PH levels

What is ideal for water?
What is ideal for soil?
The same... I would presume?
Thank you in advance for your time.

Gilligans Island said:

What is ideal for water?
What is ideal for soil?
The same... I would presume?
Thank you in advance for your time.

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Hydro does better in a slightly lower range (5.2-5.5 if my memory isn't too far off) while soil is better at 5.8-6.2 range.

Well water coming in at 6.7
Soil tester not here yet.
Using Miracle grow on 1st round. At 6 weeks or so flipped 10 of 16 plants at 16". Have to sex yet as this is bag seed. Very good bag but bag seed none the less. Growth was phenomenal until about 2 weeks ago and the rest just seemed to stop in veg. Topped twice in first 4 weeks. No fertilizers. Plants look healthy as can be. Water 50 oz or so every six days or so in 2 gallon pots. Thought maybe my ph might be off. Plants still growing in veg just not at the rate they were. About to send the rest to bloom tomorrow as they are now at 16". First ones reached 16" 10 days ago... some males I presume looking at them. They should sex soon. Just curious why the stop in veg height with these. Temps 75-83 humidity 54% to 63%. Bloom is stretching as one would expect. Had a couple plants show light stress in veg (new Bridgelux led's) week 5 or so as still figuring out what they like for intensity so them 2 slowing down is expected. They have since recovered as it was caught very early. But that does shut them down for awhile. None of the others showed any signs of stress. Rambling I know.

Hey GI,
Kinda broad question you asked. But I have to say that lots of guys would kill for ph 6.7 water. I am curious about what's making your water slightly acidic. Usually minerals (mostly Ca and Mg) cause water to be more basic. Do you have any idea what the PPM of the water is?

And certain soils prefer a specific ph. I read (never used it) that FFOF is best used with ph 6.5 for example.

OK...when a young plant is growing well and suddenly stalls...that may be a sign that they need to up-pot to the next size up. Could be getting rootbound.

Well dude that's all I have at the moment...
Cheers,
JD

I'd second checking the roots to see if it needs a bigger pot, if everything is healthy that's probably it.

I don't have experience with foxfarm either but the ideal pH will always depend on things like the C.E.C., whether it's inert or what fertilisers it has in it. Since nutes are more/less available at different pH, you can compensate when building a soil if you know the pH will be relatively constant by adding more of whichever nutes will be less available. Which I assume is what you're describing but again that's just an assumption as I don't know their product myself.

My rain water (concrete tank) is 6.8 or thereabouts.

I don't bother to PH soil (I grow in soil). Most people who have grown in soil for awhile don't bother either. Anywhere from 6 to 7 is fine and will swing wildly. Dangerous game chasing ideal PH in soil and its rarely the problem in a problem.

Once the males show themselves I will know if root bound or not. Makes sense just didnt expect it so early. They have only been in the 2 gallon pot for 3 weeks now. Before that 12 oz cups. Will know soon. I would have thought a 4 foot plant when done would have been fine in 2 gallon pot but maybe not. Transplanting next round of 12 oz cups end of this week. May just go ahead and put in 3 gallon pots if the males have not shown yet. Root bound is only thing that makes sense as plants are always praying to the led gods every time I look.

Gilligans Island said:

I would have thought a 4 foot plant when done would have been fine in 2 gallon pot but maybe not.

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Gilligan...
In soil, so much depends on aeration. In coco or well aerated soil...yes a 4 footer is possible in 2 gallons. But if soil is too compact...then rootbinding become more of an issue.
JD

Well... first go around with a new grow set up is a learning experience for sure!
What I did for aeration was I drilled 1/2" holes around the bottom perimeter of the side about 2" apart. I then drilled a ring of holes on the bottom around the outside edge. Thus giving me two rings of holes right next to each other. I then cut up aluminum window screen into round circles 2" bigger than the circumference of the pot. When pushed into the bottom of the pot it creates a half moon channel of air all around the circumference of the pot allowing air to flow under my dirt. Males so far refuse to indicate been in bloom since 6/27. I may just pull one that I think is male to see what the roots look like.

I wouldn't be up potting two weeks into flower. Plants are not building root mass now.

Lucky Luke said:

I wouldn't be up potting two weeks into flower. Plants are not building root mass now.

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Agree, the plants in the 2 gallon pots are there to stay. I was thinking of the next round of 12 oz cups will go into 3 gallon pots instead of 2's. The tallest plant is a male I'm sure of it so I will pull it today and see what's up with the roots. That's what bag seed is for, to get it right before it counts.

Root bound. Me need bigger pots!

It's all a learning process, which is why I like taking notes on everything as often as possible.