organics and pH question

fib

Member
I've read in various different places if you are using organic nutrients then balancing ph isn't important because the microorganisms in the soil naturally balance. I've started using Earth Juice Grow and as some of you may know it lowers ph quite a bit, and I haven't been adjusting ph. It's only been a couple of days since the first feed but I haven't noticed any ph problems in the plants yet. But a lot of EJ users say it's critical to aerate the nutrient brew for 24-48 hours before feeding to balance the ph.
So what I'm wondering is does anyone know about this idea that it isn't important to balance ph if going organic?
 

canefan

Well-Known Member
You have the basis, without going into a science lesson which at 7 in the morning I am not up for anyway. If your soil mix is balanced in the beginning and you have lime,woodash or charcoal in your mix (provided your containers are of decent size, smaller the container the easier to upset the ph) your ph is not going to vary much throughout your grow. Many factors play into the buffers in the soil but good soil basically unless unduly stressed with outrageous amounts of additives will stay in a good stable range for the plants. I do grow in soil and add a little of this and that throughout the grow but I have never, ever tested my ph for my grows. The only time I have ever done a ph test was 30 years ago when I bought an old run down overgrown farm. I tested it once to see what the natural state was to plan my course of action to improve the soil for what I wanted to do with the land.
Don't know if this will help or not but I hope so. Good Luck
 

Nullis

Moderator
I've used Earth Juice for a while; not exclusively any more as I use it now more sparingly along with raw ingredients (guano) and stuff in the mix from the start. You should definitely have both the Grow and Bloom; Microblast and Catalyst are highly recommended. Aeration does help bring the pH of the solution up some but it isn't a crucial thing. As canefan mentioned there should be a sufficient amount of a liming agent in your soil (preferably dolomitic limestone).

Just start by using it at mild rates, especially for young plants. Both Grow and Bloom should be used throughout the better part of the plants life. Veg for example you basically use mostly Grow and a small amount of Bloom (about 1/4 the amount of Grow). You still want to use the Grow formula during flowering too, but you pretty much taper off until you're using mostly Bloom and 1/2 to 1/4 that amount for Grow. Earth Juice has some pretty comprehensive feeding schedules on their website.
 

GoldenGanja13

Well-Known Member
I did my first organic season last year and I did not ph the grow at all. On top of that I was using Humboldts Naturals and did not bubble it ahead of time. My season was fair.
This season I have been setting the ph using organic safe up and down (earth juice) and bubbling my Humboldts 12-24hrs in advance. I must say I am so very excited this season. My ladies (7 strains` 8 plants) all started flowering in just 5 days of 12/12. Here I am, just finished day 28 in 12/12 and they are getting seriously trich coated and smelly.
I would say I am doing 60% better this time around.
Here are some pictures of them at day 23 .
View attachment 1664007View attachment 1664004View attachment 1664005View attachment 1664006
 

fib

Member
yea I also just realized I had another problem today. My plants are just over 2 weeks now and I fed them a quarter strength feed of EJ Grow the other day with tap water. Problem is I learned yesterday my local water contains chloramines, which you can't get rid of by simply leaving the water out for a day or so like you can with chlorine. I can't afford a RO filter right now and it just seems like it would be a pain in the ass to go out and buy RO water for the whole grow. I've considered just buying some chemical nutes and attempting organics the next go around Any suggestions? .

Yea Nullis I was planning on picking up the Bloom next week until I learned about my water problem

Those plants look amazing goldenganja wish I had a camera to record a journal of my first grow :(
 

Nullis

Moderator
You could use a table-top filter (Brita, Pur, Zero-Water, etc.) which will remove chlorine\chloramines. Brita\Pur pitchers use activated carbon and ion exchange resin. Just be sure to change the filter before when the manufacturer recommends.

You might also look into sodium thiosulfate which some people use to neutralize chlorine\chloramines in tap water for aquarium use.
 

GoldenGanja13

Well-Known Member
I use 4-5 gallon water bottles and once I fill them with water, I run a small aquarium pump with 2 hoses and bubble out the chlorine is 2 bottles at a time.
 

Wetdog

Well-Known Member
A couple of things.

One, get the aquarium drops for your water. 1 drop/gallon. Cost is ~$6 and will last forever if you don't spill it. Mine is still over 3/4 full after close to 3 years.

Two, bubbling the EJ will raise the pH after a few days, but that isn't the main reason for bubbling it. When you add a bit of the Catalyst to whatever and bubble, it wakes up all those microbes in the EJ nutes and the catalyst and really gets everything going.

I suggest you search Earth Juice on this forum, or The Three Little Birds, or variations of that name. They did a very good write-up on EJ and it is WELL worth the read. It's here, somewhere and has everything you ever needed to know about EJ.

Get some dolomite lime, or similar.

Wet
 
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