First timer needs advice

[sgibson8]

For my ph water tester it is not digital so it is a little hard to get an exact reading, I checked the ph before watering and got around 7.0 to 7.5 and at my last watering I didn't have any solution to lower the ph so I just did it. Then I tested the soil and it was 7.2 or 7.3. I didn't test the runoff so I will have to tell you next time I water. Thanks for the advice.

[sgibson8]

Group A seems to be amazing after I stopped watering every other day and giving them too much. As for group b we are haveing a little trouble. The leaves are starting to hang and turn yellow again. Should I just water without the 1/4 nuts?

[sgibson8]

Actually now that i think about it. They might have been too close to the light. I have my 1000w at 2.5 ft away from the tips and these I put off to the side.

[smileibiza]

with such small plants and 1000w I would keep them about 4ft above the plants and only lower the lamp when the plants are bigger and stronger and then would keep the lamp about 3 ft of the tops of the plants.
1000 watts gives off a lot of heat.

[Rusty Trichome]

For your nutes, you mention Sugar Peak. Which formula are you using, (what are the N-P-K numbers?) and what are the dilution strengths recommended on the bottle?
Can lower the water ph with lemon juice or vinegar in a pinch...a couple or few drops per gallon is a good place to start. Fluctuating ph will lock-out nutes and micro's. Are you giving any superthrive, or similar micro nutes?

[sgibson8]

For your nutes, you mention Sugar Peak. Which formula are you using, (what are the N-P-K numbers?) and what are the dilution strengths recommended on the bottle?
Can lower the water ph with lemon juice or vinegar in a pinch...a couple or few drops per gallon is a good place to start. Fluctuating ph will lock-out nutes and micro's. Are you giving any superthrive, or similar micro nutes?

I am using sugar peak hydro fusion-vegetative. Th e guy at the hydro shop suggested it but saying that I should use only half the nuts as it tell you to for hydro since I am using soil. The numbers are 3-1-5. Which I am not too familiar on what they represent. I got the ph taken care of and it is now around 6.5. I am not giving them any superthrive or micro nutes because I am not sure what those are. If you suggest them what are they any where can I get them? Thanks for all the help.

[Mr. Clandestine]

If you suggest them what are they any where can I get them?

Sorry to jump from post to post, I never saw this one. The NPK numbers you see on the Sugar Peak bottle stand for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These are three major chemicals that generally define the attributes of most major commercial fertilizers. Having a higher percentage of nitrogen during veg is preferable to encourage foliage production, and a greater phosphorus/potash percentage is used to promote fruits/flowers in plants, and vigorous root growth.

Many fertilizers also contain micro nutrients (trace elements) which are meant to conservatively apply other nutrients that the plant may be deficient of. If you've done a lot of flushing recently to try and correct pH issues, then feeding with a 1/4 strength fertilizer (preferably with micro nutes) would help to get some of these elements back in reach of the roots.

Superthrive isn't actually a nutrient, or at least, I'm pretty sure it isn't. I think it's more of a supplemental source of vitamins and growth hormones. I only use the stuff for clones and transplants to promote root growth, but other growers absolutely stand by the stuff for all sorts of growth stages. Fertilizers with micro nutrients and Superthrive are available online, at hydro stores, and maybe even some hardware stores like Lowe's. Just be careful if you decide to pick up any fertilizers from Lowe's, as most of them aren't very suitable for cannabis.

Take a few hours, roll up a couple of spliffs, and spend some quality time going through a lot of the posts in the growing forums here. You'll get some good ideas and feedback about specific fertilizers, regimens, and so forth.

[sgibson8]

okay so I picked up some superthrive and haven't flushed any of the plants yet but I had one questions before I did. you said use 1/4 strength fertilizer-should I use this for both plants even though one group already has fertilized soil or should I only use it on the organic fertilizer group. And then do I just add the recommended amount of superthrive to the fertilizer and flush away? I think this will help out a lot. Thanks

[Mr. Clandestine]

Wait a second, I never said you should flush... I was assuming that you already had done a minor flush to correct your pH problem. If you're using fresh soil and haven't yet added any nutrients, there's probably no need to flush. Especially if there's no perlite and your soil holds moisture well. In cases like these, flushing could actually do more harm to the plant than good. Flushing is appropriate when you need to clear excess salts from the fertilizers out of the soil, when you've over fertilized by accident (emergency flush), and when you're a couple weeks away from harvest and want to rid the pots of excess fertilizer in the soil. Definitely don't do it just to do it.

Since some of your soil already has nutrients added, you'll only want to fertilize those with about a 1/4 strength solution to begin with. You can raise the amount you use as you see how well your plants are tolerating it. As for the Superthrive, don't be too liberal with that stuff. I think one drop per gallon of water is the general recommendation for it.

[sgibson8]

I just wanted to show you some new pics. The plants are looking great. Even the little ones are looking better.Check them out and tell me what you think. I'll keep you updated.
Also when you transplant how full should the roots be? Some have hit the bottom but I'm not sure if I should wait longer. I'll show some pics when they're dry.