PPM rise slower with higher concentated ferts?

[sex_pistils]

Hello, growing in soil, and don't want PPM too high. Will using a more concentrated fert deposit less salts in the medium since you use smaller amounts? I know a good flush will remove most salt build-up but woudn't it be smarter to use a higher concentration in fert so you also have to flush less? I'm mostly concerned about flower BTW. Thanks in advance.

 

[ganjaments]

It doesn't really work like that.

More concentrated = more salts.
Less concentrated = less salts.

 

[sex_pistils]

More concentrated equals more salts but it also equals less fertilizer 'particles' in the soil, no? Are you saying that less concentrated is best?

 

[Scrogerman]

Giving less of a more concentrated solution will just give you a higher salt content/concentration id of thought, the plants will tell you what they require as in EC anyway. I dont think it works that way either.
Less=More(always)

 

[sex_pistils]

EC is one thing but PPM is another. I don't think anyone checks the PPM in soil, do they?

 

[Scrogerman]

What you mean check the ppm of every elemental salt, ppm's are used just as a reference to EC, your better off working in EC, working in ppm is useless really. its just a lose reference.(.5/.7 conversion etc)

What meters have you got?

you cant know the exact ppm concentration of each element can you, unless you paid a lab to do the test for you. Thats why ppms are used as a simple reference, should be using EC or CF.

 

[sex_pistils]

When I said PPM I was talking about the buildup in the soil. I thought EC could be fine but salt build up in the pot. Not good right? That's what I thought. I thought that salts get deposited there with no use after a certain amount of feeding causing nutrient lockout. Thought I must flush pot after certain amount of feedings. I take it that I am right. However, what to do about flushing out beneficial bacteria?

 

[Scrogerman]

EC(electrical conductivity) measures the electrical charge from said salts. Do you check the run-off from your pot after irrigating?

Most people water feed water feed water feed etc etc, this minimises any salt build up.
catch run-off & test EC(&PH) etc, then you can see what the plants require. There are other ways to test EC' in soil/media too.
Like i said your better off working in EC bro.

What meters have you got, measuring equipment have you got?

 

[Scrogerman]

This may help, got more for you too.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-401.html

happy reading bro!

 

[sex_pistils]

Well, there's only a certain amount of times you can 'water, feed, water, feed' before you get toxic salt buildup. Especially in a large pot that holds alot and doesn't really drain everything out. Am I right? I don't have any meters or measuring equipment as of yet.

 

[Scrogerman]

Well, there's only a certain amount of times you can 'water, feed, water, feed' before you get toxic salt buildup. Especially in a large pot that holds alot and doesn't realy drain everything out. Am I right? I don't have any meters or measuring equipment as of yet.

Sorry mate i dont think your quite right there! Read the link i sent it will help im sure!
How do you think people like DutchGrown & other soil/soiless growers get along? they dont get toxic salt build up! your reading into it too much, salt build up wont be a problem if your running things right!

hope the link helps!

 

[sex_pistils]

EC will go up because of toxic salt buildup? If it did it would just mean your medium is full of toxic salts and not actually feeding the plant. Toxic salt buildup is real. I think you are talking about solube salts whil I am talking about 'in-soluble' salts. I know it's important to check EC but I just was under the impression that after a certain time of high EC salts begin to build up in the medium.

 

[Scrogerman]

Mate, it should'nt be happening. If it is something is very wrong & maybe a flush/leach would be in order.
There are clearing solutions that could be used too, but said 'Toxic Salt Build-Up' should not be a problem at all.

 

[Scrogerman]

What exactly is your problem with your soil/plants?

explain & show pics if you can & im sure people will pop in to give you some advice if its needed!

 

[sex_pistils]

It shouldn't be happening? Well, I know of some very well respected growers that leach every month because of this.

 

[Scrogerman]

for sure leaching is good(when its needed), i never said any different, thats why your respected grower buddys dont suffer with salt build up problems, as i refered to a few posts back bro!
Like i said before if your running things properly, said salt-build up is never a problem.

if your suffering from salt-build up then leach your media, its as simple as that. If you had meters to test your run-off you would be able to see what was going on inside the pot! a Clearing solution may be an idea, or use a weak EC nute solution say EC0.2(or in your case 1/10th strength solution) to leach your pots through, it will serve you better than just plain ol water & will help clear the salts. You will need a minimum of at least 2 times your pot size of leaching solution. Id use 3 times the pot size of leach solution.
Very rarely hear of anybody suffering salt-build up in soil growing bro!

 

[sex_pistils]

Is there any way to know that the toxic salts are building up before it actually harms the plant? In soil I think the salt buildup would start to happen in flower when one has fed the plant alot already i mean it's like you want to feed it more but there's so much salt buildup in there. Pretty messed up that it's in flower most likely to happen too.

 

[Scrogerman]

It should'nt happen really, visually(ie reading the plants, Clawing, overferting, Tip Burn is usually a first sign etc, then yes thats a way of seeing overfeeding issues). most soil/soiless growers that use mineral based ferts irrigate to some 10-20% run-off, this tecnique really minimises any kind of salt build up. Only experienced growers irrigate with no run-off at all, they know whats going on in the media & with their ferts etc.

Id advise to get yourself some meters if your worried about it/having issues etc, & irrigate/water to run-off, that way the salts are constantly being semi-leached, the plants should be able to take care of the rest.

do you irrigate to run-off, if so you shouldnt be having these kinds of issues, unless your feeding full strength nutes as a constant. Water feed water feed etc with run off should take care of your issues.

if you got sick plants, post some pics bro!

 

[ganjaments]

At this point I think it would be prudent to post your feeding schedule so we can figure out where all off this salt buildup is coming from.

 

[sex_pistils]

I'm not having a salt buildup issue ATM. I was more concerned about when I start flowering. This happened to me in an attempted SOG. I had it in a very small container and I just felt that the plant was not being able to consume nutes because after a while I could tell that there was aot of crap in there. It was my first grow, I never leeched it or fed with some run-off, but hey, now I'm back with experience and hoping to get some big deliscious buds.