Is PH checker really necessary?

[tekneeqs]

Just a simple question. Can I still grow a good crop without a PH meter even if my PH is not optimal? I guess what I'm really wondering is, would the PH level alone render a crop cropless? Or can I still grow but just not the bomb shit? Thanks!

tekneeqs Reviewed by tekneeqs on 08-16-2006. Is PH checker really necessary? Just a simple question. Can I still grow a good crop without a PH meter even if my PH is not optimal? I guess what I'm really wondering is, would the PH level alone render a crop cropless? Or can I still grow but just not the bomb shit? Thanks! Rating: 5

[mscaboo]

ph is one of the most impotant things to have in check,an improper ph level will block out nutes that keeps your plant alive.

[elway07]

MSCABOO does not lie..... get even a cheapie from Lowes if you have to they are like 15 bucks. It is not a digi, but will work well enough. I would hate to see you begin a nice crop and when it comes time that the plants are looking for an outside source to help with nutrients and balanced medium for them to go perplunk. Good luck!

[slowthestone]

Is PH checker really necessary?

Is a shark's ass water tight?

A pH meter ought to bne on the top of a grower's list of things to have....even before a good light.

[Zandor]

Just a simple question. Can I still grow a good crop without a PH meter even if my PH is not optimal? I guess what I'm really wondering is, would the PH level alone render a crop cropless? Or can I still grow but just not the bomb shit? Thanks!

Well you did use the phrase "Good Crop" so to answer your question....No.

You may get lucky and get the plant to finish but most likely it will hermie on you at best if it makes it to the end.

[tekneeqs]

Well one thing for sure, it will not be hermie because they are clones, I think, if by hermies u mean males. I've grown them for about a month in vegetation mode and they're about 1 foot tall. So I've switched to flowering mode (12/12 light cycle) at exactly one month into veggie and so far they're looking ok. How much yield can I expect from each plant if they're grown under 400W MH light? Oh and all this was done without a PH meter, maybe next crop I will get one since you all agree it's extremely important. Sorry I am still a newbie and this is my first grow so any advice is appreciated! Thanks all for your inputs!

Just in case, my setup is as follows:
2x400W MH using one ballast (works like a charm =p)
Exhaust fan only
20-20-20 Nutes using at 1/3 strenght (no nutes for flowering as of yet, can I continue with this nute throughout the plant's life cycle?)
All this in a 3x2x8ft closet which is double stacked. 4ft for each compartment=1 light per compartment.

[BlueBear]

You can grow a fare crop without a meter, but without a meter you have less control over setting up the ideal environment for your babies to grow in. If a problem does occur then you are left to scramble for the answer when a little meter may have resolved it. Like someone suggested if nothing at all, just get some PH strips from Wally World.
When the PH is off, then you can get a nutrients lock out. This is when your plant can not absorb or process any food and suffers as a result. My father and law probably doesn't even know what a meter is and he pulls almost a LB off 600w each grow on a regular basis. I remember one time I asked him weather he had HPS or MH and he didn't even know. He is really old school.

Adieu

[Kaparski]

I tend to disagree. PH is very handy but you could go without it with no problem. Just add Epsom Salt and Dolomite Lime to your nuts and itll do the balancing for you, just be sure to know when PH is becoming a concern and act accordingly. Take a look at some pics, itll help.

[slowthestone]

I tend to disagree. PH is very handy but you could go without it with no problem. Just add Epsom Salt and Dolomite Lime to your nuts and itll do the balancing for you, just be sure to know when PH is becoming a concern and act accordingly. Take a look at some pics, itll help.

Dolomite in the water won't do squat...its meant for buffering the pH in the soil...put that stuff direct to water and all ya get is a kind of mud. For anyone using strips or test dropper test kits, clarity of the water is key. If its muddy, theres no telling the results of a test witht eh strips or droppers.. As well as...the catch of using dolomite is that the soil will forever be buffering back to neutral or higher, which is outside the desired pH range a soil grower should be striving for....so anyone adding it...do it in small amounts. I recommend 1/2 of what the manufacturer suggests. Think of dolomite as a safety net for the new grower to prevent things from getting too acidic.

Hydrated lime is the one to add to water for an immediate raise in the pH. In very small amounts until the desired pH is reached. Put too much in, then you'll have to lower the pH.


Epsom salts should be used for magnesium deficiencies. The amount needed to lower pH puts the roots in big time danger of lockout. Definetely not a thing to use every watering to lower the pH. Also, most typical nutes already have ample amounts of magnesium. Epsom salts are more a home remedy for an ailing plant than a practical means of lowering pH.

[Kaparski]

Ops lol
At any rate, dolomite lime does contain magnesium and does dilute, just not as well. I should have mentioned that Epson does not regulate anyhing, its just good to have.