PH rises constantly

[OCBCrew]

Hi worldwide growers,


Here is the medium setup :

Coco coir 70%
clay balls 12%
perlite 12%
wormcasting 6% (vol)
Fungus + bactos

I am afraid that i actually did not cleaned and buffered enough the clay balls.
so after 3 weeks my drained water is always raising to 7/7.2.
If i fill my tank with PH 3.5, it's rising to 6.7.
I've tried to let soak my pot in a bucket at 3.8. After 1 hour the ph goes to 6.5/6.8, even in the bucket.

Do you have any tricks and tips for that issue ?

I am using GH Flora Series, so in COCO PH should be at 5.8.

If i switch to any organic nutrients (biothrive for ex.), should I have to water with a 6.5 PH, as in soil ?

Thanks for all,

Sorry for my English !


Bulp

 

[BullnAChinaShop]

Boil the clay balls or just lose them altogether. Not too familiar with the science but I know that clay balls can cause ph swings if not prepped properly.

 

[OCBCrew]

.... my plants are 3'' tall and in the second week of 12/12.

boiling them sounds to me much more dangerous than high PH for my crop !
However, next time for sure i will be much more strict on clay ball buffer.

 

[pip313]

Obvously you dont boil the ones already being used. I use clay balls and ph is unaffected. Try ditching the bennies for a dead soil/ chemical nutes.

 

[OCBCrew]

your right,

what do you mean by 'ditching the bennies...

tks'

 

[OCBCrew]

.... my plants are 3'' tall and in the second week of 12/12.
.

read : 3' tall something like90cm

 

[BullnAChinaShop]

He means using a salt based nute (like lucas) as opposed to organic. This is what i do with coco (maxibloom). My regimen looks like this:

Coco/Perlite 70/30
Maxibloom 6.5-7g per gal
1 ml drip clean / gal
1ml ph up / gal (this is what gets my solution to ph 6.0 with my tap water)

That is it veg to flush.

 

[BullnAChinaShop]

If i switch to any organic nutrients (biothrive for ex.), should I have to water with a 6.5 PH, as in soil ?

Thanks for all,

Sorry for my English !


Bulp

You are already using organic nutrients in your medium mix. (EWC, Fungus and bactos)

 

[greenmatter]

i've grown a plant or two in straight hydroton and i never had any problems with them causing ph issues

i don't think boiling them is gonna help

 

[OCBCrew]

You are already using organic nutrients in your medium mix. (EWC, Fungus and bactos)

But my formula is mineral (GH Flora Series).

You mean with an organic-like coco setup I have to use Soil PH value ?

merci

 

[BullnAChinaShop]

No I was just explaining what pip13 meant by "ditch the bennies".

I've never had much luck mixing organics and mineral based nutes (which is what you are doing). I usually pick 1 or the other.

 

[OCBCrew]

Ok,

Just a last word,

Could you explain the meaning of 'bennies', for my English improvement !

regards

 

[BullnAChinaShop]

bennies = Beneficial Bacteria

 

[OCBCrew]

Thanks a lot BulLnChinaShop.. Not so easy with all these 'american' terms... daily expressions...
So many way to tell the same thing.

take care

 

[growshopfrank]

do you have access to an EC meter?
very low EC (dissolved solids) will contribute to unstable PH

some clay pellets were known to have excess salts you may want to talk to the retailer that sold you them to see if any other users of that brand have similar problems

good luck

 

[OCBCrew]

yep, constant ec, around 1.4 in drained water.

First time I got this issue in 15 years..

 

[OCBCrew]

get

 

[vigilo]

i believe there is some bacteria/fungus causing the ph rise since it is that dramatic.