I just would like to get clarification on a question regarding feeding and PPM’s. Sorry for my ignorance as I’m learning you almost have to be a chemist to understand all the aspects of growing.
If your mix up a gallon of Jack’s 321 with RO water based on recommended mixture I am getting about 1250 PPMs. If for this example I should be feeding at 1000 ppM, do I dilute that mixture down to 1000 PPMs using RO water?
Hopefully you all aren’t laughing at this simple question 
Feed as necessary to achieve a runoff PPM of ~1,000.
We don’t do that here. Every one of us was new like you at one point. We get that is can be complicated and takes some time to sort out everything.
Thanks for the understanding, so that makes me now ask another question,
If I want to get a runoff PPM of 1000, and my previous watering had a runoff ppM of 750, how would I prepare my nutrient water to ensure I get a 1000 ppM runoff ? …
Low runoff PPM = feed a higher PPM.
High runoff PPM = feed a lower PPM.
Example: if your runoff is 750 PPM, then feed 1,300 PPM and check your runoff. Feed a little more next time if it’s still off on the low side. You can’t fix it all in one watering as wet soil does not absorb nutrients very well.
There is no specific formula for this, as all plants eat at differing rates. You’ll get a feel for it with experience. Until then just (reasonably) wing it as best you can or ask for advice. It doesn’t hurt if you are off a couple hundred PPM here and there.
Welcome to the neighborhood. I know how you feel about asking questions and feeling stupid. But I have been told and now know there are no dumb questions. Feel free to ask all the questions you have and someone will be happy to answer! 
I find nothing more rewarding in this forum to see new growers ask questions. Questions they feel may be stupid but there are none. If you don’t know something, you dont know until you do. But to see new growers (1st grow) kinda stumbling about not hitting targets initially or using Miracle Gro for soil, to then see this community come together and carry this first time grower across the finish line and they get 6-7 zips out the gate, Huge smile always plastered to my face when I see this happen and it happens alot. This is hands down the best forum out there for CannaCulture.
I have to agree 100% to all that was said above. I didn’t know anything when i started and still have a lot to learn but through reading, asking these guys questions and applying their knowledge i acheived over a pound. So greatful for their patience and knowledge with noobs here. Hands down best place in the world to learn. You’re in the right place for success.
@Bonjoyle @MidwestGuy @Flitme
You guys said it best and i can’t thank you enough for doing what you do around here
I wouldn’t worry much about PPM with jacks. It’s really gentle and I’ve never experienced nute burn with it.
One thing you do want to keep an eye on is ph, especially with RO water. It can drop you into the 4’s for ph.
Appreciate the heads up on the RO, cause PH lock was my prior issue with ph runoff going from 6.3 to 6.15 to 5.95.
Previously I was using spring water (Poland springs) with a ppM of 45 PPMs, but it’s getting costly so I went to RO (house tap water is 6.85 ph but 700 ppms) Interesting when use my tap RO system, my ph goes to 5.85…. Somewhere I read that ph in RO drops due to CO2 in the air, not sure that is correct.
Sorry for the long message but the last thing I want is to have my ph in my run off drop again.
Questions:
After I buffer the RO PH back to 6.5 - 6.6, do I have to worry with it dropping more after it is applied to the plant?
is there a way to prevent this RO water PH concern, I.e dolomite lime, etc…
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
If using RO water use a lil bit of calmag to get a proper ph reading… as far as a buffer… you can use ag lime ( gardening lime ) dolomite adds calcium and mag in the soil so unless you have a deficiency i wouldnt use it.
So I have a few questions after completing my flush over the weekend due to the nutrient lockout based on low ph and high PPM’s
My plants are Purple Star Killer indica plants (5) and one F Incredible in 5 gal fabric pots and they were flushed due to a PH/PpM lockout.
Prior to the flush, the PH runoff was 5.9 and the PPMs were 1500. The plant was exhibiting considerable evidence of magnesium deficiency, see picture below.
After flush with 2 gallon each of water treated with sledgehammer, let soak for 45 min and followed with 5 gallons of ph’d water, the PPMs came down to 350-400 and PH was 6.4-6,5 on the runoff. I fed them a light feeding ph’ at 6.7 and runoff ph remained the same.
Yesterday I fed them a feeding of 1100 PPMs, ph’d at 6.7, and once again with 20% run PPMs stayed at 1100 at runoff, but the ph on the plants had dropped once again to 6.0 on three of the six plants… not sure why the plant soil continues to drop even when feeding at a higher ph.
Any insight would be appreciated… I must note that the 1 F Incredible plant continues to maintain a higher PH of 6.35, so perhaps the genetics of the Purple star killer cause the lower PH??
Look forward to comments !! Thanks again.
Each plant will act differently. Some eat more than others. Thats why you have to taylor to each plant to its specific needs.
I’ve read where Fox Farms Ocean Forest may become more acidic after 3 months into the grow, could this be why my soil keeps lowering in PH even though I am feeding the plant a higher PH Water?
Run-off PH 6.15, and Watering/Feeding PH 6.7?
For the plants with the lower PH, should I continue to water/ feed at a higher PH I.e 6-7 to 7 ph, to see if the ph will naturally rise or will this be fruitless if the soil does not want to rise in PH even after flushing?
Also, Since the top of the plant is what is affected by the deficiency, the bottom and middle is fine… dark green, will it still flower ok from these bud sites that have some yellowing in the leaves or do I need to remove all these tops.?
You started winning when you made an account for these forums.
I’m right there with you trying to figure out this exact thing.
If you figure it out, let me know and I’ll do the same, hopefully going to see some improvement this week!
