Get a pen and a piece of paper write this down
Okay, you ordered the EC calibration here is the TDS/PPM calibration solution link.
Good day all. I’m doing this post for @Zampano as I’ve been the one helping him along the way but he has had some snags. This is going to be a long post but you’ll get the full story.
He’s got an indoor grow
Autoflower
Approx 2 to 3 weeks in veg
Mother Earth Groundswell soil
3 gallon grow bag
Tap water (PPM unknown) ph 7.6
Nutrients I❤️GM “Growtime” (for veg)
He’s had some issues with his old pH and PPM meters giving inaccurate readings. He ordered a new pen from Amazon. The pen came uncalibrated
Since the Pen came with ph calibration packs he was able to calibrate the pH and it seems accurate.
However, the EC and ppms of the pen are not calibrated so he’s ordered both calibration solutions.
After watering his plant he posted runoff numbers with the pH runoff being 7.1
(True ppms were not available at the time you didn’t inaccurate readings from not having pen calibrated)
I suggested that he flush the 7.1 pH down to 6.5 for better nutrient availability.
After several gallons of pH 6.5 tap water flushing the plant the pH began to rise to 7.3 I instructing him to continue flushing until we seen 6.5 or close. After running 8 gallons of tap water through this plant pH just keeps going up. (Currently at 7.4)
With 8 gallons and no success of a dropped pH I instructed him to simply mix one last gallon with full veg feed, mixwell pH to 6.5 and proceed to feed your plant. (at least we know she has nutrients available)
It’s difficult finding much information on this soil. I’ll admit I’m in a brick wall on suggestions. (This is why I’m doing this post)
Keep in mind he’s not going to have EC or PPM availability until his meter gets calibrated sometime Friday
I also instructed him to do a slurry test of the soil. He’s made the mix we’re just waiting 24 hours to get a accurate reading of the slurry.
I don’t get stumped much but this one has me stumped.
He’s got a second pH pen that is giving him the same pH numbers within .5 of each other. I’m simply going to tag a few people that might have some suggestions or dealt with this soil.
Here is a recent picture of the girl. Doesn’t seem too affected by anything in her appearance. She does have some leaves with nutrient burn.
Thank you all in advance.
@OGIncognito @Growdoc @Storm @kaptain3d @Myfriendis410
It’s possible his water is too high in bicarbonate, it can build up in the soil and just get worse the more he flushes. When his pen comes, check his tap ppms first. The slurry test will definitely help pin down the cause, could be his soil is over buffered also. Slurry will answer that part. Keep me posted, I’ll set to watch.
I’m not seeing a big concern. I would let the medium hit the dry cycle and feed with a PH of 6.3 and should have the TDS pen by then to test the mediums available nutrients.
Those spots you see are from the high ph, I just posted about this where my ph was climbing again and I finally figured out all my nitrogen is nitrate, which raises ph as plants eat it. I adjusted my feed and changed up to more ammonia and urea nitrogen and spots have stopped. I removed bad fans and no more spots since the adjustment. Bottom pic has some fine spots, calcium probably locked out from ph.
That’s pretty much all we can do. All the water in the world isn’t dropping the pH. I’ll see what happens on the dry end! Thanks for your input brother
Did you’re ph drop back to normal yet since you adjusted your feed?
Also thank you for your input
Im not sure how to tag people on the forum, but i just wanted to thank everyone for their input in this matter.
Something in the back of my head tells me it’s a possibility (and it happens) that depend could be a dud. We’ll find out Friday when he gets the adjustment solution for calibrating.
I did see a few posts on the soil on another fourm where this particular brand had some high buffering pH straight out of the bag.
For the record when you tag someone you simply type the @ symbol and you’ll see a list of names if the name is not in your list start typing the letters and their name will pop up.
Don’t sweat the help, we got your back. I’ve never left a man and his plant hanging! I appreciate your patience. Sometimes these things are a little more difficult to figure out than others
It climbed to 6.5, two feeds with different nitrogen and phing at 5.8 has it at 6.1, so it’s definitely easing back down. I wanted it to come down slow so it didn’t shock them. That’s in Promix, so 6.5 definitely too high. We talked a little about this a few months ago when my ph climbed , it was at same point in the grow, so I’m positive it was from the nitrate being consumed and it slowly raised ph no mater what I did at that time. I’ll know without a doubt this round I just started, they will get a balance of different nitrogen forms and we will see for sure if that’s the issue, but I feel it is as changing it up is already bringing it back in line. Last feed runoff numbers.
Definitely not a quick fix. Getting everything under control is important because it’s an autoflower. I think @OGIncognito has a good point about giving her the dry time to sort it all out
Definitely one of the more challenging scenarios. Faulty equipment isn’t making it any easier
It’s really hard to make chicken salad out of chicken shit! HAVE to have a good meter
I’ve never quite heard it put that way but I have to agree.
What
It means you can’t start out with shitty equipment and expect it to perform like great equipment. I’m just a fulloshit country boy with all kinds of sayings! Welcome to the wonderful world of growing!
Ty for the tag. Plant does not look like going into shock. Soil is not ammended heavy. Ph is 7.6 out of tap. Lets try mixing the nutrient solution and letting it sit for an hour. Check ph. 7.6 is not crazy high. See where it settles. Adjust then and that will be a baseline for subsequent feedings of that part. Do the same next stage and there again is a baseline. According to analysis the soil is pretty mild. We need some pics of new growth please. The addition of some strong life is a good practice. After it blooms well it will regulate that 7.6 easy peasy. Our water fluctuates between 8.5-10 depending on rain. Just my thoughts. Too dang healthy to panic. Stop flushing i suggest and just start regulating input. Check the nute directions. Some lines require a supplement of calcium and or magnesium.
@Lostgirl
A special thank you, to you, for the instrument calibration video.
Turns out my 5-1 is out of cal for PPM and the replacement (7-1) is out of cal for PH.
Could explain some previous issues seen. Cal fluid PPM 1413 is required for instrument calibration routine. Your knowledge has helped my next grow already.
So appreciative, I am.
Glad it worked out for you.