I need advice on hand watering

J

Jettman1

Active Member
Hey folks,
I’m a new first timer. Got a tent with a couple plants in 4 inch rock wool cubes about 8 inches tall. I make a gallon of nutrient water to use to manually (Hand) Feed them for the week, I store it where it can’t be contaminated but ever day I have to bring the PH level back down to 5.5 because it goes up overnight.
....... So, Is it normal to have to lower the ph level everyday for a bucket of nutrient water, I don’t have a reservoir or a system, just me pouring the nutrients on the cubes?
 
Growin4fun734

Growin4fun734

Member
I’m a new grower as well and was wondering if I could mix my nutrients in advance then just store them for the week. After doing some research I’ve read that the nutrient can dilute or fade away when stored in water. You can check your ppm to see if that has happened. But like I said I’m new to this also so I’d like to find out what experienced growers have to say. I’d love to premix my nutrients if possible!
 
R

Relic79

Well-Known Member
You will get more qualified answers, but I'm trying to be active on here and share/learn.

Yes, you can premix. I used to mix a gallon milk jug for seedlings, kept it in cool cement floor with lid off. Shook it whenever I walked after putting lid back on of course. When they got bigger, I started mixing a 5 gallon pale.

I think keeping it cool, and keeping it circulating and mixing is big. Ive premixed before and forgot to stir or use a small pump to mix and after a day/overnight the nutrients had dropped out of solution and settled. I now drop a tiny little pump into my bucket overnight to keep it mixed. I tried running the pump all day but it warmed the solution too much.

Also, I have to bump my pH down every day just a little if I feel like it. I usually ph to 5.8 and it drifts up to max 6.0 over a couple days. 6.0 is still in ph range so while consistency is likely better, sometimes I get lazy.

I also learned the hard way to mix at a weaker strength (I use 60%), it will cost you less long term when you factor in runoff and will help reduce the risk of salt build up. Plus if you mix at lower dilution and accidentally over measure by a few ml here or there, you'll still be under....

Just what I've learned so far. Hope it helps! Maybe I'll get corrected and learn some thing new too!
 
Dontjudgeme

Dontjudgeme

Well-Known Member
I’ve used premixed Nutes for a week with no problem, and yes the ph did fluctuate until I got an air stone that kept the mixture constantly moving in a dark cool place. I’ve never used it longer than a week though, any longer is beyond my scope of advice.
 
J

Jettman1

Active Member
Growin4fun734 said:
I’m a new grower as well and was wondering if I could mix my nutrients in advance then just store them for the week. After doing some research I’ve read that the nutrient can dilute or fade away when stored in water. You can check your ppm to see if that has happened. But like I said I’m new to this also so I’d like to find out what experienced growers have to say. I’d love to premix my nutrients if possible!
Click to expand...
Yea, I checked the ppm they were like 630 which I think was actually higher as well, but that could be because I’ve been adding Ph down everyday, I’m not sure. But thanks for the info
 
J

Jettman1

Active Member
Relic79 said:
You will get more qualified answers, but I'm trying to be active on here and share/learn.

Yes, you can premix. I used to mix a gallon milk jug for seedlings, kept it in cool cement floor with lid off. Shook it whenever I walked after putting lid back on of course. When they got bigger, I started mixing a 5 gallon pale.

I think keeping it cool, and keeping it circulating and mixing is big. Ive premixed before and forgot to stir or use a small pump to mix and after a day/overnight the nutrients had dropped out of solution and settled. I now drop a tiny little pump into my bucket overnight to keep it mixed. I tried running the pump all day but it warmed the solution too much.

Also, I have to bump my pH down every day just a little if I feel like it. I usually ph to 5.8 and it drifts up to max 6.0 over a couple days. 6.0 is still in ph range so while consistency is likely better, sometimes I get lazy.

I also learned the hard way to mix at a weaker strength (I use 60%), it will cost you less long term when you factor in runoff and will help reduce the risk of salt build up. Plus if you mix at lower dilution and accidentally over measure by a few ml here or there, you'll still be under....

Just what I've learned so far. Hope it helps! Maybe I'll get corrected and learn some thing new too!
Click to expand...
Ok, Yes. the Circulation of the water/settlement is a line of thought I hadn’t considered. i actually think I have some salt building up. White on surface of cube, should I give it straight ph water every few feedingS to help flush the salt away ?
 
Dontjudgeme

Dontjudgeme

Well-Known Member
I typically only use rockwool or jiffy pellets when I clone, and during that time I’m not using Nutes anyway. I don’t start using Nutes until after my first transplant. How old are the plants?
 
R

Relic79

Well-Known Member
Jettman1 said:
Ok, Yes. the Circulation of the water/settlement is a line of thought I hadn’t considered. i actually think I have some salt building up. White on surface of cube, should I give it straight ph water every few feedingS to help flush the salt away ?
Click to expand...
sorry...misread. not coco. Edit.

I was advised against ever using plain pH water. Just dillute the solution and ph appropriately. You want to leave food in the medium.
 
420drummer

420drummer

Well-Known Member
I ph my water at 5.8-6 and just let it drift up over few days til I need mix new batch. It’s good to water at slightly different ph. Not a problem
 
J

Jettman1

Active Member
TintEastwood said:
What are you using and how much of each.
ty
Click to expand...
I’m using the GH line, at first it was just the 3 part floragrow, but I had Slow growth and some yellowing of leaves.... then I added CaliMagic, Armor Si, FloraBlend and fed it just under what is listed on their website and now the plant is a rich green color and growing faster.
but over night the ph level will rise from 5.5 to 6.1, and then again Over the next night.

..... the plants had trouble early on because I had no knowledge of growing anything, to died frim.
......they are now on there 5th set of full leaves and I plan to start adding a little Floralicious to the mix.
 
J

Jettman1

Active Member
Dontjudgeme said:
I’ve used premixed Nutes for a week with no problem, and yes the ph did fluctuate until I got an air stone that kept the mixture constantly moving in a dark cool place. I’ve never used it longer than a week though, any longer is beyond my scope of advice.
Click to expand...
Air stone, like for a fish tank ? I actually have one somewhere thanks
 
420drummer

420drummer

Well-Known Member
Jettman1 said:
Ok, thanks. Good to know. I’ve been trying to be Really accurate
Click to expand...
Letting it drift between 5.8 and 6.5 or so is fine. Some people dont even go below 6 and have no problems. It’s the extreme ph swings that’ll hurt your plants. Or extreme high or low ph.
 
J

Jettman1

Active Member
Dontjudgeme said:
I typically only use rockwool or jiffy pellets when I clone, and during that time I’m not using Nutes anyway. I don’t start using Nutes until after my first transplant. How old are the plants?
Click to expand...
2 months old... I know they should be bigger by now. But 1) it’s the first time I’ve ever grown anything. 2) I had no clue what I was doing?
 
TintEastwood

TintEastwood

Well-Known Member
Jettman1 said:
I’m using the GH line, at first it was just the 3 part floragrow, but I had Slow growth and some yellowing of leaves.... then I added CaliMagic, Armor Si, FloraBlend and fed it just under what is listed on their website and now the plant is a rich green color and growing faster.
but over night the ph level will rise from 5.5 to 6.1, and then again Over the next night.

..... the plants had trouble early on because I had no knowledge of growing anything, to died frim.
......they are now on there 5th set of full leaves and I plan to start adding a little Floralicious to the mix.
Click to expand...
I only grow in coco. Ph from 5.8 thru 6.2.
My rising PH problems were primarily solved by not using airstones.
And possibly using RO has made it more stable.

Be sure you are mixing in proper order with proper mixing.

Good that you are using GH. Gobs of growers for support when needed.
 
J

Jettman1

Active Member
TintEastwood said:
I only grow in coco. Ph from 5.8 thru 6.2.
My rising PH problems were primarily solved by not using airstones.
And possibly using RO has made it more stable.

Be sure you are mixing in proper order with proper mixing.

Good that you are using GH. Gobs of growers for support when needed.
Click to expand...
Ok. Thanks. Your suggesting not using an air stone ?
 
TintEastwood

TintEastwood

Well-Known Member
Jettman1 said:
Ok. Thanks. Your suggesting not using an air stone ?
Click to expand...
Airstones often cause more problems than they solve. PH fluctuations.
The quality of air being blown into the water can cause problems.

Do some research and decide if airstones are really wortj it.

Worth a try.
 
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