EatMoGrass
Member
Don't trust it 100%. Both of my Milwaukee ph meters were often way off even when calibrated. I trust the paper test strips more than any electric meter. At least any electric meter I could afford.
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Organics and PH-Lets settle this once and for all?
- Thread starter intotheunknown
- Start date
HydroManiac
Active member
I have found some of the cheaper ph meters are ok as long as you are very careful with them the one I am using now cost me 104.00 and it really does a great job and can take being dropped in water hit against the side of my rez etc etc I wouldn't want to not use a ph meter because I like to know exactly whats going on with everything I am doing so if I have a issue I know whats up without a ph meter I would just be guessing and I don't like guessing that much.
EatMoGrass
Member
HydroManiac: Do you grow in living organic soil? What happens if or when your $104 meter decides to lie to you? You may make an unnecessary adjustment that causes more harm than good. This happened to me when I trusted a Milwaukee brand meter. I bought another and it lied also. I havent used either in 3 years and put both in the trash over a year ago.
^^ this is the kind of thing im talking about, just because someone has a bad experience with a pH meter they expect everyone else to throw theirs away!
i have had 2 and both have been fine. the first one cost $20 but i broke it, the second cost $40. even with the extremely limited time i have to spend with my plants, it takes 2 minutes to adjust the pH of my water, it's just part of the routine and i get on fine with it.
VG.
i have had 2 and both have been fine. the first one cost $20 but i broke it, the second cost $40. even with the extremely limited time i have to spend with my plants, it takes 2 minutes to adjust the pH of my water, it's just part of the routine and i get on fine with it.
VG.
Very interesting link VG, especially the part talking about how alkalinity and EC are more important than PH, which explains a lot about the problems I had, even with organics..
With lime, and bubbled tapwater.. problems, with no lime and filtered/distilled water.. problems, with no lime, and bubbled tapwater.. problems, with lime and filtered/distilled water.. things are going fairly well, it's scary actually being able to use ferts at full dosages without burning.
With lime, and bubbled tapwater.. problems, with no lime and filtered/distilled water.. problems, with no lime, and bubbled tapwater.. problems, with lime and filtered/distilled water.. things are going fairly well, it's scary actually being able to use ferts at full dosages without burning.
T
treefrog
PH is merely something to consider when/if experiencing problems, regardless of growing technique.
If your not having problems, then why is there a need to know?
Some growers seem to be obsessive compulsive about PH, which is a whole different issue..lol
If your not having problems, then why is there a need to know?
Some growers seem to be obsessive compulsive about PH, which is a whole different issue..lol
VG speaks the sensible truth right here.
I think part of what leads to the drama and conflict on cannabis forums is that people go beyond just saying "I have found X to be the best product/method" to insulting others by saying "You're a fool if you don't do it my way."
That's true of the organic vs. synthetic argument, too. Just because you (like me) are convinced that organic methods are the best doesn't mean you have to say shit like "I'll put my buds up against any synthetics grower any day of the week." That's insulting, not enlightening.
If someone wants to spend their money on a $125 pH meter, so be it. I think it's probably unnecessary in most cases, but I also know that I'm wrong at least 50% of the time. (Ask my wife.)
And I also know that you flat-out can't argue with the results of growers like VerdantGreen. His garden is impeccable... it's none of my business if *maybe* he spent $125 more than he had to, or if he spends an extra 5 minutes per week pHing his water.
I respect ALL of you guys and gals, no matter HOW you grow. (I cannot say the same in regard to how you vote, however. LOL)
Dig
You and VG always have sensible answers Dig...it's relaxing!
I agree......Sometimes it's helpful to check stuff in my certain situation,but I don't have to rely on it. VG has a good reason to use one. I never say,"my buds are better than yours...unless we are sitting face to face and you are roasting harsh-ass chemi bowls with me,then you bet your ass I'll say,"Dude...this is haarsh..here try this" But on a forum like this,nobody should talk smack about another growers method. We do what we must,and a good grower shares his advice with others. Keyword "SHARES"
I agree......Sometimes it's helpful to check stuff in my certain situation,but I don't have to rely on it. VG has a good reason to use one. I never say,"my buds are better than yours...unless we are sitting face to face and you are roasting harsh-ass chemi bowls with me,then you bet your ass I'll say,"Dude...this is haarsh..here try this" But on a forum like this,nobody should talk smack about another growers method. We do what we must,and a good grower shares his advice with others. Keyword "SHARES"
no problem ixnay, tbh i think this is why some people can ignore their high pH water and still do fine - because their water has low alkalinity and so it's pH has little influence on the soil pH.
whereas if you have high pH and high alkalinity (basically a lot of dissolved calcium and mag afaik) your water will have much more influence on the soil pH and not correcting it may lead to problems.
i guess the other choice would be to use less lime n the soil mix but im not about to start experimenting with that - besides i have a strong suspicion that the citric acid i use benefits my grow i it's own right over and above the pH thing.
cheers
VG
hey capt.
that makes me laugh, i have a very good friend who grows huge amounts of pretty poor weed, it smokes like rope, and he always likes the stuff i grow much better. he's always trying to give me buds to take home in return for the stuff i share with him and i really try to find a good excuse to say no.
OrganicMonkey
Member
It's easier to have a perfect PH with hydro organic, but I only notice my run off being a tad off when I place a top dressing. It's freaky how powerful the chemical PH up and down is, I burned myself with a free chemical PH up once. It spilled on something I sat down on, didn't feel to pleasant.
Happens all the time VG....we give those buds away to the less fortunate. We roll "bum joints" and hand them to bums who mooch for change by the side of the interstate highway.hey capt.
that makes me laugh, i have a very good friend who grows huge amounts of pretty poor weed, it smokes like rope, and he always likes the stuff i grow much better. he's always trying to give me buds to take home in return for the stuff i share with him and i really try to find a good excuse to say no.
Regardless,we are always polite and friendly to our associations that grow harsh herb. Good ph tips BTW.
Isn't citric acid an anti-oxidant?...or is that ascorbic acid I'm thinking of?
hey capt, yeah its an organic acid - one of the things that roots exude as well.
HydroManiac
Active member
I check mine everyday it needs adjusting sometimes but works great. I worked at a organic chemistry lab for 3 years and in chemistry ph is critical it seems like growers struggle a lot more with these things then chemists do I just dont like leaving anything to chance
So what about flushing? That's always a tried and true attention getter, eh?
Wee!
CC
Wee!
CC
T
treefrog
Look at pH only if you care what the hell you are doing. Most of you guys will stumble through your lil 3 month trips over and over with no problems that you'll note in your current, single location. And with that experience, in the absence of insight and utter lack of controls,,, with this lack of knowledge, you'll all skip away thinking all is fine and dandy/hunky-dory, purdy much,,, whilst you continue to go merrily along handing out the very worst of advice to folks. -Tom (just checking-in )
)
T
treefrog
I actually skip and do a little singing through mine...
