High PH in my soil...need help

[Justin_Credible]

Seems to me if your runoff is 6.7- 6.8 you would be golden if you have adequate humics in your soil.

I am not the expert here but I've read enough to know what they say. with adequate EWC in your soil and with some dolomite lime, B1 says there is not need to even worry about the ph. But soil ph should be @6.3 to 6.7 from what I've read. I didn't want to worry about the ph on my current grow so I followed the soil directions on the organics for beginners thread. Instead of leaving my soil to sweeten in my bins in the garage for 2 to 4 weeks, I let is sit for 5 weeks, giving plenty of time for the EWC to develop humics.

I would check my runoff so you know what is really going on in your soil. I too agree that the pronged soil ph meters are not ideal. I have one and check it but never rely upon it.

grapeman,
Was not sure about humics till I went here. http://karnet.up.wroc.pl/~weber/kwasy2.htm
Is that what ur talking about?

Also, I just came back in from my ladies. I just chopped up/loosened the soil on the top really, really good. Put down 6.3 water to 10-15% run-off. Took my hanna and stuck ph meter down in run-off. Got it bouncing between 7.1-7.2.....
Now...these are girls that actually look better than the others. They are much less HEAVY green looking. No curled leaves etc. So, I have another question...even if they do not need water should I still keep flushing with 6.3? I have always been told to let them almost dry out to the point of drooping (but not) before watering. I'm wondering if I should still keep hitting them with that 6.3 to lower the ph?
Thanks

 

[Admiral Canna]

Hey Man.

I used to check run offs and keep notes on it religiously.

IMHO, if you are running water that is 6.3 through and it comes out at 7.1-7.2, then yer soil pH is damn close to 7.2.

To get your soil back to a good range......

Mix up enough of a nute batch to run double the amount of solution through yer pots. (Example......you have 5 gallon containers....run 10 gallon of nute solution through em)

This is gonna do two things for you.

1. Get yer pH back in check
2. Instead of leaving the plant with nothing to eat and continue having probs.....it ensures your plant is left with a good amount of food....and since yer pH should be all set now, you are back on track!

Yea, forget the sulfur and lime IMO. If you start with a quality soil/soilless and keep pH in check, you should never have pH probs.

My 2 grams worth anyways.......

 

[grapeman]

grapeman,
Was not sure about humics till I went here. http://karnet.up.wroc.pl/~weber/kwasy2.htm
Is that what ur talking about?

Also, I just came back in from my ladies. I just chopped up/loosened the soil on the top really, really good. Put down 6.3 water to 10-15% run-off. Took my hanna and stuck ph meter down in run-off. Got it bouncing between 7.1-7.2.....
Now...these are girls that actually look better than the others. They are much less HEAVY green looking. No curled leaves etc. So, I have another question...even if they do not need water should I still keep flushing with 6.3? I have always been told to let them almost dry out to the point of drooping (but not) before watering. I'm wondering if I should still keep hitting them with that 6.3 to lower the ph?
Thanks

Yeah, but according to the thread "organics for beginners", EWC produces humics that will keep your ph in check when directions are followed in mixing the soil.

Still, Admiral canna is probably right. I wouldn't flush over and over again either. I've done it before and added about 3 times the volume of water (3 gal pots, 8 or 9 gals of flush) through the pot at one wartering and the last fluch included light nutes.

 

[fishwater]

Not trying to argue, but, is it really true that when you run 7 ph water thru the pot, and it runs off in 15 seconds, is that really your soil ph?????

 

[Justin_Credible]

Not trying to argue, but, is it really true that when you run 7 ph water thru the pot, and it runs off in 15 seconds, is that really your soil ph?????

No it's not. I make sure that my soil on top is fertigated so that
the run off is actually through the soil. It takes about 1 1/2 gal of water to make a runoff on a 3 gal pot for me. And it usually takes about 5-10 mins to see it.

 

[Mile Hi Dave]

Generally, plants tolerate a high PH much better than a low one. Low PH causes all kinds of scary toxic reactions with aluminum and other metals, while high just limits some nutrients. High PH (in soil) doesn't even bother cannabis much, at least not nearly as much as most other species of plants. While many species of plants have trouble getting enough N at PH's above 7.0, cannabis will still have nice dark green leaves.

Soil that contains lots of calcium will have a high PH, but will be able to support a higher concentration of nutrients without 'souring' than a lower PH soilmix.

The first effects of a high PH on cannabis are not nutrient deficiencies, but are a slightly lower yield. Plants grown in a high PH soilmix will usually look healthy with dark green leaves and produce a finished bud that will usually be a bit more colorful and stronger tasting (not more potent, just more taste) than when grown at a lower PH. But as PH goes up, yield comes down. Not as much as with bad watering, but down never the less.

Absolute bullshit!!! Everything he says! Certain nutrients are better absorbed at specific PH. In fact, most nutes will lower your PH and as the nutes are used your PH will rise. Cannabis like a slightly acidic (lower than 7) watering regimen. Below is a chart to show you. Be careful who you listen to! Just because they have alot of posts does not mean they are right!

This chart is taken from "Marijuana Horticulture The Indoor-Outdoor Medical Grower"

 

[grapeman]

No it's not. I make sure that my soil on top is fertigated so that
the run off is actually through the soil. It takes about 1 1/2 gal of water to make a runoff on a 3 gal pot for me. And it usually takes about 5-10 mins to see it.

Wow. Even when my 3 gal pots are bone dry it only takes my soil @ 8 to 10 cups of water/nutes to begin draining through the bottom holes into the trays.

How much perlite you have in your mix? You might want to read the "organics for Beginners" thread on making your own soil. first post has all the recipes.

 

[joeking]

grapeman,
. So, I have another question...even if they do not need water should I still keep flushing with 6.3? I have always been told to let them almost dry out to the point of drooping (but not) before watering. I'm wondering if I should still keep hitting them with that 6.3 to lower the ph?
Thanks

Im with grapeman, you may wanna add some more perlite, make sure it's the CHUNKY stuff, directions say about 1/3 of your mix.

A flush of your ladies would require 2X the amount of water to soil, 5gal of soil, 10gal of water (or nutrient mix) personally I would run 5 gallons of str8 water ph'd to whatever Im aiming for, 6.5 or 6.7, whatevs...flush wit that, then follow it up with 5 gallons of nutrient solution, ph'd again at what ever your aiming for. Flushing is kind of a pain in the arse, you gotta keep waiting til it runs off, adding more, but once your done, check the ph of the last bit of runnoff and theres the ph of your soil, and your gals are freshly flushed, fed, and your all on the same page Cheers

 

[Mile Hi Dave]

If your girls can be moved, take them to your bathtub and flush there....lots easier...

 

[Justin_Credible]

Absolute bullshit!!! Everything he says! Certain nutrients are better absorbed at specific PH. In fact, most nutes will lower your PH and as the nutes are used your PH will rise. Cannabis like a slightly acidic (lower than 7) watering regimen. Below is a chart to show you. Be careful who you listen to! Just because they have alot of posts does not mean they are right!

This chart is taken from "Marijuana Horticulture The Indoor-Outdoor Medical Grower"

Thank you all for showing me your opinions on this. i do not think that greengeenes is totally full of shit. I think that you both make valid points. I just think that greene was not as specific as you were. I generally have pretty good success accept for what I see as a ph fluctuation problem. Thanks for the advice guys, much appreciated.

Wow. Even when my 3 gal pots are bone dry it only takes my soil @ 8 to 10 cups of water/nutes to begin draining through the bottom holes into the trays.

How much perlite you have in your mix? You might want to read the "organics for Beginners" thread on making your own soil. first post has all the recipes.

I try to make a 20% ratio of perlite to soil. I take it with my hands after mixing and if it does not stick together I thought that was good enough? I guess my main problem is oxygen in the soil then?

Im with grapeman, you may wanna add some more perlite, make sure it's the CHUNKY stuff, directions say about 1/3 of your mix.

A flush of your ladies would require 2X the amount of water to soil, 5gal of soil, 10gal of water (or nutrient mix) personally I would run 5 gallons of str8 water ph'd to whatever Im aiming for, 6.5 or 6.7, whatevs...flush wit that, then follow it up with 5 gallons of nutrient solution, ph'd again at what ever your aiming for. Flushing is kind of a pain in the arse, you gotta keep waiting til it runs off, adding more, but once your done, check the ph of the last bit of runnoff and theres the ph of your soil, and your gals are freshly flushed, fed, and your all on the same page Cheers

I really need to have perlite at 1/3 of my mix? That seems like alot. But then again, I noticed that the problem is not there in my much smaller pots, clones that I just put into soil in small pint sized pots do not have this problem. Maybe it is a combo of the 1inch rockwell and perlite in a small pot that makes them breathe much easier?

So basically guys, I am fucked on this run until next one huh? They do not look bad at all, its just that I am almost one month in and notice less yield appearing already. I have a bunch of girls in veg now that are getting ready to go in 3 gals and 6 gals. I think I will try the perlite suggestion. Looks like I'm off to the friendly-grow-shop for a GIANT bag of perlite then!

 

[Justin_Credible]

Absolute bullshit!!! Everything he says! Certain nutrients are better absorbed at specific PH. In fact, most nutes will lower your PH and as the nutes are used your PH will rise. Cannabis like a slightly acidic (lower than 7) watering regimen. Below is a chart to show you. Be careful who you listen to! Just because they have alot of posts does not mean they are right!

This chart is taken from "Marijuana Horticulture The Indoor-Outdoor Medical Grower"

Thank you all for showing me your opinions on this. i do not think that greengeenes is totally full of shit. I think that you both make valid points. I just think that greene was not as specific as you were. Thanks for the advice guys, much appreciated.

 

[fishwater]

The more perlite the more often you get to water them, which in turn gives you more chances to get the ph where you want it. Its a win win situation...

 

[Justin_Credible]

The more perlite the more often you get to water them, which in turn gives you more chances to get the ph where you want it. Its a win win situation...

Yeah, makes good sense man, thanks.

 

[Matanuskan Flo]

in my time on this forum, Mr. Greenegenes has never been wrong. i would trust him more than most people here, esp a new poster. new or old, irrelevant. once you have about 50 grow journals to show, teach hundreds of people techniques & solve countless forum members issues, then you should go as far as to dismiss or belittle anyone, let alone mr. greenegenes. as i recall, you are on your 1st grow journal checking your computer every 2 seconds for flattering responses on your grow journal. your charts & info are great, your intentions to help the OP is great & all. but, i just think respect should be given where it is due. There are better ways to get a point across than making such statements against other members.

 

[Mile Hi Dave]

Well sir...having grown for well over 20 years, I would beg to differ. You are making an assumption...yes, it is my first grow using the "E&G" system...but anytime someone that goes to the point of mistating the facts...it is total bullshit. We aren't growing fucking tomatoes here....