to the plant at different Ph levels.

As the plant ages every 7-10 dayâ??s the cycle of life changes and the nutrient needs of the plant changes. This is more evident in Hydroponics then in dirt growing because hydroponics does not have the same buffers that soil has. Yes you can use special microbes and live bacteria in hydro but that is beyond the experience of most growers and can be a pain in the ass.

So as the plant matures the Ph will raise and fall with the cycle of life too as it seeks out different minerals for that cycle of life as well. Hydroponics requires you to be almost obsessive about watching the Ph range of your plants.

Ph is more of a balance act then your PPM is so I would worry more about Ph then PPM. The PPM will change with in 24 hours of feeding your plants due to the mineral they take out and others they leave and even a third that the plant produces and discards back into your water. This will also change your PPM level.

Just remember that the PPM is only accurate when you mix it. Once you give it to the plant it will change on you and you no longer know what minerals are present and what the plant has added.


This week's show is all about nutrients and last weeks was Ph and nutrients you may find some use full information there as well if you want to know more.