I use a 1:1:1 ratio of GMB for veg, and the Lucas formula (0:1:2) for flowering. Works like a charm.

Well, I didn't to sound like I was agreeing with his OCD assesment. I generally don't like name calling and smack talking on forums....It's a waste of time, and uncool!

Anyways, yes I did have a PH problem that affected my plants. The PH meter that I bought was reading on point high (i.e. a reading of 7.0 would really be an 8.0). This was causing nute lockout.

My 2nd problem I've encountered was I was given the wrong feeding instructions from a fellow grow friend. I corrected this by doing some reading on this site, the web, and joining the forums here.

As far as checking my PH levels, I check them once a day. If they are within +3 or +4 tenths of my target of 5.3, I don't mess with them. If so, I correct them. I'm definitely not paranoid about PH levels needing to be perfect at all times, hahha. I'm happy to hear that the system you've found works so well for you, bro!!! That's killer! If it works, don't fix it...

I agree with you about why to grow. I do it because I love it, and I love to smoke. It's been the greatest hobby I've ever had and I'm very much enjoying the experience, even if I do get a bit stressed out by my girls every now and then.

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SmokePot

A couple of observations:

1) You shouldn't give out poor advice to people on subjects about which you are unawares - anyone who's ever grown hydroponically (myself included) will tell you that pH is massively important, and the swings that you describe (from 5.5 to 7 in a day) would be horrendous - long story short, you need to monitor your pH and keep it in an acceptable range, unless you're so dialed in that you know your pH will never drift +/- .5 from your goal.

Case closed.

2) I don't think that being attentive and managing one's grow "takes the fun out of it" - the "fun" for me is growing the best weed possible, which unfortunately entails some time and effort - "if it was easy, everyone would do it".

3) Now, perhaps your "devil may care" attitude is a breakthrough and the next level in growing the best weed possible (I kinda doubt it, but I've been wrong before), but I would wait until you've harvested many (but for God's sake at least one) hydro crop before you begin dispensing advice to newbs who don't know any better.

Just my $.02.

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Check out my journal for links to Youtube videos of my setup:

http://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/250027-bubblelicious-new-york-power-diesel.html

I didn't mean any kind of insult by saying you or anybody else has OCD. Its just a terminology that me and my peers use all the time and we never mean any insult by it. I get all OCD at work sometimes because I enjoy my craft.

Anyways, peace dude.

Hey dude, no offense but you can't close the case if I hadn't had a chance to respond.

I do respect the fact that you may have however many grows under your belt but how is what I'm saying poor advice?

I'm not bragging or nothing but did you see my mother plant? I know this is my first hydro grow but before I got under way I prepared myself by reading what I needed to read. Also, I used common sense and stuff I learned from my mom a while ago about gardening because she loves to tend to her garden.

After I got my grow underway, I was waiting for my plant to tell me something was wrong with her but that never happened.

Why?

I think its because I followed proven instructions like the instructions on the back of my nutrient bottles and the instructions that came on the Grodan rockwool cubes.

I followed instructions to a T, waited for problems but none ever occurred. I do currently have 5 fully matured clones in flowering right now with some tiny flowers popping out. Again, I am following instructions and they are doing great. And again, I'm not monitoring my PH that much.

On the back of my nutrient bottle, it says to maintain the PH from 5.5 to 6.5 for best results. They don't zero in on a specific number and tell you that it HAS to be that certain number. They give a you range and as long as you're in that range, there's nothing to worry about.

What I'm trying to preach is mainly for new growers, not seasoned vets like yourself. I feel I'm a perfect example that if you follow proven instructions that everything will be fine. I see a lot of good info on this site but I also see some bad info on this site. The bad info causes new growers to freak out and get all antsy.

For instance, I saw a post where somebody posted a pic of their growbox. He was real proud of his modest grow box. It was really modest in that it was just a cardboard box and it only had like 2 CFLs. The dude lined the walls with aluminum foil and had 3 little plants growing in soil. He just wanted people's opinions on his grow. Some asshole said he NEEDED to rip the foil off the walls of the box and he either needs to paint it flat white or use mylar because of it's superior reflective properties. The dude responded by saying that he ripped off all the foil and that he's saving money to buy mylar. You know, the foil was fine, and cheap.

There are so many people insinuating that there are no alternatives.

Look, I'm just a lazy cat in a dog eat dog world and I'd imagine some of the stoners growing their own are like me. Growing a garden is a lot of hard work and I was trying to ease the pain for some peeps.

It just goes to show, It's not what you grow, its what you know.

Anyways, unless you have something else to say, I could now say:

case closed.

Peace, dude.

Petrol,

That is a VERY GENERIC PH reference for general usage. It isn't marijuana SPECIFIC bro!!! Please read some of the other threads that talk about maintaining correct PH levels for hydroponic growing on this site. It will definitely help with your growing culture if you plan on continuing to grow hydroponic.

On another topic, my girls are back and kicking ass!!!! This is day two since I diagnosed and fixed my problem and I am already seeing new significant growth! I just couldn't be happier!! It was a LOT of hard work figuring out the prolems (running many different tests on each plant trying to figure it out), but it was worth it. The knowledge I gained is invaluable.

Here's a pic:

the plant on the left is one that is coming back from the brink of dieing. The one on the right used to look like the one on the left, but is making a great come back for me!!!

Attached Images

plant.jpg (94.5 KB, 11 views)

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SmokePot