Flush moist plant or wait!?

[lampost]

OK I've determined that I've got some pH problems or the beginnings of nute burn. I've leaf edges that are curled up bad on two plants (in the other post about canoeing). I just hit these a few days ago with a full-dose of nutes. All the other plants loved it, but these 2 apparently didn't. One is headband and I've heard it's extremely sensitive to nutes.

Anyway, I've got to flush to fix this. The plants are still pretty moist from the feeding the other day, but I think they need this flush because they appear to be getting worse. Should I just go for it and flush now without waiting for them to dry out?

lampost Reviewed by lampost on 02-20-2010. Flush moist plant or wait!? OK I've determined that I've got some pH problems or the beginnings of nute burn. I've leaf edges that are curled up bad on two plants (in the other post about canoeing). I just hit these a few days ago with a full-dose of nutes. All the other plants loved it, but these 2 apparently didn't. One is headband and I've heard it's extremely sensitive to nutes. Anyway, I've got to flush to fix this. The plants are still pretty moist from the feeding the other day, but I think they need this Rating: 5

[Ocotillo]

I'd say, IMHO, that as the soil takes time to get dry your nutes will get even a bit stronger. As the moisture level goes down, the salts (nutes) get more concentrated. I'd take a good PH in and PH out reading and flush like crazy until the numbers are right.... THEN let them dry out and check/flush again when the next watering is due. YMMV

[jtsik330]

I agree with above poster. The damage has yet to come if the soil is still moist so it may be in your best interest to just give her a good flush now. I hate the way my girls looked while the soil is that wet however if you increase the ventilation alittle bit the soil will dry out a bit quicker and she will be better in no time. The ph burn or nutes will cause a lot more damage then the flush.

[lampost]

^Thanks fellas...

I flushed right after posting this and I'm GLAD that I did!!

Initial runoff from flush came out at pH 5.0!!! I'm in soil so that's way too low. This was after flushing with distilled water, which surprisingly had a pH of 8.0. So, my pH is definitely screwed up if I'm putting pH 8.0 water in and getting pH 5.0 water out!!

Anyway, I only put 4-5 gals through a 5 gal container and by the end the runoff had only come up to pH 5.4! So looks like I'll have to flush again when it dries out...

Jtsik... I hear ya... It seems like my plants are in "suspended animation" between waterings. Then when I water they grow like 2-3 inches overnight. Then they don't grow until the next watering. It's kinda weird.

Lastly, FFOF soil sucks!! There's no way in hell my pH should be <5.0 already. The plant is 5 weeks old... was originally planted in a 1-2 gal container and then transferred to a 5 gal last week with fresh FFOF soil. I also added a small amount of dolomite lime (pretty small dose though)... but nonetheless this stuff is supposed to be buffered!! It's basically killing my plants. I have 7 weeks to go.... so I have a feeling I'll be fighting this til the end. Next time I'm using more lime... live and learn!