New Grower A little PH advise please

[turtle360]

Any soil readings taken the same time or shortly after watering aren't going to be accurate. Always wait a day or two after watering before taking soil readings. They will be the most accurate. As the soil dries out the readings will go up, then take a drop again after the next feeding.

You referring to meter readings?

The Accurate 8 owners' sheet says to take it 30-40 minutes after watering. In any case, if you're talking about meter readings, is the soil moist enough after 2 days to get a good reading?

 

[turtle360]

Look at this here thing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lBYuGlvRNA

 

[Muddy]

Yep, Accurate 8 readings. In my experience it takes a day or two for the pH to stabilize. My medium is 6.7, I feed at 6.3. If I take readings right after feeding I get low numbers like 6.1 or 6.2. If I wait until the next day, I get 6.4 - 6.5, which is what I would expect. I use a mix that is about 75% sphagnum peat and 25% perlite, 3 gallon pots. Depending on how big the plant is, I can go from 12 days down to 4 between watering. So there are plenty of days, especially in the beginning, where the soil is moist enough to test. If you're unsure, hit the moisture button. Once it rises up to about the middle it's usually too dry to get a good pH reading.

 

[turtle360]

Yep, Accurate 8 readings. In my experience it takes a day or two for the pH to stabilize. My medium is 6.7, I feed at 6.3. If I take readings right after feeding I get low numbers like 6.1 or 6.2. If I wait until the next day, I get 6.4 - 6.5, which is what I would expect. I use a mix that is about 75% sphagnum peat and 25% perlite, 3 gallon pots. Depending on how big the plant is, I can go from 12 days down to 4 between watering. So there are plenty of days, especially in the beginning, where the soil is moist enough to test. If you're unsure, hit the moisture button. Once it rises up to about the middle it's usually too dry to get a good pH reading.

It's been 2 days+ since watering and sure as mud my ph rose, to 6.6. The moisture reading on the A8 was 5.3. This still leaves my runoff ph in the lower 5s as a point of widespread confusion. Next time will extract first precious drippings. (Well, just checked. The 6.6 was the one that had measured 6.4, so a slight rise. I'm gonna go check the one that registered 6.0. Will be back...........ok, 6.4, up .4 and moister than the other.

 

[Heavily Medicated]

Update:

I did as Nam said, started feeding at 6.4. My runoff started coming down a little with each feeding. At one point I had two consecutive feedings with in at 6.4 and out at 6.4 and 6.5. Thought I had this licked, but my last feeding I went in at 6.5 and my runoff was 6.3 ??? What the hell happened? Am I not letting the promix dry out enough before feeding. The plants are all tied up in a scrog, so can't lift my pots. I feed with every watering, and have been watering every Tuesday and Friday just becuse it is most convenient for me. Should I be raising the PH of my feeds. Give me some advise please.

 

[Heavily Medicated]

Tomorrow is my regular feed my girls day, do you think I should wait a couple more days to let things dry out a little more and see if the PH comes up?

 

[Heavily Medicated]

I must be on acid. After worrying that my Ph had suddenly dropped too low to 6.1, today I put my feeds in at 6.8 thinking I would start bringing the Ph up some, My runoff came out at 7.3. Again I say: What the hell. Is this even possible?