Temporary solution to pH problem?

Catogenic

Member
Hey everyone.
I'm pretty sure my plants aren't happy with the pH of the soil - yellow patches on leaves, lower leaves pale, but my problem is that I won't be able to get any pH tester kit for another 4 days because I'm in the middle of exams. Does anyone have any advice for what I could do during those 4 days to help?
They're an orange skunk strain, about 2 weeks old. I have them under a 600W hps lamp for 18hrs a day, using biogrow every second watering and I add stuff called Chlor Stop to the water I use - it's for fish tanks but I read that it could be used for growing, I think I used more than necessary in the first few waterings though.
They're in some standard indoor plant potting soil.
Don't know the pH of the water I'm using unfortunately.
This is the first batch we've been growing and we've been so proud and impressed with them so far I really want to try to save them.
Thanks in advance for any help you can give :blsmoke:
 

cowboylogic

Well-Known Member
Hey everyone.
I'm pretty sure my plants aren't happy with the pH of the soil - yellow patches on leaves, lower leaves pale, but my problem is that I won't be able to get any pH tester kit for another 4 days because I'm in the middle of exams. Does anyone have any advice for what I could do during those 4 days to help?
They're an orange skunk strain, about 2 weeks old. I have them under a 600W hps lamp for 18hrs a day, using biogrow every second watering and I add stuff called Chlor Stop to the water I use - it's for fish tanks but I read that it could be used for growing, I think I used more than necessary in the first few waterings though.
They're in some standard indoor plant potting soil.
Don't know the pH of the water I'm using unfortunately.
This is the first batch we've been growing and we've been so proud and impressed with them so far I really want to try to save them.
Thanks in advance for any help you can give :blsmoke:
Ever see a fish with a bud growing off of its back? Didnt think so. Let your water sit out for 24 hours or so. The chlorine will evaporate off. Plus the waters ph and the soils ph are 2 different things.
 

jawbrodt

Well-Known Member
There's a good chance that you're giving them an acidic fert mix,(low PH) because you aren't balancing it beforehand. Every fert I've used lowers the PH quite a bit after it's mixed, so I'm betting that's your problem. You could add a little baking soda to your next watering, but that's iffy because you can't measure anything without the right testing equipment. All I can say is...get some PH testers ASAP. :)
 

Catogenic

Member
Thanks for the advice, I'll get a proper pH testing kit asap but all the big garden centers are miles and miles away from me.
My local pet store has a pH testing and adjustment kit for fish tanks, would it be ok to use thatfor the plants?
Thanks again for the help
 

Imaulle

Well-Known Member
what soil are you using? you shouldn't ever have to worry about pH if you are using the right soil...
 

Imaulle

Well-Known Member
don't waste any money on a pH tester.

for next time, get either happy frog, or sunshine mix 4 soils. with those you will never have to worry about pH.

also, check my sig. the nutes I use are the best for soil. they are only $4.99 each.
 

Imaulle

Well-Known Member
that bio-grow doesn't have the correct NPK ratio. your plants are not getting enough Nitrogen. I'd suggest getting the same veg/flower food that I use.
 

Catogenic

Member
Thanks for the help and advice Imaulle.
I live in Prague at the moment; there's only one big head shop here and all they had was biogrow. I can get out to some big garden centers at the weekend though.
 

Imaulle

Well-Known Member
you can order the jacks online from their website. though I'm not sure how much shipping will cost to prague. you can send them an e-mail and ask. but I highly recommend jacks classic

http://www.jacksclassic.com/order_now.html

if you can't find the happy frog or sunshine mix 4 for your soil you will want to buy something that has dolomite lime (to keep pH balanced), and perlite in it. you could prolly buy them seperate and just make your own soil mix for pretty cheap. but both of those ingredients make a huge difference.
 
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