Some stupid PPM questions

[Opie Yutts]

I thought I was being real smart by producing great results with minimal effort and expense. However my plants in the flower section started exhibiting some small signs of nute problems, so I broke down and bought a PPM meter. Now how the hell do I use it?

I think I remember that PPM should be about 1 to 3000. Is this right, and that's a big difference. What's best on average? And if my PPM is too high, I just use less nutes, right?

And I bought some Liquid Karma and Cal Mag. How do I best incorparate this with my other nutes and maintain the proper PPM?

For the mean time I went to half strength nutes. My PPM in them at the time of mixing was 990. Does this mean at full strength it will be twice that, or 1980?

Opie Yutts Reviewed by Opie Yutts on 07-01-2006. Some stupid PPM questions I thought I was being real smart by producing great results with minimal effort and expense. However my plants in the flower section started exhibiting some small signs of nute problems, so I broke down and bought a PPM meter. Now how the hell do I use it? I think I remember that PPM should be about 1 to 3000. Is this right, and that's a big difference. What's best on average? And if my PPM is too high, I just use less nutes, right? And I bought some Liquid Karma and Cal Mag. How do I Rating: 5

[Garden Knowm]

Opie.... HI!
when using general hydropnics 3 part... the highest the PPM i would recommend is 1500...

and actualy, if it is your first time growing using this particular NUTRIENT solution then you should probably be very careful going over 1300..

If your PH is corrrect.. then your plants should be showing signs of hunger which can be eaisly fixed... as opposed to a PH imbalance which canoften leave parts of your plant necrotic.. DEAD

can you post a picture

: )

[Zandor]

I thought I was being real smart by producing great results with minimal effort and expense. However my plants in the flower section started exhibiting some small signs of nute problems, so I broke down and bought a PPM meter. Now how the hell do I use it?

I think I remember that PPM should be about 1 to 3000. Is this right, and that's a big difference. What's best on average? And if my PPM is too high, I just use less nutes, right?

And I bought some Liquid Karma and Cal Mag. How do I best incorparate this with my other nutes and maintain the proper PPM?

For the mean time I went to half strength nutes. My PPM in them at the time of mixing was 990. Does this mean at full strength it will be twice that, or 1980?

Well not quite.

There is a chart in the FAQ section that shows the different NPK levels for each growth cycle in the plants life. There is also another one on PPM & EC give that a read it may help you also.

I will try to explain as best I can. I will just give you the steps and not the why just yet so you can get up and running faster.

1. Plan water - Check ppm and record. Check Ph record but don't balance yet.

2. This depends on what nutrients you are using as your NPK base. The chart is for GH 3-part NPK nutrients. That type of nutrient gives you the most control over your NPK nutrient formula.

You add in the NPK nutrient in the proper amount according to the makers instructions. Mix it up and then let it set for a few min. This is just the NPK nutrient mixture.

3. Check the Ph now and the PPM level. That PPM reading minus what you started with is the real NKP nutrients salts number. Write that number down too for record reference.

4. Most NPK nutrients have a buffer built in to aid in maintaining Ph levels. Here is when you balance your Ph to match the growth cycle and the strain. Some like lower 5.2 - 5.5 and some like it higher 5.5 - 6.0 there is a chart there too that will show you the different nutrients the plant uptakes at different Ph levels so you can match Ph with the growth cycle if you choose. ( told you it could get confusing)

5. Now that you have the Ph set you can add the CalMag Plus (if you are using RO water) Also you can start adding what other enhancers you are going to use.

I.E. a Bloom booster or flower enhancer, maybe some carob load or something like that. The idea is to add them last because they are meant to enhance the base NPK nutrients. You may need to lower some of the NPK by as much as 50% if using boosters is too much for your plants. They will tell you by looking at the leaf.

Take your last reading and record it for reference. Now you have a place to start from. If the plants like it you know the next time and if they don't then you know where to start tweaking for the next time. Keep records and as your experience grows with more data so will your growing skill in using PPM as a tool for a successful grow.

Did that help you any?

[Opie Yutts]

Just got back from working and am in a big hurry to leave again. Had to skim but looks very helpful. Looking forward to understanding it fully later tonight or tomorrow. Thanks a bunch.

[Garden Knowm]

I don't ever use the General Hydropnic (3 part solution chart) recommended mixture... it will lead to problems..

: )

[latewood]

After several grows using 3-part, I have come up with my own recipe, also. One thing I think we all do is cut the grow-part during flower, or at least after the 1st 3-4 weeks of flower. It is a matter of using it and your own growing experiences that will bring the most understanding of the products.

[Opie Yutts]

Very helpful guys, thanks, but I have another question. Zandor says I can add CalMag if I am using RO water. Why can't I use it with well water? Should I just take it back? And how much Liquid Karma and Calmag do you guys add per gallon? Do you stick with the instructions or vary that? I am using Tiger Bloom for the basic flower nutes, if that matters. I would be happy to supply specifics on the Tiger Bloom if that would help, but I am leaving in a few minutes for 2 days.

[Opie Yutts]

OK, after some more searching I think I get it about the CalMag. People mostly just use it to replace the elements that RO strips out. True? I don't remember it saying that on the bottle. I just bought the smaller bottle of Cal Mag, and it's not really worth the trip back to the store. Should I go ahead and use it up (slowly)?

[Aaron385]

Latewood... can you post your recipie for the three part gh nutes?? Ive got the one from the faq but i think its generic because it includes grow in the bloom cycle.

[Zandor]

I don't ever use the General Hydropnic (3 part solution chart) recommended mixture... it will lead to problems..

: )

Why?

If that chart gives you trouble then quit using that miracle grow shit and that won't happen again. lol

Using any nutrient improperly will give you problems. I have used it for many years and had great success with that product. Are you saying I'm giving the wrong advice about that chart?

It could be just YOU; did you think about that?

It is a great place to start and each strain is a little different. How many times have I said that (I lost count)

If you take growing serious then don't use that MG crap anymore. If you can't use a simple 3-part nutrient NPK formula then you may need to go back to class and read the books this time.