What does runoff pH tell you and what should you do about it?

Plant looks ok I think but my runoff pH is testing 5.4. I don’t use any pH down when feeding. Would you make any adjustments?

bigunyun said:

Plant looks ok I think but my runoff pH is testing 5.4. I don’t use any pH down when feeding. Would you make any adjustments?
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Need more info. Soil, coco, dwc?
Bottled nutes or organic inputs?
Imo, runoff pH isn't going to tell you the whole story.

Checking your run off pH is a total waste of time and unnecessary.........don't chase your tail.

Slurry will tell you more on what’s going on in the soil .. testing run off just showing all the pervious watering / feedings . (History)

Hollatchaboy said:

Need more info. Soil, coco, dwc?
Bottled nutes or organic inputs?
Imo, runoff pH isn't going to tell you the whole story.

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Soil. Using only salts 10-30-20. 7 gal pots. Water every other day or so.

I’d only worry about what’s going in as far as ph. The soil ph & ph of the feed are most likely not the exact same. Soil should buffer the ph for you.
The plants don’t look bad at all. I would however either defoliate a little in the center to get the light to the lowers, or prune anything under the net that looks like it’s weeks behind the tops.

I've had readings all over the map trying to monitor run-off. All it confirmed was that I was watering my plants.

Whats going on above the soil will tell you everything you need to know. Watch your plants, they never lie.

Wouldn't worry about run off ph in soil. Even coco wouldn't worry much, doesn't matter what I put in the top of my coco the run off is always 6.3ish and I put it in at 5.8

Only thing I'd care to check is PPM in run off.

Run off EC/PPM could be of value, especially if you run salts.

I’ve used the same fert line for years and have it pretty well dialed in, every 3rd waterin is just ph’d water.

Prior to doing the 3rd watering of HST water I tested crazy ppm in my run off, 2k multiple times.

Grojak said:

Run off EC/PPM could be of value, especially if you run salts.

I’ve used the same fert line for years and have it pretty well dialed in, every 3rd waterin is just ph’d water.

Prior to doing the 3rd watering of HST water I tested crazy ppm in my run off, 2k multiple times.

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Interesting. I'm the opposite my run off always starts quite abit lower than what I put in, then about half way through the grow untill the end it's exactly the same as what I put in.