B&Q - Verve Slurry Test

PerliteGro · Dec 16, 2020

Hi all, going to keep it short and sweet. Just done a slurry test on Verve multipurpose compost, a compost that reckons it isn't for acid loving plants, and the pH has came back as 4.8 with deionised water and just shy of 5 when mixed with tap water.

Has anybody else used Verve and noticed any ill effect? I'm going to get my hands on some dolomite lime real quick, as it explains why some young plants got attacked badly before flushing with high pH water.

I suspected the pH of the soil was about 5.5-6 before hand, but nowhere near that low! Infact I'm quite surprised the majority are looking even remotely healthy and not in a full blown lockout.

BBQtoast · Dec 16, 2020

Verve pH is always spot on, grown in it and others for years. Slurry tests are shit and don't work on it. I buy the small bags from inside, lovely stuff.

PerliteGro · Dec 16, 2020

BBQtoast said:
Verve pH is always spot on, grown in it and others for years. Slurry tests are shit and don't work on it. I buy the small bags from inside, lovely stuff.

Hmm, I got the 125L bags from outside. Always riddled with fungus gnats, but aside from that I've never really had an issue previously. I've read a lot that people find all kinds of crap in it, but beside the odd twig I've never found anything insidious. I'll take the readings with a pinch of salt in that case, but likely still go ahead and try and buffer somewhat with lime.

Initially I thought the soil was just a bit too hot for seedlings, which might be the case as the plants are looking miles better as they grow. I've tinkered with all sorts besides delving into pH, got VPD, temps and lights absolutely spot on, so know it isn't that side, and haven't dosed any nutrients besides cal-mag, as I know the soil has plenty in there, especially if potting on.

Would your recommendation just be to provide pH adjusted water (6.4-6.6)?

Thanks for the input.

BBQtoast · Dec 17, 2020

Bro I'm a UK grower, Verve is the bollocks closely followed by Westlands but I won't buy from outside because it is left out. Even the indoor small bags I make sure haven't been left out and wet. This does every stage great for seed doesn't need perlite or any amending.

It's a shit choice here and if you can't use the small indoor bags go for a grow shop soil like biobizz all mix or something successful. Fuck knows why soil is stored outside, weather is shit for it.

It doesn't need lime or calmag, I don't feed till flower and pot up each stage once rooted well. Find it easier to underwater than over. Sometimes I had sieve big bits out for seedlings but it's such an airy mix I love seeing the roots at transplant.

It's easy stuff just add tap water, get your water report I'll ok it for you, it's online should be with your water suppler just enter postcode or area on their site.

When I get to the shop and they sold out, fuck I wish I used an online soil but it's just too easy and sold everywhere so I make it work well, still fuck those outdoor bags, give me thrips everytime, probably are going acidic after months.

BBQtoast · Dec 17, 2020

5 on a slurry test is a good level and indicates 5.5 to 6.5 is possible.

PerliteGro · Dec 17, 2020

BBQtoast said:
Bro I'm a UK grower, Verve is the bollocks closely followed by Westlands but I won't buy from outside because it is left out. Even the indoor small bags I make sure haven't been left out and wet. This does every stage great for seed doesn't need perlite or any amending.

It's a shit choice here and if you can't use the small indoor bags go for a grow shop soil like biobizz all mix or something successful. Fuck knows why soil is stored outside, weather is shit for it.

It doesn't need lime or calmag, I don't feed till flower and pot up each stage once rooted well. Find it easier to underwater than over. Sometimes I had sieve big bits out for seedlings but it's such an airy mix I love seeing the roots at transplant.

It's easy stuff just add tap water, get your water report I'll ok it for you, it's online should be with your water suppler just enter postcode or area on their site.

When I get to the shop and they sold out, fuck I wish I used an online soil but it's just too easy and sold everywhere so I make it work well, still fuck those outdoor bags, give me thrips everytime, probably are going acidic after months.

Thanks for the help, I'll check out the water report shortly. pH from tap is between 7.2-7.5 usually, and slightly on the hard side I believe, so I won't bother with nutes until the flip. Probably just a dose or two of tomorite in the first weeks of flower, then on to fox farm bloom for the later weeks. Next time I'll be sure to avoid going for any outdoor bags. I noticed what kind of looked like a spider mite in the soil once, but am yet to see any others, and so far no thrips. Hope to god that isn't a problem I have to face.

I have to say after running the Easy Kush girls for 3 weeks in red solo cups, the root mass was impressive before repotting. Very nice airy soil, even without perlite aye. I think I'll just make sure to focus on getting the water pH right going in, and not so much on the soils pH.

BBQtoast · Dec 17, 2020

PerliteGro said:
Thanks for the help, I'll check out the water report shortly. pH from tap is between 7.2-7.5 usually, and slightly on the hard side I believe, so I won't bother with nutes until the flip. Probably just a dose or two of tomorite in the first weeks of flower, then on to fox farm bloom for the later weeks. Next time I'll be sure to avoid going for any outdoor bags. I noticed what kind of looked like a spider mite in the soil once, but am yet to see any others, and so far no thrips. Hope to god that isn't a problem I have to face.

I have to say after running the Easy Kush girls for 3 weeks in red solo cups, the root mass was impressive before repotting. Very nice airy soil, even without perlite aye. I think I'll just make sure to focus on getting the water pH right going in, and not so much on the soils pH.

Water pH is not important, water ppm could be but normally isn't. Don't worry about it unless you are in a hard water area, slightly hard Is fuck all.

B&Q - Verve Slurry Test

PerliteGro

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BBQtoast

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PerliteGro

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BBQtoast

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BBQtoast

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PerliteGro

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BBQtoast

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