just a note for those using humic acid in soiless mixtures...

[big ballin 88]

Well I've encountered this problem a couple of times and all of them being my fault. I never realized that when adding humic acid to a soilless mix that you can potentially lock up calcium. Well low and behold once again i have caused a calcium deficiency in my flowering plants.

The reason I'm writing this is because I want people to know that even though we do deal with organics we can still face problems by what we add. Some things should be measured or taken into account for. So just keep that in mind when adding humic acid to a soilless mix. My mistake is your knowledge.

I thought i could fix this problem by adding dolomite to the water but this just made the problem worse. I was told that the problem can be fixed by acidifying the water. Which i'm now doing, but still scared of locking out calcium even more. My babies were finally starting to stretch nicely...Well like we say, you can't learn if there's no problems to face....

 

[gonzo`]

source for this statement?

 

[big ballin 88]

I'm sorry but i'm not putting the person's name out there who's helping me. i'm just working through my problems. I've heard tons of people saying too much humic acid doesnt hurt, but i can easily prove them wrong if i take pictures. All people want is a source from who said it can happen. I can't tell you why it happens, but i will tell you that this had happened a day after my plants drank through a lot of the humic acid dilute. This is also the third time its happened to me after watering with just the humic acid.

This is coming from personal experience and is not in anyway to put down using humic acid. Its just to be careful to what your adding to your medium. Do you truly need to add it at that time? Because i didn't now i'm facing this problem. Also i'm using an 80%powder that i diluted down, probably not enough though.

I just don't want anyone to fall into the same position as me. Right during stretch is the worst time to have stunted plants. It sucks knowing that slowing down this stretch is going to kill my yield.

 

[Clackamas Coot]

BB88

What brand/product are you using?

 

[big ballin 88]

CC-I don't know the name of the brand i'm using. I got it from a local friend of mine. I'm thinking about switching brands to see if maybe thats my problem. I was thinking about trying CTguy's but didn't want to keep adding to the problem by trying something thats just not working for me yet.

 

[DARC MIND]

some humic acids do more bad then good
http://www.bioag.com/educationandresources.html
i think we all could really benfit on doing a little homework before purchasing products like compost, humic acids and others that can be potentially bad for our grow.
unfortunately lots of people in the business just for money and love to scam people on buying crap
im giving bioag a try this year but i will keep an eye out for cal problems
thanks BB

 

[big ballin 88]

i'm going to check BioAG out also. But at this point i know its possible for me to have added way too much over the course of time. I just hope my plants get better. I fed them a foliar feed of dolomite and watered them with with a light vinegar solution. This sucks....

 

[VerdantGreen]

hey bb are you using secondtry's soiless mix?

 

[Zendo]

I use the stuff here in my teas per directions.. no problems.

http://www.simplici-tea.com/humic_acid.htm

 

[big ballin 88]

hey bb are you using secondtry's soiless mix?

Yes i am....

I'm thinking about either CT guys HA or BioAG now. I know my source of Humic Acid uses Leonardite as a base and extracted via potassium hydroxide. Supposed to be 80% HA in it's dry form.

 

[CannaExists]

Ah don't worry bruh. I'm going through a rather similar situation, I'm thinking I overdid the dolomite. (shouldn't have added any ) There is no such thing as failure, ones mans failure is another mans experience, and experience is valuable, how else does one evolve into Charizart?

 

[NUG-JUG]

I use the terra vita brand Zendo referred to only in ACT teas, which I apply only on occasion. I haven't added any to my soil since it's kinda expensive. I just throw in myco powder, and some lime.

 

[big ballin 88]

I'm sorry you haven't been getting laid lately gonzo because last i checked i opened this thread with the intention of sharing my personal experience with others. I sure as hell haven't seen you around this organic section before nor the OFC. So before you start throwing your shit out there i suggest you check yourself.

I never said people shouldn't use humic acid. I said check out how much your using and why your using it. Just to be careful, because even something that can be harmless in small amounts like many of these soluble powders, can cause damage. The reason i'm not throwing sources out there is i'm not trying to take down a company just for my bad experience that can be worked through.

Don't answer in this thread if you don't have anything useful to add. You don't have to and personally i don't care about your opinion that's worth less than shit in a fair trade.

 

[VerdantGreen]

hey BB what was the purpose of adding the acid? was it to reduce pH or more for a plant 'tonic'?
did you measure the pH of the solution before you watered??

......get outta here...

if thats your contribution gonzo, why dont YOU get out of here

VG

 

[big ballin 88]

I haven't made a compost tea in a while and have been watering with straight water for a couple of weeks. I was using the humic acid since my soil had dried out some and started looking crusty. I figured this could add some life back, but in no means a substitute for AACT. Its just i usually incorporate a little into there anyways, so it would be more of a tonic.

Also i didn't check the pH of the solution, i just go off color when it comes to the HA and i think this dose was way to strong. It was the color of cola, instead of a strong tea.

 

[snaggy]

hate it when total n00bs come on here and just start chatting total kak. No source for the information, no information on what brand was used or dilution rates... actually, no fucking information other that you're a total moron.

Well "noob" means nothing.
Many people are probably pro's and never posted a single post.
Are they noobs because they don't post?

Here is a good example:

So I think he is asking a simple question since I have used it for years , and know what it does.
He has 3,000 posts.
I have 40 posts.

There is many aspects to growing, and even though he or I may know some areas of growing does not mean we know all areas.

Now to answer you ______:

Humic Acid (black):

• Increase efficiency of the root zone
• Increase chlorophyll content in leaves
• Optimize nutrients assimilation
• Increase nutrient absoption capacity

Fulvic Acid (gold):

• Accelerate nutrients translocation
• Canalize resources to plant cells
• Optimize sugar production
• Prolong the useful life of plant cells
• Give and make available many trace elements
• Increase growth and production rates
• Catalyze enzyme reactions
• Compatible with all mineral and organic nutrients

 

[opt1c]

try using it as a foliar for soilless mixtures and keeping it out of the medium; fulvic acid owns humic btw.... ful-power ftw

 

[big ballin 88]

I know the benefits of humic acid, but thank you for posting them on here, its nice to see them listed.

opt1c- the funny thing is that i had started by using this as a foliar and i noticed problems the next day that i would claim as pH related and would look burnt.

I'm starting to think that my soil mix may already of had a decent amount of humates/humus in it. Between me adding HA, using compost and my homemade EWC i may have had enough.

 

[CT Guy]

My understanding is the fulvic acid is present in the humic acid, just not listed as a component due to labeling restrictions, etc....associated with the industry. Certain States allow for different claims regarding %'s of humic acid is how it was explained to me by the owner of Tera Vita. He said the fulvic was there, just not as a % because of the above mentioned reasons.

 

[gonzo`]

Of the 80% powder, what dilution rate did you use please?