Stop blaming "issues" on pH people! aka "ah cant take no mo'!

Kriegs

Kriegs

Well-Known Member
Thanks, UB and wyteboi, for the props. Funny thing is, I struggled to get C's in my first go-rounds with college chemistry. On my second go-round, I needed to make some real coin to support myself, pay for school, and not force my wife to live under my mother's roof. So, I "inflated my resume" and landed a job in an analytical lab on some crazy ill-formed hunch that that was the place for me. Well, it just clicked and I was quickly the best analyst they had. And one thing just lead to another....
 
J

jkmovies

Active Member
Well, my pH had actually gotten to 5.0 and was locking out nutrients big time. I was adding pH down to my water, that was 7.0-7.5. I added too much, over too many waterings, and that was my problem. When I see others experiencing similar effects as I had, I only thought it helped to have them check their runoff. That was my problem, and most people I told that to were noob's like me.
 
S

SupaDupa

Member
Uncle Ben said:
I was a :dunce: too when it came to math and college chemistry. My favorite class was Anatomy in Braille. :mrgreen:
Click to expand...
Anatomy in Braille was my favorite class also... I still don't understand why I did receive any credits, I was very diligent. :lol:

I've been lurking since the beginning with my learning cap on. Thank you UB for all the knowledge you've shared in this and other threads.
 
lvnv

lvnv

Member
Hey UB.

Just finished reading this great thread. So considering the point of this thread, that weed is very pH tolerant and it is rarely a problem for soil, do you recommend even owning a pH meter? I noticed you said you have a Hanna, but that could easily be just for conducting experiments considering your inquisitive nature. Do you ever use a pH meter to diagnose problems? All questions are for soil.

Also, I am starting to think I need a TDS meter more than anything. I don't know anything about my water except it is hard. I don't know how hard though. What are some common problems from having too many ppm? I know you have talked about there being a balance, and if something is in excess, something else is deficient. That makes sense to me right now. Something is getting locked out and something is in excess. I mix 1Tbsp of Jack's 30-10-10, or recently 10-30-20, with 2 gallons of water, which is half strength. When I feed with the 1Tbsp per 2 gallon mix, I also have my drip system running (7-14 min, non-pressure regulating emitters) which in my mind means a more dilute dose of nutes.

After I flush my raised bed with a hose, does it make sense to replenish the soil with nutes?

How big of a role can heat play in plant health? I imagine it is strain specific, but in general is there any reason plants couldn't thrive in 105F+ temps, especially if they face east and are out of the sun around noon. I have rather dry, thin feeling leaves. They don't feel smooth and robust (?) like I imagine healthy plants feel. They are sativa dominant if that means anything. I know indicas get those fat, juicy looking leaves. I water twice per day via drip for a total of 18 minutes.

And last, and the original intent of this post, are there any pH and/or EC/TDS meters you would recommend for soil? I am looking at about 5 options right now, but I don't know whether to go with a combo unit or individual meters. Willing to spend around $140.
Combo meters
http://www.eseasongear.com/miinmwsmphec1.html
http://www.eseasongear.com/hannahi98129.html
http://www.eseasongear.com/hahiphmo99ne.html
pH meters
http://www.eseasongear.com/mimwsmphme1.html
http://www.eseasongear.com/hmphphmewafs.html
TDS meters
http://www.eseasongear.com/tdsecmeters.html

Any input is much appreciated. This isn't the first time you have helped me with your wonderful threads. Sorry for going off topic a bit, but it is so tempting to pick your brain when a relevant question comes up.
 
Spanishfly

Spanishfly

Well-Known Member
Uncle Ben said:
pH - Cannabis is quite pH tolerant, it's a nutrient elemental uptake issue (not leaf cupping, wilt, lack of buds, etc.) and as long as the pH of the soil is not totally wacked out i.e. 5.0 or 8.6, you're OK. Hydro is different, a lower pH is usually recommended depending on foods used, type of medium, etc.
Click to expand...
Couldn´t agree more with that. I NEVER measure pH, but folks who can´t get an ounce a plant keep warning me about NOOT lockout or some such rubbish.

September 3 2010.jpg

Never measured pH on this lovely lady - I reckon there´s at least an ounce on each branch.
 
Uncle Ben

Uncle Ben

Well-Known Member
lvnv said:
Hey UB.

Just finished reading this great thread. So considering the point of this thread, that weed is very pH tolerant and it is rarely a problem for soil, do you recommend even owning a pH meter? I noticed you said you have a Hanna, but that could easily be just for conducting experiments considering your inquisitive nature. Do you ever use a pH meter to diagnose problems? All questions are for soil.
Click to expand...
Howdy. Nope, rarely use a pH meter for diagnosis of anything other than a suspicion that the soil pH is out of whack. I mainly use it for water quality and wine making.

Also, I am starting to think I need a TDS meter more than anything. I don't know anything about my water except it is hard. I don't know how hard though. What are some common problems from having too many ppm?
Click to expand...
Depends on the salts but usually carbonates and bi-carbonates are your biggest problem. You need to get an analysis to see what you have. My water is hard, 22 grains with alot of Ca and Mg bi-carbs for example. pH is neutral though.

I know you have talked about there being a balance, and if something is in excess, something else is deficient. That makes sense to me right now. Something is getting locked out and something is in excess. I mix 1Tbsp of Jack's 30-10-10, or recently 10-30-20, with 2 gallons of water, which is half strength. When I feed with the 1Tbsp per 2 gallon mix, I also have my drip system running (7-14 min, non-pressure regulating emitters) which in my mind means a more dilute dose of nutes.
Click to expand...
You just have to learn to read your plants. Your "program" will be unlike any other grower's.

After I flush my raised bed with a hose, does it make sense to replenish the soil with nutes?
Click to expand...
Good question but loaded one too. If you use nitrate/sulfate salts, they leach so the answer would be "yes". If urea or ammonical based, then the ions are attracted to the soil particles by an opposite charge. This 4 part ditty by Bill Argo will take an hour of reading but it will answer all of your questions regarding water quality, fertilizers, etc. http://www.staugorchidsociety.org/culturewater.htm

How big of a role can heat play in plant health? I imagine it is strain specific, but in general is there any reason plants couldn't thrive in 105F+ temps, especially if they face east and are out of the sun around noon. I have rather dry, thin feeling leaves. They don't feel smooth and robust (?) like I imagine healthy plants feel. They are sativa dominant if that means anything. I know indicas get those fat, juicy looking leaves. I water twice per day via drip for a total of 18 minutes.
Click to expand...
Best temp is around 85F. Real high temps and the plant shuts down or transpires more than it can take. See my Moisture Stress sig link.

And last, and the original intent of this post, are there any pH and/or EC/TDS meters you would recommend for soil?
Click to expand...
I have used the Checker1 and read the latent pot runoff.

Good luck,
UB
 
F

findme

Well-Known Member
ur ph is rarely if ever out of wack. Most of the nutes you put on your plant will put the soil/hydro/etc in within a good range for the plant anyway. I mean, you can get a ph meter and check it for lol's but I don't find it worth my while.. at least not as much as a ppm meter.
 
N

nirvanafan

Member
so he does ph his water when he is working on cavaties with his drill.lol o mr. uncle ben good soil in the ph range of the high 7's? wow...
 
racerboy71

racerboy71

bud bootlegger
hey uncle ben, what are your thoughts on people checking ph run off out of their soils?? would love to hear some intelligent views on it other then mine, lol... to me it's not telling anyone anything other then what the ph of your runoff water, and i could really care less what the ph of the water coming out of my pots is as i don't find it to be an indication of what your soil ph is for starters.
 
Uncle Ben

Uncle Ben

Well-Known Member
racerboy71 said:
hey uncle ben, what are your thoughts on people checking ph run off out of their soils?? would love to hear some intelligent views on it other then mine, lol... to me it's not telling anyone anything other then what the ph of your runoff water, and i could really care less what the ph of the water coming out of my pots is as i don't find it to be an indication of what your soil ph is for starters.
Click to expand...
Waste of time. Now, if you really want to split hairs, fax JR Peters lab your water analysis, tell them what you're growing (use tomatoes) and they will fix you up with the proper fertilizer.
 
racerboy71

racerboy71

bud bootlegger
Uncle Ben said:
Waste of time. Now, if you really want to split hairs, fax JR Peters lab your water analysis, tell them what you're growing (use tomatoes) and they will fix you up with the proper fertilizer.
Click to expand...
how do you get your town water results uncle ben?? i've tried googling my town and water treatment results in the past, but didn't have much luck in doing so..
 
hopeyougotadutch

hopeyougotadutch

Well-Known Member
This is the "kick in the ass" that I needed.

My city used to send out a report on water quality, haven't seen one in the mail for a LONG time now though. Noticed while letting my water sit out to evaporate the chlorine that my pH usually drops from the high of 8.5 to around 7. What's allowing that to happen? Is it simply just the release of the chlorine? Water treated with chloramine, your take on that?

Thank you btw, I'm really enjoying reading your threads. Your garden tweaks thread is massive, and I plan to read every question you've answered.
 
Air

Air

Well-Known Member
I dont agree with this post at all, ph is a massive factor and if you have no clue what it is it cant be eliminated as an issue, the first time i integrated phing my water and nutes into my garden the overall health of my plants and yield increased. Suite yourself if your going to be blind to ph.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top