I’ve been using Fox Farm soil (Coco Loco) with Lotus Nutrients. My question is, those who use Fox Farm as their medium and use synthetic nutrients. Do you do a light flush during the grow with products like Sledge hammer, Carbo Flush, etc to cut down on the salt build up. I’m starting to get what looks like deficiencies about 6 to 7 weeks from sprout. I’m curious in how common it is to use a flushing agent during a grow to cut back on salt build up in the root system. Fox Farm nutrients feed schedule show it using Sledge Hammer flush every 3-4 weeks during the grow. I don’t use their but do use synthetic nutrients (Lotus). I hope my question makes sense. Thank you any replies.
A salt buildup generally results in a low runoff pH. Do you know your runoff pH? Fox Farm nutes are very salty. I’m not sure about Lotus.
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When i used the FF brand they had a full flush in thier neute schedual every 4 weeks durring intire grow. I could not make that stuff work, (i was very inexperienced at the time) but ive been using Roots Organic and Jacks since and just dont have any issues with salts and never have to flush it.
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I test my ppm and PH every watering/feeding. My last runoff PH was 6.4 900ppm. With the medium I’m using, I did not have to start using nutrients until around week 6. That’s when I noticed that I may have a deficiency. Even though my ppm was reading really high (2,400 ppm). But I’ve been told that Fox Farms Coco Loco is more like a soil and will read high ppm until all the organics that amended in the medium is broken down. At least that’s how I understood it. But I have used Calmag and Silica from day one. So the salts in the Calmag and Silica may have caused the build up. That’s if I’m even having lock out? I’m not completely sure what is causing my plants to look like deficiency? It is starting to look better now that I’ve used a sledge hammer flush and started giving nutrients.
I’ve wanting to try roots organics for a while now. Will definitely use on my next run if I can find it locally to purchase.
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Pics would be very helpful.
You are not going to have a lockout with pH at 6.4 when in soil.
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I’m not at home. This is the only pic I have access to at the moment.
It looks like normal end-of-life fade to me. I don’t think that you have anything to worry about. Your pH and PPM are both fine.
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@MidwestGuy with fox Farms Coco Loco. I can’t find out if I should treat it like a soil or coco? Everywhere I look, I get conflicting information. It’s Coco mixed with aged forest products? What ever “aged forest products” is? This is my 3rd run using it and I’ve not really had this issue that I’m having now. But I did mix some of my used medium Coco Loco from a previous grow with new Coco Loco.
@MidwestGuy thank you for your advice and help. I really appreciate it.
I missed that you were in Coco Loco. I saw Fox Farm and moved on through the post. I’m not actually sure about CL. You might want to run your runoff pH closer to 6.0. 6.4 may be a bit high.
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I get mine off Amazon. Pay a pretty penny for it but after using now for a few years now with no kind of issues . Its (too me) worth every penny due to the ease of use and real good results. As my grow (skills) improve my results keep getting better. The Roots seems to Ph buffer to such a level and consistently that i don’t even test Ph out anymore. It will support your girl for 5/6 weeks without neuts like the FFOF but no flushes or Ph issues. The Jacks also feeds without build up or any issues i can see.
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@Audiofreak, Thank you for the information. I’m going to look into ordering a bag or so if I can’t find it locally. Is there a specific type of Roots Organics or do they only make one kind of medium?
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I use the Roots Organic “ORIGINAL” and i use Recharge inbetween feeds of the 321 jacks. I buy the 1.5 cf bag as it fills my 7gal fabric pots with a little left over.
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