Run off?
- Thread starter Craven_au
- Start date
Depends on what you're using for fertilizer. I've never grown organic, so all of my grows would have salt buildup if I didn't water to a decent runoff - they're getting all they need and I'm giving them nothing but the best salt based, chemical nutes my money can buy, lololol....
Craven_au
Active member
Drip clean never heard of it i do have a hi presage pump so blockages wont be a problem.
10-20% run-off not necessary...
even if that much is run-thru, it can be re-used for @ least 3 days, or, until it eventually evaporates.
10-20% run-off seem like 10-20% waste...
the media/root zone environment can be managed, w/out wasting up to 20% of fertilizer & water.
salt build up more of ph issue, than salts just building up in the media.
but... if have issue of salts precipitation & forming insoluble matter in root-zone, just perform weekly 100% water flush...
...that would be when 20% run-off required...w/ water, or other flush solution.
some prefer dr!p cle^n...
even w/ 2.0-3.0 ec, salt build up not issue... it is the ph that permits solubility of the 'salts', or, the availability of the dissolved salts to be assimilated by the plant.
higher ph can cause 'salts' such as iron, boron etc to not be available to the plant. thus, it 'builds up' in the media.
calcium can react w/ phosphates & sulfates to form insoluble matter, thus, a 'salt build up'... both of these situation can be managed by slightly acidic ph, or, keeping ph 5.0-5.7 or so...
w/ a weekly 100% water (tap, ro, or tap/ro mixed w/ cleaning solution, or other surfacant) can eliminate the waste of 10-20% of input water+fert.
feed-water-feed (full strength)
or
feed-feed-water
also make for less waste & less possible build up or lock out...
even if that much is run-thru, it can be re-used for @ least 3 days, or, until it eventually evaporates.
10-20% run-off seem like 10-20% waste...
the media/root zone environment can be managed, w/out wasting up to 20% of fertilizer & water.
salt build up more of ph issue, than salts just building up in the media.
but... if have issue of salts precipitation & forming insoluble matter in root-zone, just perform weekly 100% water flush...
...that would be when 20% run-off required...w/ water, or other flush solution.
some prefer dr!p cle^n...
even w/ 2.0-3.0 ec, salt build up not issue... it is the ph that permits solubility of the 'salts', or, the availability of the dissolved salts to be assimilated by the plant.
higher ph can cause 'salts' such as iron, boron etc to not be available to the plant. thus, it 'builds up' in the media.
calcium can react w/ phosphates & sulfates to form insoluble matter, thus, a 'salt build up'... both of these situation can be managed by slightly acidic ph, or, keeping ph 5.0-5.7 or so...
w/ a weekly 100% water (tap, ro, or tap/ro mixed w/ cleaning solution, or other surfacant) can eliminate the waste of 10-20% of input water+fert.
feed-water-feed (full strength)
or
feed-feed-water
also make for less waste & less possible build up or lock out...
the purpose of run-off is to maintain root zone pH and EC. for those who care about such things...
