Is PH really the problem?

For months I have tried to grow popular strains such as Pineapple Express, White Widow with no luck. Every time I tried I would get good germination and then within a week or so the plant would just fall over and start to die. Each time I would find the same thing right at the base of the stem it would get thin and start to shrivel. Obviously it could not support the plant hence it falling over. I tried everything but the one thing I did not do was PH my water... I strongly feel this was my problem as through all my experimenting the one thing that stayed consistent was the water. I found out that I was feeding a PH well over 7 and closer to 8. So now I am back ready to try again. SO I am reaching out for a little advise and also asking the question.... is it really the PH?

Hello,

I once had a problem like this few years ago. May i ask;

-What medium are you using?
-What is the room temperature & humidity?
-Do you have enough airflow? (Oscillating fan)
-How often do you water them? What method you use to water and how much water you give them?

Ph is very important, with out the correct Ph your plants will not be ablr to take up nutrients, and if your using soil that has plant food mixed in it....that will kill all new starts, to much nitrogen, i bought some dirt with nutes already in it and had the same prob you did, so check your soil

Lady- I have tried soil, coco, and hydroton. So I have pretty much experimented with all mediums. The soil was Happy frog, also tried light warrior and Ocean Forest. All with the same result. Room temps are 73-75 with continuous airflow from both AC and Fan. As far as watering I have tried different approaches from little to no water....to watering every 2nd to 3rd day. For the longest time I though the plants were damping off or expiring from root rot. I do think this might have been the case a few times but I still think it is the water. I am about to start 2 new seeds to germ in 5.5 to 6 range unless I hear otherwise.

You say you were feeding them? Small sprouts should be able to live off water alone for at least a couple of weeks, especially in soil where there are already nutrients. Are you using RO water? Good luck on your next round

hudman said:

Lady- I have tried soil, coco, and hydroton. So I have pretty much experimented with all mediums. The soil was Happy frog, also tried light warrior and Ocean Forest. All with the same result. Room temps are 73-75 with continuous airflow from both AC and Fan. As far as watering I have tried different approaches from little to no water....to watering every 2nd to 3rd day. For the longest time I though the plants were damping off or expiring from root rot. I do think this might have been the case a few times but I still think it is the water. I am about to start 2 new seeds to germ in 5.5 to 6 range unless I hear otherwise.

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Use 5.8 to 6.0 range. I would suggest you to use a lighter soil for the first few days as sometime strains can be affected by a little too high PH or little too acidic soil.

I germ in rodan cubes - presoak in ph'd water (5.6-6,2) a few drops of Superthrive and rhizotonic.
put them under flourescents and water with above solution only when they feel dry and keep them there until the roots grow out the cube
everything else you're doing sounds correct