Troubleshooting? or just advice?

[grdnofpeace]

Where did you get this soil recipe?

I got this soil recipe from my head. Using various pieces of information that I have collected over some time.

Never add lime just for the heck of it. Especially if you don't know the ph to begin with.

My reasoning that I added lime, not that I'm arguing, was from gardening outdoors with regular vegatables. A light dressing of lime over the top of your garden to control soil ph. key there is soil ph. Since I'm using pre-made soil you're saying I don't need it, but if I am adding an unknown PH water, possibly high/low/or right where I want it, the lime will not have any use in controlling the over all PH or just not the water PH?

I do see now that the individual PH of the water is important in own right.

If adding lime, why make it fight the bone meal too? (one brings ph up, one brings it down...but at uneven levels)

I added the bone meal for its little bit extra Nitrogen, and Phosphorus. Its my understanding that Phosphorus promotes healthy root growth.

Let me ask this side question. When you have a soil with NPK values of 10-5-10 and add to it 6-9-0, does it change the NPK values of your soil mix to 16-14-10? Those are the actual NPK values of my miracle grow and bone meal.

Since were here, what are good NPK values for vegetation/flower? I only go by more nitrogen in veg, less nitrogen with more potassium in flower. Not actual values.

Better find a way to check. Water ph is as important as any other parameter in the growroom. Avoid the soil ph probes though. I never met one that really worked. Either get an aquarium ph test kit, or a ph pen. Worth their weight in gold. :thumbsup: The aquarium kit won't let you check runoff, but I never really had a ph swing with MG soils to speak of. The most improtant thing is to check your ingoing water ph.

I'm on it!

I'm not convinced you've got a light leak, but likely good to double-check anyway. I'm guessing you've been over-loving your ladies with soil ammendments and an unstable ph issue. With your future transplants, for heavens sake, don't ever add lime to the top of the soil. You are killing all of the surface roots with a very caustic ammendment. Also, until you know the ingoing and runoff ph, stop adding the extra's like bone meal and potash. I'd cut back on the molasses a bit, too. (in half)

If I re transplant in just straight miracle grow what signs should I look for improvments. Height, leaf production, speed of growth?

Overall I haven't thought my plants looked unhealthy. I wish I could share pics but I don't have my camera today. Their growth seems healthy height wise. leaves are a nice solid green color, side shoots are nice and even with the rest of the pant.

I didn't see on the form what you are using for nutrients. Are you using any, or are you trying to add it to the (Miracle Grow) soil at transplants?

Adding it to the MG

I pre mixed the soil, with the miracle(half a bag, 21L) 75% of soil mix , peat moss (for soil airation) 25% of soil mix. Then I added between one to two tbsp of bone meal. Filled my pots with enough soil mix and then once plants were planted in the soil mixture I lightly sprinkled lime over the top. I would say a tbsp at most of lime. I've had enough pre mixed soil to bring me to Flower, which is where I have cut out the bone meal but kept the miracle soil and peat moss mix. Once plants were potted in final transplant pot ( which actually hasn't happened yet) I would sprinkle with lime and a little potash for potassium. But in which case I will not be using the lime. You havent convinced me not to use the potash for potassium yet. Potassium creates healthy buds when you have them correct?

I may have you misunderstanding the amount of each additive I am using, in which case I apologize.

A couple of pictures would help.

Ill get pictures as soon as I get my camera back. Its on vacation with a friend.


Thank you for your time and advice Rusty. I think we're all here for the gratification of knowing we grew this ourselves so I really appreciate what all of you do here at the Forum.

grdnofpeace Reviewed by grdnofpeace on 10-04-2009. Troubleshooting? or just advice? What is your experience level? First time. Your Equipment: .1) Type and wattage of lights. 175w MH (veg) 150w HPS (flower) .2) Distance from tops?currently in flower and HPS is about 1ft from tops .3) Reflector type? enclosed relflector .4) Is there a consistent fresh air supply? fan for circulation. They are in a closet so fresh air definitely enters during the light periods. during dark periods its doors closed but the fan stays on. Plants are definitely healthy. .5) Do you have an Rating: 5