ph runoff very low.. please help

[skitze]

My pH going in is 6.3. Runoff pH is 4.9. I am using sunshine #4 mix & GH nutes. What should I do??? please help!

skitze Reviewed by skitze on 11-05-2009. ph runoff very low.. please help My pH going in is 6.3. Runoff pH is 4.9. I am using sunshine #4 mix & GH nutes. What should I do??? please help! Rating: 5

[skitze]

I just did some experiments with some fresh water, hydrated lime, and some new sunshine #4.. it took me pH 8.5 in to get a runoff of 6.0... what should I do with my flowering plants that have been getting 6.3?

[Jungl3Jim]

I just did some experiments with some fresh water, hydrated lime, and some new sunshine #4.. it took me pH 8.5 in to get a runoff of 6.0... what should I do with my flowering plants that have been getting 6.3?

I'd be using dolomite lime myself. From what I've heard straight hydrated lime takes a bit to break down and then get a little hot. May burn ya girls.
Anyone else..??
I'm no expert here

[skitze]

i didnt actually use that on a plant, was just experimenting with the ph of the aggragate fresh out of the bag. was only using the hydrated lime to adjust pH of the water to see what pH i would need to put in to get a runoff of 6.0.

How would i add dolomite lime into a plant 4 weeks into flowering?

[Jungl3Jim]

The general rule I go by is roughly a cup of DL for every square meter of soil.
I use 3 gal pots so I use around 1-2 teaspoons mixed into the top 1-2 inches of soil and water/feed as usual.
I'm no expert by any means but it gets me by well.

Cheers

[eastbaygordo]

I had the same problem and on two plants I went from 2 to 5 gallon pots with well amended soil - blood, bone meal, and a few cups of dolomite lime - I made sure the PH started put around 7 so with normal rotting lowering the PH it finished in the correct range. Strangely, the stressed plants taste better than the super healthy ones. It was my first time but now I know my mistakes and will do better.
I bought plant lime in the plant section in the local Orchard Supply.
The ones I re potted resisted mold and bugs better and looked lovely right up to harvest and the buds were physiologically better and larger and actually finished vs me having to harvest other plants early because they all lost color and were battling to stay alive rather than thrive and make big pretty colas.

Good luck

El Gordo